Legal Training Contracts
Our trainee solicitors are key to our future success. We invest time and energy to ensure we offer the ideal conditions for your success.
We are looking for hardworking, tenacious and fun trainees to join our team.
You’ll have some questions we know. Below are the answers to our FAQ’s:
- Why Greenwoods?
- What’s involved?
- How am I supported?
- When is the deadline?
- How do I apply?
- What’s the application procedure?
Our focus is on being ‘Lawyers you’ll enjoy working with’. Creating the ideal conditions for everyone at Greenwoods to succeed is a key element of delivering this - and we invest in doing so.
We know that if we look after our people, our people will look after our clients. We know our vision is working as, in addition to a long history as Peterborough’s largest commercial firm, we have expanded rapidly in recent years with new offices in Cambridge and London. Further expansion is planned. Our Best Companies results provide further proof of our success in delivering our vision - we’ve consistently been given 1 or 2 star ratings over several years.
We are a contemporary legal practice; our investment in people reflects that. As a result you will:
- Have the opportunity to work with a great portfolio of interesting and significant projects.
- Experience life in each of our offices in London, Cambridge and Peterborough.
- Enjoy a competitive salary and access to the firm’s discretionary bonus scheme.
- Be welcomed into a professional but fun working culture – we are “Lawyers you’ll enjoy working with”.
- Be part of a vibrant social environment – we encourage you to get involved with our Social and Charity committees, and we regularly arrange social events.
- Be supported by a system of regular appraisals to ensure you have all that you need to thrive at Greenwoods.
- Be part of a Best Companies ‘2 star organisation’ accredited by the organisation behind the ‘Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For’ lists.
- Be part of a firm where 40% of current directors trained and qualified with us, and where the trainee retention rate on qualification is high - on average around 3 out of 4 remain with us.
- You will usually experience four seats, spending six months in each. Sometimes, for each seat, you may be allocated to two of the firm’s departments. Our departments are Corporate and Commercial, Regulatory and Compliance, Employment & Employee Benefits, Commercial Property, Disputes, Property Litigation, Construction, and Private Client.
- Our trainee solicitors are encouraged to participate in meetings, attend court and tribunal hearings, attend internal training sessions and participate in seminars and other marketing activity. Trainees tell us that the level of client contact they receive really sets us apart.
- You will be supervised by our training principal and will also have a supervisor in each seat you undertake. Your training will be delivered in accordance with the requirements of the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
- You will receive a formal appraisal twice during each seat. As a result, you can be certain, you are receiving the breadth and depth of training you need.
Applications must be sent before 31 July two years prior to the start date for which you are applying. For example, to join us in 2020 your application must be submitted by 31 July 2018.
Our training contracts begin in September each year.
Please send your CV with a covering letter to Rosa Preston at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) , or send by post to Greenwoods Solicitors LLP, Monkstone House, City Road, Peterborough, PE1 1JE.
Please ensure that your application gives details of your actual or predicted degree class and A-Level, or equivalent, grades. Although it is not a requirement, please feel free to tell us about the ‘real you’. We look forward to hearing about work experience you have undertaken and interests and hobbies you may have.
6.What’s the application procedure?
- We will write to you to confirm that your application has been received.
- All applications are reviewed in September and a shortlist drawn up. We will write to let you know whether you have been shortlisted.
- Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an initial half day assessment, which will normally take place later on in the year. This first assessment includes an interview and a research exercise, and provides an opportunity for you to find out more about Greenwoods. The day also includes lunch with our current trainee solicitors.
- Successful candidates from the initial assessment session will be invited to return for a second assessment day. On this second day you will be asked to prepare and deliver a short presentation. There will also be a further interview and an opportunity to have lunch with some of our Directors.
- Within two weeks of the second assessment day we will contact you to let you know whether you will be offered a training contract. If you are successful, a formal offer letter will be sent to you.
To be part of a firm that regards its trainees as a vital resource and key to current and future success, apply now.
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Rosa Preston
Talent and Development Officer
Rosa’s aim is to deliver an HR service which is consistent, fair and adds significant value.
Email: rmpreston@greenwoods.co.uk
