You will be able to choose from a variety of seats in specialist areas and you may also have the opportunity to go on an international or client secondment. Our training contracts are two years in length and you will undertake four six-month seats within specialist areas such as: Insurance and Reinsurance.
10 top tips on how to secure a training contract Make sure you're well-rounded. Get a good mark in first year. Apply for first year schemes. Attend networking events. Apply for vacation schemes. Don't apply for too many vacation schemes. Keep up to date with commercial events. Enjoy your vacation scheme.
Starting on Monday 8 September 2025, the training contract is a mix of qualifying work experience across four different seats, one of which will be in litigation. Alongside this, you will study for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) parts 1 and 2 through the University of Law.
Seat is essentially just the code word for "department" in the training-contract world. As you embark on your training contract, you'll rotate through a number of different departments within the law firm that's training you. Each department you work in is known as a "seat".
Energised by our collaborative culture, cutting-edge training and inspiring colleagues, you're guaranteed to make a splash as you gain quality experience across a broad range of legal practices. A six-seat training contract across a variety of areas from banking and real estate to dispute resolution and private client.
The seat of a corporation is the publicly-registered headquarters, or the registered office of a corporate entity.
It involves dedication, years of study and work experience, and ongoing professional development. It's a highly respected profession and requires a varied skillset, from working alongside clients, public speaking, research and analytical skills to planning legal strategies and more.
Length of a period of recognised training If a trainee works for less than 32 hours during a week we would consider this a part time period of recognised training and the trainee will be expected to complete more than the minimum two year requirement.
Depending on the firm and area of law, applications can be extremely competitive. There's about a 18.63% success rate to get a training contract per year (30k candidates, 5500 places). Bear that in mind.
Most law firms recruit trainees up to two years in advance, so it's important to plan ahead. As an international student, you would require visa sponsorship from your Training Contract provider.