Osborne Clarke LLP |

Osborne Clarke is a successful law firm with a global footprint and a clear strategic vision, working alongside interesting clients on their most vital matters. We are a firm that never stands still, that cares about its people, and invests in the future.

At Osborne Clarke the challenges of tomorrow are the focus of today. By zeroing in on Digitalisation, Decarbonisation and Urban Dynamics as the key areas transforming the way we live, work and do business, we've been able to hone our knowledge and expertise to the changes that will have the biggest impact for both our clients, and the work around us. Our three-dimensional approach to client service combines sharp legal expertise, in-depth understanding of our clients and the sectors they operate in, and the global issues driving transformation across their business.

Like any private practice, legal expertise is at the heart of everything we do. But what makes us distinctive? For a start, you will get involved in truly fascinating work. The variety of our deals and the diversity of our clients provide an exciting and immersive commercial framework. This is a firm where fresh ideas are highly prized, and we're never afraid to take a view. It is also firm with a coherent commercial vision, with a clear direction, supported by a compelling sense of purpose and identity. Finally, there's our culture. We know first-hand what inviting a diversity of perspectives delivers – creativity, innovation and a truly inspiring workplace. That’s why there's no one type of Osborne Clarke lawyer. And why your story, your ideas and who you are matters from Day 1.

To help ensure that candidates from any background can perform to the best of their abilities we have chosen to support the Pathway focussed on assessment centres. Assessment centres are designed to get to know candidates and the skills that they can bring to an organisation, so helping individuals understand how they can best prepare and show an employer their full potential will help them to ensure that they are successful.

You will leave this course with a strong grounding in the various ways you can prepare for an assessment centre, so you can give yourself the best chance of success on the day.

At Osborne Clarke, Diversity & Inclusion, CSR and ESG go right to the heart of our culture and who we are as a firm. Because taking care of our people, our communities and the world at large is not only simply the right thing to do, it’s fundamental to all our futures. For the success of the firm, the well-being of our employees and the impact we have on the planet.

Diversity is one of the most highly prized attributes of Osborne Clarke. But knowing that a diverse workplace doesn’t necessarily mean an inclusive one, we’re committed to uncovering our blind spots and making sure everyone enjoys the same opportunities regardless of who they are, who they love or where they come from. Through our internal networks (REACH, Pride, Gender, Age, Mind and Body, and Social Diversity) and alongside our partnerships with external organisations such as Stonewall and Rare we aim to highlight and address inequalities and ensure Osborne Clarke is a workplace that works for everybody.

The OC networks are part of a broader set of aims and activities which are captured in three pillars, under our over-arching OC for Good initiative. Being a Good Employer is the first pillar, encompassing – among other things – our D&I objectives. Being a Good Corporate Citizen the second, while the third focuses on doing Good Business. Within each of these areas there are countless initiatives and projects with fantastic opportunities for you to get involved with the issues lying closest to your heart. Have other ideas about what we could be doing? We’ll want to hear them. Because within this rapidly evolving space there’s always going to be ways to do things better.

We're looking for the qualities that make a great Osborne Clarke lawyer. The ability to listen, learn and collaborate; a passion for client service; a genuine interest in the business environment; a problem-solving approach; and – of course – the drive and motivation to succeed. We have no minimum academic criteria, and use the Rare Contextual System to allow added appreciation of the context in which your academic achievements have been gained.

Training environment

Your training at Osborne Clarke is exactly that: Yours. We offer a bespoke programme that evolves through continuous review and communication, created with your skills, your ambitions and your passions as the guiding principle. Following your time with BPP completing the SQE preparation courses and examinations, you'll embark on two-years of different placements throughout the firm, each one building on the growth gained by the one before. These placements will give you the opportunity to broaden your social and networking skills through high levels of client exposure from the get-go. By the time you reach qualification you'll know what you want to do and be prepared – and inspired – to do it. And it doesn’t stop there. Unlike other training programmes, ours extends into your first year as a qualified lawyer, where you'll be given further support to develop specialist "future of work" skills, grow your network and, if you haven’t already, experience a secondment.

Beyond ensuring that our future lawyers have all the legal and technical training to succeed, we're just as focused on what the human behind them needs. All of our trainees have a trusted support system that includes dedicated development managers and supervisors, mentors and of course a peer network active from the moment you accept your training contract offer. We also offer a flexible approach to connected working, with no expectation of five days in the office.

Vacation scheme

The best way to really know if Osborne Clarke is the firm for you is to experience it all first-hand on our two-week summer vacation scheme. You'll get an insight into the day-to-day of a global commercial firm, soak up the culture and get to do real work with expert supervision. Like most things in life, you get out what you put in. Rather than observing us from the side-lines, we want you to take an active role in your experience with us. Which means that while you'll be given a comprehensive (and educational) programme to follow, you'll also be given the space – and encouragement – to take the initiative, dive in deeper to the areas that interest you, and truly make the most of your time with us.

As well as shadowing the lawyers and experiencing legal work up close, you'll take part in regular in-depth knowledge sessions with partners from across the firm, covering the most important themes impacting the legal industry and world at large. You'll also attend a selection of social events, giving you the opportunity to flex those networking skills.

Insight scheme

Our Insight Scheme for first-year law and first and second-year non-law students offers the opportunity to experience life at Osborne Clarke. Through presentations and insight sessions with our Partners and recruitment team, we'll equip you with the tools you need to apply for a place on our vacation scheme. We'll also give you the opportunity to informally network with our trainees so that you can find out what it's like to train and work at Osborne Clarke.