Keele University
Careers and Employability
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Training Contracts
What type of firm do I want to work for?
A legal training contract is a period of employment-based, salaried training designed to give practical experience of law in which you will apply and develop your legal skills and knowledge. In addition to your working role you will also undertake formal professional development. The training contract is typically two years full-time and four years part-time. Full-time is currently a more common pathway.
All legal training has recently been reviewed and changes may be implemented in the next few years. A portfolio approach to qualifying as a solicitor has been piloted over the last three years. This approach, if implemented, would broaden the pathways to qualifying as a solicitor.
It is also worth knowing that many smaller firms recruit paralegals rather than trainee solicitors as this is effective in giving them a close insight into your abilities and, after a period of time, this reduces the length of the training contract.
Given the competition for training contracts (and paralegal posts), it is essential to time and target your applications appropriately. This handout is designed to help you do so. These are some of the questions that you need to consider.
Questions to ask include:
- What area of law interests me?
- What type of client do I want to work with?
- Am I interested in private practice or the public sector?
- What level of starting salary am I seeking?
- How do my skills, experience and academic qualifications match recruiters' expectations?
The role of the solicitor varies greatly depending on the size and type of employer as well as upon your area of specialisation. Equally, the skills mix and academic background required will differ substantially. You need to research this effectively before putting pen to paper. You can do so by speaking to a Careers Adviser at a drop-in session as well as checking the information sources below and those within the Keele Careers and Employability Centre.
Where do I find information on solicitors?
Large firms and organisations will advertise whereas smaller firms and companies should be contacted directly with a speculative application.
There is a wide range of sources. These include:
The Law Society's Directory of Solicitors www.lawsociety.org.uk/choosingandusing/findasolicitor.law
The Law Society's directory of solicitors and barristers. This provides information on all law firms and solicitors, based in the UK, large and small. Using Find a Solicitor you can search by specialisation, geographic area and firm or company name.
Chambers and Partners www.chambersandpartners.com
Includes details of the top 1,000 law firms and Chambers in England, Wales and Scotland as well as guides to other countries.
The Lawyer www.thelawyer2B.com
Provides useful information on areas of specialisation and law firm recruitment listings.
The Legal 500 www.legal500.com/index.php
Gives similar information to Chambers with worldwide listings as well as the UK.
LawCareers.Net www.lawcareers.net
The Training Contract & Pupillage Handbook. This provides an overview of specialisms, recruiter listings nationally and current vacancies including paralegal positions.
Prospects
www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Law/p!ejmlL
A guide to advertised training contract vacancies on a national basis.
The Careers and Employability Centre has a number of the legal directories above on reference as well as giveaway student editions with useful articles on anything from legal CVs to recruitment trends.
In addition to the above, details of training contracts/recruitment with the following can be obtained as given below:
Crown Prosecution Service www.cps.gov.uk/careers/legal_professional_careers/legal_trainees
The Crown Prosecution Service is the Government Department responsible for prosecuting criminal cases investigated by the police in England and Wales. Recruitment is currently reviewed on a year by year basis.
Government Legal Service www.gls.gov.uk
The GLS, which provides legal services throughout government, currently recruits 20 - 30 trainees each year. The GLS typically recruits 2 years in advance with a July deadline.
Magistrates' Courts Service www.justice.gov.uk/jobs/hmcts/index.htm
HMCTS webpages have a careers opportunities section and links to vacancies.
Solicitors in Local Government www.slgov.org.uk
Solicitors in Local Government Limited is a professional association representing 4,000 solicitors and trainees in England and Wales. The site contains information on the role of solicitors in local government and links to authorities and some vacancies. You can also use the 'organisation' search tool on the Law Society Find a Solicitor website to find the size of department and there may be a direct link. All authorities will have a vacancies section and information on their legal department on their websites.
Commerce and Industry
There are a few opportunities in this field for trainees which you can access via the websites above including the 'organisation' search tool on the Law Society Find a Solicitor website. Speculative applications are advised.
