In order to select the ideal firm for completing your training contract, it’s recommended that you take the time to fully research both the firms and the area of law you are thinking of entering. You might believe that you already know a great deal about the legal profession and all the firms within it since you have read a number of brochures and firms’ websites. You have probably even spoken to several solicitors as well at open days or law fairs.
However, you may not have considered everything. Before you make a hasty and ill-informed decision that could follow you for many years, slow down and give careful consideration to where you are going to fulfill your training contract. Sure, there is a chance that you could change firms after you’ve started your training contract, but your options could be limited depending on the experience you’ve received over the course of your contract. It’s also important to do some research about where you want to spend your time as a solicitor trainee and why as this will come across to recruiters during the application and interview process.
The primary factors to consider and research are:
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.?
Staff – Another very important factor to consider when deciding where to fulfill your training contract is the size of the firm you enter. Would you like to be one trainee solicitor of many or one among just a few other trainees? Do you want to work with a large number of varied colleagues, perhaps with many nationalities under one roof, or belong to a small team where you can build strong relationships?
Geographical Location – One factor that’s always a hot topic among those in the legal profession is the balance between work and personal life. This can often be affected by the location of where you work. For instance, working in London will likely mean a very hectic lifestyle and long commute, while working in the regions might offer more in terms of the quality of life. These factors can be subjective so you will have decide for yourself what affect, if any, living in a particular location for the duration of your training contract would have on your life.
Other Considerations – In addition to the factors mentioned earlier, many law firms offer perks such as overseas placements, gym memberships, and travelcard loans in London just to name a few. These perks should be nothing more than a secondary consideration but they may help you make a decision between two or three very similar firms.
If you want further information about becoming a trainee solicitor and securing legal work experience and/or a law training contract follow these links