Careers - Trainees
At Harbottle & Lewis we offer five training contracts per year, two contracts commencing in March and three in September.
We have been ranked in two independent directories regarding our traineeships. The 2012 Chambers and Partners Student Guide and The Lex 100 survey 2010/11 give an overview of the 'true picture' for trainees at Harbottle & Lewis.
Training Lawyers for the Future
Our aim in recruiting trainee solicitors is to employ the firm's future lawyers and, over the years, the majority of our trainees have stayed with us following qualification.
When you join Harbottle & Lewis as a trainee, you become part of a team of lawyers advising clients in dynamic and demanding industries.
We employ trainees from a variety of educational backgrounds. Many of our trainees and lawyers took degrees in subjects like history, arts, drama or languages before converting to law.
Nature of Training
In order to ensure that our trainees' work is relevant and challenging and to maximise their exposure to a full range of legal tasks, we have a policy of accepting a small number of trainees.
We will train you in all aspects of being a lawyer. This includes drafting, negotiation, legal and court procedures, advocacy, case and transaction management, but also aspects such as client care and practice support, research and communication, as well as giving you guidance in managing your work efficiently.
Areas of Training
The two year training contract is divided into four seats of approximately six months. There are a total of seven different seats, including:
- Company and Commercial
- Litigation
- Property
- Music, Sport, Advertising, Interactive Entertainment, Intellectual Property, Publishing
- Theatre, Film and Television
- Family, Tax and Private Client
- Employment
- Trainee secondment to one of our aviation clients
How we support you during your training
A Trainee Supervisor is responsible for overseeing your day-to-day work, training and development in each seat. They ensure that you have a full and varied work-load and are given appropriate skills training.
You will be formally appraised by the Trainee Supervisor at the end of each seat to review your overall performance, assess the development of your skills and to plan future training. In addition you will meet regularly with your Trainee Partner who will monitor your training and general progress.
Law Society and Other Training Courses
You will complete the various components of the PSC with an external provider during your training contract. In addition, we run a wide range of internal training sessions and seminars. Some of these are tailored specifically for trainees but others you will attend along with other members of the firm.
LPC and GDL
The offer of a training contract is conditional upon the applicant passing the LPC (and the GDL where applicable).
We do not pay the tuition fees for the GDL. However, for those applicants who are offered a training contract before or at the time of embarking on the GDL, we would prefer you to study for the GDL with the College of Law (any branch) and will offer you a £500 bursary towards your GDL fees if you do so.
We will pay the tuition (but not resit) fees for the LPC for those applicants who are offered a training contract before or at the time of embarking on the LPC course. With effect from September 2009 we entered into an exclusive relationship with College of Law and will require you to study the LPC (Commercial and Private route) at the College of Law. Whilst we would prefer you to study at the Bloomsbury branch we can accommodate requests to study at one of the College of Law's other branches. In addition we offer interest free loans towards maintenance costs during the LPC course.
In respect of the electives offered on the LPC at The College of Law, we will require you to study the Commercial Law and Practice option. You are then free to choose the remaining two electives from the following: Commercial Dispute Resolution; Employment Law and Practice; Advanced Property Law and Practice; Family Law and Practice and Private Client.
How to apply
The application period for training contracts starting in 2013 is between 1 May and 31 July 2011. You will need at least an upper second class degree and the grades of A, A, B at A-level. We require applications on a typewritten application form which is available to download via the link below. Please complete your application form and send it by email to kathy.beilby@harbottle.com. Please do not send a covering letter.
Download Training Contract Application Form
Vacation Placements
We do not offer a vacation placement scheme.