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Business Development & Marketing Graduate Programme

Discover all about the business of law. See how marketing and branding drive our firm’s success, and help our clients achieve their goals.

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About the Business Development & Marketing Graduate Programme

Applications are open

This Emerging Talent programme is designed to expose ambitious new graduates to the creative, competitive and fast-moving worlds of business development and marketing.

You’ll be part of a team that’s driving how we position our brand on the global stage. All while helping clients meet targets and supporting the firm to win new business.

 You’ll learn from some of the best business development teams in the sector – creating impactful marketing campaigns and learning how strategic clients and tenders are managed. You can also expect to build an understanding of how digital and brand work together to deliver effective communications that raise the profile and drive the success of CMS.

Duration

Two-year programme

Locations

London

Eligibility

Be on track to achieve (or have already achieved) an undergraduate degree or higher.

Application deadlines

Applications are open, head to our apply page.

Apply now

What you’ll do

The programme is divided into four six-month long “seats” which will expose you to different areas of our business development and marketing functions.

Practice Group & Sector Business Development

Learn how to develop marketing campaigns that promote the whole firm and specific practice groups. Get involved in pitches and tenders, discover the world of account and event management, and see how to create effective materials across the marketing mix.

Communications & Branding

You can expect to be sourcing, writing and editing content for various communications channels. Key to this seat will be learning the importance of consistency across marketing activities and messaging, and ensuring all communications align with the strategic and business goals of our future facing firm. During the programme, you will also be introduced to the work carried out by various other CMS teams, including Innovation, Commercial Finance, Legal Project Management, Social Impact and D&I.

Client Management

In this seat, you’ll be supporting our Strategic Client Programme. That entails assisting with the various activities we undertake to manage and further develop our relationships with key clients.

New Business

Your work here will require you to help partners win new business from new and existing clients, vital to helping the firm continue to grow.

“By joining the CMS Business Development & Marketing Graduate Programme, you will become part of the team that is at the heart of the way in which CMS positions its brand in the global market. You’ll also play a key role in helping clients achieve their goals and will support the firm in its drive to win new business.

The programme will give you experiences and teach you skills that you can transfer across the global professional services sector. It’s a $5trillion industry that helps ensure the global economy operates smoothly and is fit to meet the regulatory, climate change and social challenges of the future.”

Rob Gijsen
Director of Business Development, Marketing & Communications, CMS

Salary

Year

Salary

First year (September 2025)

£30,000

Second year (September 2026)

£35,000

Application process

Joining the programme requires the completion of a multi-stage application process.

Online application form

Online application form

An opportunity for us to start to get to know you, your educational background, work experience and interests and why you are interested in a career with CMS.

Critical thinking test

Critical thinking test

Designed to test your analytical reasoning and logic. Take a practice test here.

Video interview

Video interview

A short 15 minute interview where you will answer a series of pre-recorded questions.

Assessment day

Assessment day

Consists of a case-study, competency-based interview, a group exercise and an opportunity to meet other people from around the firm and learn more about CMS.

Download our brochure

Find our more about this opportunity by reading our interactive brochure.

Download

Any questions?

Take a look at our dedicated FAQs page