Slaughter and May is one of the world’s leading international law firms with an extensive corporate, commercial and financing practice. The firm is organised into groups which undertake a general spread of work, encouraging lawyers to work on a wide range of financial and commercial matters as well as developing an expertise in specialist areas. Our lawyers are not set monthly or annual targets in terms of the hours they must work or the fees they must charge; what matters is expertise, sound judgement, a willingness to help one another and the highest quality of client service.
During the two-year training contract, trainees gain experience of a broad cross section of our practice, taking an active part in the work of four or five groups and sharing an office with a partner or experienced associate. Most trainees spend at least two six-month seats in our multi-specialist corporate, commercial and financing groups. Our overseas offices and close working relationships with leading ‘best friend’ independent law firms in other jurisdictions mean there are opportunities for trainees to work in places such as Amsterdam, Auckland, Brussels, Berlin, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Helsinki, Hong Kong, Madrid, Milan, Munich, New York, Oslo, Paris, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Stockholm, Tokyo, Toronto and Washington.
The two-year training programme helps trainees to develop their interest in the various areas of our practice. Before the training contract is finished, we discuss with trainees where they would like to work in the firm when they qualify. We do not see the training contract as just a period of professional training to achieve qualification as a solicitor – we see it as an essential foundation for a rewarding and satisfying career with us. There are approximately 70-80 vacancies for trainee solicitors each year. Starting salaries begin at £39,500 for the first year of training, and rise to £45,000 in the second year. We look for candidates with a minimum of a high 2:1 at undergraduate level from any university, and take an equal mix of law and non-law graduates. Work experience opportunities are also available which run at Easter and during the summer, for penultimate year undergraduate students. We also run Christmas workshops for law and non law finalists and graduates. Alongside this we run a first year open day in April.
Applications can be made via our online system, which can be accessed from our website http://www.slaughterandmay.com/careers.aspx.
Candidates are required to complete a short application form, to which they must attach a CV and covering letter.
