Size of Firm:
52 Partners, 99 other fee earners, 17
trainees
Locations:
London, Hampshire, Surrey
Details of any work experience
schemes:
Summer vacation scheme - 1 week
during July. Deadline for application -
31 March 2011
Details of any open days:
Information days are held in all offices
in July
Number of training contract vacancies
commencing September 2013:
10
Approximate ratio of law and now-law
trainees:
Differs from year to year
Application for training contracts can be
made from:
1 December 2010 to 31 July 2011
Starting Salary in 2010:
£30,000 (London), £25,000 (Hampshire
and Surrey)
Are you involved in any diversity initiatives/
programmes?
Yes - City Solicitors' Education Trust
Contact (for applications):
Andrea Law or Lorna Hector
Tel: 01483 791800
Penningtons Solicitors LLP is a forwardthinking,
top 100 UK law firm which
provides legal services tailored to businesses
and individuals. We address the specific
objectives of each client through our flair and
technical expertise and offer a partner-led
service with an emphasis on team work.
Today we're based in the City of London,
Hampshire and Surrey and have 52 partners
and nearly 300 people in total. Our main
areas of practice are dispute resolution,
corporate and commercial, property and
private client, provided through our Business
Services, Commercial Property and Private
Individuals Divisions. We also have several
cross divisional teams concentrating on a
variety of industry sectors.
As a trainee you will be joining a thriving
modern firm with a 200 year history and a
deep commitment to providing innovative
legal solutions that precisely match clients'
needs. We recognise the value of giving
trainees real responsibility and allowing
direct contact with clients. You will be given
a thorough grounding in the law, spending
time in the various areas of the firm's three
main divisions; Business Services, Private
Individuals and Commercial Property. We
ensure that trainees gain a broad experience
during their training contract to avoid too
specialised an approach before qualification.
Training programme
You'll complete four six month seats and
have the opportunity to undertake work with
specialists in company and commercial,
dispute resolution, private client and property
law. Penningtons' training programme
includes in-house seminars covering specific
areas of law as well as practical skills and the
fostering of commercial awareness. Your time
with us begins with an induction course to
introduce you to the firm's main departments,
to our office and accounting procedures,
and letter and report drafting. Thereafter,
throughout the year, there are regular lectures
and work sessions specifically designed
for your development and progression.
Additionally, the Professional Skills Course
is provided.
Support when needed
As well as having a seat supervisor in each of
the divisions, you will be allocated a mentor
and principal. Your principal will be a partner
who will be someone you can go to for
impartial advice and help during your training
contract. Your mentor will be a trainee who is
a year ahead of you and will be able to answer
the questions that you may not want to ask
someone more senior. The trainee appraisal
system also ensures that you are given regular
feedback and support.
Be your own person
We recruit seven to ten trainees a year and
value each and every one of them. You will
get to know everyone else in your year and
the year above you and meet up with them
each month at our Trainees' Thursdays. As
a trainee at Penningtons, you will certainly
have a life outside work. We don't deny that
at times you will be asked to work longer
hours - nevertheless, our relaxed work-life
culture enables trainees to continue with their
hobbies, interests and social commitments.
Sports and social
Each office has a sports and social committee
made up of solicitors, trainees and support
staff. The committees organise regular outings
such as theatre trips, summer barbecues,
drinks evenings and ten pin bowling. In
addition, at least two firmwide social events
are organised every year giving partners and
staff across the offices an opportunity to get
together in an informal atmosphere.
After qualification
We hope that the trainee solicitors we recruit
will prove to be the firm's future partners. A
training contract with Penningtons will offer
you the opportunity to develop into a capable
and confident lawyer who is able to help us
maintain our standards of excellence.
The requirements
We recruit seven to ten trainees firmwide each
year. We seek high calibre candidates with
enthusiasm and resilience. A high standard
of academic achievement is expected: three
or more good A-Level passes and preferably
a 2:1 or better at degree level. Clarity of
expression, written and oral, and reliability
in research are important to us. There should
be mental flair (to see solutions in the wood
amongst the trees!) and flexibility (to move
easily between complex, concurrent matters).
On the personal side, we look for self
confidence without arrogance, good humour,
openness with discretion, a good team spirit,
and, above all, integrity.
If you would like to apply for a vacation
scheme, information day or a training contract,
please complete our on-line application form
by accessing
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