Choosing which firms to apply to for a training contract can be half the battle. There are so many elements to consider, sometimes it can be difficult to know where to start.
We would suggest asking yourself two questions if you are struggling:
- What kind of firm do you want to train with?
- Where do you want to be based?
These questions can be broken down into four key areas:
- Disciplines – is there a particular area of law that interests you or that you know you want to work within? It’s ok if you haven’t quite figured this out yet, this just means to focus on firms that offer a broad range of practice areas to keep your options open.
- Culture – what are the values of the firm you are applying to? And do they align with your own?
- Trainee numbers – do you want to be part of a larger or smaller cohort? Each has their own advantages and there is no wrong choice, it is simply personal preference.
- Location – do you have a location in mind or are you open to going to where the opportunities are available? For example, our health training contract is available in all UK office locations, while our marine training contract is only available in London.
Ultimately, apply for firms that are right for you!
Our trainees have shared their thoughts on how they decided to apply to Hill Dickinson.
"I applied to Hill Dickinson for a number of reasons – ultimately, I knew it would be a firm that I would be genuinely happy to work for. For me, it was always important to work for a firm that I could take pride in. It is also a very successful international commercial law firm and I knew I could learn a lot from the firm’s incredibly experienced lawyers." - Jack Lewis, former trainee and now NQ in Liverpool
"The firm was big enough to provide interesting work and had a breadth of practice areas. However, alongside that, the culture of the firm - especially its approach to a work/life balance and equality and diversity." - Saba Mumraz, trainee in Manchester
"The small trainee intake means that you are considered a valued member of the department you are training in. With this comes a great deal of responsibility and a high level of work." - Jack Redrup, former trainee and now NQ in London
"Hill Dickinson was interesting because of its three separate business groups and the number of solicitor advocates employed. I liked the idea of being able to work at an established international commercial firm, but not necessarily needing to work in commercial/corporate law." - Chiara D’Orazio, trainee in Leeds
Want to find out more about Hill Dickinson? Discover more on the Hill Dickinson profile.