If you’re an aspiring solicitor, you’ve almost certainly heard of the Magic Circle law firms.
But who are the Magic Circle law firms? What sets them apart and why are they considered the best UK law firms? And how can you get to work for them? You can find all of the answers to these questions using our free guide – start reading below!
What are the Magic Circle Law Firms?
The Magic Circle is comprised of five of the best UK law firms. A popular term, it was initially coined in the 1990’s by legal journalists as a tribute to the firms’ outstanding performances which had set them apart from the rest of London’s law sector. All of the magic circle firms primarily speialise in corporate law, so it is no surprise that a lot of the weight carried by the mythical title is based on their profitability.
As an aspiring solicitor, you have most likely heard of the magic circle firms. But to a lot of students looking to break into the world of law, the title might appear intimidating – even mythical.
So how did these firms come to form part of the Magic Circle? And how are they different from one another? Here’s everything you need to know.
These are the Magic Circle law firms:
- Allen & Overy
- Clifford Chance
- Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
- Linklaters
- Slaughter and May
Their elite status in a competitive industry comes from various factors, including their client base, their revenue per lawyer, their revenue per partner and the number of lawyers they have working for them.
With this intriguing, informal nickname comes an increasingly high reputation. As described by The Guardian writer Laura Paddison, they’re the firms that promise “top graduates a glittering name on their CV, A-list corporate clients and excellent training”.
Want a more specific insight into each of these firms? Check out these interviews with Magic Circle employees:
- Allen & Overy: Internship Insight
- Clifford Chance: Training Contract Tips
- Freshfields Applications: Top Tips
- Freshfields: Work Shadowing Placement
- Freshfield Trainee: Top Tips
- Freshfields Graduate Recruitment: Law Training Contracts
- Linklaters: Training Contract Tips
Make sure you stay on top of your law firm knowledge by exploring the Silver Circle law firms too.
You’ve heard of the Magic Circle, but did you know that there’s also a Silver Circle? Find out about the prestigious firms that make up this elite group below
Who are the Silver Circle Law Firms?
Average Magic Circle Law Firms Salary
Wondering what the salary is like for a Magic Circle trainee? Or a Magic Circle partner salary? Just take a look at our table below:
| Law Firm | First Year Trainee | Second Year Trainee | Newly Qualified Lawyer | Equity Partner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen & Overy | £50,000 | £55,000 | £107,500 | £1.95m |
| Clifford Chance | £50,000 | £55,000 | £125,0000 | £2m |
| Freshfields | £50,000 | £55,000 | £125,0000 | £2m |
| Linklaters | £50,000 | £55,000 | £125,0000 | £1.87m |
| Slaughter and May | £50,000 | £55,000 | £115,000 | £2m - £3m |
All tables in article updated as of May 15 2023.
Who are the Magic Circle Law Firms?
Allen & Overy
| Founded: | 1930, by George Allen and Thomas Overy |
| Based: | Bishops Square, London E1 |
| Senior Partner: | Wim Dejonghe |
| Managing Partner: | Gareth Price |
| Approx. number of partners: | 554 |
| Approx. number of lawyers: | 2800 |
| Number of offices: | 45 |
| Number of countries with offices: | 31 |
| Revenue: | £1.94 billion |
| Number of trainees per year: | 90 seats |
| Retention rate of trainees: | 82% |
| Number of vacation schemes: | 50 |
| Specified GDL provider: | BPP Law School |
| GDL funding: | £8000 |
| Specified LPC/LLM provider: | BPP Law School |
| LPC/LLM funding: | £12,500 |
Defining Moments
- Advised on the first hostile takeover in the City of London;
- Arranged the first Eurobond in the 1960s;
- Introduced one of the first schemes to allow full equity partners to work part-time;
- First global law firm to open an office in Morocco;
- The only law firm to be named the most innovative in Europe by the Financial Times 3 times.
What do they look for in Allen & Overy training contract candidates?
