Summer Programme 2026

Our application window for the Hassans’ Summer Programme is now open. 

During our Summer Programme, you will sit with a Partner or Associate, as you take on real 5 star work for 5 star clients. Alongside presentations and activities, you’ll explore our practice areas, and experience life as part of the Hassans team.

You’ll also network with other students, partners, associates and trainees. We consider our Summer Programme as an extended interview for our Training Contracts, so you will have plenty of opportunities to showcase your qualities and talents. The programme includes:

• 2 weeks insight into what life is like as a Hassans trainee.
• Hands-on experience of our practice areas, including drafting contracts, attending meetings with clients or partners, carrying out research, or attending court proceedings.
• Taking part in a moot, where you will get the opportunity to display your research, writing and advocacy skills in front of our moot judges, who are partners and associates.
• Participating in a workshop run by our real clients, who provide an insight into their businesses and give students a legal task to complete.
• Opportunities to network and to ask the kind of questions that will help you decide if Hassans is for you.

Who can apply?

You are eligible to attend the Summer Programme if you are undertaking a law degree or completing a non-law degree but with the hope of completing a conversion course. We also welcome applications from postgraduates in law, and applicants who have, or are currently completing the Bar, GDL or SQE. There are also some spaces available on the programme for Year 13 students who have a firm offer to study law starting in September 2026. You can access the full guidance notes for this Programme here.

The firm also runs a specific one week work experience placement aimed at Year 12’s as part of the Summer Programme working in partnership with local secondary schools. Further details for this Programme can be found here.

Key Dates:

We will be accepting applications for the Summer Programme (running every 2 weeks from Monday 29th June 2026) until Sunday 22nd March 2026

Apply here

We will be accepting applications for the Year 12 Programme (1 week starting Monday 10th August 2026) until Tuesday 31st March 2026.

Apply here for the Year 12 Programme

Learn more about our current trainees:

Ari Schischa – 1st year trainee. 

What was your your academic route to becoming a trainee?

After taking a gap year in Israel, I completed an LLB in Law at London South Bank University, graduating with a First-Class degree. I then took a further year out, during which I completed several internships at international law firms in Israel, in addition to undertaking a two-month stint with the Hassans Private Client team, which allowed me to gain early exposure to cross-border legal work and different practice environments, In September 2024, I returned to London to complete the Legal Practice Course (LPC) at the University of Westminster.

Have you attended a Hassans’ Summer Programme?

I took part in the Hassans Summer Programme at the end of my second year of university. The programme provided meaningful, hands-on exposure to legal practice and went well beyond observation-based work. During the programme, I assisted a partner in advising a globally prominent digital assets company on the regulatory scope of its activities under Gibraltar’s Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) framework. This involved analysing regulatory requirements and understanding how the framework operates in practice. As a result, I gained a strong grounding in crypto-asset regulation and real knowledge of the underlying technologies, which proved invaluable and gave me a significant advantage when returning to the firm.

What has your your experience of Hassans been to date?

My experience at Hassans to date has been extremely enjoyable. I have particularly valued the level of responsibility afforded to trainees at an early stage. This has included leading calls with international clients independently and assisting with high-level drafting work in the re-domiciliation of assets for ultra-high-net-worth clients into Gibraltar trust structures. The work has been both intellectually demanding and commercially focused, and I have felt trusted to take ownership of matters while receiving appropriate guidance from my supervising partner. In addition, the firm’s well-organised Trainee Development Programme and the strong trainee culture have made the experience both rewarding and enjoyable.

What does it takes to be a great lawyer, in your opinion?

In my opinion a successful trainee lawyer takes ownership of their work and approaches every task proactively. Technical ability is essential, but it must be combined with commercial awareness, attention to detail, and the willingness to take responsibility. When this is coupled with ambition and a strong work ethic, it will allow you to consistently add value and develop quickly.

Maria Chumillas – 1st year trainee. 

What was your academic route to becoming a trainee?

I obtained my undergraduate degree in Law and Criminology from the University of York before completing the Legal Practice Course at the University of Law in Leeds.

What was your experience on the Summer Programme?

My experience on the Summer Programme was extremely valuable. It was a great opportunity to network and immerse myself in the firm’s culture, while also being exposed to a broad range of legal sectors as we took part in activities that required different skill sets.

I had the chance to work closely with lawyers at all levels on real client scenarios as well as collaboration with other students on certain activities. This provided genuine insight into what being a lawyer involves on a day‑to‑day basis and helped me confirm that a legal career was the right path for me.

And how has your experience at Hassans been like to date?

I am currently undertaking my Corporate and Commercial seat as part of my training contract, although I have also had the opportunity to work on Private Client work with the Tax team. The breadth of work at Hassans is one of the things that truly sets the firm apart. This variety has greatly expanded my understanding of different practice areas and supported my development as a young professional.

What does it take to be a great lawyer in your opinion?

The legal field is also constantly changing, so it is important to continue learning and adapting.

A great lawyer needs a strong foundation of legal knowledge as well as interpersonal skills. It is also important to pay attention to detail, while also maintaining strong commercial awareness by understanding both the legal issues and the client’s objectives.

And finally, any advice you’d give to current students?

My biggest piece of advice is to gain as much practical experience as possible. Summer programmes can offer a genuine practical insight into the profession beyond academic studies. They allow you to work alongside leading practitioners and observe real legal work taking place in Gibraltar.