Middle East Trainee Solicitor or Vacation Scheme Intern

About The Firm
We are one of the largest international law firms in the world. With over 30 offices across the globe, we strive to exceed the expectations of our clients, providing them with the highest-quality advice and legal insight, which combines the firm's global standards with in-depth local expertise.

Our one firm global strategy is focused on targeted growth led by the needs of our core clients, those who we can best support with the breadth and depth of Clifford Chance expertise, across the sectors and geographies which matter most to them.

Our firm, work and people span jurisdictions, cultures, and languages. We offer our clients a truly international perspective. We believe every career should be rewarding and stimulating - full of opportunities to learn, thrive, and grow. That's why we're so proud of our inclusive, friendly, and team-based approach to work.

You'll find our clients in commercial and industrial sectors, the financial investor community, governments, regulators, trade bodies, and not-for-profit organisations. But no matter who they are or why they've reached out to us, we provide a world-class service every step of the way. And that's possible thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit and conscientious approach to work that you'll find across all of our teams.

Whichever area of the business you join, you'll become an integral part an innovative, diverse and ambitious team of people. Clifford Chance is a place where the brightest minds and the best of colleagues meet.

Job Description
Deadline for Applications: 14th January 2026

Job Overview
This role is for the Middle East Training Contract and/or Middle East Vacation Scheme. You will be considered for both opportunities unless you specify on your application form that you're unable or don't wish to be considered for the Vacation Scheme.

During the two-year Middle East Training Contract, you will experience the challenging high-performance world of commercial law and gain the breadth of experience you need to emerge as a confident solicitor in England and Wales. You will have four six-month rotations, the first rotation being spent in our London office and the remaining three in our Middle East offices, giving you the opportunity to explore the firms practice areas. Seats choices will be within our core areas of Corporate, Global Financial Markets, Real Estate & Construction, Projects, and Litigation & Dispute Resolution. You may also have the opportunity to undertake a client secondment. Trainees receive a salary of 340,000 AED in their first year, 355,000 in their second year.

Our two-week and three-day Summer Vacation Scheme from Wednesday 17th June – Friday 3rd July 2026 is designed to offer outstanding opportunities for you to experience what a career at Clifford Chance involves. You'll gain insights into our exciting, stimulating, and challenging work. You will be close to the action and will have the opportunity to work with experienced lawyers in two of our key practice areas. Throughout the Scheme, you will also receive the support of a supervising associate and trainee 'buddy' who will help guide you and will be someone who you can turn to at any stage. The expectation will be for you to be eager to learn, ask questions, and immerse yourself as much as possible. There will be many opportunities for networking and socialising with Clifford Chance employees in our Middle East offices and you are encouraged to make the most of these and your time with us. The Scheme can lead to a Middle East Training Contract interview. You will be paid AED 3,250 for the Scheme and where applicable, flights and accommodation to partake in the Vacation Scheme will be covered.

Eligibility
Our Training Contract and Vacation Scheme are open to penultimate year law students, final year law and non-law students, and graduates.

You must be eligible to start your Training Contract in February 2028 or August 2028. Your Training Contract intake may be decided by the recruitment team. For further information on eligibility, please refer to our FAQs on our website. You must have achieved or be on track to achieve a 2:1 or above in your undergraduate degree.

If you are applying for our Middle East Training Contract and you have not studied a law degree then you will need to complete the PGDL prior to joining us as a Trainee. Please note that if you are a Scots or Irish law student or graduate you may be required to do elements of the PGDL. All Future Trainees will also need to complete the SQE prior to joining us as a Trainee, this is irrespective of whether they have already completed the LPC. All Future Trainees who have already completed the SQE will still need to complete the Clifford Chance Plus Programme, which is a bespoke course designed by our lawyers in collaboration with the University of Law. Both the PGDL and SQE are funded by Clifford Chance and we will provide a maintenance grant to use during your studies. More details can be found on our website here. If you have already completed the PGDL, you need to have achieved a commendation (60% or more) overall and achieved a completion (a pass or better) on all modules at first attempt. If you have already completed the SQE, you need to have passed all modules on first attempt.

How To Apply
Complete the online application form.

Take the Watson Glaser critical reasoning test.

After completing the Watson Glaser test, your application form will be reviewed by the recruitment team.

Successful candidates at application review will be invited to a recorded video interview.

If you are successful at the video interview stage, you will be invited for a virtual competency interview with a Partner and Senior Associate who work in the region.

If you are successful at the virtual interview, you will be invited to complete a case study exercise in the London office (inclusive of a written exercise) and a case study interview with a Partner and Senior Associate.

