Who are we?

Howden is a collective – a group of talented and passionate people all around the world. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 18,000 employees spanning over 100 countries.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

The Howden Legal Vacation Scheme is the most innovative in the market. You’ll get two weeks’ real-world legal experience based in our large in-house legal team, plus the chance to spend time with some of our partner law firms

As a Legal Intern at Howden you will gain a unique insight into the issues in-house teams face. Working alongside senior lawyers in the Howden Legal team will give you the opportunity to do substantive work across a wide range of areas which will help prepare you for applications and interviews (and line you up nicely for your training contract!). 

Our scheme is, of course, paid and we’ll also provide accommodation for the duration of the scheme for anyone who isn’t within commuting distance of London, so our scheme is accessible to applicants from throughout the U.K. 

What you’ll do 

This internship entails, but is not limited to: 

Assisting in reviewing commercial agreements for key terms, compliance, or risk areas. 

Conducting research on regulations, compliance requirements, or specific legal issues 

Shadowing senior legal staff during contract negotiations or discussions with vendors and clients. 

Gaining an understanding of how disputes are managed. 

Receiving guidance on developing skills, such as contract interpretation or legal writing. 

By the end of the scheme, you’ll have gained: 

Insight into how in-house legal teams operate and their role in business decisions. 

Experience with practical legal tasks that impact a company's operations. 

A clearer understanding of how your skills fit into the corporate legal environment. 

Who we’re looking for: 

The Howden Legal Vacation Scheme is aimed at enabling access into a legal career for great candidates who haven't been able to secure an internship or vacation scheme elsewhere. You will therefore: 

Be able to demonstrate a clear passion for a career in law;  

Have completed at least the first year of a qualifying law degree (we also welcome applicants who have already graduated);  

Have not previously attended another vacation scheme or internship or obtained one for 2025. 

Recruitment and selection process 

Application Period: Monday 3rd – Friday 21st February 

Online Assessment 

Phone Screen 

Interview: Monday 24th March – Friday 4th April 

Internship Period(s): Monday 16th – Friday 27th June, Monday 30th June – Friday 11th July, or Monday 14th – Friday 24th July  

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:

Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new

We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges

We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond

Reasonable adjustments

We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs.  Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours* or hybrid working*.

If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.

*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.

Permanent