A Training Contract is offered by most large legal firms to all graduate hires. A Training Contract is an agreement (a written contract) between you and your employer that you can come and work for them for two years after successfully completing your LPC legal training. During this time you will receive further training and a decent starting salary, although you won't be considered to be a fully qualified solicitor.
Firms differ as to when they offer this contract to graduates. For some firms, particularly the Magic circle firms, you will need to apply two to three years before you plan to begin work with them. For other firms, you can apply one to two years before work, and others just a few months before.
Firms require candidates to make such early applications because of the overwhelming competition for places and because many firms offer a subsistence grant to graduates studying the GDL and LPC. For example, Magic circle firms tend to pay all GDL and LPC fees for graduate hires, whilst also providing approximately £7,000 per year as a grant for living costs.
Getting a training contract (TC) can be a difficult job, especially if you plan to study the GDL/CPE conversion course or have a limited legal background. The standard of applicants for TC's is always high and the competition fierce. It is not uncommon for applicants to outnumber TC's by 25 to 1 for the best and most prestigious firms. Candidates without the right A-level grades, a good 2:1 and a gleaming résumé full of relevant work experience will be at a serious disadvantage.
The good news however, is that according to BPP Professional Education there are enough training contracts available each year to accommodate almost every qualifying law student, although the majority of these aren't with the top firms.
Qualifying Without a Degree
[Edit]A training contract is not normally required for anyone qualifying without a degree; non-graduates typically advance toward qualification by passing exams administered by the Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) – all the while working under the supervision of a solicitor.
- For more information about legal training contracts visit the WikiJob forums.
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