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.
The Legal Practice Course (LPC)
Before starting a Training Contract, we ask all our future trainees to attend our Legal Practice Course (LPC) at BPP in London.
Developed in collaboration with lawyers, the LPC includes elective modules, such as US law, as well as training designed to improve your negotiation and research skills.
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 LPC 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.
The course is primarily structured around core and elective modules. You’ll be required to complete all three core modules: Financial and Business Skills, Advocacy and Communication Skills, and Client Care and Professional Standards. You must also complete four elective modules from a choice of the following: Introduction to the City, Communication Skills, Personal Effectiveness, Presentation Skills, and Trainee Development Center.
Throughout the Trainee Development Center, you can develop your client handling skills through completion of a live project. Here, you will improve your self-awareness, project management, business acumen and collaboration skills, as well as learn how to build your professional reputation.
On top of your modules, you will also attend the Professional Skills Course, which will ensure that your training fully prepares you to professionally practice law.
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 LPC and GDL during the year of study. We also provide a maintenance grant of £10,000 for the LPC. The GDL when studied in London remains £7,000. If you choose to study the GDL outside of London, the maintenance grant will be £6,000.