The training contract
Apply nowOur training contract is designed to offer you the breadth of experience and training needed to become a multi-specialist, equipped to advise on a broad range of legal matters. We think that this multi-specialist approach makes for a far more fulfilling career - it provides challenge and interest, exactly what great minds need. You will be given responsibility from an early stage and the opportunity to work alongside partners, who, together with other team members in the firm, provide mentoring and individual support.
Your seating programme
During your two years as a trainee solicitor you will spend time in different practice areas, which are referred to as 'seats'. To ensure you get the most from your training contract, our HR team will work with you to design a seating programme that best suits your individual preferences. The experience in different seats will help you to decide which area of law you are most interested in and to start developing the versatility and vision essential to becoming a trusted legal adviser to your clients.
All trainees complete at least two six-month seats in our Corporate and M&A and Financing groups. Subject to gaining some contentious experience, you choose where to spend your remaining time. It can be divided into two or three specialist areas or focused on one. Our specialist groups include: Competition, Disputes and Investigations, Financial Regulation, Pensions, Employment and Incentives, Real Estate, Technology, Digital, Data and IP, Tax and Sustainability and Climate Change.
A partner in your group will regularly meet with you to discuss your progress and your supervisor will give you a full review at the end of each seat. You will also receive regular informal feedback. These opportunities provide a forum for you to discuss your progress and how to develop your legal knowledge, skills and experience.
As a trainee, you will also have the chance to apply for an international or client secondment. These are an excellent opportunity to develop and gain experience in a different working environment in a new jurisdiction or with one of our client’s in-house legal teams. Not all trainees choose to apply, and a secondment is not compulsory. Trainees who are in the UK on a working visa may not be eligible to apply for client secondments due to visa restrictions.
Training and support
Being a successful City lawyer requires more than purely legal knowledge. Our Learning and Development team offers a full and varied training programme which extends beyond legal knowledge training, covering commercial awareness, skills and professional behaviours to ensure you have the tools you need during your training contract.
All of our future trainee solicitors now take the SQE path to qualification.
We have collaborated with BPP Law School and 5 other global law firms (the City Consortium) to create the City Consortium Solicitor Training Programme (‘CCP’). The CCP is a 12-month course which includes SQE1 and SQE2 preparation as well the bespoke Plus Programme which focuses on key areas for our practice, as well as the additional knowledge, skills, and professional behaviours necessary to ensure that you are well prepared to undertake your training contract with us. You can read more about the route to qualification here.
Your training does not stop once you have completed the CCP. On joining the firm, our trainees have a focused induction programme to help them settle into their new role. You meet people from various groups and teams in the firm so you can start to network from day one.
During your training contract, you will undertake a comprehensive legal and skills training programme, with sessions delivered on a wide range of subjects by partners, other senior lawyers and our Learning and Development team.
Mentoring provides a valuable forum to seek support, reflect on your career development, discuss professional goals and expand your network. We offer a diverse range of mentoring programmes to our future and current trainees.
Trainees are also allocated a Continuity Partner as another mentoring point of contact - this partner stays with the trainee throughout the entire training contract, and the Continuity Partner relationship can be used to discuss any concerns or development objectives
Our qualification process is accessible and inclusive - we meet with all our trainees during their final seat to discuss their preferences on qualification and fully support them in their transition to becoming a newly qualified solicitor.
Most of our trainees remain with us on qualification, which we feel reflects the fulfilling nature of the work that we do here and the trust we place in each of them. Our retention rates are typically over 90%.