Solicitor Training Contracts
Our Training Contract offers individuals a huge variety of exposure to matter types and types, with the freedom to grow into your law career under the guidance of mentorship in a supportive environment.
Your growth is our growth
Our firm’s success is measured by its people and every one of our team has a part to play.
Whether you are looking for a fast-paced commercial career dealing with blue-chip clients or to provide the highest quality advice to our high-net worth individual clients, we can find a home for your skills and experience.
We have a culture of encouragement, innate in every part of our business. We want to inspire and be inspired. If you have ideas, we are listening. We hope that you will join us on this journey of making our business as strong and successful as it can be – success that will not be possible without our people.
Career development
Your career development is a major focus for us. We want you to feel like you can achieve anything. Whether you are a lawyer, or involved in the support activities across the firm, we want you to fulfil your potential and be given space to flourish.
You will have continuous development reviews, annual appraisals, and be given constant training and support options. We support people through professional training and to achieve qualifications as we want you to realise your potential and progress your career. We build annual learning and development plans to support people who want to hone in on or improve specialist skills. We have a significant budget available for training purposes, we have a clear Continuing Performance Review programme that focuses on setting clear goals for all staff, have clear routes through each stage of a career path to avoid stagnation. We also have a fund available that allows for specialism development within departments to allow for future growth of our service offerings.
We have made a commitment to grow and invest in our own through:
- Focussing on apprenticeships and trainee legal support schemes.
- Diversifying and incorporating all available routes to qualification as a solicitor.
- A trainee programme that has doubled to 28 trainees.
Responsibility from the get-go
Our trainees are exposed to a high level of client contact and exposure to a wide range of projects and hands-on work. This exposure enables trainees to gain a practical understanding of the field from those with a wealth of experience in order to develop their legal skills and thrive in their professional growth.
Departments are structured accordingly so that trainees will undertake less routine administrative tasks, allowing them to focus on core legal work.
As training contracts progress, trainees are entrusted with greater responsibility and are encouraged to immerse themselves fully in a variety of legal areas as well as actively develop their professional skills outside the workplace. This facilitates the foundation for a successful and well-rounded solicitor.
Investment into your future
Growth is one of the firm’s key values and is woven throughout our daily practices. As training contracts develop, trainees are encouraged to have and progress their own Business Development (BD) plans and targets which will fall within their wider departments’ BD goals. BD allows fee earning employees to build their networks, meet potential clients, as well as develop a wide range of contacts, and grow their confidence as a result of doing so.
BD is highly conducive to building a career and shaping a strong future solicitor. However, most importantly, the firm places emphasis and invests resources into trainees building specialisms in their chosen practice area. This allows the firm to foster great talent to stay with the firm, highlighted by the number of partners who initially began their journeys at the firm as a trainee!
Opportunity for all
Not everyone follows the traditional route to becoming a solicitor. Many of our partners followed unconventional routes (like starting their working life as a chef!) and have successfully transitioned to a career in law.
We are proud to offer individuals the opportunity to build their legal careers through the various routes. Below you can find a flowchart of these routes and what each of these entails.
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!
Solicitor Training Contract FAQs
What are the requirements and qualifications I need to apply?
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.
What is the recruitment process?
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.
What training seats are available?
Our trainees will be based in our Farnborough office and will spend time in three or four of the following departments:
- Commercial Property
- Commercial
- Corporate
- Dispute Resolution
- Employment
- Residential Property
- Private Wealth
- Family
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
How are trainees supported throughout their Training Contract?
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.
How long is the contract?
The contract is 2 years and is full-time in our Farnborough offices.
What is the salary?
We offer a competitive salary as well as a variety of employee benefits.
I cannot apply using the online form. Are there other ways of applying?
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.
When are your intake periods?
Training Contracts start in either March or September.
