FAQs

Yes. We welcome applications from everyone, regardless of age or previous experience.

We want to recruit the brightest and best future lawyers. We review applications holistically, because we want to understand you as an individual – your interests, your experience to date and your approach to the motivational questions. We’ll review your academic achievements in the context in which they were achieved, supported by RARE’s contextualised recruitment system.

It is important that you enter your academic results accurately and take the time to check that all grades, subjects and qualifications have been recorded correctly before submitting your application. Attention to detail is a key skill for aspiring lawyers and the application process is an opportunity to demonstrate this. Errors or omissions can lead to delays in processing your application and may affect our ability to assess your achievements fully, so we strongly encourage you to review all information carefully before submission.

No. We welcome applications from law and non-law students alike. We value everyone’s individual strengths and skills, so previous legal work experience isn’t essential. Just remember to highlight the transferable skills from any experience you do have – that’s every bit as important as legal experience.

Yes. If you have mitigating circumstances, please share the details on your application form and we’ll take them into consideration. Every application is reviewed individually, and anything you tell us is treated confidentially.

Yes, we can accommodate all kinds of adjustments. We openly welcome applications from everyone, so please get in touch at EmergingTalent@cms-cmno.com and we’ll talk through how we can make the process work for you.

We’re here to support you, and we’re happy to look into options to cover these costs. Please contact us at EmergingTalent@cms-cmno.com and we’ll discuss the support available on a case-by-case basis.

We are looking for well-rounded individuals who are clear about why they want to work for CMS and what makes us stand out. More detailed guidance on how to ace your application can be found here.

We recognise that AI can be a useful tool and encourage its responsible use for activities such as research and proofreading. However, your application should reflect your own experiences, motivations and achievements. We want to get to know the real you, so please ensure that any answers you submit are your own authentic work and are not generated by AI.

Yes, all applications need to be completed online – we’re unable to accept CVs and cover letters emailed directly to us. If you need the application form in a different format, please email EmergingTalent@cms-cmno.com

We aim to process your application and move you through the stages as quickly as possible. In some cases, we’ll hold assessment days before the deadline.

Because of the high volume of applications, we’re unable to give feedback at application-form stage or after the online test or video interview. If you attend an assessment day, we’ll arrange a call to talk through feedback on your performance.

Typically, we aim to recruit around half of those on our programmes from a law background and half from a non-law background.

Yes. We understand that people’s circumstances change, so please feel free to reapply.

No. If you’re successful in securing a CMS training contract, you’ll be invited to attend CMS Academy.

Yes, you can take a practice test here.

The PGDL and/or the SQE at the University of Law in any location is our recommended route. If you are applying in Scotland and are studying the DPLP, this can be studied at an institution of your choice.

Yes, we do – for the PGDL this will be: £15,000 (London) and £13,000 (all other locations) per annum. Please note that we do not reimburse fees retrospectively unless you are still studying your PGDL/DPLP or SQE.

If you have already successfully completed your LPC you will not need to complete the SQE. If you have completed your GDL, but not your LPC, we will ask you to complete your SQE prior to starting your training contract.

You will undertake four six-month seats over the two-year programme, learning about and experiencing different areas of our firm, and how business development and marketing drives their success and that of our clients.

We’ve carefully selected four seats to give you the best overview of business development and marketing at CMS. During the programme, you will have the opportunity to meet and learn from experts working in other areas of the firm.

The CMS Business Development and Marketing Graduate Programme will stand you in good stead for the future, even if you decide not to pursue a career in the legal sector. Our programme content will give you experiences and help you develop skills that are transferable across  global professional services industries.

We believe that no student should miss out because they cannot afford to travel to our assessment day. We will arrange and pay for you and, if required, one accompanying adult to travel and, if necessary, receive accommodation for one night to enable you to attend the day.

As well as details about your education, personal circumstances and work experience, we’ll ask you two motivational questions, one about why you are interested in a career in law, and one about challenges that you have overcome.

We will also ask you, ‘If you could change a law, which law would you change, why and how would that affect you?’ You can use up to 250 words in your answer but you must not use generative AI.

You must be highly motivated, and you should be on track to securing a place at your chosen university. Our approach, however, is to review applications holistically.

That’s to say, we want to learn more about you as an individual – your interests, experiences to date and your approach to the essay question. We will review your academic achievements, but in the context they’ve been achieved.

Unfortunately not. If your parents or grandparents attended university in the UK or abroad, you will not be eligible. You can be eligible if your brothers, sisters or cousins went to university, as they are the same generation as you.

If you’ve studied or are currently studying outside the UK, you’ll need to tell us the grades you’ve achieved on your application form. It helps if you can give us as much detail as possible about your international qualifications.

If you require a work permit and are offered a training contract with CMS, we’ll endeavour to support your application for one. Please note that offers of employment are conditional on obtaining and maintaining the applicable work authorisations, and this can at times fall outside our control. If you’re applying for our solicitor apprenticeship, please note that we can’t provide visa sponsorship for this programme.

Yes. However, it’s important to note that these are local training contracts with the expectation that individuals see themselves based in these locations long-term. Trainees will also be responsible for arranging their own flights and accommodation (we will support with the visa process).