- A commitment to a career in international commercial law;
- A commitment to and clear articulation of why you want to work at Allen & Overy;
- Commercial awareness of both the law and business;
- Team-working skills;
- Communication skills;
- Planning and organisation skills;
- Drive and motivation to succeed.
Allen & Overy Expert Insights:
Allen & Overy Application Timeline:
| Opportunity | For | Opens | Closes | Scheme runs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Training contract | Final or penultimate year students or graduates from all universities with any degree. | TBC | TBC | 2026/2027/2028 (March and September intakes) |
| Winter Vacation Scheme | Final or penultimate year students or graduates from all universities with any degree. | TBC | TBC | 4 – 8 December 2023 |
| Summer Vacation Scheme | Final or penultimate year students or graduates from all universities with any degree. | TBC | TBC | Summer 2024 |
| A&O Consulting Graduate Programme | Final or penultimate year students or graduates from all universities with any degree. | TBC | TBC | 2024 |
| LawTech Graduate Programme | Final year or graduate students from all universities with any degree (STEM or Economics background is preferred) | TBC | TBC | 2024 |
| A&O First 2024 | First year students doing a three year undergraduate degree, second year students doing a four year undergraduate degree from any degree discipline. | TBC | TBC | 2024 |
| Solicitor Apprenticeships 2024 | Anyone with a minimum of AAB at A-Level (or equivalent) and 7 GCSEs at grade 6 or above. | TBC | TBC | 2024 |
Is Allen & Overy the law firm for you? Take our new Which Magic Circle Law Firm is Right For Me? Quiz now!
Take the quiz!
Clifford Chance
| Founded: | 1987, by merger of Clifford Turner and Coward Chance |
| Based: | Upper Bank Street, London E14 |
| Senior Partner: | Adrian Cartwright |
| Managing Partner: | Charles Adams |
| Approx. number of partners: | 574 |
| Approx. number of lawyers: | 3300 |
| Number of offices: | 34 |
| Number of countries with offices: | 26 |
| Revenue: | £1.97bn |
| Number of trainees per year: | 110 |
| Retention rate of trainees: | 69 |
| GDL funding: | £12,500 (London), £10,000 (outside London) |
| Specified GDL provider: | BPP University, any branch |
| LLM CLP funding: | £10,000 |
| Specified LLM CLP provider: | BPP University, Holborn |
Defining Moments
- Clifford Turner advised on the creation of John Lewis Partnership in 1929;
- Became the first major non-US firm to practice US law;
- In 2000, became the world’s first global law firm with the tripartite merger with Germany’s Punder Volhard Weber & Axter and New York’s Rogers & Wells.
What do they look for in Clifford Chance training contract candidates?
- Genuine interest and a motivation towards a career in commercial law;
- Attention to detail.
Clifford Chance Expert Insights:
Clifford Chance Application Timeline:
| Opportunity | For | Opens | Closes | Assessment Centres | Scheme runs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Vacation Scheme | Penultimate year students, any degree | 17 August 2022 | Closed | Online application form, Watson Glaser test and two interviews including a written case study element. | 2025 and 2026 |
| IGNITE Training Contract | 17 August 2022 | Closed | Online application form, Watson Glaser test and two assessment days. The first is the same as the Training Contract assessment day, which includes two interviews with a written case study element. The second stage is an IGNITE-specific case study interview. | 2025 and 2026 | |
| SPARK | You can only apply for SPARK if you are in your first year or the second year of a four year course. | 17 August 2022 | Closed | Online application form, Watson Glaser test, and two interviews including a written case study element. | 26-30 June 2023 and 17-21 July 2023 |
| ACCESS | Year 12 students who meet specific access-related criteria. | 1 September 2022 | Closed | Online application form, Watson Glaser test and one video interview with a member of the Graduate Recruitment Team. | 2023 and 2024 |
Is Clifford Chance the law firm for you? Take our new Which Magic Circle Law Firm is Right For Me? Quiz now!
Take the quiz!
