Why train with Russell-Cooke?
Many of the outstanding lawyers you’ll meet here trained with Russell-Cooke
At Russell-Cooke you will get an unrivalled breadth of work; every trainee is recruited in the hope they will be a future partner; you will be a wheel not just a cog; you’ll get lots of client contact, training and support.
Explore your legal career journey with Russell-Cooke
Discover our training contract and vacation scheme
Discover the pathways to your legal career with Russell-Cooke through our dynamic training contract and immersive vacation scheme experiences. Applications for our 2027 training contract and 2025 vacation scheme will open on 8 November 2024 and will close on 7 February 2025.
Our training contract
It is our aim that your training will have a lasting influence over your legal career. Our training contract will ensure you gain practical experience of widely differing types of legal practice. Find out more and how to apply via our training contract page.
Our vacation scheme
The vacation scheme at Russell-Cooke is a great way to experience what it's really like to work at a leading law firm.
We believe that our vacation scheme offers the right balance of support and autonomy, and really demonstrates what life is like as a Russell-Cooke trainee. Find out more and how to apply via our vacation scheme page.
Graduate recruitment FAQs
Thinking of applying for graduate recruitment programme? Here you can find the answers to our most frequently asked questions.
Get to know our new graduate recruitment partner
From 1 July 2024, family partner Jemma Pollock took on a new role as our graduate recruitment partner. Learn more about Jemma, her journey into the legal profession and Russell-Cooke and what heading up graduate recruitment means to her.
Blogs from Russell-Cooke trainees
Read the latest blogs written by our trainees on life at Russell-Cooke
14.02.2024
Split seats and double learning opportunity for Russell-Cooke trainee
First-seat trainee Louisa Bonnici shares her experience in both the private client and trusts and estate disputes teams at...
09.02.2024
From lecturer to lawyer—why I swapped lecturing for learning
First-seat trainee James Underwood reflects on his transition from lecturer to lawyer, exploring the unique strengths and...
26.01.2024
My decade long journey to qualifying as a solicitor
Third-seat trainee Emma Reade shares her journey to Russell-Cooke, transitioning from eight years in commercial arbitration to embarking...
By numbers
Our graduate recruitment insights
With a total staff of 360, Russell-Cooke brings together a diverse and collaborative community to support your growth. For our 2026 intake, we're excited to offer 12 training contract vacancies, each representing a chance to embark on a transformative journey with us. Our current first-year trainee salary is £46k increasing to £48.5k for second year trainees.
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12
Training contracts vacancies for 2026 -
360
Total number of staff -
£46k
First year trainee base starting salary (as at 2023) -
£48.5k
Second year trainee salary (as at 2023)
“I had a lot of involvement from the beginning of a client’s sale of a commercial property, and felt a real sense of achievement when the sale completed”
Get in touch
If you have any questions that have not been answered on the site, or if you want a confidential chat about whether Russell-Cooke might be right for you, do get in touch.
Russell-Cooke ranked in the Best Law Firms to Work At 2024 by Roll on Friday
Over eight thousand people working in private practice rated their firm's pay, career development, management, culture, work/life balance and office, and their labour has provided a grateful nation with the definitive guide to where’s pleasant to work in UK law.
