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Pinsent Masons
International commercial law firm with particular strengths in construction, infrastructure, energy, technology and real estate, offering training across several UK offices.
About Pinsent Masons
Pinsent Masons advises organisations on transactions, disputes, regulation and business change. Infrastructure, energy, real estate, financial services, technology and life sciences are central to its practice. Its international network supports clients undertaking projects, investing in businesses and managing legal risks across different markets.
Construction and infrastructure are particularly prominent, connecting the firm’s work on project development, financing, planning, contracts and disputes. Alongside traditional legal advice, its services include consulting, legal project management, managed legal services and flexible resourcing. This gives applicants scope to explore how lawyers work with other specialists to deliver advice and manage complex matters.
The two-year training contract comprises four six-month seats. Trainees develop experience across different departments before choosing a qualification area, with the available seats depending on their office. Client secondments can provide experience of working within a business and understanding how legal advice is used in practice.
The programme combines practical work with mentorship, training and ongoing support. Qualification vacancies are coordinated centrally, allowing trainees to apply for a limited number of roles across the office network. Selection considers their performance during training and the qualification assessment process.
For England, Pinsent Masons funds the required postgraduate legal study through its partnership with the University of Law. Published London maintenance grants are £14,500 for the PGDL and £15,000 for the SQE, with £10,000 grants for each in the English regions. Scottish trainees must complete the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice before joining, with tuition sponsorship and a published £7,100 maintenance grant.
Practice areas & rankings
Pinsent Masons has 110 ranked departments in Chambers UK 2027. Its London Band 1 rankings include Construction: Contentious, Planning, and Information Technology & Outsourcing. Its rankings extend across transactional, advisory and contentious practices throughout the UK.
The firm won Energy/Infrastructure Team of the Year at the Legal Business Awards 2026 for its work on Heidelberg Materials’ Padeswood carbon capture project. The same work also received the Innovative Lawyers in Sustainability award at the FT Innovative Lawyers Europe Awards 2026. The project involved developing contractual and regulatory arrangements supporting industrial decarbonisation.
Ranked departmentsChambers UK
Explore the practice areas
Ranked Band 1 for Construction: Contentious in London in Chambers UK 2027, Pinsent Masons handles domestic disputes and international arbitration arising from major projects. Its clients include contractors, project sponsors and lenders. Infrastructure and energy are particular strengths, including renewable energy, nuclear power and oil and gas developments.
Ranked Band 1 for Planning in London in Chambers UK 2027, the team advises on the planning requirements of major developments. Its work includes energy and infrastructure projects, residential schemes and commercial property. Clients include developers, infrastructure providers and local authorities, giving the practice experience of different interests in the development process.
Ranked Band 1 for Information Technology & Outsourcing in London in Chambers UK 2027, the practice handles technology agreements and disputes. Its expertise includes cloud services, data, fintech and telecommunications, alongside major public sector IT contracts. Banking and insurance are important client sectors.
Ranked Band 2 for Intellectual Property: Patent Litigation in London in Chambers UK 2027, Pinsent Masons has particular experience in pharmaceutical patent disputes. Its wider intellectual property practice covers trade marks, copyright, designs and database rights, alongside transactions involving valuable intellectual property assets.
Awards
Innovative Lawyers in Responsible BusinessFinancial Times Innovative Lawyers
Won for its work on green infrastructure financing.
Named in the FT Innovative Lawyers reportsFinancial Times
The firm is consistently recognised for innovation in the FT's reports.
The application process
Click on each stage to find out more.
Apply online for the programme and office that match your eligibility. In England, the current direct training contract route is available in London for September 2028. The 2027 vacation placement leads to consideration for September 2029 training contracts.
London applications close at noon on 4 November 2026. Vacation placement applications for Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds close at noon on 2 December 2026. Only one application is permitted per recruitment cycle, so choose your route carefully.
The registration and application forms collect academic information and relevant experience. Legal work experience is not compulsory. Select examples that show what you contributed, how you approached a challenge and what you learned. Employment, volunteering, sport and positions of responsibility can all provide useful evidence.
Complete the registration form, application form and online blended assessment before the deadline. Recruitment outcomes are issued after applications close.
Pinsent Masons: quick answers
How much does Pinsent Masons pay trainees?
Pinsent Masons pays first-year trainees £54,000, rising to £59,000 in the second year. Newly qualified solicitors at Pinsent Masons earn £109,000.
When is the Pinsent Masons vacation scheme deadline?
Pinsent Masons runs more than one vacation scheme round in the 2026/27 cycle: the summer scheme closes on 4 Nov and the summer scheme closes on 2 Dec. Deadlines can change and popular schemes may close early, so check the live application deadlines tracker.
How many trainees does Pinsent Masons take on?
Pinsent Masons takes on around 50 trainees in each intake, so places are competitive and strong applications matter.
What tests does Pinsent Masons use in its applications?
The online blended assessment combines situational judgement questions with recorded video responses. It explores how candidates would approach workplace situations. For situational judgement preparation, consider the people affected, the urgency of the issue and when supervision would be appropriate. Balance taking responsibility with recognising the limits of your experience. Read each scenario carefully and respond to the information provided. The firm’s stated qualities include analytical ability, commercial judgement, client service, collaboration, resilience and curiosity about change. Use these to understand the role, while answering honestly about how you would respond.
What grades do you need to apply to Pinsent Masons?
To apply to Pinsent Masons you will generally need a 2:1 degree. At A-level, Pinsent Masons asks for 120 UCAS. Requirements can flex where there are mitigating circumstances, so always check the firm's own criteria if your grades differ.
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