Training Contracts
A training contract at Pinsent Masons represents the first stage of a focused development programme that will enable you to reach your full potential. Our training programme has been developed in-house; this ensures you receive a balanced and comprehensive introduction to the profession.
Training contract structure
Trainees move departments every six months, this gives you the necessary time to develop the legal and commercial depth of understanding required to take on real responsibility. Our aim is to give you broad exposure to a number of different areas of the firm so that you have a number of options when you come to qualify. We do this by allowing trainees to indicate which practice areas they are most interested in exploring, while balancing this against the needs of the firm. During the second year of training you will also have the opportunity to undertake a secondment to either one of clients or an international office. About 20% of our trainees undertake a secondment during their training contract. It is also important to remember that you do not need to work overseas to undertake work with an international dimension.
Sponsorship opportunities
Any training contract offer would be conditional on you achieving a commendation or better in the Legal Practice Course (LPC) prior to joining. Non-law graduates must also achieve a commendation or better in the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL). Applicants to our Scottish offices must undertake the equivalent Diploma in Legal Practice.
A training contract represents a big investment in your future. In the light of this, we’re willing to cover the cost of your tuition at our preferred supplier, the College of Law, which offers you the choice of studying in Birmingham, London (Moorgate), Manchester or York. Future Scottish trainees are able to choose where they study towards the Diploma. To help you make ends meet, we’ll also provide you with a competitive maintenance grant.
Life after your training contract
Given how much we invest, we naturally try to retain as many trainees as possible (our retention rate has historically been in excess of 80%) and many go on to become partners in the firm - you can hear from a number of them on this website. The wider pressures of the global economy have made it harder for commercial law firms to retain their trainees and we have had to respond to this. We have taken the decision to reduce the number of trainees in our business to 120 and instead increase our use of paralegals and legal support staff. We feel that not only will this allow us to retain a greater percentage of our trainees but it will ensure our trainees are given the high quality work that will stretch then further and allow them to learn and develop quicker than in the past.
It’s also a testament to our training to see how many of our former trainees are now leading lights at other top-tier firms and in the legal departments of major corporates. Trying to predict exactly where you will be in 10 years time is notoriously difficult, but you can ensure there will always be opportunities open to you by securing a training contract that is respected across the business world.
Training contract start dates
We are currently recruiting for people to commence training contracts in either September 2014 or March 2015. We may have a small number of places available in certain offices that would allow you to join sooner than this, if this would be of interest to you please contact us to discuss this prior to making an application.
The application process
All training contracts are awarded on merit and in order to be considered you need make an application through our online application form by 31 July 2012. Assessment centres for training contracts typically take place in August. You can find out what we look for in our trainee solicitors here.
If you have any other questions relating to training contracts please consult the FAQ section of the website.