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Russell-Cooke
A London and Surrey firm combining commercial, private client, charity and public law work.
About Russell-Cooke
Russell-Cooke was founded by William Russell-Cooke in 1880 and has developed a broad practice serving businesses, individuals, charities and public bodies. Its offices in Holborn, Putney and Kingston support work ranging from commercial property and corporate transactions to family, private client, charity law, professional regulation and disputes. International work is supported through legal networks and specialist cross-border capabilities. For prospective trainees, a distinguishing feature is the opportunity to experience commercial and individual-client work within the same training contract, including areas that are less commonly combined at larger corporate firms.
Russell-Cooke recruits eight to twelve trainees annually, with most joining in September. Its training contract comprises four six-month seats, including at least one contentious and one non-contentious rotation. Departments include family, charities, private client, corporate, real estate, property litigation, regulation and public law. Seat availability depends on departmental needs. Trainees have a supervisor in each seat, mid-seat and end-of-seat reviews, and regular contact with the graduate recruitment partner.
The firm offers up to £10,000 towards SQE costs, alongside an interest-free loan of a further £5,000. This is capped sponsorship towards fees rather than a maintenance grant. Funding is prospective: the firm does not reimburse completed SQE or LPC studies, and it does not sponsor the PGDL
Practice areas & rankings
Russell-Cooke’s main Chambers profile records 17 department rankings in Chambers UK 2026. These include Band 1 rankings for Family/Children Law, Family/Matrimonial Finance: High Net Worth and Real Estate: £10–50 million in London. Its UK-wide recognition also includes charities, professional discipline, education and social housing work.
Ranked departmentsChambers UK
Explore the practice areas
Ranked Band 1 for Family/Children Law in London in Chambers UK 2026, Russell-Cooke represents parents, children and guardians across a broad range of disputes. Its work includes high-conflict cases, injunctions and sensitive matters involving mental health or abuse allegations. The team also has adoption expertise and experience representing children directly.
Ranked Band 1 for Family/Matrimonial Finance: High Net Worth in London in Chambers UK 2026, the firm advises on divorce, financial remedies and nuptial agreements. Its work includes complex financial circumstances and matters involving overseas jurisdictions, alongside mediation and other approaches to resolving disputes.
Ranked Band 1 for Real Estate: £10–50 million in London in Chambers UK 2026, Russell-Cooke advises investors, landlords and occupiers on acquisitions, disposals and development. Its sector experience includes retail, leisure, hospitality and education. Chambers highlights its advice to Wasabi on lease renewals across several locations.
Ranked Band 2 for Charities, UK-wide, in Chambers UK 2026, Russell-Cooke advises on governance, registration, mergers, restructuring, financing and property. Its clients include charities and social investment organisations in sectors such as healthcare and heritage. The practice combines specialist charity regulation with commercial advice on how organisations operate and deliver their objectives
Awards
Law Firm of the YearLexisNexis Legal Awards 2026
Awarded in recognition of the firm's continued growth and its commitment to doing the right thing.
Law Firm of the Year: The IndependentsThe Lawyer Awards 2025
Recognised the consistent quality and diversity of the firm's caseload, its client-first approach and its commitment to delivering legal aid.
Outstanding Corporate CultureBritish Legal Awards 2025
Recognised the firm's work championing the wellbeing, advancement and diversity of its people and wider communities.
The application process
Click on each stage to find out more.
Applications for the 2029 training contract and 2027 vacation scheme open on 4 November 2026 and close on 3 February 2027.
Candidates can apply through the vacation scheme or directly for a training contract. Published academic requirements are a 2:1 degree and AAB at A-level, with mitigating circumstances considered.
For preparation, explain why the firm’s combination of work interests you. Identify particular practices and connect them to your experiences, while showing openness to exploring different seats. A strong answer should demonstrate an understanding of Russell-Cooke’s clients, which include individuals and charities as well as businesses.
Use examples that show your own contribution, judgement and communication. Explain what happened, what you did and what you learned, rather than simply listing responsibilities.
Russell-Cooke: quick answers
How much does Russell-Cooke pay trainees?
Russell-Cooke pays first-year trainees £46,000, rising to £48,500 in the second year. Newly qualified solicitors at Russell-Cooke earn Undisclosed.
When are the Russell-Cooke application deadlines?
Russell-Cooke has more than one deadline in the 2026/27 cycle: the summer scheme closes on 3 Feb and the training contract closes on 3 Feb. Deadlines can change and popular schemes may close early, so check the live application deadlines tracker.
How many trainees does Russell-Cooke take on?
Russell-Cooke takes on around 10 trainees in each intake, so places are competitive and strong applications matter.
What grades do you need to apply to Russell-Cooke?
To apply to Russell-Cooke you will generally need a 2:1 degree. At A-level, Russell-Cooke asks for AAB. Requirements can flex where there are mitigating circumstances, so always check the firm's own criteria if your grades differ.
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