Training Contracts
Start your legal career with real responsibility and structured support
A Training Contract at Herrington Carmichael gives you the opportunity to build the skills, judgement and confidence needed to qualify as a Solicitor in a growing full-service law firm.
Why train at Herrington Carmichael?
Learn from top-tier solicitors with real clients from day one.
Training Benefits
- Real involvement in legal work across a range of practice areas
- Direct access to experienced leading lawyers and senior partners
- Structured seat rotation spanning contentious and non-contentious legal departments
- Clear performance objectives and constructive reviews
- A dedicated Supervisor, HR monitor and senior Trainee Buddy to support you
How the Training Contract is structured
Our training structure is carefully paced over two years to ensure you gain well-rounded, commercially sound experience across four seats.
- 4 Seats of 6 months each across varied disciplines
- Seat allocation aligned with candidate interests and commercial demand
- Dedicated cohort starting in March and September annually
- Continuous career mentoring and post-qualification alignment reviews
Our practice areas
Broaden your horizons by training across some of our leading national practices.
- Corporate & Commercial
- Commercial Property
- Contentious Probate
- Dispute Resolution
- Employment
- Family & Divorce
- Immigration
- Residential & New Build Conveyancing
- Wills, Trusts & Private Wealth
The Recruitment process
Our Training Contract recruitment process is designed to help us understand your motivation, potential and suitability for the Firm. Following application, the process includes 4 stages:
Timed aptitude test and cognitive analysis
Online interviews with early careers recruitment
In-person Assessment Centre
Final Partner interview
Support during your Training Contract
We know that the move from study or early legal work into a Training Contract is a significant step. Our support structure is designed to help you build confidence, receive feedback and understand what good performance looks like in practice.
Supervisor support
You will have a designated Supervisor in each seat. Your Supervisor will provide guidance, allocate work, give feedback and help you understand the expectations of the team.
Seat objectives
Each seat includes objectives so you understand what you are aiming to achieve during that six-month period. These objectives help give structure to your development and provide a basis for feedback and review conversations.
Mid-seat and end-of-seat reviews
You will have review points during each seat to discuss progress, strengths, development areas and next steps. These conversations are designed to support your learning and help you keep improving.
Trainee Buddy and peer support
You will have a Trainee Buddy who can offer informal guidance and answer practical questions. You will also be part of a wider Trainee group, giving you a peer network throughout your Training Contract.
Training and development
You will receive training to support your development as a future Solicitor. This may include technical training, skills sessions, practice area learning and opportunities to hear from experienced lawyers across the Firm.
HR and Training team check-ins
You will have regular contact with the HR and Training teams, including check-ins focused on your progress, development and wider experience as a Trainee.
What we look for
We look for future Trainees who are curious, committed and capable of building strong working relationships.
Strong candidates will usually demonstrate:
- a genuine motivation to pursue a career in law
- a clear interest in Herrington Carmichael and our practice areas
- strong academic ability
- good written and verbal communication
- commercial awareness and an interest in how businesses and individuals use legal advice
- the ability to work well with others
- resilience, self-awareness and willingness to learn from feedback
- a practical, client-focused approach
We value people who can think clearly, ask useful questions and take ownership of their development.
SQE requirements
Applicants must have completed the required academic and professional qualification stages before starting their Training Contract.
For SQE candidates, this means that SQE1 and SQE2 must be completed before the Training Contract begins.
Herrington Carmichael offers SQE support and funding for eligible future Trainees. The funding model is designed to support future Trainees with the cost of SQE preparation while encouraging long-term development with the Firm.
Ready to apply?
Submit your application for a Training Contract at Herrington Carmichael today, or speak to our careers team about SQE funding.