Open Day and Insight Scheme Deadlines 2025-26

Ram Sabaratnam

Ram Sabaratnam

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Staff member
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Gold Member
Premium Member
Sep 7, 2024
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Hi everyone!

We've compiled a list of law firms that are currently accepting applications for open days and insight schemes (including those aimed at first year students). These events offer a great chance to get to know specific firms, especially if you're unable to apply for vacation schemes and can only apply using direct training contract routes. The list will be regularly updated throughout the application cycle, so keep checking back for the latest opportunities.

Good luck with your application cycle!

Open Day and Insight Scheme Deadlines 2025/26 ​

Firm NameOpening DateClosing DateEvent DateAdditional Comments
A&O Shearman (First Year Scheme)5 January9 February31 March – 1 April 2026Apply here.
Ashurst (First Year Insight Scheme)5 January27 February9 April 2026Application deadline is at 12 noon. Apply here.
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (Open Day)1 August20 September8 Oct 2025Apply here.
Forsters (First Year Insight Scheme)4 September24 AprilTBCFind more information here.
Forsters (Open Day 1)4 September16 OctoberTBCFind more information here.
Forsters (Open Day 2)17 October21 NovemberTBC
Find more information here.
Freshfields (First Year Insight Scheme)21 October4 DecemberTBCFirst-year undergraduate students from any discipline. Apply here.
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher (Virtual Open Day)1 September14 November4 December 2025Find more information here.
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher (First Year Scheme)1 September16 February26 March 2026Find more information here.
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer (Open Day)TBC7 September18 September 2025Apply here.
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer (Social Mobility Open Day)17 August7 September25 September 2025Apply here.
Kennedys (Coffee Morning)31 July6 October27 October 2025Apply here.
Latham & Watkins (First Year Spring Scheme)6 October25 January7 – 9 April 2026Find more information here.
Latham & Watkins (Open Day 1)1 September5 October22 October 2025Find more information here.
Latham & Watkins (Open Day 2)1 September19 October13 November 2025Find more information here.
Latham & Watkins (Black Lawyers Open Day)1 September19 October6 November 2025Find more information here.
Latham & Watkins (LGBT+ Lawyers Open Day)1 September19 October27 November 2025Find more information here.
Macfarlanes11 August5 December30 March – 2 April 2026Apply here.
Mayer Brown (Open Day)1 September8 OctoberDate 1: 23 October 2025;
Date 2: 30 October 2025.		More information here.
Paul, Weiss (Open Day 1)4 SeptemberTBC24 September 2025Find more information here.
Paul, Weiss (Open Day 2)4 SeptemberTBC15 October 2025Find more information here.
Paul, Weiss (Open Day 3)4 SeptemberTBC19 November 2025Find more information here.
Slaughter and May (Spring Open Day)6 October7 JanuaryDate 1: 31 March 2026;
Date 2: 8 April 2026;
Date 3: 16 April 2026
For first year students and second year students on a four-year degree. Find more information here.
 
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Shahenshah

Standard Member
Aug 20, 2025
9
3
Has anyone who applied for the Jones Day open evening heard back? I vaguely remember seeing "place confirmed" when I applied but haven't received any emails and am worried I hallucinated the confirmation on their website.
 
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berocca567

berocca567

Active Member
Premium Member
Jan 11, 2025
19
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Does anyone know if you can apply to a firm's Open Day and its Vacation Scheme in the same cycle? I'm sure it probably depends on the firm, but is there a more common answer?
 
J

JasmineM9

Esteemed Member
Gold Member
Premium Member
Nov 23, 2019
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102
Hello, did anyone receive confirmation from Jones Day for the open evening on the 26 August? I can no longer attend but I am not sure how to contact them to withdraw my place
 
L

LawbeginnerSeptember2025

Standard Member
Aug 24, 2025
6
2
Ram Sabaratnam said:
Hi everyone!

We've compiled a list of law firms that are currently accepting applications for open days and insight schemes (including those aimed at first year students). These events offer a great chance to get to know specific firms, especially if you're unable to apply for vacation schemes and can only apply using direct training contract routes. The list will be regularly updated throughout the application cycle, so keep checking back for the latest opportunities.

Good luck with your application cycle!

