Legal Intern Programme
Our Legal Intern Programme – also known as a Vacation Scheme – gives you the opportunity to experience life at Herrington Carmichael, develop your understanding of legal practice and explore whether a Training Contract with us could be the right next step.
At a glance
What you need to know about the Legal Intern Programme.
Law students who have completed their second or third year.
April, July and August each year.
A mix of two-week and three-week programmes.
Fully office-based in Farnborough.
Main route to be considered for a future Training Contract.
What you will experience
Core Tasks
- Shadowing experienced Solicitors on daily client tasks
- Attending real internal team meetings and strategic case planning
- Carrying out focused legal research and drafting key document clauses
- Reviewing agreements, files, and legal correspondence
- Direct support for fee earners and real client transaction flows
Pathway to Training Contract
Our internship is not just work experience; it is our primary recruitment channel. Successful interns are automatically offered fast-tracked interviews and considerations for our upcoming Training Contract cohorts.
Practice Areas
We aim to place Legal Interns in departments that reflect their interests, the needs of the Firm and the availability of meaningful work during the programme.
Our practice areas may include:
- Commercial
- Commercial Property
- Contentious Probate
- Corporate
- Dispute Resolution
- Employment
- Family
- Immigration
- New Build Conveyancing
- Residential Property Conveyancing
- Private Wealth and Inheritance
You will be asked about your preferred departments as part of the recruitment process. We will take your preferences into account where we can, although placements cannot always be guaranteed.
Who we are looking for
We are looking for candidates who are interested in building a long-term legal career and who want to understand what it is like to work in a full-service law firm.
You do not need to have everything worked out. We are interested in candidates who are curious, thoughtful and willing to learn.
We typically look for candidates who can show:
- a genuine interest in law and legal practice
- strong academic performance, usually on track for a 2:1 or above
- clear communication
- good judgement
- commercial awareness
- self-awareness and willingness to receive feedback
- reliability and professionalism
- an interest in Herrington Carmichael and the work we do
We want to understand how you think, how you approach new situations and how you might develop with the right support.
Frequently asked questions
No previous legal experience is required. We evaluate raw analytical potential, personality, and career alignment.
Yes, all our interns are paid at least the National Minimum Wage during their internship.
To ensure you receive maximum mentorship, shadowing opportunity, and support, this is a fully office-based programme.
Start your application
Applications for our April, July and August internships are open. Connect with our graduate recruitment team for key dates.