KCS has spare copies of the brochures of some of the large commercial firms as well as all the directories listed previously. Directories will often include articles and careers information not available on the websites.
How do I apply?
Large firms or public sector traineeships usually require completion of an application form in paper format or online. They will make this explicit on their website or vacancy information. The form may be very straightforward with direct questions regarding motivation for being a solicitor and applying to this organisation. Alternatively, it may be designed along the lines of graduate training scheme forms which ask for specific examples of core skills and again probe motivation. Whichever the format, it is essential to ensure that you directly answer the questions and pay particular attention to accuracy and mode of expression.
Smaller firms usually expect a CV and covering letter. A legal CV should have your law degree/GDL as your first qualification and, ideally, you should give a breakdown of your modules and results.
All descriptions of work experience and voluntary work should draw out skills and insight relevant to law. Your CV should not exceed two sides of A4.
For support with legal applications, attend our workshops, see the files in our Resource Room, visit the Making Applications page on this website and/or speak to a Careers Adviser on drop-in.
When do I apply?
Large city/commercial firms begin to advertise in the early summer for vacancies two years in advance. Many invite applications from June onwards - most large firms have closing dates in July/August. Occasionally deadlines can be as early as the end of June. There is a growing trend for recruitment to be cut off before the official deadline so do not leave it until the last week to apply. Interviews for such firms are usually held in September.
Smaller firms cannot necessarily predict their recruitment needs two years in advance but it is worth contacting them at this stage in order to gauge their possible recruitment plans and anticipated recruitment timetable. Many high street firms may not recruit until you are on, or even have completed, the LPC.
Why should my chosen firm/s select me?
Ask yourself these questions - make sure you can answer them.
- What evidence can I display of real interest in their specialist areas?
- How can I persuade them that I have an insight into the reality of the solicitor's role?
- Do I have the academic and/or skills profile they are seeking?
- Is this the type of law to which I am best suited and why?
Research is critical. It is vital that you are applying for traineeships that matche what you have to offer and that you make this match explicit.
What can I expect at the interview stage?
Some firms still recruit via informal one-to-one interviews. Others may use panel interviews and/or a number of interviews. Large firms may possibly require a presentation and/or group exercises as part of the selection procedure.
All firms will expect a good understanding of their work, high levels of motivation and evidence of appropriate skills.
For help with interviews, you can attend interview workshops, consult a Careers Adviser, use the files on law interviews in the Resource Room and access the Interviews page on this website.
Is vacation work relevant?
Yes, very. Increasingly both large and small firms like to base appointment decisions on vacation work knowledge of a student. Also, vacation work demonstrates a practical knowledge of law. It can be very difficult to convince a recruiter of your commitment to be a solicitor if you have not spent any time with a law firm.
Most students secure work experience in their second year Easter and summer vacations. Ideally, first year experience would also be advantageous. Law firms may have deadlines for vacation experience as early as January but, typically, before March. It is, however, worth approaching small firms after this period - they may still be willing to offer work experience.
Equally, other work experience is also of value in developing relevant skills and associated knowledge. Assess the skills such as customer service and commercial awareness you might be developing through part time or holiday work.
What else can I do to make myself attractive to recruiters?
Consider:
- Becoming actively involved in student societies. The Bar and Law Societies in particular can offer both useful insights through activities as well as the opportunity to develop committee experience. This is also true of any student society.
- Holding a representative position in your school to develop your advocacy skills.
- Undertaking voluntary work with relevant client groups such as young offenders or clients with debt problems. Visit the VE Project www.keelesu.com/volunteering in the Students’ Union for support in finding placements.
See Legal Work Experience for advice on work experience in the legal profession.
Further information
Careers and Employability run careers workshops each Semester on applications for Training Contracts. For information and to book, see www.keele.ac.uk/careers/events. Careers and Employability also has information in the Centre specifically for legal applications and a Careers Adviser is available through drop-in sessions to support you with applications.
Updated: 1 October 2012
