Winter, Spring and Summer Vacation Scheme Deadlines 2025-26 (with rolling/non rolling checklist!)

Ram Sabaratnam

Ram Sabaratnam

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Hey everyone,

Vacation Scheme application season is upon us! To make things easier for those of us preparing to apply, I have put together a list to track all the applications and their due dates for the Winter, Spring and Summer Vacation Schemes. I will keep this list updated! Please feel free to drop any suggestions to better utilise this thread. Good luck in your application and please keep us posted on your progress!

Here are the firms that have announced their application opening and closing dates for Winter, Spring and Summer Vacation Schemes 2025/26 so far:

(This list is dynamic and will be updated as firms release their application windows)

Winter Vacation Scheme Deadlines 2025/26:​

Specific Dates Released​

Opening DateClosing DateScheme DatesFirm NameRolling/Non-Rolling
1 August 202512 September 20258 Dec – 12 Dec 2025Sidley AustinRolling
4 August 202515 September 20251 Dec – 5 Dec 2025A&O ShearmanTBC
18 August 202512 September 2025 (noon)1 Dec – 5 Dec 2025AshurstNon-Rolling
1 September 202517 October 20258 Dec – 19 Dec 2025DechertTBC
1 September 20251 October 202524 Nov – 5 Dec 2025Herbert Smith Freehills KramerNon-Rolling
1 September 202517 October 20251 Dec – 12 Dec 2025Jones DayRolling
1 September 202528 September 20251 Dec – 12 Dec 2025Norton Rose FulbrightNon-Rolling
4 September 202528 September 202524 Nov – 5 Dec 2025Paul, WeissNon-Rolling
10 September 202510 October 20251 Dec – 12 Dec 2025Hogan LovellsRolling
1 October 202526 October 20251 Dec - 12 Dec 2025White & CaseRolling
28 August 202524 October 20258 Dec - 19 Dec 2025Covington & BurlingNon-Rolling
1 September 20251 October 20251 Dec - 12 Dec 2025LinklatersNon-Rolling
3 September 202519 December 202520 Feb - 27 Feb 2026Reed SmithRolling

Spring Vacation Scheme Deadlines 2025/26:​

Specific Dates Released​

Opening DateClosing DateScheme DatesFirm NameRolling or Non-Rolling
11 August 20255 December 202513 Apr – 24 Apr 2026MacfarlanesRolling
1 September 202512 December 20257 Apr – 17 Apr 2026BCLPTBC
1 September 202531 December 20257 Apr – 17 Apr 2026DechertTBC
1 September 202516 January 20267 Apr – 17 Apr 2026Gibson DunnRolling
1 September 20251 December 2025
13 Apr – 24 Apr 2026
Herbert Smith Freehills KramerNon-Rolling
1 September 202528 November 202517 Mar – 28 Mar 2026Jones DayRolling
1 September 202516 December 202513 Apr – 24 Apr 2026Mayer BrownRolling
1 September 20251 December 2025Scheme 1: 23 Mar - 2 Apr 2026;
Scheme 2: 7 Apr - 17 Apr 2026		SkaddenNon-Rolling
1 September 202531 October 202513 Apr – 17 Apr 2026Taylor WessingRolling
1 September 202510 December 2025 (mid-day)TBCWillkie Farr & GallagherNon-Rolling
4 September 20255 January 202613 Apr – 17 Apr 2026ForstersTBC
4 September 202521 December 202516 Mar – 27 Mar 2026Paul WeissNon-Rolling
12 September 202512 December 202513 Apr – 17 April 2026GoodwinNon-Rolling
15 September 20259 January 20267 Apr – 17 Apr 2026Sidley AustinRolling
1 October 2025TBC30 Mar – 3 Apr 2026MilbankNon-Rolling
1 October 202510 January 2026TBCTLTTBC
1 October 202514 January 2026TBCVinson & ElkinsTBC
1 September 20253 December 202513 Apr - 24 April 2026LinklatersNon-Rolling
3 September 20257 December 202513 Apr - 24 Apr 2026Latham and WatkinsNon-Rolling
1 October 202512 January 202613 Apr - 24 Apr 2026White & CaseRolling
1 October 202514 December 2025Scheme 1: 23 Mar - 2 Apr 2026
Scheme 2: 7 Apr - 17 Apr 2026		WeilRolling
1 October 20256 January 2026TBCAddleshaw GoddardTBC
1 September 202523 November 202513 Apr - 24 Apr 2026DentonsRolling
1 October 202530 November 202513 Apr - 24 Apr 2026Davis PolkTBC
1 November 20252 January 20267 Apr - 17 Apr 2026Farrer & CoNon-Rolling
6 October 202530 January 202613 Apr- 24 Apr 2026Stephenson HarwoodRolling
1 October 202515 January 20267 Apr - 17 Apr 2026Charles Russell SpeechlysNon-Rolling


