NQ Salary
~£150,000
TC Salary
~£56,000 / £61,000 (year 1 / year 2)
Annual Intake
c.100 per year (London)
Seats
4 seats
This profile is compiled from publicly available sources and may not reflect the latest changes. Always check CC's official careers page for current deadlines, application processes, and programme details.
One of the most international of the Magic Circle firms, with a dominant reputation in complex cross-border finance and capital markets. Consistently top-ranked for banking and leveraged finance across Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Culture & Values
Secondments are woven into the Clifford Chance training contract: over a quarter of trainees are away on one at any given time, whether at a client or overseas. Every trainee does a seat in Global Financial Markets, the firm's biggest area, and a contentious seat is also required. The firm kept 38 of its 50 spring 2026 qualifiers, a 76% retention rate.
Generated by Folio · folioapp.co.uk · 5 September 2026
Folio is independent and not affiliated with any firm listed. Salary and deadline information is approximate. Always verify with the firm's official graduate recruitment page.
SPARK Development Programme 2027
2 Dec 2026 – 8 Feb 2027
Opens December · Closes February
ACCESS 2027 (Year 12 social mobility programme)
7 Sept 2026 – 22 Feb 2027
Opens September · Closes February
Training Contract (direct, Aug 2029 / Feb 2030 intakes)
7 Sept 2026 – 18 Nov 2026
Opens September · Closes November
Assessment processes change annually. Always check the firm's website for current details.
Deals and announcements in the firm's own words. Naming a recent matter is the fastest way to show you have paid attention.
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Practice questions built around CC's actual assessment stages, with “Why this firm?” evidence traced to verified facts.
Sign up free →Vacation Scheme / Training Contract
Method
“Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (Pearson/TalentLens). 30 minutes timed. Sent after written application. Results carried over between CC programmes (e.g. SPARK).”
Explore CC's work before you apply: free simulations on Forage, built to mirror real trainee tasks.
For Year 12 students (England/Wales) who meet at least two socioeconomic criteria: attended state-funded school since age 11, first-generation university student, received free school meals/Pupil Premium/EMA, attended school with below-average A-level scores, current or former local authority care, current or former carer, refugee or asylum seeker, or parent in lower socioeconomic occupation at age 14 (care experience qualifies independently). Two-year development programme including paid virtual work experience (£400/week) and paid in-person placement (£500/week), one-to-one tutoring, and partnership with Aspiring Solicitors covering travel, accommodation, professional attire and IT equipment.
Applications open September · closes February · Assessment April
Independent Resource
Folio is an independent student project and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Clifford Chance. All information is compiled from publicly available sources and may not reflect the most current data. Salary and deadline figures are approximate, based on prior recruitment cycles. Always check the firm's official graduate recruitment page for confirmed details.