Training contracts

You’re looking for a career that stretches you, builds your confidence and gives you real opportunities to grow.

We nurture talent with high-quality training and mentorship designed to suit you as an individual and shape a career that feels true to you. As a commercial law firm with a national reputation, all based under one roof, you’ll get to experience high-quality work, real responsibility and close support from day one.

You’ll join a friendly, ambitious community that genuinely wants to see you succeed. We take your development seriously, not just as a future lawyer, but as a future colleague and leader in the industry.

Apply via Direct route Apply via Vacation scheme

Application

October/April

PGDL/SQE

September 2027

Training contract first year

September 2028

Training contract second year

September 2029

Qualification

September 2030 onwards

Application

Our application process for joining via a training contract is:

Online application form
We use Rare Contextual Recruitment System to identify the most disadvantaged candidates and those who have outperformed their schools by the greatest amounts. This is based on a range of Social Mobility flags and Performance Indices
Online test (SHL)
Assessment centre – this usually involves a group-based exercise based on a commercial scenario with a short presentation.
Vacation scheme (if vacation scheme route)
Partner interview

PGDL/SQE

If you have a law degree, your next step is to complete the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).

If you have a non-law degree, you will need to complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) before completing the SQE.

Please note: if you are a non-law graduate applying via the Direct Entry route, your Training Contract will commence in September 2029, following completion of the PGDL and SQE.

Training contract first year

You’ll start your training contract in September with a firmwide induction and then move into your first seat. You will then move into your second seat in January and third seat in May.

Training contract second year

In your second year, you’ll have seat preferences and will start your fourth seat in September. In January, you’ll move into your fifth seat when our newly qualified (NQ) job list will be published internally. In May, you’ll move into your sixth seat before qualification in September.

Qualification

You’ll qualify into your chosen area in September and be enrolled into Walker Morris’ training academy.

So, what’s it really like?

You’ll follow a structured development training programme that builds the skills and confidence you need to become a newly qualified solicitor. If you join us via the LPC (Legal Practice Course) route, we’ll support you through the Professional Skills Course (PSC) too.

Six seats, not four. More variety. More clarity. More you.

Our six-seat structure gives you more choice and more opportunities to discover the areas of law that genuinely interest you.

Explore more – Experience a broader range of work and teams.
Shape your journey – Try contentious and noncontentious work, spend time in niche areas or return to a department you loved.
Grow faster – Moving through more teams helps you build commercial awareness and strong working relationships.
Qualify with confidence – You’ll make your NQ decision with a clear sense of your strengths and interests.

The benefit of six seats at Walker Morris

A genuine home-growth pathway

23% of our partners trained with us, showing a clear path from the very start of your career to partnership.

One office. One community.

We’re the largest single site firm outside London, which means all your training happens in one place and your mentors will be sat with you, not on the other side of a screen.

Our graduates benefit from:

High-quality work without the London postcode – You’ll work on complex, high-value matters for major national and international clients.
Real access – Trainees sit close to partners, associates and business teams, making it easier to build relationships and get involved in live client work.
A connected experience – With everyone on one site, you naturally see how different practice areas collaborate, giving you a more rounded understanding of how commercial law fits together.
Support that’s always close by – No relocating between offices. No remote supervisors. Just a consistent, supportive environment.

Client secondments

A number of our trainees complete a four‑month secondment with one of our clients.

This means you’ll gain first‑hand experience inside an in‑house legal team, working on commercial contracts, stakeholder engagement and fast‑paced projects that sharpen your commercial awareness.

We’ll support you throughout — travel costs are reimbursed and you’ll stay closely connected to our Early Careers team.

“

Doing a secondment during your training contract is a rare opportunity to develop your understanding of how legal input shapes the decisions a business makes. This offers you a unique insight which proves hugely valuable for any area of law you choose.