Summer Vacation Scheme Deadlines 2025/26:​

Specific Dates Released​

Opening DateClosing DateScheme DatesFirm NameRolling/Non-Rolling
11 August 20255 December 202522 Jun – 3 Jul 2026MacfarlanesRolling
1 September 202512 December 2025 (noon)29 Jun – 17 Jul 2026AshurstNon-Rolling
1 September 202516 January 20268 Jun – 19 Jun 2026BCLPTBC
1 September 202531 December 202522 Jun – 3 Jul 2026DechertTBC
1 September 202516 January 202622 Jun – 3 Jul 2026Gibson DunnRolling
1 September 20251 December 2025Scheme 1: 8 Jun – 26 Jun 2026;
Scheme 2: 6 Jul – 24 Jul 2026		Herbert Smith Freehills KramerNon-Rolling
1 September 20259 January 202629 Jun – 10 Jul 2026Jones DayRolling
1 September 20257 December 202522 Jun – 3 Jul 2026Latham & WatkinsNon-Rolling
1 September 202516 December 202522 Jun – 3 Jul 2026Mayer BrownRolling
1 September 20255 November 2025 (noon)22 Jun – 3 Jul 2026Pinsent MasonsNon-Rolling
1 September 20251 December 2025Scheme 1: 15 Jun - 26 Jun 2026;
Scheme 2: 29 Jun - 10 Jul 2026		SkaddenNon-Rolling
1 September 20255 December 2025Scheme 1 (law students): 22 Jun – 10 Jul 2026;
Scheme 2 (law students): 13 – 31 Jul 2026;
Scheme 3 (non-law students): 1 – 18 Sept 2026		Slaughter and MayRolling
1 September 202528 November 20258 Jun – 19 Jun 2026Taylor WessingRolling
1 September 202510 December 2025 (mid-day)TBCWillkieNon-Rolling
4 September 20255 January 2026Scheme 1: 8 – 12 Jun 2026;
Scheme 2: 15 – 19 Jun 2026		ForstersTBC
4 September 202521 December 202529 Jun – 10 Jul 2026Paul, WeissNon-Rolling
12 September 202512 December 202522 Jun – 26 Jun 2026GoodwinNon-Rolling
15 September 202527 October 20256 Jul – 17 Jul 2026A&O ShearmanTBC
15 September 20256 January 2026Scheme 1: 22 Jun – 3 Jul 2026;
Scheme 2: 6 Jul – 17 Jul 2026		Sidley AustinRolling
30 September 202527 November 2025TBCFreshfieldsRolling
1 October 20252 January 2026TBCDebevoise & PlimptonTBC
1 October 2025TBC29 Jun – 10 Jul 2026MilbankNon-Rolling
1 October 202514 January 2026TBCVinson & ElkinsTBC
3 November 20257 December 2025Scheme 1: 8 Jun – 19 Jun 2026;
Scheme 2: 29 Jun – 10 Jul 2026		Norton Rose FulbrightNon-Rolling
1 September 20253 December 2025Scheme 1: 22 Jun - 10 Jul 2026;
Scheme 2; 20 Jul - 7 Aug 2026		LinklatersNon-Rolling
1 October 202512 January 202629 Jun - 10 Jul 2026White & CaseRolling
28 August 202516 January 202629 Jun - 10 Jul 2026Covington & BurlingNon-Rolling
10 September 202512 December 2025Scheme 1: 22 Jun – 10 Jul 2026;
Scheme 2: 20 Jul – 7 Aug 2026		Hogan LovellsRolling
1 October 20256 January 2026TBCAddleshaw GoddardTBC
3 September 202519 December 2025TBCDWFNon-Rolling
1 October 20255 January 2026Scheme 1: 8 Jun - 19 Jun 2026;
Scheme 2: 22 Jun - 3 Jul 2026		Trowers and HamlinsNon-Rolling
1 November 20252 January 2026Scheme 1: 15 Jun - 26 Jun 2026;
Scheme 2: 29 Jun - 10 Jul 2026		Farrer & CoNon-Rolling
3 November 202514 January 2026Scheme 1: 15 Jun - 26 Jun 2026;
Scheme 2: 29 Jun - 10 Jul 2026		Travers SmithNon-Rolling
26 October 2025TBCTBCBevan BrittanTBC
3 September 202519 December 202510 Apr - 17 Apr 2026Reed SmithRolling
6 October 202530 January 2026Scheme 1: 22 Jun – 3 Jul 2026;
Scheme 2: 27 Jul - 7 Aug 2026		Stephenson HarwoodRolling
1 October 202515 January 20261 Jun - 12 Jun 2026Charles Russell SpeechlysNon-Rolling

Tentative​


  1. Cleary
  2. Simmons
  3. Burges Salmon
  4. Mishcon de Reya
  5. Bird & Bird
  6. Akin
  7. Baker McKenzie
  8. Ropes & Gray
  9. Cooley
  10. Watson Farley & Williams
  11. Clyde & Co
  12. DLA Piper
  13. Morrison Foerster
  14. Paul Hastings
  15. Sullivan & Cromwell
  16. Morgan Lewis
 
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sohanp

Standard Member
    • Apr 12, 2025
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    Hi all, for an International Student (Not in UK), do firms generally sponsor applicants for their Vacation Schemes? I have a British law degree but from an overseas campus. I'd really appreciate any insight you can provide.
     
