Law Vacation Scheme Deadlines 2027: Every UK Firm

Law vacation schemes for 2027 started opening in late August 2026, with most firms opening in September and October 2026. Deadlines run from late October 2026 to mid-January 2027, and the busiest stretch is the first two weeks of December. Below is every vacation scheme deadline we track, earliest first, followed by when each firm opened.

For the schemes open right now, the law vacation scheme tracker lists every live one with its deadline, updated within minutes of a new one going live.

2027 vacation scheme deadlines, earliest first

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These are the deadlines on each firm's posting when we checked on 29 October 2026. Where a firm runs more than one scheme (spring, summer, or a separate track), the earliest deadline is shown. Firms marked rolling review applications as they arrive and can close early.

Freshfields' vacation scheme closed on 25 October 2026. Deadlines change, so always check the firm's own page; every scheme on the law vacation scheme tracker links straight to it.

When vacation schemes opened

These are the months each firm's 2027 scheme first appeared on LucidTrack's job board.

• August 2026: Paul, Weiss (the first, on 23 August), Covington & Burling, Macfarlanes, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, Hogan Lovells, Freshfields
• September 2026: Dentons, Orrick, Goodwin, Reed Smith, Willkie Farr & Gallagher, Norton Rose Fulbright, A&O Shearman, Burness Paull, Linklaters, Weil, Trowers & Hamlins
• October 2026: Gowling WLG, Baker McKenzie, Stephenson Harwood, Bird & Bird, Watson Farley & Williams, Simmons & Simmons, Travers Smith, and a large group of US and UK firms including Skadden, Sullivan & Cromwell, White & Case, Ashurst, Akin, Milbank, Gibson Dunn and Mayer Brown

What this means for your applications

Your first deadlines are earlier than you think. Macfarlanes and A&O Shearman close in October and early November, weeks before most firms. If they are on your list, they set your timetable.

Spread the December crunch. More than half the deadlines above fall between 1 and 20 December, alongside end-of-term exams and coursework. Write your strongest applications in November rather than in the last week of term.

Vacation schemes lead to training contracts. Many firms recruit most of their trainees from their vacation schemes, so treat each application as the first stage of a training contract application. Several firms also take direct training contract applications; see the law training contract tracker. First-years can start earlier: law firms' insight days are in our spring weeks 2027 guide.

Frequently asked questions

When are the 2027 vacation scheme deadlines?

At the 36 firms we track, deadlines run from late October 2026 to mid-January 2027. More than half fall between 1 and 20 December 2026.

Which law firm's vacation scheme deadline is earliest?

Macfarlanes, on 30 October 2026, followed by A&O Shearman on 9 November. Freshfields' scheme had already closed, on 25 October 2026.

When do vacation schemes open?

The first 2027 scheme opened on 23 August 2026, at Paul, Weiss. Most firms opened in September and October 2026.

Do vacation schemes lead to training contracts?

Often. Many firms recruit most of their trainees from their vacation schemes, so treat the application as the first stage of a training contract application.

Keep track of every scheme

Applying to fifteen firms means fifteen deadlines, fifteen sets of questions and, if things go well, a run of Watson Glaser tests, interviews and assessment centres. With a free LucidTrack account, every scheme you apply to from the law vacation scheme tracker goes into your tracker with its deadline, and you can follow each one through every round to an offer.

Find the roles in this guide

Every live role, with its deadline, and every closed one with the date it opened.

Trackers

• Law vacation scheme tracker
• Law training contract tracker