Dechert LLP - True Picture

Firm profile
Dechert is the law firm that helps business leaders lead. From the railroads of the 19th century to the world’s top asset managers of today, we advise the innovators who move industries forward. Our nearly 1,000 lawyers, in commercial centers worldwide, are immersed in the key sectors we serve. We consult on first-to-market financial products. Structure precedent-setting deals in private capital and real estate. Propel ventures that drive progress in life sciences and technology. Because all litigation is high stakes and every matter is business-critical, we work shoulder to shoulder with clients, invested and unwavering. For more than 150 years, Dechert has been where leaders need us – at the forefront of the law. Ahead of market shifts and regulatory tides. And wherever business moves next, we’ll be there – partnering with leaders to transcend the expected and achieve the uncommon.

Main areas of work
Our lawyers advise asset managers, financial institutions and corporations on issues critical to managing their business and their capital – from high-stakes litigation to complex transactions and regulatory matters. We assist with raising and deploying pools of capital - from fund formation through the entire investment lifecycle to realisation or restructuring, and we offer market-leading expertise in areas such as antitrust, finance and real estate, white collar crime, tax, IP, partnership and employment.

Training opportunities
We take your training seriously, both before and after you qualify. We have a full, and lively, training programme which covers the whole range of skills you need, from technical legal issues and substantive skills training in each practice area to the Critical Skills Institute, which is focused on leadership, management, communication and client relations. Our trainees undertake six seats of four months each, with international secondment opportunities, providing a truly broad legal foundation. Working closely with partners and associates, and with a small trainee intake, no two trainees’ training contracts will be the same. We are looking for candidates who have a genuine interest in business and our clients, are ambitious and who have a keen sense of building community, both within the workplace and with our clients.

Vacation schemes
We recruit all of our future trainees from our vacation schemes, in winter, spring and summer. Our two-week schemes are designed to provide hands-on experience of what it’s like to be a trainee solicitor at Dechert. Each week you will sit in a different practice group and work alongside our lawyers on live matters. Exactly what you do depends on the practice group you sit in, but will include research, drafting and attending meetings. You will also take part in tailored training sessions designed to develop your legal and business acumen. Before you start the scheme, we will ask for your practice area preferences and try to place you in your chosen groups. You will be allocated a supervisor (an associate or partner) and a trainee buddy, and will receive work from people at all levels from across the group. Social events, such as evening activities and dinners, are an important part of the vacation scheme as they enable you to network and build relationships with the wider Dechert team.

Other benefits
Life assurance, an employee assistance programme, subsidised gym membership, subsidised on-site café, private medical and dental insurance, annual health assessments, pension scheme with firm contributions, season ticket loan and cycle to work scheme.

Open days and first-year opportunities

Our open events are a great opportunity to learn more about the firm and what it’s like to train with Dechert. Each session will provide insight into our practice areas, work and clients, networking with our trainees and associates and applications skills sessions, all designed to give you a great feel for our culture. We would encourage you to consider attending an open event before submitting your vacation scheme and training contract application.

The next open event will be held in November. To apply for a place, please complete the online application form on our website. Applications close on Friday 7 November 2025.

We will also be hosting a First Year Insight Event in February 2026. This will be a fantastic opportunity for first-year university students to learn more about Dechert and explore what a career in commercial law entails. Open to those currently in the first year of a law degree or the first or second year of a non-law degree, the event will include interactive sessions designed to provide insight into our practice areas, the work we do, and the clients we serve, as well as networking opportunities with our trainees and associates. You’ll also benefit from an application skills workshop to help you prepare for your first application cycle. To apply for a place, please complete the online application form on our website. Applications will close on 31 December 2025.

University law careers fairs 2025/26
Visit our website for a full list of the careers fairs we will be attending in 2025/26.

Diversity & Inclusion
Dechert’s guiding principles and personal commitments are not simply words written on our website and in our policies — they are something that we all must live by every day. Championing diversity is part of Dechert’s DNA — a culture where respecting and valuing everyone’s voice and creating a shared enjoyment in all we do empowers people from different backgrounds, experiences and points of view to be fully themselves and bring their very best.

The following are just some of the key measures that Dechert has undertaken to improve diversity and inclusion at the firm:

Diversity and Inclusion Committee
Our firm-wide, partner-led Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Committee oversees policies and procedures that support diversity and inclusion. Similarly, the D&I team is responsible for the strategic oversight and implementation of the firm’s diversity and inclusion initiatives.

The London Diversity and Inclusion Committee promotes an inclusive culture amongst all employees and seeks to foster a greater understanding of diverse groups represented in Dechert’s London community. The committee engages with other affinity groups across the firm to advance Dechert’s diversity and inclusion mission.

Affinity groups

Dechert is home to several affinity groups. Not only do these groups support the development and retention of diverse attorneys, business service professionals, and allies, but they also affect change by identifying and addressing D&I-related issues. Affinity groups contribute to Dechert’s diversity programming, especially heritage month events that celebrate the richness of our different backgrounds, voices, and perspectives. Our affinity groups include:

• Asian Affinity Group
• Black Lawyers Alliance
• Disability Affinity Group
• Family Network
• Global Women’s Initiative
• Greater Middle Eastern Alliance
• Latino Affinity Group
• LGBTQ Affinity Group
• Dechert Heroes (Veterans Affinity Group)