We are a partner-led, London-based law firm with the flexibility to cover a wide array of clients across industry sectors both domestically and internationally. We are committed to excellence and deliver a client-focused, tailored, and bespoke service to both anticipate and meet our clients’ needs in assisting them to achieve their short, mid and long-term objectives.
Main objective of the role
The main objective of the role is to provide aspiring lawyers with practical, hands-on experience and training in various areas of law. Through structured rotations, mentorship, and supervised work in different legal departments, trainee solicitors will gain valuable skills, knowledge, and insight into the legal profession. This will enable them to develop the competence, professionalism, and ethical conduct necessary for practicing law effectively.
We pride ourselves in providing a comprehensive and meaningful experience that will adequately prepare you for your career. We are committed to ensuring that our trainees develop the necessary skills needed in the profession but are also dedicated to ensuring that they embody our values of trust; service; drive; knowledge and expertise and enthusiasm.
Hours
The working hours for this role are from 9.30am-5.30pm Monday to Friday, with flexibility required outside those times on occasion. We are working in a hybrid working model with a minimum of 3 days within the office.
Duration
The training contract will be for a fixed term of two years, upon the expiry of which the Trainee Solicitor may be offered a permanent position as a Solicitor, subject to performance and availability of a suitable role.
The training contract requires all trainees to undergo a minimum 2-year contract to be exposed to the various seats. Although we will try to accommodate on a case-by-case basis, prior legal work experience will not be able to reduce the time of the contract.
Structure of the trainee solicitor contract:
Typically, at Joelson the training will consist of four ‘seats’ of six months each in different departments. These include:
- Corporate/Commercial
- Litigation and Dispute Resolution
- Property
- Employment/Immigration
The Trainee Solicitor will also have the opportunity to develop and apply the skills required by the SRA (known as the Statement of Solicitor Competence)
- Ethics, Professionalism and Judgement
- Technical Legal Practice
- Working with other people
- Managing themselves and their own work
What support will I receive?
Our Training Principal, Daniel Swimer, will have overall responsibility for your training and will guide and mentor you throughout the training contract. You will also have a supervisor in each seat, to oversee your day-to-day work and support you as you learn. Your supervisor and the partners in your department will ensure that you have a full and varied workload and appropriate skills training.
You will be formally appraised by your supervisor at the end of each seat to review your overall performance and assess the development of your skills.
How is the trainee assessed and evaluated?
At the point of qualification, it is expected that the Trainee Solicitor will be able to demonstrate all the components of the SRA’s ‘Day One Outcomes’, namely: core knowledge and understanding of the law applied in England and Wales; intellectual, analytical and problem-solving skills; transactional and dispute resolution skills; legal, professional and client relationship knowledge and skills; personal development and work management skills; and professional values, behaviours, attitudes and ethics.
The Trainee Solicitor will receive ongoing feedback on their performance and will be supported by a system of regular performance appraisals to allow them to learn and develop.
The culture at Joelson also relies upon the participation in the committees, social life and charitable activities of the firm; building strong internal relationships across departments.
The Trainee Solicitor will also be expected to satisfactorily complete the SQE1 and SQE2 examinations prior to their training contract.
The ideal trainee solicitor candidate will have the following:
- Strong academic qualifications at A Level and preferably on track for a good classification in a qualifying law degree or post graduate course;
- Ideally some relevant legal or professional services work experience;
- A natural interest in business and current affairs;
- Strong organisational and administration skills, with the ability to multi-task effectively;
- Good commercial and financial awareness;
- Excellent oral communication and interpersonal skills;
- The ability to write accurately, clearly and fluently;
- Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel, and an ability to pick up new systems quickly;
- Attention to detail and good problem-solving skills;
- The ability to work well as a member of a team and on his/her own;
- An outgoing, enthusiastic, and confident manner;
- A ‘can-do’, flexible attitude;
Application process
The application process will consist of the following:
- Submission of your online application with the necessary components
- A 2-minute video question on a contemporary topic
- A personality profiling questionnaire
- An assessment centre day (taking place on the 15 July 2024).
Please note in your application if you require any adjustments for the aforementioned components or during the Vacation Scheme itself. Please note there is a step-free access door into our building and a lift to get up to the fourth floor for lunch. We also have access to screen readers and digital dictation tools if needed.
Do also make note if you have had any extenuating circumstances that may have affected you during your studies and understand that this will be at no detriment to your application. We will endeavour to cater for any accommodations necessary.
The deadline for applications will be on Friday 28 June 2024. However, depending on the number of applications we may close the vacancy before this time.
Salary
A starting salary of no less than £40,000 per annum (salaries are reviewed annually).
Benefits
- 25 days’ holiday.
- Contributory Pension
- Bupa
- Life Insurance
- Cycle to work
- Training Bursary
- Employee Share Scheme
- Perks Platform – Access to discounts and deals for high street stores, grocery shopping and more
Note: Some of the above employee benefits apply after 3 months’ service.
