The Magic Circle refers to five prestigious and multinational London-headquartered law firms. They are Allen & Overy; Clifford Chance; Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; Linklaters; and Slaughter and May.
Most UK training contracts Orrick. Fried Frank. King & Spalding. Payne Hicks Beach. Wiggin. Haynes and Boone. Katten. Winston & Strawn.
What is the Linklaters Training Contract? The Linklaters training contract is a structured two-year program that involves trainees rotating through four six-month seats or placements.
Length of a period of recognised training If a trainee works for less than 32 hours during a week we would consider this a part time period of recognised training and the trainee will be expected to complete more than the minimum two year requirement.
Most UK training contracts Orrick. Fried Frank. King & Spalding. Payne Hicks Beach. Wiggin. Haynes and Boone. Katten. Winston & Strawn.
Indeed, thanks to the firm's moderate proportions and a trainee intake of around 15, newbies are able to “take on more responsibility more quickly.”
The term 'magic circle' was first coined by legal journalists in the late 1990s, and for the past 15 years it has consisted of a distinct group of five: A&O Shearman, Clifford Chance, Freshfields, Linklaters, and Slaughter and May.
Slaughter and May takes on around 95 trainees each year. Trainees complete four seats in different departments, each lasting six months. All trainees must complete at least two seats in the firm's Corporate/M&A and Finance departments.
As a law firm, Slaughter and May maintains a formal dress code, and it is essential to adhere to it. When choosing your attire for the interview, opt for a well-fitted suit in a conservative color, such as navy or charcoal gray.