Trainee Solicitor Recruitment Information & How to Apply
The 2023 Training Contract application process closed on 1 October 2021. All candidates who submitted an application prior to the deadline will receive an update by no later than Friday 22 October confirming the initial outcome of their application.
What happens next?
This year we have a two-stage interview process. The first stage interviews will commence from 1 November and take place in either our Manchester of London office (depending on the preference specified in your application). Candidates will be asked to complete a written task followed by an interview with a panel of two partners.
Those candidates who excel at first stage interview will be invited to a second interview with two different partners of the firm to take place during week commencing 22 November.
We anticipate being in a position to make final decisions and offers by Friday 26 November.
We wish all applicants the best of luck and hope that you find the information below useful. If you do have any queries please contact trainee@jmw.co.uk.
Become a Trainee Solicitor
What we provide:
Training in at least 3 departments
Holiday benefits
Competitive salary
Employee reward scheme including gym discounts
JMW takes its training commitments very seriously and is proud of the fact that a number of our existing partners joined the firm as trainees.
Our trainees receive high quality training spending time in a number of different departments, to enable them to gain a breadth of skills, knowledge and experience. As a full service law firm we have a variety of areas and both contentious and non contentious teams. We believe in giving our trainees very hands on experience, developing your legal skills and also ensuring that you learn to work effectively in a commercial environment.
*Please note that we do not offer sponsorship to trainee candidates for LPC costs*.
What we look for:
At least a 2:1 degree
Excellent interpersonal and team working skills
Ability to organise yourself and others
Drive and enthusiasm
Each year, we look for the very best new trainee solicitors to join us and to become part of the exciting future of this firm. We look for a strong academic record (a minimum of 2:1 degree level), as well as excellent interpersonal and team working skills, drive and enthusiasm. We would like candidates to show an ability to organise themselves and others, and that you can combine technical ability with a common sense approach to your work. We would also like to see some details about your other personal achievements and interests. We believe in recruiting the right people to help drive our business forward, which means that we are interested in you as an individual, and to hear how you feel your personal skills and qualities will benefit JMW. Some link to the local area of our Manchester office is preferred but not essential. We are seeking candidates who can work to the very highest standards in order to meet our clients’ expectations.
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FAQs
How many Trainees are you looking for and which locations?
We do not have a set intake, but anticipate that in 2023 we will have around 20-25 in Manchester and 5–10 in London.
Do you review applications on a rolling basis or after the deadline?
All applications will be reviewed together, after the closing date.
If I am shortlisted when will I hear and how will the selection process work?
We are likely to complete shortlisting towards the end of October, and will then start to contact people to advise them either way.
The first stage of the selection process will be a panel interview, which we expect to happen in November.
The second stage of the selection process will be a full day session before the end of November during which you will have a second interview, undertake some activities/tasks to help us to assess you against our values and performance expectations, and have the opportunity to meet some of our current trainees and partners.
Exact dates for this year’s process will be announced at the top of this page.
Do you accept applications from people at all stages of their degree?
We will accept applications from those who are at an earlier stage in their studies but the majority of our offers are made to those who have completed their degree or are in their final year.
I haven’t started the LPC yet, can I still apply?
Provided you have successfully completed the LPC before the commencement of the Training Contract you can apply.
Do JMW offer funding for courses such as the GDL or LPC?
We do not fund courses such as the GDL or LPC.
I’m considering doing the SQE, can I apply?
At present we are not accepting any SQE applicants for the 2023 Training Contract intake. We anticipate that from 2024 we are likely to have Trainees on both the LPC path to qualification and the SQE path, however we are still in the process of finalising our plans and will put further information on the website once about our SQE plans in due course.
Will the Training Contract offer seats in the Manchester, Liverpool and London offices?
We do not usually rotate Manchester/London Trainees between the two locations.
We have a small, specialist Family team in Liverpool and can offer seats there to Manchester Trainees who are able to travel.
If I am successful when are offers likely to be made?
We hope to be in a position to start to make offers in December and to conclude the process before Christmas.
What training and development will I receive?
Our Training and Development team works closely with our Training Principal to provide additional support to complement the knowledge, skills and experience you will gain in each seat. This includes:
- A Trainee Pathway programme delivering internal and external training on a variety of relevant topics, usually on a monthly basis, over the course of your Training Contract.
During your first year the focus is on soft skills and personal effectiveness (e.g. personal brand, health and wellbeing, difficult conversation).
In the second year the focus is on commercial/professional skills (financial expectations, compliance understanding, business development and networking) which will prepare you to become an effective NQ.
- JMW funds the Professional Skills Course but allows you to book it direct with our provider, so that you can do it on dates which work for you – our current Trainees have told us they really value the flexibility we offer around this.