ERI LA Socio-Political Blog

Training structure

Traditional law training contract structures place trainees in fixed placement periods in different departments. However, there are discrepancy in terms of the placement time, number of departments to be rotated through and the amount and type of work completed in each department. If you are in doubt about which practice area you want to work in when you meet the criteria, you may want to apply to firms which will place you in many different departments during your training contracts in UK.

Place

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

It is a little of a individual choice, with insinuations that will influence the quality of life and your work. The largest firms are based in London and the legal market which circles the capital’s financial services industry is one of the most lucrative 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 social and cultural activities that the cosmopolitan city has to offer.

Though, the cost of living is higher in London and you will have to satisfied with the traffic and rush hour crushes in 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 is, as always, yours.

Size

The practice areas and client base of a firm are very good predictors of its size. Firms variety from commercial law practices working with major global corporations to high-street firms more accessible to the general public. Of course, there are many exceptions to the rule. Look closely so you won’t be surprised later on.
Large firms bring their own difficulties as well benefits. The larger a firm is, the more likely it is to take on a bigger number of trainees. A high profile firm can bring your CV strong brand value. On the other hand, if you are working for a smaller firm, there will probably be fewer trainees. This means that you will probably have more interaction with skilled solicitors and various levels within the firm.

Client base

The outline of a firm generally corresponds to the profile of its clients. Some people prefer to work with high profile organizations, but will usually have to compete with people from altering 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.

Training areas

This is certainly one of the most crucial factors for you to consider as part of the process in choosing a training contract firm.

There is a huge divergence between learning the law and practicing it. As a law student, it is trouble-free to consider that what you learn at university will correspond to the workplace. You may not find the books and lectures of a particular subject particularly interesting, but the same subject may be much more lively and exciting when you are out in the field and working on real cases.

practice areas, each department will be a different size and contain its own reputation 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 most excellent ones to apply to. It will also supply you with precious credibility when it comes to the interview stage. You will most likely not be given the precise combination of seats that you would like in your legal 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 interested in.