Firm Profiles
Shoosmiths
Shoosmiths
One of the UK's fastest-growing law firms, known for its commercial work, distinctive culture, and £105,000 London NQ salary with one of the lowest billable hours targets in the market.
One of the UK's fastest-growing law firms, known for its commercial work, distinctive culture, and £105,000 London NQ salary with one of the lowest billable hours targets in the market.
Year 1 Trainee
£45,000
Year 2 Trainee
£47,000
Newly Qualified
£105,000
About the firm
About the firm
TC Number
±20
Seats
4
Secondments
Yes
Offices
14
Shoosmiths is one of the UK's fastest-growing law firms, with 14 offices and over 1,300 employees. In its twelfth consecutive year of growth, the firm reported a 5% increase in turnover to £217 million in 2025, with profit per equity partner breaking the £1 million mark for the first time. The firm awarded a 5% firmwide bonus to all 1,300 eligible employees in summer 2025.
The firm operates across corporate, real estate, employment, dispute resolution, finance, and private client. It is known for its culture, notably a target of 1,350 chargeable hours per year, described as one of the most achievable in the market, with bonuses accruing from 1,485 hours. In November 2025, Shoosmiths raised London NQ salaries to £105,000 and English regional NQ salaries to £67,000.
Shoosmiths recruits trainees across two intakes (March and September) in London, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, and Edinburgh. The training contract includes four seats covering at least one contentious and one non-contentious area. The firm also runs a DISCOVER Vacation Placement and Mentoring Programme — a diversity access scheme for candidates from under-represented groups. In 2025, the firm retained 76% of its September qualifying cohort — 25 of 33 trainees.
Practice areas and rankings
Practice areas and rankings
Rankings in Chambers
75
Category
International
Shoosmiths achieved 75 practice area rankings in Chambers UK. The firm was named in Legal 500 UK 2025 across 120+ practice areas. In 2025, the firm broke the £1 million PEP mark for the first time, issued a firmwide 5% bonus, and raised NQ salaries to reflect the competitive London market.
Top practice areas:
Real estate
One of Shoosmiths' largest practice areas. The firm advises institutional investors, developers, and lenders on commercial and residential transactions, development, and real estate finance across its national network.
Corporate and M&A
A strong national corporate practice advising on mid-market M&A, private equity, and corporate restructuring. Consistently ranked by Chambers UK and Legal 500 across its offices.
Employment
A significant employment practice advising major employers on complex workforce matters, employment tribunal claims, and senior executive disputes. Ranked across multiple offices in Chambers UK.
Dispute resolution
A broad disputes practice covering commercial litigation, banking disputes, and regulatory investigations. The firm handles significant disputes for financial services, real estate, and corporate clients.
Finance
A recognised finance practice covering banking, real estate finance, and restructuring across the firm's national offices.
The application process
Written application
The online application form is divided into sections covering personal details, academic history, work experience, and competency questions based on Shoosmiths' values and expected behaviours. Scores are allocated throughout — every section contributes to the overall assessment, not just academic grades. Minimum academic requirements are CCC at A-level (or equivalent) and a degree in any subject. Applications are assessed on a rolling basis within the application window, so earlier submission is encouraged. Shoosmiths uses RealRating (created by upReach) for contextual recruitment, providing a fairer measure of academic achievement by accounting for school type and background.
Psychometric Testing
Candidates who pass the application stage are invited to complete an online strengths-based assessment introduced in October 2022. The assessment explores strengths alongside what the candidate genuinely enjoys doing, using a blend of behavioural and cognitive modules. It provides an immersive candidate experience including a real-job profile, giving candidates a realistic preview of trainee life at Shoosmiths. Candidates who complete the assessment receive individual feedback regardless of outcome.
Assessment Centre
The assessment centre is held in person at the office the candidate applied to.
The day includes five assessed tasks: a pair conversation, a group discussion, a written task, an interview, and an oral presentation.
Candidates are also asked reflective questions about their performance on the day. Alongside the assessed tasks, there is time for networking with current trainees and a Q&A session. These parts are not assessed but candidates should still make a good impression.
Shoosmiths operates CV-blind interviewing at the assessment centre, therefore interviewers have not seen the application form and do not reference it in their decision-making. Candidates are assessed entirely on their performance on the day.
Approximately 20 training contract vacancies are available each year, with around 100 candidates assessed across all assessment centre locations.
The application process
Written application
The online application form is divided into sections covering personal details, academic history, work experience, and competency questions based on Shoosmiths' values and expected behaviours. Scores are allocated throughout — every section contributes to the overall assessment, not just academic grades. Minimum academic requirements are CCC at A-level (or equivalent) and a degree in any subject. Applications are assessed on a rolling basis within the application window, so earlier submission is encouraged. Shoosmiths uses RealRating (created by upReach) for contextual recruitment, providing a fairer measure of academic achievement by accounting for school type and background.
Psychometric Testing
Candidates who pass the application stage are invited to complete an online strengths-based assessment introduced in October 2022. The assessment explores strengths alongside what the candidate genuinely enjoys doing, using a blend of behavioural and cognitive modules. It provides an immersive candidate experience including a real-job profile, giving candidates a realistic preview of trainee life at Shoosmiths. Candidates who complete the assessment receive individual feedback regardless of outcome.
Assessment Centre
The assessment centre is held in person at the office the candidate applied to.