Open Day and Insight Scheme Deadlines 2025/26 ​

Firm NameOpening DateClosing DateEvent DateAdditional Comments
A&O Shearman (First Year Scheme)5 January9 February31 March – 1 April 2026Apply here.
Ashurst (First Year Insight Scheme)5 January27 February9 April 2026Application deadline is at 12 noon. Apply here.
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (Open Day)1 August20 September8 Oct 2025Apply here.
Forsters (First Year Insight Scheme)4 September24 AprilTBCFind more information here.
Forsters (Open Day 1)4 September16 OctoberTBCFind more information here.
Forsters (Open Day 2)17 October21 NovemberTBC
Find more information here.
Freshfields (First Year Insight Scheme)21 October4 DecemberTBCFirst-year undergraduate students from any discipline. Apply here.
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher (Virtual Open Day)1 September14 November4 December 2025Find more information here.
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher (First Year Scheme)1 September16 February26 March 2026Find more information here.
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer (Open Day)TBC7 September18 September 2025Apply here.
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer (Social Mobility Open Day)17 August7 September25 September 2025Apply here.
Kennedys (Coffee Morning)31 July6 October27 October 2025Apply here.
Latham & Watkins (First Year Spring Scheme)6 October25 January7 – 9 April 2026Find more information here.
Latham & Watkins (Open Day 1)1 September5 October22 October 2025Find more information here.
Latham & Watkins (Open Day 2)1 September19 October13 November 2025Find more information here.
Latham & Watkins (Black Lawyers Open Day)1 September19 October6 November 2025Find more information here.
Latham & Watkins (LGBT+ Lawyers Open Day)1 September19 October27 November 2025Find more information here.
Macfarlanes11 August5 December30 March – 2 April 2026Apply here.
Mayer Brown (Open Day)1 September8 OctoberDate 1: 23 October 2025;
Date 2: 30 October 2025.		More information here.
Paul, Weiss (Open Day 1)4 SeptemberTBC24 September 2025Find more information here.
Paul, Weiss (Open Day 2)4 SeptemberTBC15 October 2025Find more information here.
Paul, Weiss (Open Day 3)4 SeptemberTBC19 November 2025Find more information here.
Slaughter and May (Spring Open Day)6 October7 JanuaryDate 1: 31 March 2026;
Date 2: 8 April 2026;
Date 3: 16 April 2026
For first year students and second year students on a four-year degree. Find more information here.
Click to expand...
I’m beginning my first year of Law at Exeter in September 2025, can I apply to these or do I need to have completed my first year of university before doing so?
 
S

Shahenshah

Standard Member
Aug 20, 2025
9
3
noahsmiit01 said:
Where did you apply? There’s nothing on their website neither on this table above
Click to expand...
It was on their website! I'm a postgraduate so not eligible for any of their vacation schemes so hoping the Open Day, along with a strong direct TC application, this cycle will result in an interview. The applications opened earlier this month for the Open Day and are rolling so I'm guessing they've closed it now.
 
S

Shahenshah

Standard Member
Aug 20, 2025
9
3
LawbeginnerSeptember2025 said:
I’m beginning my first year of Law at Exeter in September 2025, can I apply to these or do I need to have completed my first year of university before doing so?
Click to expand...
There are First Year Open Days specifically in a lot of firms, I'd definitely apply to those! Very jealous that you're so clocked in from the get-go - I wasted my summer and was completely useless in my first year - best of luck!
 
U

User138756

Standard Member
Aug 28, 2025
9
0
LawbeginnerSeptember2025 said:
I’m beginning my first year of Law at Exeter in September 2025, can I apply to these or do I need to have completed my first year of university before doing so?
Click to expand...
Hi! All schemes labelled as 'First year open days' or 'First year insight schemes' (or anything else along these lines) are definitely aimed at your yeargroup! Another one to watch out for that does not have 'First year' in the name would be Linklaters' Pathfinders scheme which is also aimed at people in their first year.

Regarding the general open days, eligiblity for these varies from firm to firm. Some firms will allow all students to apply (such as the Paul, Weiss open days listed above), whereas others sometimes have stricter eligibility criteria. This is usually listed either in the FAQs or in the event description.

As another user has mentioned, you are in a very strong position looking to apply to these schemes at the start of your first year - I certainly wish I had done the same! Best of luck with all your applications
 
BPP

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