A core part of our firm's vision is to provide a better place to work than our competitors; this is not limited to the firm's culture, but also includes the best work, client, career opportunities and development. Central to that is the quality of our training and commitment to continuous learning.
The Talent Development team, alongside your supervisors will provide guidance and input into your seat allocations. Before each seat change, they will meet with their partner mentor and a member of the Talent Development team, to discuss your future ambitions and which seat options best meet those goals. We work hard to match seat preferences with the needs of the business. Our Trainees benefit from receiving in-depth department training at the beginning and during each seat, which will give them the legal know-how to succeed in their department. Support from a dedicated training team and can expect to receive 232 hours of training by the time you are a qualified lawyer.
Role Description
Trainees work on challenging projects from the outset and are given an elevated level of responsibility. Trainees rotate through four, six-month seats in various parts of the business and are encouraged to gain contentious and non-contentious experience during their two-year training contract. We encourage all our trainees to undertake a secondment; we have a range of secondment opportunities including on-site with clients or internationally to one of our overseas offices.
When approaching qualification, the Talent Development team will meet with trainees several times during the qualification process to talk through the direction that they want to go in, the options open to you and to understand what you are looking for from their career. We work hard at ensuring that trainees stay within the firm, placing them in areas of work in which the trainee wishes to pursue a career. Our intention is to be open with you, and to try to ensure, ultimately, that you stay with us beyond the training contract.
What you'll do
Key duties will include, but not be limited to:
- Client Contact - speaking with clients face to face and on the telephone, finding out their needs and establishing how to help
- Legal Research - researching relevant areas of law, proposing courses of action, putting forward ideas to supervisors
- Legal Excellence - drafting letters, contracts, and other legal documents
- Client and Supervisor Support - supporting the supervisor when acting on behalf of clients on negotiations
We are also looking for you to demonstrate that you have the skills and behaviours which would expect from our trainees:
- Hardworking and well-rounded individuals
- Willingness to learn and be curious
- Ability to demonstrate commercial awareness
- Creative with problem solving
- Ability to see the wider context of the work that we do for our clients
- Intellectual ability
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Relationship building and strong interpersonal skills
- Commitment to a career in law
- Resilience
- Research and analytical skills
- Someone who takes ownership of self-development
- Teamwork and collaboration skills
- Time management and organisation skills
Testimonial
"It was my first seat, and I was swimming in the deep end. Although only four months into my time in our Corporate Finance practice, I found myself part of a team negotiating a 150m deal for an international food manufacturing group. I was there, in the room with Partners and Associates, with clients from both sides and lawyers from other firms. The negotiations were fraught and went on for an unremitting 30 hours.
The level of exposure I had was astonishing - myself and my counterpart, a lawyer from another firm who was two years' qualified, were both making amends, turning documents, drafting minutes, and arranging signing formalities; I was seeing the decisions that were driving those tasks play out live in the negotiation room. The whole experience was incredibly rewarding, and I was extremely grateful for it."
