Training Contracts
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 Legal 500.
At Herrington Carmichael, we invest in our future talent. From September 2026, successful Training Contract applicants will be eligible for financial support toward completing their LLM incorporating SQE1 and SQE2.
This approach reflects our long-term commitment to professional development. It is designed to reduce financial barriers, widen access to the profession, and provide a high-quality, structured route to qualification.
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: SQE1 & SQE2 before start date
- Funding: A subsidy towards the cost of the LLM (SQE1&2) & SQE1 & 2 Exam Fees for all future Trainee Solicitors
- Application deadlines: Rolling recruitment for upcoming intakes; Spring Assessment Centre deadline 1 March; Autumn Assessment Centre deadline 1 September
SQE Funding and Development Pathways
SQE Funding
From September 2026, successful Training Contract applicants will be eligible for a subsidy toward completing their LLM incorporating SQE1 and SQE2. Individuals will be required to self-fund the remaining balance. Where applicable, the Herrington Carmichael team can provide guidance on accessing a UK Government Postgraduate Loan.
Development Pathways
We recognise that candidates progress towards qualification through different routes, shaped by their experience, circumstances and learning needs. Our three development pathways, outlined below, are intentionally flexible to reflect this. During the recruitment process, your skills, experience and aptitude will help determine which pathway best supports your development.
Full-Time Study
This route supports immediate progression into full-time study for the LLM incorporating SQE1 and SQE2 upon completion of the LLB or PGDL, ahead of commencing your Training Contract and obtaining your Qualifying Work Experience.
This pathway suits individuals who are ready to focus on academic preparation before transitioning into practice.
Integrated Study & Work
This route is designed for individuals who’d benefit from combining academic study with practical legal experience.
You will join Herrington Carmichael in a Support Function, for example as a Legal Assistant or Legal Secretary, working four days per week and studying one day per week on the 24-month part-time LLM programme.
Then you will commence your Training Contract and obtain your Qualifying Work Experience. Note: Time spent in a Support Function prior to this will not count towards QWE.
What You’ll Gain
We are committed to developing well-rounded solicitors by focusing on:
- Responsibility: From day one you will take on client work
- 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
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 now for our 2027, 2028 and 2029 intakes!
Solicitor Training Contract FAQs
Find answers to your most pressing questions about our services and processes.
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 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 of Growth, Relationships, Ambition, Collboration and Excellence.
Our trainee recruitment process involves multiple stages. Following application individuals are shortlisted based on the academic and location criteria outlined above. Individuals are issued an aptitude test and upon successful completion are invited to a first stage online interview. Should individuals successfully pass this interview, they are invited to an assessment centre. If they pass the assessment centre, they are invited to a final stage, in-person 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
- Contentious Probate
- Corporate
- Dispute Resolution
- Employment
- Family
- Residential Property
- Private Wealth & Inheritance
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.
Training Contracts start in either March or September.
We align our LLM (SQE1&2) study cohorts with candidate completion of previous academic stages and our training contract intakes.
- Full Time (12 months) LLM(SQE1&2) commence in February and September respectively with completion prior to training contracts starting in March and September 12 months later.
- Part Time (24 months) LLM(SQE1&2) commence in February and September respectively with completion prior to training contracts starting in March and September 24 months later.
For individuals who have already enrolled on, and are self-funding, an LLM incorporating SQE1 and SQE2 prior to joining Herrington Carmichael, you may be eligible for reimbursement in line with the subsidy outlined above, upon successfully securing a Training Contract with the firm. This will be discussed during our recruitment process.
All future trainees will be required to complete the SQE. However, we will consider applications from candidates who have already completed the LPC and have suitable workplace experience.
Meet our trainee solicitors
Dedicated professionals ready to assist you.
