Training Contract (UK)
Program Overview
A Training Contract is your opportunity to put your knowledge to use in a professional setting. Over two years, London trainees can tailor their Training Contracts to include a range of seats. Whatever you choose, our graduate recruitment team will ensure that your selection meets the firm’s and the SRA’s requirements.
Details of the Program
As well as completing rotations across our core practice areas, we also offer exciting secondment opportunities. You could choose to take a client secondment in the UK or travel further afield to one of our international offices in Hong Kong or Chicago.
To fast-track your development, in each of your four seats you’ll share an office with a partner or senior associate who will supervise your progress.
Development & Perks
During your Training Contract, you’ll attend legal training and workshops specific to each practice area you’re working in and participate in practice group meetings where recent legal developments and updates are discussed. You’ll also be invited to attend briefing sessions given by professional support lawyers on key legal developments and in-house databases.
We provide you with the guidance and support you need throughout your two years. At the end of each seat and at the end of your first year, your supervisor will give you an appraisal to ensure your personal development and progress is tracked.
Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE)
Before starting a Training Contract, we ask all our future trainees to undertake the SQE course in London.
The route to qualification as a solicitor in England and Wales has changed. On 1 September 2021 the SRA introduced the ‘SQE’ which is a new compulsory assessment which will replace the current route to qualification - the LPC. The SQE allows us to really tailor our training and development programme, so that it's directly in line with the work we do at Mayer Brown. We are continuing to work through our approach to the SQE and confirm our provider. We will ensure that we continue to provide a high quality training programme that best prepares our future trainees to professionally practice law.
Our current proposal is to transition our 2024 trainee cohort to the SQE route, whether you are a law or non-law graduate. We are currently working through finalising our transition plans/SQE Model. Please look out for further updates in due course.
To make sure you feel like part of Mayer Brown from day one, you’ll have regular contact with the firm. On top of regular social events with the other SQE students, you’ll be invited to presentations given by partners and associates from different practice areas and have career development 1-to-1s with our graduate recruitment team.
What We Offer
Benefits
We offer a range of benefits including an on-site GP, 25 days’ annual leave, childcare vouchers, access to life insurance and automatic enrolment to the firm’s Contributory Pension Plan
Once you’ve accepted a Training Contract with us, we’ll pay your course fees for the SQE during the year of study. We also provide a maintenance grant of £10,000 for the SQE.