Dentons |

At Dentons, we’re not just partaking in the legal market; we’re actively shaping it. With our global network spanning 80+ countries, we bring world-class legal expertise right here to Dublin.

Our Dublin office is more than just a workplace – it’s a space where ideas come to life. Since the office launch in 2020, we have introduced a fresh, innovative, and truly international presence to the Irish legal market. Our team is driven by innovation and creativity, always looking for new ways to serve our clients and disrupt traditional law practices. We offer an unrivalled opportunity to work on the most complex and significant domestic and cross-border matters. 

From day one, you’ll be given real responsibilities and opportunities to work with clients, you’ll be encouraged to think creatively, challenge norms and develop innovative solutions for our diverse clientele. At Dentons, ongoing training and development programmes are a staple, attracting some of the industry's most respected names and earning us the award for Dublin 'Law Firm of the Year'.

So, if you’re an ambitious candidate seeking more than just any career opportunity and you want to be part of shaping what’s next in global law, then step into the Dentons Dublin office. 

The business of law is changing, and we want you to be right there with it. To take us from largest to leading, we’re looking for our trainees to think big and see the future of law in a new way.

Our 2026 Dublin Trainee Solicitor Programme is designed to equip you with the skills required to be the lawyer of the future, now.

Alongside market leading support and development, you’ll have the chance to put knowledge into action and start building your legal career from day one.

Our Dublin Trainee Solicitor Programme provides a comprehensive and structured pathway into the legal profession, designed to equip aspiring solicitors with the skills, knowledge, and experience required for a successful legal career. The programme includes seat rotations across different practice areas, tailored elective training, and comprehensive support throughout your training period.

Beginning in September 2026, you will enrol in the Professional Practice Course (PPC) on a full-time basis at Blackhall Place, the Law Society of Ireland’s training centre. This course delivers essential practical training in areas such as advocacy, negotiation, client care, and legal research – equipping you with the practical skills necessary for your future legal career.

Upon successful completion of the PPC, you will join Dentons’ Dublin office for your in-office training period. During this time, you will rotate through four different practice areas, each lasting approximately six months. These rotations will expose you to different areas of law such as Corporate, Litigation, Real Estate, and Banking & Finance, allowing you to gain hands-on experience and develop a broad understanding of the legal landscape. You will work closely with experienced solicitors and partners, receive regular feedback, and benefit from a dedicated supervisor to support your professional development. With the successful completion of all required stages, you will be on track to qualify as a solicitor in 2029 and take part in our Newly Qualified selection process.

There will also be opportunities to undertake international or client secondments, subject to business needs, your performance, and eligibility criteria. These secondments offer valuable exposure to cross-border matters and client-facing work, further enriching your training experience.

Eligibility

Our 2026 Dublin Trainee Solicitor Programme is open to applicants from all degree disciplines who have already completed all FE1 examinations or are in the process of completing them and will receive their results by May 2026. This means all FE1 examinations will need to be completed by the last sitting in March 2026.

The starting date for this role is September 2026.

The Final Examination (FE-1) is the entrance examination to the Law Society of Ireland. It is held twice a year, normally in spring and autumn and consists of eight papers on core legal subjects. Please visit the Law Society of Ireland website for full details.

We are looking for candidates with

• Strong academic performance in your Irish Leaving Certificate (at least 480 points) or equivalent post -16 education.
• 2:1 or higher in your undergraduate degree.
• These are broad guidelines, and all interested candidates are encouraged to apply. We review every application holistically and consider all aspects of a candidate’s experience and background.

Application Window

Applications are now open and close on 22 October 2025. For more information please visit https://challengers.dentons.com/dublin-trainees/opportunities/training-contracts/..

Deciding where to start your career is a big decision. Balance real work with training and networking on our schemes to see what your career at Dentons could look like. Our two-week scheme will give you, and us, an insight into whether we’re a good match. 

In each week of the scheme you will experience a different practice area, working closely with a supervisor and your team.

By attending our Vacation Scheme, you'll automatically be assessed for our Trainee Solicitor Programme. This could be the start of something much bigger. 

Our Dublin Summer vacation scheme runs in Summer 2026. Applications open on 1 September 2025 and the deadline to apply is 26 January 2026. For more information and to apply please visit https://challengers.dentons.com/dublin-trainees/opportunities/vacation-scheme/.

Experience Dentons is our innovative virtual work experience program, designed to give you an insight into life as a commercial solicitor at the world’s largest law firm.

Experience Dentons starts by providing an introduction to law, the commercial world and to Dentons as a firm. Then, as you progress through the program, you will complete work related to each of our key practice areas, honing both your technical and commercial skills. By the end of Experience Dentons you will have completed a range of meaningful activities, gained insight to insider information from Dentons and will receive a certificate to help boost your LinkedIn profile and CV.

There is no application process or deadline, it is an open access programme, but candidates must be above the age of 16 years old to participate.

The programme contains five days' worth of tasks that can be completed at your own pace.

At Dentons, inclusion, diversity and wellbeing are not just a core values – they are an integral part of our strategy. Building a more inclusive and diverse law firm is core to our strategy because it leads to better business outcomes for our clients, our communities and for Dentons.

We believe in creating an environment where everyone can thrive. We work hard to nurture a sense of inclusion and wellbeing that is empowering to the individual, to the teams and to the Firm.

Examples of our inclusion and wellbeing strategy include a focus on access initiatives, mentoring programmes, providing access to support, and a series of events and conversation focussed on wellbeing and inclusion.

Our Inclusion Networks also play a huge part in fostering a sense of belonging and support for everyone at the firm. These groups include Accessibility (Disability), BPN (Black Professionals), Fusion (Asian Professionals), GLOW (LGBTQ+), Inspire (Gender Equality), and our Parents and Carers network.