White & Case LLP - True Picture

Firm profile

White & Case is a global law firm of more than 2,500 lawyers worldwide. We’ve built an unrivalled network of 43 offices in 29 countries, an investment is the foundation for our client work in over 200 countries today. 

Our innovative approaches and nuanced local market knowledge create unique solutions to our clients' most complex domestic and multijurisdictional deals and disputes. We anticipate what they want, provide what they need and build lasting relationships. Our culture comes to life through our three core values: Pioneering, United and Human.  

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The work

There’s no such thing as a typical White & Case lawyer. We recruit ambitious trainees who have a desire to gain hands-on practical experience from day one and a willingness to take charge of their own career. We value globally minded people who are eager to work across borders and cultures, are intrigued by solving problems within multiple legal systems and have an understanding of international commercial issues.

We recruit both law and non-law students and, owing to the nature of our work, language skills are highly valued. Applicants will be welcomed for their individuality, their enthusiasm for the cutting-edge work we do and having a positive, proactive mindset that puts our clients first.

Potential trainees should have achieved, or be on track to achieve, a solid 2:1, have a positive attitude, be enthusiastic and work well as part of a team.

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Our two-year training contract

The training contract consists of four six-month seats, one of which is guaranteed to be spent in one of our overseas offices: Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai, Riyadh, Geneva, Helsinki, Madrid, New York, Paris, Singapore, Stockholm, Tokyo, and Washington DC. The remaining three seats can be spent in any of the Firm’s practice groups in London.

Trainees will receive a high level of partner and associate contact and will do high-quality, stimulating and rewarding work from day one. Our trainees work in small, focused teams, and their colleagues trust them to perform tasks accurately and efficiently.

Ongoing training and development enables all our trainees to reach their potential and develop the skills they will need as a global lawyer. We offer plenty of support and regular feedback, so our trainees are always clear on how they can continue to grow as lawyers, build their network and make the most of the opportunities we offer.

White & Case is a “high-stretch, high-support” workplace that celebrates individual excellence and team success. We actively encourage our trainees to take responsibility early and drive their own careers, and there is a strong emphasis on practical training, with plenty of support and feedback. Alongside the training contract, our trainees are encouraged to get involved in all aspects of our globally renowned pro bono programme, often working directly with clients and even managing small matters. We recruit and develop trainee solicitors with the aim of retaining them on qualification.  

Discover White & Case through the eyes of our people: find out about our work, our people and our culture here.

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Vacation schemes

So you want to be a City lawyer? Taking part in one of our three annual vacation schemes is the best possible way to experience what our lawyers do every day. Try out real client work and see if our Firm is the right fit for you.

We recruit the majority of our London trainees (on average 80 percent) from our vacation schemes, with 25 participants in each intake. There’s no limit on how many training contracts we offer per scheme, so you won’t be in competition with your peers.

• Wherever your career takes you, we guarantee that you’ll build skills and experience that will last. You’ll do real client work— for example, drafting memorandums, writing client alerts, researching areas of the law or attending meetings or court hearings

• Learn about different practice areas and deepen your knowledge of the law

• Get involved in sessions, such as our ‘Carousels’ with associates or more formal practice presentations from our partners or senior lawyers

• Be allocated a supervisor and a buddy to support you in your day to day and allocate you work

• Attend social events, including supervisor and buddy lunches, and fun activities such as visiting the iconic sites of London!

• Build your networks, both professionally and personally

• Receive feedback and advice on your work and performance

• You’ll have the opportunity to prepare a presentation on a commercial topic

Our vacation schemes run on the following dates:

Winter (for finalists and graduates)

Our Winter scheme runs from 1 December – 12 December 2025. The deadline for applications is 26 October 2025

Spring (for penultimate-year students, finalists and graduates)

Our Spring scheme runs from 13 April – 24 April 2026. The deadline for applications is 12 January 2026

Summer (for penultimate-year students, finalists and graduates)

Our Summer scheme runs from 29 June – 10 July 2026. The deadline for applications is 12 January 2026

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Open days

If you’re curious about working as a City lawyer, our London office open days are a great way to find out more. You’ll learn more about White & Case, and meet our current trainees, associates and partners.

• Learn about City law

• Demystify the term and further understand the concept of commercial awareness

• Learn about different practice areas and deepen your knowledge of the law.

• Get involved in varying sessions we have designed for you with Early Careers, partners, associates and trainees. A chance to interact with Firm representatives and ask about their day-to-days and varying work tasks • Get practical tips on how to do well in your applications and interviews

• Put your decision-making skills to the test in an interactive business game Our open days run on 12 and 20 November 2025 and the deadline to apply is 30 October 2025. Our STEM open day runs on 8 April 2026 and the deadline for applications is 8 February 2026.

Our open days run on 12 and 20 November 2025 and the deadline to apply is 30 October 2025. Our STEM open day runs on 8 April 2026 and the deadline for applications is 8 February 2026.

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Discover: University Insight Scheme

Discover what White & Case lawyers really do and see if this is a career that matches your interests and ambitions.

• Learn about White & Case

• Find out how we compare to other law firms

• Learn about different practice areas and deepen your knowledge of the law

• Demystify the term and further understand the concept of commercial awareness

• Have a chance to have a coffee catch up with a trainee and explore the office • Understand the day-to-day role of a trainee

• Enhance your future applications

• Get involved in varying sessions we have designed for you with Early Careers, partners, associates and trainees.

• Meet our recruiters and get tips for future applications

Our Discover: University Insight Scheme runs on 10 June – 11 June 2026 and the deadline for applications is 12 April 2026.

