Best Five Factors to Consider in Choosing a Training Contract Firm

UK Training Contracts tailor made for graduates who wish to qualify as a solicitors in England and Wales. It is is compulsory for anyone qualifying with a law degree and for anyone qualifying with a non-law degree. To carry out a training contract, a graduate must apply for an opening for such position at a law firm. The problem encountered is that the number of graduates applying for training contracts in the UK surpass the number of annual contracts available.

Training Structure

Conventional law training contract organization place trainees in fixed placement periods in different departments. Yet, there are modifications in terms of the placement period, number of departments to be turned through and the magnitude and type of work completed in each department. If you are not sure about which practice area you want to work in when you qualify, you may want to request to firms which will place you in many different departments during your training contract.

Place

For most training contract applicants, the choice boils down to the simple question: “Do I work in London, or do I work for a local regional firm?”

This is something of a individual choice, with implications that will affect your quality of life and your career. The largest firms are based in London and the legal market which circles the capital’s financial services industry is one of the most profitable in the world. This translates into higher average pay packets for London solicitors. Aside from the careers benefits to choosing London, trainees can enjoy all the social and cultural activities that the cosmopolitan city has to offer.

Nevertheless, the cost of living is higher in London and you will have to content with the traffic and rush hour crushes on the tube. Working hours are often longer at London firms and you may find a more appealing work-life balance at firms outside of the capital. The choice, as always, is yours.

Training Contract Applications are designed to make candidates think very hard about themselves and their suitability to the firm and role as a solicitor. Constructing a good case and presenting it clearly on paper can take a lot of time and effort so ensure you do your research and spend as much time as possible on your applications.

Size

The practice areas and client base of a firm are very good predictors of its magnitude. Firms scope from commercial law practices working with major global corporations to high-street firms more approachable to the general public. Of course, there are many exceptions to the rule. Look intimately so you won’t be surprised later on.

Huge firms bring their own disadvantages as well benefits. The bigger a firm is, the more likely it is to take on a greater number of trainees. A high biography firm can bring your CV strong brand value. On the other hand, if you are working for a smaller firm, there will likely be fewer trainees. This means that you may have more interaction with qualified solicitors at different levels within the firm.

Activity Areas

This is undoubtedly one of the most crucial factors for you to weigh up as part of the process for choosing a training contract firm.

There is a big discrepancy between studying the law and practicing it. As a law student, it is easy to believe that what you learn at university will correspond to the workplace. You may not find the books and lectures of a particular subject especially interesting, but the same subject may be much more dynamic and stimulating when you are out in the tract and working on real cases.

Whilst the larger firms may have departments that cover all drill areas, each department will be a different size and carry its own honor within the industry. Whether you are looking to work in Corporate, Real Estate, Finance, Litigation, Employment, Incentives or Competition, doing your research about the different departments within your potential firms will help you choose the best ones to apply to. It will also provide you with priceless credibility when it comes to the interview stage. You will likely not be given the accurate combination of seats that you would like in your Training Contracts. However, you can’t go too far wrong if you have selected a firm whose major practice areas match those that you are curious in.

Client Base

The biography of a firm generally represents to the biography of its clients. Some people prefer to work with high biography organizations, but will usually have to claim with dealing with people from varying levels within the organization. Smaller clients give you a chance to work more directly with the key people and your input will be more visible.