Solicitor Training Contracts

Launch your law career with Herrington Carmichael’s two-year, full-time Training Contract in Farnborough. A Legal 500 and Times Best Law Firms 2024 recognised firm.

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Become a Solicitor with Herrington Carmichael

Our two-year, full-time Solicitor Training Contract in Farnborough gives you hands-on experience, dedicated mentoring and the opportunity to rotate through multiple different practice areas. You’ll work directly with clients, develop your expertise across both contentious and non-contentious matters, and be part of a firm ranked in The Legal 500 and listed in The Times Best Law Firms 2024

Key Facts at a Glance 

  • Location: Farnborough, Hampshire, UK
  • Start dates: March or September each year
  • Length: 2 years, full-time
  • Rotations: 3–4 seats across areas such as Corporate, Property, and Private Client
  • Eligibility: Law degree or conversion course plus LPC or SQE1 & SQE2 before start date
  • Application deadlines: Rolling recruitment for upcoming intakes; Spring Assessment Centre deadline 1 March; Autumn Assessment Centre deadline 1 September

 

What our Trainees say...                                                 

Growth of Our Training Programme

In 2023, we moved to a new model welcoming 14 trainee solicitors each year, with March and September start dates. This means we now have 28 trainees on the programme at any one time, spread across all practice areas. Our aim is to retain every trainee upon qualification, reflecting our commitment to investing in long-term talent and building the next generation of HC solicitors.

What You’ll Gain 

We are committed to developing well-rounded solicitors by focusing on:

  • Technical skills: drafting, legal research, case management
  • Interpersonal skills: client communication, teamwork, negotiation
  • Commercial awareness: understanding client priorities, industry trends, and market context
  • Legal expertise: building strong specialisms in your chosen practice area by qualification

 

Real Responsibility from Day One

You’ll handle substantive client work early on, supported by experienced solicitors. Our structure ensures trainees focus on core legal tasks rather than routine admin. As you progress, you’ll take on greater responsibility, working across a variety of matters to build a strong professional foundation.

An Environment for Your Success

We believe our success is driven by our people. You’ll have:

  • Continuous development reviews and annual appraisals
  • A tailored learning and development plan
  • Opportunities to create and pursue your own Business Development (BD) goals
  • Support to grow your professional network and industry profile

Many of our partners began their careers here as trainees, demonstrating our commitment to retaining and promoting talent.

A Culture You’ll Enjoy

Our culture blends professional excellence with a strong sense of community. As a trainee, you can expect:

  • Charitable initiatives with partner charities and a strong CSR agenda, with ambassadors representing trainee interests
  • A dedicated trainee ambassador to support and advocate for the group
  • Regular team and trainee socials, firmwide events, bi-annual parties, and end-of-month drinks
  • Sporting events and other opportunities to connect with colleagues beyond the office

Routes to qualifying as a solicitor

Apply for a Training Contract

Launch your legal career with our dynamic solicitor training program! Gain hands-on experience from day one, working alongside expert mentors and tackling real client matters. Our comprehensive training and supportive environment empower you to develop the skills and confidence to excel. Join us and become a successful, well-rounded solicitor. Apply today!

Application Form

Solicitor Training Contract FAQs

Candidates require a first or 2:1 degree qualification. Other candidates with a 2:2 result, proven skills, and extenuating circumstances as to their degree result will also be considered. Candidates must have successfully completed either the LPC or the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) inclusive of both the SQE1 and SQE2, prior to commencing their Training Contract. 

All of our Training Contracts are based in our Head Office in Farnborough. We only consider candidates within the counties we operate, which are Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire, and Sussex. 

We look for individuals who fit in with our values. First class client service is the key to our success. Candidates will need to be outgoing, articulate, ambitious and able to work under pressure.

Our trainee recruitment process involves 3 main stages. We complete an initial screening of all candidates and those shortlisted will be invited to complete the first stage, which involves an online aptitude test. The second stage is an assessment centre and the third stage is a final interview.

Our trainees will be based in our Farnborough office and will experience two to three different practice areas during their Training Contract.

Our scheme provides the opportunity to gain experience in multiple disciplines. We tailor your training contract and decide your training seats based on business needs, trainee preference and potential availability of roles within the Firm on qualification.

At interview stage, we discuss with applicants their preference for a focused Training Contract experience:

  • Property – comprising the possibility of experience in areas such as Residential Property, Commercial Property and Dispute Resolution.
  • Private Client – comprising the possibility of experience in areas such as Residential Property, Private Wealth & Inheritance and Family.
  • Business – comprising the possibility of experience in areas such as Commercial Property, Commercial, Corporate, Dispute Resolution and Employment.

Our focused approach facilitates a clear training narrative, equipping you with the complimentary knowledge to thrive in the career path you settle on upon qualification. We can consider any permutation of three seat preferences from the below:

  • Commercial Property
  • Commercial
  • Corporate
  • Dispute Resolution
  • Employment
  • Residential Property
  • Private Wealth
  • Family

Fundamental to our training programme is that trainees enjoy their experience and are given genuine responsibility from day one. Each trainee will have a dedicated supervisor to guide and feedback on their daily work, with scheduled review meetings every 3 months. There is also large network of support from fellow Trainees, the Training & Development team, and the Training Principal. 

The contract is 2 years and is full-time in our Farnborough offices.

We offer a competitive salary as well as a variety of employee benefits. 

Please send your CV and a covering letter to careers@herrington-carmichael.com and fill out the form below. Please clearly indicate which month in which you wish to commence your training contract.

Training Contracts start in either March or September. 

Meet our Trainee Solicitors