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
| Founded: | 1743, formed by Samuel Dodd. |
| Based: | Fleet Street, London EC4Y |
| Senior Partner: | Georgia Dawson |
| Managing Partner: | Alan Mason |
| Approx. number of partners: | 427 |
| Approx. numer of lawyers: | 2800 |
| Number of offices: | 28 |
| Number of countries with offices: | 16 |
| Revenue: | £1.76 billion |
| Number of trainees per year: | 100 |
| Retention rate of trainees: | 97% (Spring 2023) |
| GDL funding: | £7250 |
| Specified GDL provider: | BPP University, any branch |
| LPC funding: | £7000 |
| Specified LPC provider: | BPP University, London |
| CCP Funding | All course and exam fees, additional maintenance grant of £20,000 |
| Annual leave: | 25 days |
Defining Moments
- Considered the oldest international law firm in the world;
- The name “Freshfields” was introduced by James William Freshfield. It merged with Bruckhaus Westrick Heller Lober and Deringer Tessin Herrmann & Sedemund in 2000;
- Original partner Samuel Dodd was appointed solicitor to the Bank of England – Freshfields have continued to be the legal advisor to the bank ever since;
- Appointed the first legal services provider to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
What do they look for in Freshfields training contract candidates?
- Enthusiasm
- Engaging
- Well-prepared
- An interest in business
- Time management skills
- Ability to work well in teams
Freshfields Expert Insights:
- Freshfields Applications: Top Tips
- Freshfields: Work Shadowing Placement
- Freshfields Trainee: Top Tips
- Freshfields Graduate Recruitment: Law Training Contracts
Freshfields Application Timeline:
| Opportunity | For | Opens | Closes | Assessment Centres | Scheme runs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trainee Associate Programme | Final year students and graduates (law and non-law) | 10 October 2022 | Closed | Application form, Watson Glaser test, half-day assessment, written exercise, general interview, analytical interview. | Spring and Autumn 2025 |
| Summer Trainee Associate Programme | Penultimate and final-year undergraduate law students, law and GDL/PGDL graduates. | 1 June 2023 | 13 July 2023 | August 2023; Application form, Watson Glaser test, half-day assessment, written exercise, general interview, analytical interview. | Summer 2025 |
| Vacation Scheme | Penultimate-year undergraduate studying any degree. | 10 October 2022 | Closed | Application form, Watson Glaser test, half-day assessment, written exercise, general interview, analytical interview. | 19 June – 7 July 2023 and 10 July – 28 July 2023 |
If you’re looking for firsthand interview tips from a Magic Circle partner, make sure to look at our blog post 12 Pro Interview Tips from a Magic Circle Partner – with all the practical advice you need to have your best interview yet!
Read the pro tips now
Linklaters
| Founded: | 1838, by John Linklater and Julius Dods |
| Based: | Silk Street, London, EC2 |
| Senior Partner: | Aedamar Comiskey |
| Managing Partner: | Paul Lewis |
| Approx. number of partners: | 530 |
| Approx. numer of lawyers: | 3060 |
| Number of offices: | 44 |
| Number of countries with offices: | 27 |
| Revenue: | £1.78 billion |
| Number of trainees per year: | 100 |
| Retention rate of trainees: | 92% |
| GDL funding: | £9000 |
| Specified GDL provider: | University of Law, any branch |
| LPC funding: | £10,000 |
| Specified LPC provider: | University of Law, Moorgate |
Defining Moments
- In 1920, Linklater & Co merged with Paines Plythe & Huxtable, a firm that had been founded by a descendent of one of the founding fathers of the United States, Thomas Paine.
What do they look for in Linklaters training contract candidates?
