PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal looks for ambitious, motivated individuals who have the necessary drive to become the top lawyers of the future. We are looking for lateral thinkers who thrive on a challenge and enjoy thinking up new and innovative solutions to complex problems.
We believe in working hard as part of a team, and above all, enjoying what we do. We like to socialise and have monthly drinks and a football and netball team who take part in regular matches.
We recruit two years in advance and therefore focus on penultimate year law students and final year non-law students. This is a minimum requirement, however, and candidates with more experience are also encouraged to apply.
Vacation scheme
We operate a paid two week summer and winter vacation programme in June/July and December each year. The programmes are designed to provide you with an opportunity to spend one week in two different practice groups to provide an insight into the type of work that a trainee solicitor should expect to do, such as research, drafting of legal documentation and attending client meetings. You will also attend sessions giving you an introduction to all of our practice groups and have the opportunity to work on a case study at the end of your placement
You will have an opportunity to get to know our current trainees and other staff through a number of different social events throughout your time with us.
The programmes are open to candidates who are at least penultimate year law or final year non-law students. The application process for the vacation schemes is currently closed. Please check back later in the year.
The programme operates in conjunction with the recruitment process for our training contracts. Successful applicants for the vacation programme will automatically qualify for the second round interview stage of the training contract interviews.
Solicitors training contract
Your training contract will equip you with the practical and legal skills to challenge traditional methods and deliver integrated local and global solutions. Aside from your academic training, we offer hands-on practical experience every step of the way, and a high level of client exposure to help to put your training into practice.
We think it is important that you are given experience in areas of practice which are of particular interest to you. For this reason, the contract is divided into four periods (or seats) of six months, two of which will be mandatory (corporate and litigation). The remaining two seats will be down to your personal preference which we will endeavour to accommodate. We will discuss these with you upon commencement of your training contract.
Practical experience
Your practical experience will differ from group to group and from client to client. You will work closely with the partners and assistant solicitors who will encourage you to contribute in client matters. In addition to providing conventional legal advice, you are given wide-reaching commercial training that will help you to become successful business consultants.
Candidates will be given exposure to client work and encouraged to take on positions of responsibility as soon as you are capable. You will become an integral part of the team you join, taking a hands-on approach to projects and making valuable contributions. If that sounds daunting, don’t worry, our constant monitoring of your progress means you will never be left feeling isolated.
Mentoring programme
While the learning curve can be steep, the supportive culture at PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal means that help is always at hand. We are strong team players and we want you to succeed. We operate a mentoring programme to ensure that our trainees and staff feel supported throughout their career; you will be allocated a mentor from among our third or fourth seat trainees who will be there to guide you right from the start.
Your supervisor
You will be allocated to a different supervisor for each seat. Your supervisor, who will be either a partner or an assistant solicitor, will dedicate time to be with you and support you all the way from monitoring and assessing the quality of your work, to ensuring that you are given access to a broad spectrum of work. Your supervisor is responsible for controlling the continuous assessment process and ensuring you have adequate support.
Appraisals
You will have two appraisals in each seat (although you will be expected to maintain a regular dialogue with your supervisor throughout, in order to monitor your progress). Your mid-seat appraisal will be a formal opportunity to assess the work you have done in the seat to date and will identify objectives for the remainder to ensure that you get the most from your seat. Your end of seat appraisal will assess your development and progression over the six month period and identify whether you objectives have been met. Both appraisals are facilitated by your supervisor and an HR professional. Appraisals provide yet another opportunity for you to raise any points which you wish to address regarding your training and future with the firm.
Training and skill development
You will undertake the fast track professional skills course at the College of Law. You will complete the core modules (conduct and ethics, advocacy and financial and business) during your second seat.
There is also a range of electives offered which you must take during your fourth seat, again at the College of Law.
In addition to formal training, you will be given access to extensive internal training on a wide variety of topics from technical skills to soft skills development.
A comprehensive induction programme provides all new trainees with a broad introduction to our core practice groups. The programme involves development training in skills such as time management and client care. You will also be given formal training in IT, research and administration.
We will develop your business, management and interpersonal skills by regular in-house seminars on topical legal issues, as well as practical skills such as negotiation and team building. There are also technical training courses given by individual practice groups, geared specifically at our trainee lawyers.
Long-term prospects
We aim to accommodate all our trainees in their preferred area of specialisation upon qualification. You will be contacted well in advance of your qualification date to discuss your career and preferred area of qualification.
On qualification, your responsibility will increase with particular focus on building your client network and technical expertise – the foundation of your qualified career. Our future growth strategy depends on the quality and the long-term commitment of our professional staff. For professional staff who successfully contribute to the firm, the rewards and potential for development are significant.
Financial assistance
Prior to joining us,and subject to eligibility, we will pay your course fees together with a sum towards living expenses (where courses are currently being studied for), for the common professional examination/graduate diploma in law and the legal practice courses.
The maintenance awards for the 2008/2009 academic year are as follows:
Post Graduate Diploma in Law – £6,000
Legal Practice Course – £7,000
The awards are paid in three equal instalments in September, January and April.
Pay and Benefits
In keeping with our commitment to recognise and reward achievement, our total package includes financial rewards such as base pay and benefits that offer you choice and flexibility through our flexible benefits programme.
Base pay: Your base pay will be set to be market competitive. Our current base pay levels are as follows:
Base pay for first year of training contract £30,000.
Base pay for second year of training contract £35,000.
Benefit premium: your benefit funding from the firm is in addition to your base pay and offers you the opportunity to personalise your benefits according to your current personal circumstances. Your benefit funding can provide you with:
Your personal needs and circumstances may change as you develop your career with the firm. Our benefits programme, Choices, will enable you to tailor the benefits you receive to your personal needs at every stage of your career. You will be able to use your benefit premium, together with some of your base pay to request increased levels of benefit cover, or other benefits available through Choices. And if you decide not to use some or all of your benefit premium in this way, the balance will be reflected in your payroll cash.
How to apply
If you would like to apply for training contract please complete our online application form by 31 July 2008.
The recruitment process is as follows:
© 2008 PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal. All rights reserved. PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal is a member of the PricewaterhouseCoopers network of firms, each of which is a separate and independent legal entity.
