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Simmons & Simmons
International law firm focused on financial institutions, investment funds, healthcare and life sciences, and technology, with UK training opportunities in London and Bristol.
About Simmons & Simmons
Simmons & Simmons concentrates on industries where regulation, technology and commercial change create complex legal questions. Its core sectors include asset management and investment funds, financial institutions, healthcare and life sciences, and technology, media and telecommunications.
The firm combines transactional advice with regulatory expertise, litigation and investigations. Its work for financial institutions and investment managers connects funds, financing, employment and financial crime matters, while technology and life sciences clients draw on its intellectual property and commercial practices. London and Bristol trainees can explore these relationships while developing experience across different departments.
The two-year training contract comprises four six-month seats. Each trainee has an associate or partner supervisor, with informal mid-seat feedback and a formal review at the end of each rotation. These reviews help identify development needs and inform progression through the programme.
Client and international secondments are available to many trainees during their second, third or fourth seats, subject to availability.
Future trainees who accept an offer before starting their professional courses are normally asked to study at BPP in London or Bristol. Published maintenance grants are £13,000 for the PGDL and £18,750 for the SQE in London. Bristol grants are £11,000 for the PGDL and £14,000 for the SQE. The firm does not retrospectively reimburse completed law school courses.
Practice areas & rankings
Simmons & Simmons has 46 ranked departments in Chambers UK 2027. Band 1 practices include Corporate Crime & Investigations and Employment: Employer in London, alongside Investment Funds: Hedge Funds, UK-wide.
The firm won Law Firm of the Year at the Risk Awards 2026. The recognition covered its work across derivatives and financial markets, including carbon credits, synthetic risk transfer and digital assets.
Ranked departmentsChambers UK
Explore the practice areas
Ranked Band 1 for Investment Funds: Hedge Funds, UK-wide, in Chambers UK 2027, Simmons & Simmons advises asset managers on establishing, structuring and operating funds. Its regulatory expertise supports fund launches and continuing portfolio management. The practice combines a strong London presence with international capabilities.
Ranked Band 1 for Corporate Crime & Investigations in London in Chambers UK 2027, the team handles fraud, bribery, money laundering and internal investigations. Clients include financial institutions and professional services businesses. Its international presence supports investigations and proceedings involving several jurisdictions.
Ranked Band 1 for Employment: Employer in London in Chambers UK 2027, the practice advises on complex litigation, investigations, sensitive disciplinary matters and corporate transactions. Financial services clients are particularly prominent, including investment banks, hedge funds and asset managers.
Ranked Band 3 for Intellectual Property: Patent Litigation in London in Chambers UK 2027, Simmons & Simmons acts for technology and life sciences companies in disputes
Awards
Innovation in AIFT Innovative Lawyers Awards
Won for Percy, the generative AI tool built in-house by the firm's LLM team and rolled out firm-wide.
Commended in four categoriesThe Times Best Law Firms 2025
Recognised for commercial dispute resolution, construction, intellectual property and mergers and acquisitions.
Best Law FirmStructured Retail Products Awards
Recognising the firm's structured products practice.
Top five on the responsible business indexLamp House 2025
Ranked in the top five of 150 law firms globally.
The application process
Click on each stage to find out more.
Apply online for a scheme in your chosen office. Simmons recruits future trainees through its schemes and currently has no open direct training contract route.
Applications opened on 15 October 2026. The London deadline is 15 December 2026, while Bristol closes on 5 February 2027. Recruitment is rolling, so places may be filled before the deadline. The current cycle leads to consideration for September 2029 or March 2030 training contracts.
The form asks about academic results and key achievements. Choose examples that show your contribution, the decisions you made and what you achieved. Explain how those experiences have prepared you for commercial legal work.
Connect your motivation to the firm’s sectors and clients. A focused explanation of why financial services regulation, investment funds or life sciences interests you will give your application more substance than listing every practice area.
Simmons & Simmons: quick answers
How much does Simmons & Simmons pay trainees?
Simmons & Simmons pays first-year trainees £56,000, rising to £61,000 in the second year. Newly qualified solicitors at Simmons & Simmons earn £130,000.
When is the Simmons & Simmons vacation scheme deadline?
Simmons & Simmons runs more than one vacation scheme round in the 2026/27 cycle: the summer scheme closes on 15 Dec, the spring scheme closes on 31 Jan and the summer scheme closes on 5 Feb. Deadlines can change and popular schemes may close early, so check the live application deadlines tracker.
How many trainees does Simmons & Simmons take on?
Simmons & Simmons takes on around 24 trainees in each intake, so places are competitive and strong applications matter.
What tests does Simmons & Simmons use in its applications?
The blended online assessment combines situational judgement, applied intellect and recorded video questions. The reasoning elements include verbal and numerical challenges. Practise identifying relevant information, interpreting figures accurately and checking whether conclusions follow from the evidence. For situational questions, consider how a trainee should balance responsibility, collaboration and seeking guidance. The current brochure states that assessments are not timed. Read the platform instructions carefully and use the opportunity to work thoughtfully and accurately.
What grades do you need to apply to Simmons & Simmons?
To apply to Simmons & Simmons you will generally need a 2:1 degree. At A-level, Simmons & Simmons asks for BBB. Requirements can flex where there are mitigating circumstances, so always check the firm's own criteria if your grades differ.
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