About our training contracts

We’re a firm with a shared purpose, and we’re driven by our values to create positive impact environmentally, socially and for our clients and colleagues.

When you join us, you’ll be ready and willing to bring your ideas and be the best of version of yourself.

We’re looking for future lawyers who understand the work we undertake, the clients we work for and our values, and who are passionate about our principles. We encourage candidates with a range of outside work interests, which we’d like to see maintained and developed over the coming years. If this sounds like you and you are also a good communicator who can demonstrate academic potential please get in touch.

Finding and developing home-grown talent is important to us. We recruit six trainees each year and look to retain all of them at the end of their training contracts where possible.

We are happy to consider applications for part-time training contracts. Please use the dedicated space on the application form to let us know if you would like to train part-time.

Trainee seats

Over the two years of the training, you’ll complete four seats of six months each.

Trainees must complete a seat in our Charity and Social Enterprise department during their training contract. Other seats available include: Corporate & Commercial, Dispute Resolution, Employment, Immigration, Public & Regulatory and Real Estate.

As a trainee, you will have the opportunity to input into the seat allocation process throughout the two years, which provides excellent flexibility during your training. We’ll work with you to help you choose the seats that will best prepare you for your future career.

You’ll have a dedicated supervisor in each seat, who’ll make sure your work is relevant and varied, with plenty of training and support. At the interim and final appraisals for each seat, your supervisor will give feedback on your performance and set objectives for the next stage.

How the application process works

All applications for training contracts and vacation schemes should be made via our website. Please do not apply for more than one position. Your application for a vacation scheme will also be considered as your training contract application. By applying, you are confirming that you are eligible to begin training with us in 2027. We are following the SQE route to qualification, but if you have already completed or are currently working towards the LPC, you are still eligible to apply.

 

Complete online application form through our website

The application form will ask for details on your academics, work experience that you have undertaken – both legal and non-legal, voluntary work you have been involved with, as well as well as about your hobbies and interests outside of your work and studies. We are interested in your motivation for joining the firm and the profession as a whole. Our application form is a great opportunity to talk about your passions and how they can be applied to the life of a solicitor. Be sure to understand what a B-Corporation is and why we are proud of being the first UK law firm to achieve that.

To avoid any last minute panic, we advise you to submit your application before the deadline, rather than leaving it to the deadline date.

We use the upReach RealRating contextual recruitment tool, which is built into our application form, to make sure that we do not miss any high-potential candidates. We take mitigating circumstances very seriously and encourage you to tell us about anything that you think we should be aware about on your form – whether it is periods of illness or bereavement, caring responsibilities or anything else. Should you wish to discuss your experiences in confidence, please contact us at [email protected].

 

Complete the Watson Glaser critical thinking test

If you submit an application that aligns to our values, shows academic ability or potential and a commitment to the life of a solicitor, then you may be invited to complete the next stage of the process:  the critical thinking test. If you are sent the test, you will be given up to 7 days to complete it, and a free practice test will be sent to you before you take the real thing. The test helps us assess your critical thinking skills, and once you’ve completed the test, we will re-review the application and test score to shortlist candidates to interview.

 

Interviews and assessments

Vacation scheme

If you have applied for a place on our vacation scheme, you will be invited to an assessment centre, which will include an interview with a panel of two, a written assessment and a presentation. These days are designed to ensure that all candidates have an equal opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of the firm, skills and experiences. If successful, you will be invited to attend our vacation scheme. All candidates who attend our vacation scheme, are automatically invited to a final stage interview with two partners (one being our Managing Partner), to be considered for a training contact.

Training Contract

If you have applied for a direct training contract, you will be invited to an assessment day. These days are designed to ensure that all candidates have an equal opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of the firm, skills and experiences. Our assessment consists of an interview in front of a panel of two, usually a member of the trainee recruitment team and associate, partner or member of the business team, a written assessment and a presentation. No preparation for the written assessment or presentation is needed, we will provide you with all the information you need on the day. We will however send you information on how to best prepare for the interview. You will also get to meet other people across the firm, including our trainees, so you can get a better idea of the people you might be working with.

Following the Assessment Centre, successful candidates will be invited back for a final stage interview. Offers for training contracts are made shortly after this final stage interview. Regardless of whether your application is progressed to the final stage, everyone will be encouraged to have a feedback call with the recruitment team.

 

Adjustments

If you require any adjustments to be made to the process owing to a disability, or for a general conversation regarding adjustments, please let us know by emailing [email protected]. It might be that you need extra time in order to complete a written assessment or perhaps you need coloured overlays to make your screen easier to read – whatever your required adjustments are, we will be more than happy to discuss them with you.

Final Interview

If you are successfully invited to a final stage interview, this will be held by our Managing Partner, and another Partner. These interviews take place from June, and will last for approximately an hour. We will communicate outcomes by August.

Feedback to help you prepare for the final interview will be offered to every candidate at this stage, which is also a great opportunity to ask questions and provide your own feedback on your experience of the process.

All applications for training contracts and vacation schemes should be made via our website, following this link.

Our trainee team

Applications for 2027 training contracts and 2025 vacation schemes will open in October 2024.

Click here to apply