Firm Profiles
Hogan Lovells
Hogan Lovells
An International Law Firm
An International Law Firm
Year 1 Trainee
£56,000
Year 2 Trainee
£61,000
Newly Qualified
£135,000
Hogan Lovells is an international powerhouse with over 51 offices spanning the Americas, EMEA, and Asia‑Pacific. The full-service firm is consistently ranked top-tier in multiple practice areas. Complemented by a strong maintenance grant for SQE, PGDL support, private medical insurance, and generous holiday allowance, Hogan Lovells offers an excellent foundation for a career in law.
TC Number
50
Seats
4
Secondments
Yes
Offices
51
Hogan Lovells recruits approximately 50 trainees per intake. Each trainee rotates across around four six-month seats in areas such as Corporate, Finance, Litigation, Arbitration, Employment, IP, Real Estate, and Global Regulatory. Secondment opportunities include international locations such as Washington DC, Frankfurt, Dubai, Hong Kong, New York, Paris, and Singapore, as well as client secondments. These provide broad exposure to firm-wide practice as well as client operations.
Rankings in Chambers
55
Category
International
Hogan Lovells has been widely recognised for legal innovation and excellence in recent years. In June 2025, the Financial Times named it the law firm with the most consistent track record of innovation over the last 20 years, boasting 41 appearances in their Innovative Lawyers reports and ranking #2 overall in the number of top‑10 placements across Europe, North America, and Asia‑Pacific. At the inaugural Chambers UK Awards 2025, the firm was named FinTech Firm of the Year, highlighting its strategic growth and leadership in blockchain, digital banking, and regulatory innovation . In November 2024, Law.com International ranked Hogan Lovells third best among UK firms for pro bono work, in recognition of its high-impact cases including Windrush compensation cases and human trafficking inquests. At The Lawyer Awards 2024, the firm's Competition & Regulatory team won Team of the Year, marking a notable victory in competition litigation for Vodafone, while its Restructuring team was also commended. Additionally, Marion Palmer, the firm’s Global Head of Sustainability, was named Most Innovative Practitioner at the FT Innovative Lawyers Europe Awards 2024, recognising her leadership in integrating scientific expertise into legal practice.
The Application Process
Vacation Scheme Deadline
TBD
A-Levels Requirements
AAB
Degree Requirements
Degree Requirements
2:1
Application Writing
The application form focuses on your academic and work history, with four written questions designed to assess your teamwork, resilience, and commercial awareness. You’ll be asked to reflect on how you’ve worked within a team, handled setbacks, and demonstrated a practical understanding of business or legal challenges. Strong written communication, attention to detail, and structure are essential. Be sure to explain what you learned from each experience and how it connects to the skills required of a future trainee. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so early submission is encouraged.
Assessment Centre
The first interview is a situational exercise exploring how you would respond to six hypothetical scenarios that reflect real challenges faced by trainees at the firm. These may involve managing deadlines, working with colleagues, or navigating difficult client situations. This interview is designed to test your judgement, teamwork, and adaptability.
The second interview is a technical and motivational interview. It begins with questions about your journey into law and your motivation for applying to Hogan Lovells specifically. This is followed by a short case study exercise, which you’ll receive around 10 minutes before the interview. You’ll be expected to discuss your approach, reasoning, and conclusions, and may be given follow-up questions or additional information to consider. The conversation blends both your analysis of the case and your broader commercial understanding. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask your own questions at the end of the interview.
Interview Stage
Application Writing
Psychometric Testing
The application form focuses on your academic and work history, with four written questions designed to assess your teamwork, resilience, and commercial awareness. You’ll be asked to reflect on how you’ve worked within a team, handled setbacks, and demonstrated a practical understanding of business or legal challenges. Strong written communication, attention to detail, and structure are essential. Be sure to explain what you learned from each experience and how it connects to the skills required of a future trainee. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so early submission is encouraged.
Applicants are invited to complete the Watson Glaser critical thinking test. This assesses your ability to analyse information, draw logical conclusions, and evaluate arguments. It may also include situational judgment or numerical reasoning tasks. Strong performance here is essential for progressing to the next stage.
Psychometric Testing
Applicants are invited to complete the Watson Glaser critical thinking test. This assesses your ability to analyse information, draw logical conclusions, and evaluate arguments. It may also include situational judgment or numerical reasoning tasks. Strong performance here is essential for progressing to the next stage.
