The key to choosing the right place for you to do your law training contract is to fully research the firms and areas of law so you know the options and you have considered which are the best fit for you. You may already think you know a lot about the legal profession and the firms within it because you have read a few firms’ websites and brochures and may have even spoken to a few at law fairs and open days.
However, making a rash and ill-informed decision at this stage could come back to haunt you down the line. Whilst it is always possible to change firms after your training contract, your options may be limited based on the type of training you received during your training contract. Additionally, if you do not fully research, and think through, your decision about where to do your training contract and why, this will come across to recruiters in your applications and interviews.
The main factors to research and consider are as follows:
Work – Before entering a training contract it’s critical that you think about the precise areas of law that you want practical exposure to. Keep in mind that studying a specific area of the law as a law student can be far different than actually practicing it so it may be well worth your while to explore the practical side of the area that interests you. Once you’ve made your decision, start looking for firms that are able to provide experience in these areas. It should be noted that you might not always be able to choose which areas of law you will be working in while completing your training contract. This can be affected by the number of other trainees and the size of the law firm. You should be able to get a good feel for the type of work that’s usually available for a trainee solicitor by studying the firms’ recruitment materials.
Type of Clients – As well as the type of work, you should also think through what sort of clients you might like to get experience in working for. Do you want to do work for large blue chip clients where you are unlikely to get very much direct client contact or would you prefer to work for smaller commercial clients or individuals where you are likely to get more direct contact and be able to more directly help them yourself.?
People – Another important factor to consider before entering into a training contract is the size of the firm you’d like to work for. Do you want to work with many colleagues or just a few? Do you want to be just another trainee solicitor among many others or enter into a firm with just a few other trainees? Also consider whether you want to gain experience working with a wide variety of colleagues that may be different nationalities, or would you prefer working with a smaller team that would allow you to build strong and lasting relationships?
Geography – The balance between professional life and personal life has always been a hot topic among legal professionals. One of the key factors that can affect this balance is the location where you work. For example, if you work in London you could face a long commute every day and lead a very hectic lifestyle but you may find there is more to offer in terms of the quality of life if you work in the regions. Certainly, these factors are subjective so you should carefully consider just how much your life would be affected for the duration of your training contract by living in a particular location.
Additional Factors – In addition to the above, firms often offer perks to their suppliers such as travelcard loans in London, gym membership, overseas placements or secondments to clients. These should always be a secondary consideration but they can still be used to help you decide between similar firms.
More information about becoming a trainee solicitor and securing legal work experience and/or a law training contract