Candidates for the leave program go through the same CV, cover letter and interview process as direct candidates for the apprenticeship contract. Up to ten candidates per year are selected to complete a two-week internship at the company in June or July. Davies tells us that “they are assigned a supervisor and they are completely immersed in the company. We aim for a good balance between work and social activities. VAC organizers receive the generous sum of £750 per week for their efforts and are considered for a training contract. About two-thirds of Sullivan & Cromwell`s apprentices have completed the vacation program so far. Excellent formal training programs, but the most important training will always be “hands-on”. S&C has a strong culture of knowledge sharing and early empowerment of juniors. Apprenticeship contracts with S&C are divided into at least four places – two six-month places in your first year of training and we will consider three four-month places in your second year of training. They are supervised at each seat by a partner who is a leader in their field, as well as other experienced lawyers. They provide the advice you need to ease your transition from university to legal practice.
But the smaller size of admission can also be a good thing, as it allows the company to be more flexible with its TC structure – it is said that if trainees complete the standard two-seater in their first year, it can go up to three four-month places in the second year to allow for a wider range of experiences. It`s also worth noting that since 2017, the company has been trying to improve its formal education by hiring a dedicated trainer. As with most U.S. companies, apprentices are expected to familiarize themselves and learn on the job. This small group is given a lot of responsibility from the beginning. As if to point out, London interns are kidnapped in New York for a week-long initiation at the start of their apprenticeship contract – taking into account, of course, travel restrictions. Further training in London will be streamed online from the New York office, located across the street from long-time client Goldman Sachs. S&C has close ties to the megabank – Goldman previously appointed a former S&C partner as executive vice president, while another partner was recently selected to lead the investment bank`s legal department. The links between S&C and the upper echelons of the US establishment do not end there. The former chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was a partner of S&C before being appointed by then-President Donald Trump. In addition to the most attractive salary and benefits of any major law firm in London, we cover PGDL/LPC/SQE costs for prospective trainees who accept our apprenticeship contract offer.
We will also pay a maintenance allowance, currently £17,000 per year. Our goal is to give interested interns the opportunity to spend time in one of our other offices during their apprenticeship contract. Our interns have spent time in the United States, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Returning to the apprenticeship contracts the company has offered since 2013, S&C has now increased the size of this program to six. With such a small apprentice, the company does not yet have the extensive infrastructure to provide the kind of structured training associated with large UK companies. While common, much of the teaching is delivered on an ad hoc basis by older colleagues once they can integrate it – meaning the quality of training can vary depending on who you`re working with. The qualification here is “a natural process; We have a small cohort, so people already have an idea of what you`re going to do. The firm`s generalist approach means that articling students are eligible for general practice – all without competition or taxes – “unless you choose specifically for those areas.” Our sources felt that it was the transparency of the process (with calls to HR and training trainers Ben and Kirsten) that did not cause them “unnecessary stress”. In 2022, the company retained its three qualifiers.
Sullivan & Cromwell`s apprenticeship contract is both newer and smaller than most, accepting a maximum of six applicants per year. Instead of the more typical online form, Sullivan & Cromwell candidates register their interest by sending a resume and cover letter. These also need to be perfect for standing out from the crowd – the company receives 350-400 applications for its apprenticeship contracts, as well as another 350-400 requests for its holiday program. What You Can Expect from a Sullivan & Cromwell LLP Training Contract To apply for an apprenticeship contract starting in 2025, please email a copy of your resume (including a full classification and percentage breakdown of all academic achievements) and a cover letter to traineesolicitors@sullcrom.com. On a normal day at S&C, interns go out between 7pm and 8pm. However, one source warned: “If it`s busy, don`t stop until what you`re working on is done.” We`ve heard that this could mean hours until midnight or 2 a.m., “but that`s only if you`re near the signings.” Our sources found comfort in the fact that “at the end of the day, you have a pretty good feeling about whether or not you can expect things to come later. You won`t be surprised, but I always have my phone close to me in case something happens. Another factor that can bring comfort is the company`s generous compensation package. “The salary is obviously very good,” a source told us. Interns start at £60,000 (up to £5,000 last year) and as an NQ, you`ll find that the company is “eager to get paid in New York”, although it doesn`t disclose the exact figure.
You can find out more about education at S&C by watching this interview with Ben Perry, Co-Head of S&C`s UK M&A practice, and partners Lillie Peichil and Hannah Cokle.