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Mentoring and Training
We currently offer six training contracts each year for students seeking to qualify as English solicitors. We split the two-year training contract into four six-month seats, rotating amongst several practice areas. All trainees are likely to spend six months in each of the following practice areas: Corporate and Litigation. A trainee's third and fourth seats will be spent within either the IT/IP, Life Sciences, Employment or Tax practice group. The size of the programme, however, means that we are able to adopt a flexible approach accommodating a trainee's wishes wherever possible.
We ask our trainees to accept responsibilities that are both commensurate with their abilities and likely to challenge and further develop their expertise. Each trainee sits and works closely with a senior associate or partner who supervises their work during each training seat. In addition to their supervisors, trainees have the opportunity to work with other lawyers in the practice group relevant to their training seat. Much of our work is cross-border in nature, and often our trainees work with associates and partners in our Brussels and US offices. Their limited number helps ensure that our trainees receive high quality, meaningful work in a supportive and open environment.
An experienced associate serves as a “buddy” and an informal mentor to each of our trainees during their training contract. Trainees participate in external and in-house training courses that run throughout the training contract.
From time to time, we have arranged short-term secondments involving our trainees, although the availability of these experiences is dependent on our clients’ needs and our resources.
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