Vacation Scheme/Training Contracts future pilots *
trainee solicitors

You want to work for a firm that appreciates your needs to ensure your training and experience creates the best foundation for your career in law. Clarke Willmott's intention is to support your academic knowledge with first hand practical experience.

Vacation Scheme

During the summer of 2008, we will be introducing a vacation scheme which will give candidates the opportunity to experience working life at Clarke Willmott.

The scheme will run in each of our four offices and the dates for the placements are as follows:

  • Bristol: 21 July - 1 August 2008
  • Taunton: 21 July - 1 August 2008
  • Birmingham: 4 August - 15 August 2008
  • Southampton: 4 August - 15 August 2008

Each scheme will last for two weeks during which time you will rotate around two different departments. In each department, you will get involved with current work and will be supervised by one of our solicitors. You will also get the opportunity to find out more about the type of clients we work with as well as our sector based approach. For the two weeks, you will be allocated a ‘buddy' who will be one of our trainees and they will be on hand throughout the course of the scheme to answer any questions you may have. To help you get to know your ‘buddy' as well as some of our other trainees you will also have the opportunity to attend some social events.

The scheme is available to penultimate year law students, final year law and non-law students, graduates and those considering a career change. Application is via our application form which is available on our criteria & application page. The deadline for applications is 19 June 2008 and candidates who are short listed will then be interviewed. We aim to get back to all candidates as soon as possible after the deadline.

Training Contracts

We carefully control the number of trainees we recruit to ensure we are able to meet our commitment to them. We provide a broad programme of practical training complimented by supervision from experienced partners or senior fee earners.

As your confidence and skills develop, you will increasingly be encouraged to take responsibility for specific aspects of a case or in less complex matters for the whole case. You can expect early contact with clients in appropriate circumstances.

As a trainee, you are a team member and as such you will be expected to play an active role in the work and day to day operation of the team. It also means you have the support and guidance of other team members should you require it.

Your training will include:

  • a formal induction to the firm
  • training in our IT and research facilities
  • access to a wide range of legal skills courses
  • the Professional Skills Course (PSC)
  • four seats of six months to provide practical experience
  • regular appraisals - at the end of each seat - to discuss your progress and training needs

We make every effort to arrange seats to give you a wide range of experience, whilst ensuring we meet the Law Society's requirements and achieve good, broadly based coverage of both commercial and private client areas, contentious and non contentious work.

We consider our trainees as the future of the firm. Your benefits will include:

  • a competitive salary, always above Law Society guidelines
  • eligibility for a bonus based on firm's financial performance
  • pension – we match your contribution, up to 5% of salary
  • subsidised gym membership

criteria & application

 
* clarke willmott