Applications for Gowling WLG's 2029 training contracts close on Wednesday 18 November 2026. The international law firm is recruiting trainees for its London and Birmingham offices, and its official careers page confirms the deadline alongside its vacation scheme applications.

A training contract is the two-year route to qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales, counting as qualifying work experience under the Solicitors Qualifying Examination route. At Gowling WLG, trainees complete four six-month seats across the firm's practice areas, including a mandatory real estate seat, and start with a full induction.

Pay and funding

First-year trainee salaries are £52,000 in London and £35,000 in Birmingham, rising to £56,000 and £38,000 in the second year. The firm sponsors trainees through the Postgraduate Diploma in Law or the LLM Legal Practice (SQE1 and 2) at the University of Law, covering course fees and paying a maintenance grant of £7,000 for London trainees and £5,500 for Birmingham trainees.

Who can apply and what happens next

The firm recruits two years in advance and welcomes graduates from any degree discipline, penultimate-year law students and final-year non-law students, with no minimum A-level or degree classification requirements. Applications open each October and close in November, with assessment centres held in January and February and training contracts starting two years after the offer, typically in August.

The firm advises applicants not to leave their application until the closing date. Full details and the application form are on its official careers page.

[Source: Gowling WLG (official careers page)](https://gowlingwlg.com/en-fr/careers/uk/early-talent/training-contracts) | [Source: targetjobs — London Direct Training Contract 2029](https://targetjobs.co.uk/jobs/london-direct-training-contract-2029-248063)