We asked our current trainees for their views on seat allocation and if they were pleased with their combination of seats to date. Here are some of their replies:
"The allocation of seats is very fair. The firm does have a variety of needs to take into consideration when looking at seat placement...
However, they make every effort to ensure that you get to go to a seat that you do want to do."
"The firm tries its best to enable you to follow the career path you want by placing you in seats chosen by you...
I wanted to complete seats with a commercial focus, and the firm has worked hard to ensure that I have received this."
"Each trainee has their own ‘wish list’ of seats they would like experience in and seats are allocated according to the ‘wish list’...
and each department’s demand for a trainee. Your views and aspirations are highly regarded alongside the needs of the firm."
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"I have been lucky enough to have been allocated my first choice of seat on each seat change to date. I am hoping to qualify into commercial property ...
and have therefore discussed my seat choices with the HR partner to ensure that I choose departments which complement that area of law."
"In each of your seats you will work closely under the supervision of a dedicated supervisor, who will usually be a partner. This practical approach...
enables you to be given real responsibility and obtain a breadth of experience, whether through participating in business meetings, attending court hearings, meeting clients or working on your own files. At the same time you can always rest assured that the right level of supervision and support is on hand."
"The firm are very good at trying to give you the seats that you want. The firm always try to place you where you would like to go...
and help you choose the seat that would be best suited to you. If you don’t get your first choice that time round then they make an extra effort to give you your top choice the next time."
"The training is tailored to the individual trainee. The firm tries where possible to put you in a seat that you have expressed an interest in ...
While understandably business needs take precedence, it seems to be rarely the case that you are not allocated a seat on your ‘wish list’ (i.e. your top three)."
This is what our current trainees have to say about the level of involvement they have in files, the level of client contact and the support and supervision they receive:
"The firm’s approach is that trainees should be “hands-on” in every department and I have therefore been given a considerable amount of responsibility....
to progress matters and handle transactions. The workload has been varied and challenging and I have my own caseload of files to manage with the support of my supervisor"
"It has started off steadily but things are ramping up quickly now I have had a week to find my feet. Clearly everything is being scrutinised and checked but...
I am doing real work for real clients and I therefore feel valued already."
"This is my first seat and I was pleased to be given responsibility for drafting and progressing cases from the word go. I have been asked to research...
and write up my opinion on the merits of a case in order to determine which direction we go in next, a task which I really enjoyed. Although I am only a short way through my first seat, already I have attended several client meetings. It’s been brilliant to observe how an experienced solicitor conducts these."
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"My supervisor is very keen to make certain I am involved in a variety of work from the very start of my seat. I have attended client meetings...
case management discussions at the employment tribunal and telephone conferences - all within my first two weeks as a trainee. It comes across very clearly that my supervisor’s role is to make me the best solicitor that I can be. My supervisor is taking the time to help me not only learn the ‘ins and outs’ of employment law but is helping me learn good interchangeable skills which will be transferable to other areas of law."
"In all the seats I have experienced so far I have been given a very high level of client contact....
This has ranged from contact via correspondence to client meetings, mediations and court visits."
"I am given a large amount of responsibility as a trainee and this is the main advantage of joining a firm of this size....
In a city firm you may work on a file with five to ten members of staff. Throughout my training so far I have been given responsibility for running a number of files in various departments. I was supervised throughout by a partner or senior fee earner and provided with guidance when needed. I was able to meet with clients and was often their main point of contact. This level of responsibility will provide me with a good grounding for my future career."
In order to ensure that you progress through each seat, and to provide an opportunity for feedback, reviews are held with your supervisor during months two and four. At the end of each seat a six month review is undertaken with the training partner.
Throughout your training programme you will never be short of people to turn to for advice and help when you need it. We operate a genuinely open and friendly working environment across both our offices and everyone is on first name terms.
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