The day includes five assessed tasks: a pair conversation, a group discussion, a written task, an interview, and an oral presentation.
Candidates are also asked reflective questions about their performance on the day. Alongside the assessed tasks, there is time for networking with current trainees and a Q&A session. These parts are not assessed but candidates should still make a good impression.
Shoosmiths operates CV-blind interviewing at the assessment centre, therefore interviewers have not seen the application form and do not reference it in their decision-making. Candidates are assessed entirely on their performance on the day.
Approximately 20 training contract vacancies are available each year, with around 100 candidates assessed across all assessment centre locations.
Firm history
Firm History
Ready to Apply?
Ready to apply?
The Future Trainee Academy covers the full application, including written applications, online assessments, interviews, and assessment centres.
For situational judgment and reasoning practice, the Watson Glaser Practice Hub gives you unlimited free timed tests with worked explanations.
Firm Profiles
Shoosmiths
One of the UK's fastest-growing law firms, known for its commercial work, distinctive culture, and £105,000 London NQ salary with one of the lowest billable hours targets in the market.
Year 1
Trainee
£45,000
Year 2
Trainee
£47,000
Newly
Qualified
£105,000
Practice areas and rankings
Rankings in Chambers
75
Category
International
Shoosmiths achieved 75 practice area rankings in Chambers UK. The firm was named in Legal 500 UK 2025 across 120+ practice areas. In 2025, the firm broke the £1 million PEP mark for the first time, issued a firmwide 5% bonus, and raised NQ salaries to reflect the competitive London market.
Top practice areas:
Real estate
One of Shoosmiths' largest practice areas. The firm advises institutional investors, developers, and lenders on commercial and residential transactions, development, and real estate finance across its national network.
Corporate and M&A
A strong national corporate practice advising on mid-market M&A, private equity, and corporate restructuring. Consistently ranked by Chambers UK and Legal 500 across its offices.
Employment
A significant employment practice advising major employers on complex workforce matters, employment tribunal claims, and senior executive disputes. Ranked across multiple offices in Chambers UK.
Dispute resolution
A broad disputes practice covering commercial litigation, banking disputes, and regulatory investigations. The firm handles significant disputes for financial services, real estate, and corporate clients.
Finance
A recognised finance practice covering banking, real estate finance, and restructuring across the firm's national offices.
About the firm
TC Number
±20
Seats
4
Secondments
Yes
Offices
14
Shoosmiths is one of the UK's fastest-growing law firms, with 14 offices and over 1,300 employees. In its twelfth consecutive year of growth, the firm reported a 5% increase in turnover to £217 million in 2025, with profit per equity partner breaking the £1 million mark for the first time. The firm awarded a 5% firmwide bonus to all 1,300 eligible employees in summer 2025.
The firm operates across corporate, real estate, employment, dispute resolution, finance, and private client. It is known for its culture, notably a target of 1,350 chargeable hours per year, described as one of the most achievable in the market, with bonuses accruing from 1,485 hours. In November 2025, Shoosmiths raised London NQ salaries to £105,000 and English regional NQ salaries to £67,000.
Shoosmiths recruits trainees across two intakes (March and September) in London, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, and Edinburgh. The training contract includes four seats covering at least one contentious and one non-contentious area. The firm also runs a DISCOVER Vacation Placement and Mentoring Programme — a diversity access scheme for candidates from under-represented groups. In 2025, the firm retained 76% of its September qualifying cohort — 25 of 33 trainees.
The application process
Vacation Scheme Deadline
TBD
CCC
A-Levels Reqs.
Degree Reqs.
N/A
Written application
The online application form is divided into sections covering personal details, academic history, work experience, and competency questions based on Shoosmiths' values and expected behaviours. Scores are allocated throughout — every section contributes to the overall assessment, not just academic grades. Minimum academic requirements are CCC at A-level (or equivalent) and a degree in any subject. Applications are assessed on a rolling basis within the application window, so earlier submission is encouraged. Shoosmiths uses RealRating (created by upReach) for contextual recruitment, providing a fairer measure of academic achievement by accounting for school type and background.
Psychometric Testing
Candidates who pass the application stage are invited to complete an online strengths-based assessment introduced in October 2022. The assessment explores strengths alongside what the candidate genuinely enjoys doing, using a blend of behavioural and cognitive modules. It provides an immersive candidate experience including a real-job profile, giving candidates a realistic preview of trainee life at Shoosmiths. Candidates who complete the assessment receive individual feedback regardless of outcome.
Assessment Centre
The assessment centre is held in person at the office the candidate applied to.
The day includes five assessed tasks: a pair conversation, a group discussion, a written task, an interview, and an oral presentation.
Candidates are also asked reflective questions about their performance on the day. Alongside the assessed tasks, there is time for networking with current trainees and a Q&A session. These parts are not assessed but candidates should still make a good impression.
Shoosmiths operates CV-blind interviewing at the assessment centre, therefore interviewers have not seen the application form and do not reference it in their decision-making. Candidates are assessed entirely on their performance on the day.
Approximately 20 training contract vacancies are available each year, with around 100 candidates assessed across all assessment centre locations.
Firm History
Ready to apply?
The Future Trainee Academy covers the full application, including written applications, online assessments, interviews, and assessment centres.
For situational judgment and reasoning practice, the Watson Glaser Practice Hub gives you unlimited free timed tests with worked explanations.