Training contract
Training contract
When recruiting trainees we look for ambitious, dynamic individuals who are committed to our culture and values.
Achieving a training contract with us is your first step in making this a reality. We know it can be daunting being a trainee and so above all we aim to provide you with a supportive and friendly environment to grow and develop in.
As you’d expect we give you all the usual formal support right from the start. You will agree your personal training objectives for each of your seats with your Trainee Supervisor and complete a weekly Training Record to track the progress of your new skills development.
What you might not expect is the level of informal support you receive on a daily basis. Culturally as a firm we’re informal and supportive. Formal processes are fine and provide valuable structure, but we find trainees flourish and develop faster by providing a high level of informal support, not steeped in control. Trainees find that they can rely on significant amounts of partner time and 1 to 1 guidance and support throughout their contract. Business Unit Managers and Department Heads make time to answer trainee questions.
“What’s different in Withy King is the cultural attitude of the firm. It’s informal and as a trainee that really helps if you need to approach a partner for guidance on a particular question. I’ve never been refused that time or attention no matter which department I’ve worked in. It’s a nurturing environment and I’ve never been scared of anyone or any situation. It makes a tremendous difference to have a positive learning environment.”
A Typical Training Contract
Your training contract will include experience of four different areas of practice, both contentious and non-contentious. A typical seat will last for six months and trainees will be asked at recruitment stage what areas of law interest them most. We do everything possible to try and match trainee interests to the available trainee seats. What we can promise is a wide variety of choice through our private client, commercial, personal injury and clinical negligence practices.
We will support you to successfully complete your Professional Skills Course and we will pay you for the time off you require.
Before your first seat you will receive a full introduction to life at Withy King and we will provide you with a ‘buddy’ to give you extra confidence in your first six months. Your buddy will normally be a second year trainee…someone who has gone through the same experience as you. At the end of each seat assignment you will benefit from open and frank feedback about your progress to help you grow and develop throughout your traineeship.