Students and Graduates Spain – graduate programme

Overview

A variety of experience is essential in developing the kind of expertise that will set you apart. At Ashurst, you’ll be guided by a team of elite lawyers who will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to tackle the most complex issues in domestic and international law. By building an understanding of our clients' businesses and expanding your own skillset, you can become more than simply an expert legal adviser.

The ways in which we support you in this are equally varied. Structured training will help you develop the highest standards of technical legal knowledge. Honest, transparent conversations will ensure you know exactly what we expect from you. Useful, constructive feedback will help you push on. And a network of highly respected figures will not only inspire you – they will actively mentor your development. 

Career journey

Internships

Work experience is the best way to understand what it's like to be a lawyer at Ashurst. The firm has agreements with universities and high-profile institutions in Spain and overseas, through which we carry out our internship programmes. Students can get work experience through two formal internship programmes.

Application process

If you are interested in joining Ashurst, you can send us your CV, academic record and covering letter using the email button in the contact section below. We respond to all applications received.

Face-to-face interviews

We believe in focusing on the individual so we don't run assessment centres. If you’re invited to participate in our selection process, you will have two face-to-face interviews with several people (including the HR team, lawyers and partners). The interviews will be conducted partly in Spanish and partly in English. In these interviews, we will discuss your CV and assess your technical knowledge and communication skills. The interviews will also test the behaviours we’re looking for through both competency and scenario-based questions. The recruitment process also includes some drafting exercises. The whole process takes about two months and offers are usually made before the end of February. We look for the following:

• Graduates in Spanish law (or double degrees that include law)
• Brilliant academic record and aptitude for the law
• Good communication skills and a high level of written and spoken English
• Excellent team players, with a good sense of humour and interesting life experiences

Hints and tips 

Prepare before you begin

Get to know us (if you haven’t already) by reading through our website and talking to some people who work here. Careers events are a good chance to meet us. This is to ensure we are interviewing people who have researched us carefully and understand why we are different. Just as importantly, get to know yourself: make an honest assessment of what you do well and not so well.

Detail your strengths and weaknesses

We want to know you have the competencies we are looking for, so tell us about them in your own words. In your letter, be sure to describe your qualities and give examples of your achievements. Don’t just say you're a brilliant team leader. Instead, make sure you highlight the leadership roles you've held, and explain what each role involved and what you achieved in it.

Write clearly

Try not to make your application wordy and formal, or overly familiar. We will be most impressed if you explain yourself simply and clearly with the use of evidence. Lots of applicants tell us they want to join Ashurst because they would relish the chance to work on cutting-edge deals. Find a way to express this in your own words.

Use the application to shape your interview

Your interviewers use your application as a basis for the interview and are likely to ask you about the things you have highlighted. Use your work experience to full effect - it doesn’t matter whether your work experience is in a legal or non-legal role. Put it in and tell us what you've learned from it.