Interview Stage
Assessment Centre
The first interview is a situational exercise exploring how you would respond to six hypothetical scenarios that reflect real challenges faced by trainees at the firm. These may involve managing deadlines, working with colleagues, or navigating difficult client situations. This interview is designed to test your judgement, teamwork, and adaptability.
The second interview is a technical and motivational interview. It begins with questions about your journey into law and your motivation for applying to Hogan Lovells specifically. This is followed by a short case study exercise, which you’ll receive around 10 minutes before the interview. You’ll be expected to discuss your approach, reasoning, and conclusions, and may be given follow-up questions or additional information to consider. The conversation blends both your analysis of the case and your broader commercial understanding. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask your own questions at the end of the interview.
Firm Profiles
Hogan Lovells
An International Law Firm
Year 1
Trainee
£56,000
Year 2
Trainee
£61,000
Newly
Qualified
£135,000
Hogan Lovells is an international powerhouse with over 51 offices spanning the Americas, EMEA, and Asia‑Pacific. The full-service firm is consistently ranked top-tier in multiple practice areas. Complemented by a strong maintenance grant for SQE, PGDL support, private medical insurance, and generous holiday allowance, Hogan Lovells offers an excellent foundation for a career in law.
TC Number
50
Seats
4
Secondments
Yes
Offices
51
Hogan Lovells recruits approximately 50 trainees per intake. Each trainee rotates across around four six-month seats in areas such as Corporate, Finance, Litigation, Arbitration, Employment, IP, Real Estate, and Global Regulatory. Secondment opportunities include international locations such as Washington DC, Frankfurt, Dubai, Hong Kong, New York, Paris, and Singapore, as well as client secondments. These provide broad exposure to firm-wide practice as well as client operations.
Rankings in Chambers
55
Awards
Category
International
Hogan Lovells has been widely recognised for legal innovation and excellence in recent years. In June 2025, the Financial Times named it the law firm with the most consistent track record of innovation over the last 20 years, boasting 41 appearances in their Innovative Lawyers reports and ranking #2 overall in the number of top‑10 placements across Europe, North America, and Asia‑Pacific. At the inaugural Chambers UK Awards 2025, the firm was named FinTech Firm of the Year, highlighting its strategic growth and leadership in blockchain, digital banking, and regulatory innovation . In November 2024, Law.com International ranked Hogan Lovells third best among UK firms for pro bono work, in recognition of its high-impact cases including Windrush compensation cases and human trafficking inquests. At The Lawyer Awards 2024, the firm's Competition & Regulatory team won Team of the Year, marking a notable victory in competition litigation for Vodafone, while its Restructuring team was also commended. Additionally, Marion Palmer, the firm’s Global Head of Sustainability, was named Most Innovative Practitioner at the FT Innovative Lawyers Europe Awards 2024, recognising her leadership in integrating scientific expertise into legal practice.
The Vacation Scheme Application Process
Application Writing
The application form focuses on your academic and work history, with four written questions designed to assess your teamwork, resilience, and commercial awareness. You’ll be asked to reflect on how you’ve worked within a team, handled setbacks, and demonstrated a practical understanding of business or legal challenges. Strong written communication, attention to detail, and structure are essential. Be sure to explain what you learned from each experience and how it connects to the skills required of a future trainee. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so early submission is encouraged.
Psychometric Testing
Applicants are invited to complete the Watson Glaser critical thinking test. This assesses your ability to analyse information, draw logical conclusions, and evaluate arguments. It may also include situational judgment or numerical reasoning tasks. Strong performance here is essential for progressing to the next stage.
Interview Stage
Assessment Centre
The first interview is a situational exercise exploring how you would respond to six hypothetical scenarios that reflect real challenges faced by trainees at the firm. These may involve managing deadlines, working with colleagues, or navigating difficult client situations. This interview is designed to test your judgement, teamwork, and adaptability.
The second interview is a technical and motivational interview. It begins with questions about your journey into law and your motivation for applying to Hogan Lovells specifically. This is followed by a short case study exercise, which you’ll receive around 10 minutes before the interview. You’ll be expected to discuss your approach, reasoning, and conclusions, and may be given follow-up questions or additional information to consider. The conversation blends both your analysis of the case and your broader commercial understanding. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask your own questions at the end of the interview.
Vacation Scheme Deadline
TBD
AAB
A-Levels Requirements
Degree Requirements
2:1