Training Contracts

We favour a 3 seat training contract structure which sees trainee solicitors spend 8 months in 3 of our legal divisions. Our training contracts provide scope for legal training across departments and our office locations providing expertise to both business and private clients. We also seek to accommodate any particular department preferences which a trainee may have.

With offices in Northampton and Milton Keynes, we are also able to provide exposure to both town and city practices.

Why us?

Choosing a law firm to undertake your training contract (or period of recognised training as it is starting to become known) is an important decision at the start of any legal career. We encourage candidates to consider the areas of legal work they wish to gain exposure to, the nature of the firm they want to work for, the training experience they are likely to receive and the prospects of securing a permanent position at the completion of their training contract.

As a firm we:

• undertake a diverse range of legal work;
• provide a supportive and rewarding working atmosphere;
• give a hands-on training experience with regular 8 weekly meetings with a training mentor and a meeting with an Equity Partner in each seat to discuss training and development;
• provide quarterly training on key skills and topics such as networking, marketing, understanding accounts, the importance of time recording, etc.;
• encourage and support social engagement and activities with trainees and colleagues; and
• continue to grow in size with a view to being able to provide post-qualification roles.

We also support candidates who wish to complete their training contract alongside completing either their legal practice course (LPC) or solicitors qualifying exam (SQE). With our flexibility and support, previous candidates have historically successfully balanced training with us whilst studying. Some of our existing trainees are also continuing to do so.

With all of this in mind, we consider ourselves an exceptional place to train as a solicitor. This is borne out by the fact that many of our Partners trained with the firm and have chosen to pursue their careers with us after qualification and thereafter. One example is Christopher Buck. Christopher joined us as a trainee solicitor in 2005 and trained across both of our offices in seats encompassing our dispute resolution, corporate and commercial departments. Qualifying in 2007, Christopher has remained with the firm since. He became an Associate Partner in 2012 and, with the support of the firm, has diversified his areas of expertise to encompass insolvency, commercial and intellectual property work.

How to apply

To be eligible to apply for a trainee solicitor role, you will need to have a 2:1 degree or above, although we are happy to consider applications where there are extenuating circumstances to be taken into account as to why this level of degree was not achieved. This degree does not have to be in law. If you completed a non-law degree, you will need to undertake the graduate diploma in law or equivalent course. Applicants should ideally have completed their undergraduate study and be in a position to work for us for a period of time as a paralegal before commencing a training contract. We find this approach benefits both parties by ensuring we are a good fit for each other ahead of a two year period of training. A curriculum vitae (CV) should be provided stating your grades.

The LPC/SQE must be undertaken. As set out above, if this has not already been completed we do have a successful history of supporting trainees to complete this post graduate learning whilst training with us.

We are always seeking high calibre people for training contracts. Generally we seek to have training contracts start at two points of time a year. However, we can be flexible with this should circumstances require this to be the case.

If you would like to be considered for a training contract, please submit a cover letter and CV as set out above to recruitment@franklins-sols.co.uk. The letter forms part of the consideration process and so please pay attention to spelling, grammar and accuracy.

If selected you will be invited to attend a first stage interview for a paralegal position. If successful in obtaining a paralegal position with us, and subject to successful completion of a probation period, you will be invited to complete some drafting tasks in your own time. If these are successfully completed, you will be invited for a further interview with a panel of our staff. If you are successful at this final interview, we will notify you to confirm our offer of a trainee solicitor role.

Due to the number of applications received, we cannot acknowledge or respond to all applications made to us. Generally we look to progress an application within 4 weeks of receipt and so, if you have not heard from us within this timescale, please proceed on the basis that your application has not been successful.