Clifford Chance Training Contract 2029 Start: Deadline, Pay and How to Apply
In this guide
We read the firm’s careers site (jobs.cliffordchance.com) on 10 November 2026 and could not reach third-party legal sites, so everything below is Official unless it is labelled Not published. The firm changes its programmes every year, so re-check the live pages before you apply.
Clifford Chance training contract at a glance
| Item | What we found | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Training contract starts | August 2029 and or February 2030 (some candidates may be offered February 2029) | Official |
| Application window | Opened 7 Sep 2026, closes 18 Nov 2026; not rolling | Official |
| Assessment days | Weeks commencing 11 and 18 January 2027 | Official |
| Degree and grades | 2:1 or on track; the firm expects AAB; contextual recruitment (RARE) used | Official |
| Pay | 56,000 pounds year one; 61,000 pounds year two; 150,000 pounds newly qualified | Official |
| Funding | SQE funded in full; PGDL funded for non-law graduates; maintenance grant | Official |
| 2027 vacation scheme dates (London) | Not found on the London pages | Not published |
| Vacation scheme pay and trainee intake size | Not found | Not published |
Sources: training contract page, London FAQ, how we hire. Checked 10 Nov 2026.
Use the chips to see only the dates, eligibility or pay rows. The time-critical fact is the 18 November close, so if you are applying this year the next few days matter more than any other advice on this page.
Clifford Chance training contract deadline and dates
Applications opened on 7 September 2026 and close on 18 November 2026. The firm does not recruit on a rolling basis, which means a candidate who applies on the last day is treated the same as one who applies in September. The assessment days run in the weeks commencing 11 and 18 January 2027.
Days until the training contract closes (18 Nov 2026)
The Challenge, the firm’s fast-track opportunity, closed on 19 October 2026 and runs a briefing on 17 November, an evening experience on 19 November (17:00 to 21:00) and a final task on 20 November (09:00 to 12:00). Participants get a 100-pound voucher and travel and accommodation are covered, and standout performers can be fast-tracked to a training contract assessment day.
London Insight Day took place on 10 November 2026 and was also closed to applications. Our graduate scheme deadlines calendar shows other programmes that are open now.
Clifford Chance routes: training contract, The Challenge, SPARK and ACCESS
The London early careers page does not list a classic spring, summer or winter vacation scheme. It lists the training contract and three early programmes instead, so choose the one that matches your year.
| Route | Who it is for | Status | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Training contract (two years, rotating seats) | Penultimate and final-year law students, final-year non-law students and graduates | Open until 18 Nov 2026 | Official |
| The Challenge | Penultimate-year law and final-year non-law students at a UK or Irish university | Applications closed 19 Oct 2026; events 17 to 20 Nov | Official |
| SPARK (nine months) | First-year law (three-year degree), second-year law (four-year degree) and penultimate-year non-law | May lead to a training contract interview; dates not read | Official |
| ACCESS (two years) | Year 12 students who meet the social mobility criteria | Dates not read | Official |
| Paralegal route | Newcastle apprenticeship page is outside London and was not read | Not covered here | Not published |
Sources: London early careers and The Challenge pages. Over a quarter of trainees are on secondment at any time, according to the training contract page.
Which Clifford Chance route fits your year?
If you are unsure between routes, start with the training contract page for your year and read the eligibility box before anything else. You can apply for only one role per year.
Who can apply to Clifford Chance
The training contract is open to penultimate and final-year law students, final-year non-law students and graduates. The firm asks for a 2:1 or on track for one with consistent modular grades and says it expects AAB at A-level, with contextual recruitment (RARE) used to put grades in context.
Right to work is required for SPARK and ACCESS. For the training contract all students may apply, and the firm provides a skilled worker visa sponsorship certificate. You can apply for only one role per year, and not to London and the Middle East in the same year.
Check the published requirements
The checker only covers the published criteria. The firm also uses contextual recruitment, so a lower A-level profile is considered in context.
Clifford Chance training contract selection process
The firm’s how we hire page lists five stages. The older August 2027 posting that still appears in search results describes a different process with a deadline in 2024, so ignore it and use the current page.
The five stages
Because Watson Glaser results carry over for two cycles, take it seriously the first time: a strong score helps if you re-apply.
Clifford Chance trainee pay and funding
The firm lists 56,000 pounds for a first-year trainee, 61,000 pounds for a second-year trainee and 150,000 pounds for a newly qualified lawyer. Vacation scheme pay is not published; the only figure we found was a 100-pound voucher for The Challenge.
The firm funds the SQE in full and the PGDL for non-law graduates, with a maintenance grant. The SQE runs at the University of Law in Moorgate as a bespoke LLM and SQE Plus programme. Progression conditions include a PGDL commendation (60 percent average) and passing SQE1, SQE2 and each SQE Plus module on the first attempt. Compare with law pay elsewhere in our entry-level law graduate jobs guide.
How to prepare for Clifford Chance
With a deadline of 18 November, spend the first days on the form and the motivation questions, because the online assessments follow quickly. Then practise critical thinking under time pressure for Watson Glaser and the Immersive Online Assessment.
For the video interview and assessment day, build three stories that show commercial awareness, working with others and attention to detail. Read the firm’s recent work so your case study answers sound informed rather than rehearsed.
Preparation checklist
Quote: we found a video from the firm’s Head of Early Careers on The Challenge page but could not verify his wording from text, so we show no quote rather than invent one.
Clifford Chance compared with other graduate routes
Training contracts are a separate track from the corporate graduate schemes in our hub. For other assessment-heavy routes compare the Civil Service Fast Stream assessment centre and the transparency index, which shows how few employers publish closing dates.
Clifford Chance training contract FAQ
When is the Clifford Chance training contract deadline?
For the London training contract with August 2029 and or February 2030 starts, applications opened on 7 September 2026 and close on 18 November 2026. The firm does not recruit on a rolling basis, so applying early has no advantage. Assessment days are in the weeks commencing 11 and 18 January 2027.
How much does a Clifford Chance trainee earn?
The firm training contract page lists 56,000 pounds for a first-year trainee, 61,000 pounds for a second-year trainee and 150,000 pounds for a newly qualified lawyer. Vacation scheme pay is not published.
Does Clifford Chance run vacation schemes?
The London early careers pages do not list a classic spring, summer or winter vacation scheme. They list The Challenge, SPARK and ACCESS instead. We found no 2027 vacation scheme dates for London.
Can non-law graduates apply to Clifford Chance?
Yes. Non-law graduates can apply directly and the firm funds the PGDL and the SQE, with a maintenance grant, according to the official FAQ.
What grades does Clifford Chance ask for?
A 2:1 or on track for one, with consistent modular grades, and the firm says it expects AAB at A-level while using contextual recruitment (RARE).
What are the stages of the Clifford Chance training contract application?
An online form, the Clifford Chance Immersive Online Assessment, the Watson Glaser test, a pre-recorded video interview and an in-person assessment day at Canary Wharf.
Can I apply to London and the Middle East in the same year?
No. The FAQ says you can apply for only one role per year and not to London and the Middle East in the same year. The Middle East training contract is a separate programme.
