U.K. Legal Opportunities
Trainee Solicitors
Who We’re Seeking
We seek to hire intelligent, entrepreneurial trainee solicitors with a strong motivation to succeed. We provide trainees with significant work opportunities, professional development and mentoring in a collaborative law firm.
We are looking for people of good all-round ability, ambition and, equally importantly, a sense of humour. You should be an enthusiastic, bright team player who thrives on responsibility.
We receive several hundred applications for only a handful of places each year. We are looking for a consistently high level of academic achievement and require a 2:1 degree or better and a minimum of two As and a B at A level (or equivalent).
Salary & Benefits
The initial rate for trainee solicitors commencing in September 2024 is £50,000. The rate increases in the second year. We also fund course fees for successful applicants for approved LPC and SQE courses.
When to Apply
Applications to commence solicitor training in September 2027 are now open. Applications to commence solicitor training in September 2028 will open in mid-December 2025.
Why Choose Faegre Drinker?
- We are an efficient and friendly firm which adopts a commercial approach to the practice of law.
- The quality of work is similar to that found in many of the largest City firms.
- Your strengths can be identified more quickly, leading to greater responsibility at an earlier stage.
- You will be working in a well-managed environment assisted by up-to-date technology without some of the formalities associated with larger offices, but with the backup of a large organisation.
- You will be offered maximum flexibility and support to concentrate on those areas in which you have or develop an interest.
- You will have an opportunity to join Faegre Drinker's award-winning pro bono schemes.
- You will gain experience in a multinational firm which advises businesses in many of the key economies in the world.
Professional Development for Trainee Solicitors
Our clients primarily comprise companies (public and private) and other commercial organisations. Our firm does not undertake private client work.
Breadth of Experience
You will obtain good general experience in all aspects of business law and will help to service the requirements of U.K. and overseas companies involved in such diverse areas as manufacturing, venture capital, leisure, retail, publishing, telecommunications, energy services, commerce and technology.
Feedback and Evaluation
We know that trainees want and need feedback. We therefore provide reviews every three months to ensure that your training is properly monitored and that you are receiving appropriate experience.
Supervision and Mentoring
In each of our firm's practices, you will assist a number of partners or solicitors rather than being assigned to one individual. This provides a good breadth of experience and ensures that you quickly become integrated with all members of our firm. The aim is that you should become and feel part of the firm as soon as possible. However, one partner in each of your seats will have overall responsibility for your training within that seat.
Comprehensive Training
It is important to us that you receive comprehensive training which is both varied and fulfilling to help you develop both your legal and non-legal skills.
We provide occasional in-house lectures and, more frequently, departmental meetings and briefings. Trainee solicitors are also encouraged to attend outside lectures where appropriate. In addition, our firm recognises that becoming a good solicitor involves developing good working relationships with both colleagues and clients which cannot be taught at formal lectures. On the-job training is very important and trainee solicitors are encouraged to develop these skills within the office environment and in their relationships with clients.
The Work You Will Do
Our firm has five principal areas of practice. While you work in each of these areas, you are encouraged to take responsibility for matters and be involved in direct working relationships with clients.
Corporate: Includes mergers and acquisitions, takeovers, management buy-outs, joint ventures, private equity, flotations (IPOs), fundraisings and corporate reorganisations. We have particular expertise in advising on the legal and regulatory aspects of admission to the London Stock Exchange and, in particular, AIM.
Business Litigation: General commercial litigation with a growing emphasis on mediation and arbitration, much of which is international.
IP and Commercial: A wide range of contentious and non-contentious commercial and IP matters for a diverse client base in the high technology, computing, multimedia, publishing, telecommunications and e-commerce fields. Our expertise also covers franchising and outsourcing.
Employment: Advice on a broad range of employment issues from recruitment to dismissal and also on employers' duties on business sales and reorganisations, the establishment of employee share options and incentive plans, immigration and termination issues such as redundancy, unfair and wrongful dismissal and restrictive covenants.
Real Estate: Advice on all aspects of property investments and management, development and finance, as well as corporate real estate issues.
Vacation Schemes
To gain an insight into our firm, you can apply for one of our vacation placements in our London office. These run for one week during the summer vacation. The aim is to give you firsthand experience of a legal working environment, an understanding of the work that we do, and an opportunity to find out about the culture of our firm.
Applications for our 2025 London office summer vacation scheme are now open.