Trainee Recruitment

Please note that with effect from 31 December 2009, we have closed the application process for a Training Contract place commencing in September 2010.

At Seddons, we take the matter of your training very seriously indeed – after all, your training contract represents perhaps the two most crucial years in your legal career.
 
We will guide you as quickly as possible through the transition from inexperienced student to practised professional, encouraging your individual talents every step of the way. We will help you to emerge from your training contract confidently, familiar with all aspects of what it means to work in a professional modern practice.
 
We are proud that many of our lawyers, associates and partners trained with us and where possible, it is our policy to offer trainees a full-time position once they qualify (subject to availability and candidate suitability). 
 
CANDIDATE CRITERIA

We offer a number of trainee opportunities each year. Applications can only be accepted between 1 October and 31 December to commence in the September of the following year.  Any applications received before or after these dates WILL NOT be considered.

If you are interested in applying to Seddons, please go to the Application Process  page where you will be able to access our Application Form.
 
SHORTLISTED CANDIDATE ASSESSMENT

Our selection process commences in January, following the closing date.   We prefer applications from degree holders with a 2:1 class and above and we are happy to receive applications from law and non-law graduates. From this initial selection process we invite circa 25 applicants to attend stage one of the interview process.
 
Interviewees will be issued with a brief, prior to the first interview and will be asked to submit a written exercise that will be discussed during the interview process.   Following the interview we will shortlist for the second interview taking into consideration both the interview and also the written exercise.

We shortlist circa eight applicants for the second round interview and invite them to spend some time with our trainees, as well as complete further interviews with at least two senior fee earners.  This round of interviews will be more in depth and provide you with the opportunity to find out more about Seddons and for us to assess the skills and experience you have to offer the firm as a Trainee Solicitor.

Following this final stage, we will review each candidate in detail and our decisions are usually communicated to all second round interviewees within one week of the process being completed.

DURING THE TRAINING CONTRACT

During your two year training contract with Seddons, you will sit in four separate departments for six months each time.  These are called seats.  Our current seats are as follows; Litigation; Property; Education; Private Client and Family; and Corporate and Employment.  We review the seat options about every six months, in line with business needs.  This ensures that you not only receive a varied training contract, but you will also be placed in departments where you have sufficient work to ensure you are properly trained.

If a trainee expresses a particular interest in one area of law, we will try to accommodate this.  However, we recognise the benefit of trainees experiencing different areas of law during their training period and the Training Principal will make final decisions based on business needs and your general development needs.

In addition to the practical experience gained in each seat, you will be put through external Professional Skills Courses in order to meet the requirements of the SRA for Trainee Solicitors.
 
Because you will move around the firm during your training contract, you will quickly become integrated in the office and trainees often become involved in other projects or events across the firm which enhance your skills and knowledge.  We see these projects and events as a useful tool to build strong relationships with your colleagues and help you become more involved in the practice as a whole.

We regret to advise that we do not offer financial support to prospective trainees for pre-training education and expenditure - but we do pay for PSC fees.