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Launch into Law: Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme

Launch into Law is our solicitor apprenticeship programme. It's for bright, determined and confident school leavers who want to start their career at a leading global law firm without having to go to university.

• Legal Cheek's Sixth Formers Firm of Choice 2025 award

• Six years of work, study, learning and support

• Starting salary of £32,000, £1,000 set-up bonus, and tuition fees paid

Launch into Law is a degree apprenticeship (Level 7) that provides a mix of on-the-job learning and formal study. Over six years as a solicitor apprentice, you'll earn a salary while studying and get all the experience you need to make your mark as a lawyer at our Firm.

The deadline to apply to our Solicitor Apprenticeship to start in September 2026 is 4 January 2026.

We are also running a Solicitor Apprenticeship Open Day on 18 November 2025 and the deadline for applications is 2 November 2025. Please visit our website for more information.

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GCC English Law Trainee Program

White & Case consistently ranks as one of the premier law firms operating in the Middle East. We have advised on some of the country's most significant energy and infrastructure projects and high-profile capital markets and corporate M&A deals, working alongside leading government-owned enterprises and international clients.

Be part of our growth story in the Middle East. Join us as a trainee in Abu Dhabi, Dubai or Riyadh and you'll work on some of the highest profile matters for the most prominent clients in the region. Benefit from being part of a supportive and friendly team, with deep local roots, as well as the strength of a top-ranked global law firm.

It's an exciting time to start your career here. We have been advising clients in the Middle East for almost 40 years, often on their most complex global and local legal challenges. We’re committed to building our business in this exciting part of the world, and you’ll benefit from the chance to take on real responsibility and accelerate your own career.

Build the friendships and personal connections that will last a lifetime and get the training and experience to become a top lawyer in one of the most exciting and rapidly evolving parts of the world. A lot can happen in two years.

• Law graduates start their SQE in September 2026 or September 2027 (or PGDL for non-law graduates)

• Trainees start in Abu Dhabi, Dubai or Riyadh in September 2027, March/September 2028

• All PGDL/SQE fees covered and a maintenance grant provided

For more information and to apply please visit our website.

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Middle East vacation scheme in Spring 2026 

We aim to recruit for our GCC English Law Trainee Program through our vacation scheme, which is also an opportunity for you to find out if we are the right firm for you. You’ll have the opportunity to undertake meaningful work alongside leading lawyers in their field in one of the three locations offering our GCC English Law Trainee Program, as well as take part in learning sessions to discover more about the Firm.

Vacation scheme participants will be paid a competitive stipend to cover expenses during the program.

For more information and to apply please visit our website.

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White & Case Virtual Learning Programme 

Our virtual learning programme offers the opportunity to gain first-hand insight into life as a White & Case trainee and experience the realities of cross-border law.

There is no cost to access the programme; it is self-paced to fit around your schedule, and no application form or legal knowledge is required. You'll gain insight into the fast-paced cutting-edge projects our lawyers and trainees work on, and gain valuable skills by undertaking true-to-life legal tasks. Participation in the learning programme will be recognised on our application forms, and it is a great way to demonstrate your interest in law and White & Case.

Wherever you are based, we want to give everyone the opportunity to get to know us.

If you're globally minded and ambitious, join our virtual learning programme here.

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Engagement and Development 

White & Case has long been committed to creating equal opportunities for all our people. Our steadfast commitment to valuing experiences and perspectives from a variety of backgrounds, fostering mutual respect, and working collaboratively has always been at the core of our Firm.

Our commitment to Engagement & Development reflects the inherently global nature of our Firm. By investing in community-building, mentoring, coaching, and skill development, we foster collaboration across geographies, cultures, and professional roles.

The Firm’s Engagement and Development function is led by Hedieh Fakhriyazdi, Chief Engagement and Development Officer who reports to the Firm’s Executive Committee.

The Engagement & Development function consolidates several meaningful initiatives focused on our non-partner lawyers and business services professionals, ensuring they are coordinated, strategic, and accessible to all our people globally.

The Firm’s Engagement & Development programmes include:

1. Continuing to foster community through our eight global affinity networks and other platforms open to everyone at White & Case; 1. Reimagining the Firm’s professional skills curriculum for lawyers and business services professionals;

2. Deepening our offerings through the Firm’s Coaching Office and enhancing our mentoring initiatives;

3. Expanding opportunities for associate and business services professional participation in committees and Firm-wide initiatives; and

4. Developing actionable and measurable results, including implementation of recommendations from our Firm-wide engagement survey, “The People’s Voice”, and other ongoing pulse surveys; and much more.

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Affinity Networks 

An important part of our engagement work is the ongoing support of, and collaboration with, our Affinity Networks. These communities are open to everyone and play an important role in celebrating wide-ranging cultures and perspectives, educating colleagues across the Firm and fostering a better understanding of different backgrounds and experiences. Our Affinity Networks build connections and shared experiences and provide a supportive and strong global community.

Our eight global Affinity Networks are open to people of all backgrounds:

1. Asian Affinity Network

2. Black Affinity Network

3. Disability & Neurodiversity Affinity Network – Beyond Barriers

4. Hispanic & Latinx Affinity Network – Alianza

5. Jewish Affinity Network

6. LGBTQ+ Affinity Network - Spectrum

7. Middle Eastern and North African Affinity Network

8. Women’s Affinity Network with 24 local chapters

Together, these groups serve as key resources for professional development, support, educational awareness and networking. The power of these networks is that they are grassroots organizations. Even more meaningful is the fact that each participant joins and participates in a network as a volunteer, not as a part of their former professional role within the Firm.

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How to apply & deadlines 

Apply online at whitecasetrainee.com