Who You Will Work With
During your Training Contract, at the start of each seat, you will receive specialised training in that sector and a dedicated supervisor. Throughout your Training Contract, you will be closely supported by the Early Talent Development team, your Supervisor, Resource Manager, and your Monitoring Partner. They will all be available to act as mentors and advisors on a full range of subjects, but it will be up to you to make the most of this support network. You will have access to learning and development support from the Clifford Chance Academy, arguably the legal sector's leading in-house learning and development facility.

During your Vacation Scheme, you will be supported by a supervising associate who will set tasks, provide feedback and be able to provide insight into their experience and career in the relevant practice area. Your dedicated trainee buddy will guide you through your tasks and will be on hand toa answer any queries, legal and otherwise. Between the two, you will gain a snapshot of life and work at different stages of your career as a Clifford Chance lawyer.

What You Will Do
Whilst your experience in each seat will be very different, in all of them you will develop your legal and business skills, gain insight into our high-profile clients, and enhance your commercial awareness. The tasks you undertake could include drafting and proofing documents, conducting due diligence on a client's acquisition target, attending client meetings, preparing documents for a court hearing, researching titles and leases on a real estate portfolio, or creating a data room ahead of a major transaction. During your Training Contract, you may even run some smaller transactions for our clients These are just some examples of the breadth of work you may be involved in as a trainee. During your Vacation Scheme, there will be opportunities to attend firm presentations and ask questions about our practice areas, business professional teams and our Training Contract, as well as networking and socialising with Clifford Chance employees in the UAE.

Qualifications
Your career experience so far
Outside of our academic requirements, you do not need any specific experiences or legal knowledge prior to applying for this role.

However, we will need you to demonstrate attributes/skills such as:

Strong commitment to building your career in the Middle East and fluent Arabic drafting and speaking skills are preferred for our Middle East programmes.

Business awareness and problem solving with commercial insight and an ability to identify legal and business issues. You will need an inquisitive mind and an ability to articulate and apply your knowledge creatively in a solution-focused manner with an ability to explore and analyse ideas.

An ability to understand our clients needs and provide exceptional client service, putting clients at the heart of everything you do.

Leadership and collaboration skills with a natural enthusiasm for being a team player.

An ability to multi-task, remain organised and thrive through challenges in a fast-paced high-pressure and high-performance environment with demanding deadlines.

Strong oral and written communication skills, including being reliable and responsive, and providing regular updates to team members when needed.

An ability to demonstrate a real desire to learn from those around you and with an ambition to progress and gain exposure within the firm and with clients.

The ability and desire to take pride in your approach to work and your work output, including proactively seeking feedback and taking responsibility for your own career. You will take ownership of your work, being proactive, solution-oriented, accountable, and committed to continuous improvement.

Knowledge of and a genuine interest in the role, firm and our clients with an understanding of how this aligns with your skillset and career ambitions.

Additional Information
How we will support you
Before you've even started your Training Contract, you will have the opportunity to apply for our LIFT programme (learning internships for future trainees). We have partnered with a select number of organisations and core Clifford Chance business teams to offer paid summer internships to our future trainees, with the sole aim of supporting your professional development.

Clifford Chance are committed to best-in-class learning and development opportunities for our Future Trainees, and this includes both PGDL and SQE prep sessions that enable our Future Trainees to maximise their career development, build their networks, and leave feeling equipped with the skills and confidence necessary for PGDL and SQE success. During the SQE, we host a number of Practice Area presentations that help Future Trainees to make informed seat choices. To set you up for success, each Practice Area also delivers a skills session to explain key trainee tasks and ensure trainees are best placed to add value from day one. And in week one at the firm, you will partake in our one-week Trainee Induction programme.

If you are offered a space on the Vacation Scheme, The Early Acquisition Team, your trainee buddy and your supervisor will support you throughout the Scheme.

Equal opportunities
At Clifford Chance, we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society.

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age. This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.

We have a variety of flourishing employee networks. These networks are a place for colleagues to share experiences and advocate for change wherever they see an opportunity for improvement.

Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm.

Find out more about our inclusive culture here.

Location
During the first seat rotation of your Training Contract, you will be located in London, Canary Wharf (in 2027 the Company will be relocating to 2 Aldermanbury Square, EC2). The remainder of your Training Contract will take place in our Middle East Offices (Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Riyadh). You will be expected to be in the office at least four days a week.

Your vacation scheme will take place in our Dubai office or Abu Dhabi office.