- Strong academic track record
- Minimum of AAB at A-level
- 2:1 degree in any discipline
- Communication skills
- Drive
- Motivation
- Teamwork
- Attention to detail
Linklaters Expert Insights:
Linklaters Application Timeline:
| Opportunity | For | Opens | Closes | Assessment Centres | Scheme runs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vacation Schemes | Penultimate and final year law or non-law students; law or non-law graduates; law or non-law postgraduates | N/S | N/S | Application form, Watson Glaser test and interview. | 5 December - 16 December 2022, 11 April – 21 April 2023, 19 June – 7 July 2023 and 17 July – 4 August 2023 |
| Making Links Scholars | UK undergraduate students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. | 3 April 2023 | 25 May 2023 | Application form, Watson Glaser test and interview. | 2023-2024 |
| African Clerkship | Recent law graduates, students who are currently at Law school or students in their penultimate year of an undergraduate degree at South African (international students only), Nigerian, Ghanaian or Kenyan universities. | 20 March 2023 | 25 May 2023 | Application form, Watson Glaser test and interview. | November – December 2023 |
| Get Ahead | For UK and Ireland students who are in their penultimate year of study and beyond from Black and other underrepresented minority ethnic backgrounds. | 3 April 2023 | 25 May 2023 | Application form, Watson Glaser test and interview. | August – November 2023 |
| Going Forward | Penultimate-year students and beyond who have refugee status, claiming asylum or from a recognised conflict zone. | 3 April 2023 | 25 May 2023 | Application form, Watson Glaser test and interview. | August – November 2023 |
| Indian Internship | Indian undergraduate students graduating in 2025 from Indian Law Schools. | 20 March 2023 | 22 June 2023 | Application form, Watson Glaser test and interview. | November – December 2023 |
| Linklaters Brand Ambassador | Undergraduates going into their penultimate-year of study in the UK. | 3 April 2023 | 31 July 2023 | Application form, Watson Glaser test and interview. | September 2023 – April 2024 |
Is Linklaters the law firm for you? Take our new Which Magic Circle Law Firm is Right For Me? Quiz now!
Take the quiz!
Slaughter and May
| Founded: | 1889, by William Capel Slaughter and William May |
| Based: | Bunhill Row, London, EC1Y |
| Senior Partner: | Steve Cooke |
| Managing Partner: | Deborah Finkler |
| Approx. number of partners: | 110 |
| Approx. numer of lawyers: | 560 |
| Number of offices: | 4 |
| Number of countries with offices: | 4 |
| Revenue: | $759m (2021) |
| Number of trainees per year: | 95 |
| Retention rate of trainees: | 85% |
| Number of vacation schemes: | 80 |
| Specified GDL provider: | BPP University, London Waterloo + GDL Extra Programme |
| GDL Funding | Course fees and £12,000 maintenance grant |
| Specified LPC provider: | BPP Law School, Holborn |
| CCP Funding | Course fees and £17,000 maintenance grant |
| Annual leave: | 30 days |
Defining Moments
- The first City law firm to establish a presence in Hong Kong;
- The only law firm to have been involved in almost every aspect of the UK financial crisis;
- Advised on Cadbury’s takeover by Kraft.
What do they look for in Slaughter and May training contract candidates?
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Ambitious, commercial approach
- Commitment to excellence
- Three good A-levels
- A good 2:1 or 1st at degree
- Relevant experience in one or more of their practice areas
Slaughter and May Application Timeline:
| Opportunity | For | Opens | Closes | Scheme runs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Vacation scheme | Law students in their first year of undergraduate study only. | TBC October 2023 | TBC October 2023 | April 2024 |
| Winter Workshop | Law and non-law finalists and graduates. | September 2023 | TBC September 2023 | December 2023 |
| Summer Work Experience Scheme (Law Students) | Penultimate year undergraduate students (law). | September 2023 | TBC September 2023 | June and July 2024 |
| Summer Work Experience Scheme (Non-Law Students) | Penultimate year undergraduate students (non-law). | September 2023 | TBC September 2023 | August and September 2024 |
| Training Contracts (Non-Law students/graduates) | Non-law students in the autumn of their final year/non-law graduates. | Closed for 2025/2026 intakes | Closed for 2025/2026 intakes | 2025-2028 (September 2025 and March 2026 intakes) |
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