    Ram Sabaratnam

    Ram Sabaratnam

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    sohanp said:
    Hi all, for an International Student (Not in UK), do firms generally sponsor applicants for their Vacation Schemes? I have a British law degree but from an overseas campus. I'd really appreciate any insight you can provide.
    Click to expand...

    Hiya @sohanp

    Firms generally do not sponsor visas for vacation schemes. In t all cases that I'm familiar with, sponsorship only happens once you’ve been offered a training contract, since that’s when firms can justify the longer-term visa application.

    If you don’t currently have the right to work in the UK, I’d recommend focusing your efforts on direct training contract applications rather than vac schemes. We will be publishing a list of direct training contract deadlines in the coming weeks. That said, it’s still worth checking individual firm websites in case there are exceptions, but in practice, most international applicants without any right to work in the UK take the direct TC route.
     
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    coolwizard22

    New Member
    Premium Member
    • Jul 2, 2025
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    5
    Dechert Winter, Spring and Summer VS have released deadlines but not opened yet? Deadline for Winter is 17th October. For Spring and Summer is 31st December. Not sure if its rolling though?

    www.dechert.com

    Trainee Solicitors London

    Our recruits need a wide range of skills to rise to the challenge of the complex work that we do for our clients. Learn more.
    www.dechert.com www.dechert.com
     
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    lawyersum

    lawyersum

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    Jun 28, 2024
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    coolwizard22 said:
    Dechert Winter, Spring and Summer VS have released deadlines but not opened yet? Deadline for Winter is 17th October. For Spring and Summer is 31st December. Not sure if its rolling though?

    www.dechert.com

    Trainee Solicitors London

    Our recruits need a wide range of skills to rise to the challenge of the complex work that we do for our clients. Learn more.
    www.dechert.com www.dechert.com
    Click to expand...
    Dechert has been historically rolling. Not sure if this has changed.
     
    dannyp123

    dannyp123

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    Oct 20, 2024
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    taahaakhan279 said:
    Hi. I am a little confused. Can law graduates no longer apply to vacation schemes for A&O Shearman? Can we only do TC applications now?
    Click to expand...
    Yeah talked to A&O Grad Rec yesterday. Second years apply to summer vacation scheme, final years to the winter vacation scheme, and graduates to the Direct TC. The logic being that graduates could be a paralegal with 4 years of experience going up against penultimate students and also the Direct TC starts sooner which is preferable for graduates on average.
     
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    Ram Sabaratnam

    Ram Sabaratnam

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    robertg22 said:
    How do we know if the list has been updated? Would there be a message in this chat notifying members of changes?
    Click to expand...

    Hiya @robertg22

    There isn’t an automatic notification when the list is updated, but you can always check by scrolling to the bottom of the post where it says “Last Edited” in small font. I’d recommend bookmarking the page and checking it once or twice a week; I usually update it at the beginning or end of the week.

    Ultimately, it’s up to each candidate to stay on top of deadlines, especially as firms can sometimes update their websites/deadlines without notice or close applications at unexpected times (e.g. noon, 5pm, or 11:59pm). I’ll always flag major changes when I can, but it’s best to keep an eye out just in case.

    Good luck with your applications!
     
    sddjjdkqks

    sddjjdkqks

    New Member
    Oct 17, 2024
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    dannyp123 said:
    Yeah talked to A&O Grad Rec yesterday. Second years apply to summer vacation scheme, final years to the winter vacation scheme, and graduates to the Direct TC. The logic being that graduates could be a paralegal with 4 years of experience going up against penultimate students and also the Direct TC starts sooner which is preferable for graduates on average.
    Click to expand...
    Hey, thank you for sharing this. This is very helpful. Did they shed any light on what a final year who is an international student should be applying to considering that the Winter Vac Scheme would not be possible due to it being within term time?
     
    B

    bronsolino8

    New Member
    Aug 23, 2025
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    0
    Hello, thank you for this. Would appreciate some advice: I am an incoming third year undergrad scots law student at a Scottish uni. Paul Weiss in their vac scheme eligibility mentions 'Penultimate, final-year law students or graduates, or Non-law students in their final year or graduates' are allowed to apply. Does this mean, that like other firms, Paul Weiss will consider Scots law students as non-law students and that I can only apply in my 4th year?
     
    BPP

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