Sarah Humphrey
Partner
Commercial Property
Trainee Solicitors at Trethowans get the best of both worlds: a firm with big clients and major ambitions, but also a tight-knit, supportive team who value each new staff member from day one.
Every year, we look for bright, talented individuals to join our award-winning firm as Trainee Solicitors. On average, we recruit 3 to 5 Trainees per year, and we warmly invite applications from those who have studied law, as well as those who have a non-law background. Our process means we generally recruit Trainees two years before they start with us, which means candidates have the comfort of knowing they have secured a training contract before they commit to further post-graduate studies, such as the LPC or the SQE.
What are we looking for?
We are not just looking for academic achievement when we recruit Trainees. Identifying candidates who have potential, who have the characteristics and drive we are looking for, and who are able to demonstrate the qualities we seek is of equal importance to us. Our culture is something we are very proud of as a Firm, and so we are looking for people who share similar values and aspirations as us. Our aim is to retain recruit trainees who, upon qualification, wish to continue their career with Trethowans.
Training contracts at Trethowans
We are looking for Trainees who have come through the new Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) or the Legal Practice Course (LPC) route. Our two-year training programme is usually divided into four six-month ‘seats’ with different teams. These will take place in at least two of our five offices in Bournemouth, Poole, Salisbury, Southampton and Winchester. The seats available will depend on our growth objectives and requirements, but we will always talk to you and try to accommodate your preferences wherever possible. Throughout the programme, you will work closely with your allocated supervisor to make sure you are getting the most from your training.
We aim to give every trainee a stimulating, challenging experience with plenty of direct client contact. From day one, you will play an active and important role in your team. We will expect hard work, enthusiasm and commitment – and, in return, offer lots of support and encouragement.
When you start with us, we strive to develop and advance your career from the outset. In fact, many of our Partners, Team Leaders and Solicitors were once trainees at the firm. Our aim is to ensure that trainees learn to apply the knowledge they have already gained academically on a practical basis.
You will be challenged and given responsibility, but also have plenty of opportunities to have fun too. We hold many social events and activities throughout the year and our trainees often meet up as a group – with their own budget allocated for nights out.
As a trainee, you will also receive a comprehensive benefits package.
We are currently reviewing our processes which will enable us to accommodate trainees who wish to qualify via the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQE) route to qualification, which was introduced by the SRA in September 2021. We welcome its aims to remove some of the existing barriers to qualification, improve diversity in the profession, and ensure consistency and standardisation of qualification. Further information will follow once we have completed our review.
Ranked in The Legal 500 Future Lawyers student guide to the legal profession
Trethowans is top ranked in three categories in The Legal 500 Future Lawyers student guide, out of 110 top UK law firms:
- Top 10 law firm in the UK for ‘Overall job satisfaction’
- Top 20 law firm in the UK for ‘Work/life balance’
- Top 20 law firm in the UK for ‘Living up to expectations’.
Application Process
Our application process for Training Contracts commencing 1 September 2025 is now closed. We are in the process of reviewing our approach to the new SQE route and further details on our 2026 intake will be released in due course.
