Research

AUGUST – OCTOBER

Enjoy testing the waters and seeing what’s out there. Think about what you want from a firm in terms of experience and culture. There’s no wrong answer, just what is right for you.

Do a little research and whittle it down to a little list of firms you might want to work for.

Then, stalk them. Joking. But do attend career and law fairs and reach out to those firms. Don’t be afraid to just pick up the phone. They’re just people – and if they’re rude, well would you want to work there anyway?

Application

OCTOBER ONWARDS

Now you’ve got your hit list, it’s time to start applying for training contracts.

Remember! Take time with the application and make it feel tailored to the firm.

Our deadline for the vacation scheme is 31st December. Our deadline for the direct training contract is 31st July.

JANUARY

If you applied to our vacation scheme route, you’ll hear from our early careers recruitment about the outcome of your initial application.

If your application is successful you’ll be invited to the next stage of the recruitment process, which will be an assessment centre.

FEBRUARY – MARCH

Assessment centres for the vacation scheme are held in February and early March.

MARCH

If you are successful after the assessment centre, we will invite you to one of our vacation schemes.

APRIL – JUNE

Our vacation placement scheme dates are held in April and June. These are five day long schemes, where you will be allocated to a department and take place in a whole heap of activities during the week!

You will hear back shortly after the vacation scheme to confirm if you have been successful in securing a training contract with us.

31 JULY – DIRECT TC ROUTE

Our deadline for submitting direct training contract applications (some firm’s deadlines may vary so make sure you have a note of them).

AUGUST – SEPTEMBER

You’ll hear from our graduate team with the outcome of your initial application for our training contract.

If your application is successful you will be invited to complete our SHL cognitive test, attend an assessment centre and finally, a Partner interview.

Law school

SEPTEMBER – JULY

LAW DEGREE

If you’ve completed your degree (first of all, well done!), the next step is to study for and sit the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQE 1&2). There’s a wide range of providers and law schools that offer these courses.

NON LAW DEGREE

If your degree is not in Law you’ll need to study the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL).

Once that’s completed you’ll be able to progress to the SQE.

Training contract first year

SEPTEMBER

You’ll start your training contract with us, your first week will consist of induction training from various departments.

OCTOBER – NOVEMBER

This is the law fair season, you’ll be asked to help out the graduate team attending law fairs to speak to students and share your experiences so far. Just when you thought you were out of the fairs, you’re pulled back in!

OCTOBER – MARCH

You’ll attend your core Professional Skills Courses (PSC) if you have come via the Legal Practice Course (LPC route). If you have completed the SQE, the PSC’s are not required.

JANUARY

You’ll move into your 2nd seat.

MAY

You’ll move into your 3rd seat.

Training contract second year

SEPTEMBER – AUGUST

You’ll move into your 4th seat. How exciting and also… how many seats are there we hear you ask! Don’t worry, you’re almost done.

In your 2nd year you let us have your preferences of the departments you’d like to go into.  Where possible the graduate team will get you into your preferred department so you can begin to carve out your career path.

JANUARY

You will move into your 5th seat.

We hold a tailored course in-house which consists of 4 days training.  You cover presentation and communication skills and also a business simulation workshop.

MARCH – APRIL

Our newly qualified (NQ) jobs list is published internally (when in your 4th seat).  You’ll need to decide where you would like to apply and submit your application to the relevant partners/departments.

MAY

You will move into your final seat.

Normally by this time you’ll know where you are qualifying as we aim to have all our NQ jobs sorted by May.

Qualification

SEPTEMBER 

You’ll qualify into your chosen area of law.

The graduate team likes to keep in touch with NQ’s to track progress and help them in any way we can.

During the first year of qualification you enroll on to our NQ development programme which will equip you with all the skills you need to start your qualified career.

Our Learning and Development team will meet with you yearly to help you make your mark within the firm and progress. We also have an NQ committee and meet with them throughout the year.