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2013-14 Training Contracts

Law or non-law

We welcome applications from both law and non-law graduates (although to practice in Scotland you must have studied Scottish law).  We need people with the potential to become business lawyers, in fact, around 50% of our trainees in England each year have studied subjects other than law.  We are currently recruiting for people who are looking ot being a training contract in either September 2013 or March 2014.

In addition to the Legal Practice Course (LPC) that all graduates must pass before beginning a training contract, non-law graduates must also pass the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL).

Both the GDL and the LPC are courses that you will study at law school and each one lasts an academic year. In Scotland you study for a Diploma to become a solictor for one year. The GDL provides academic training in the different forms of law, whilst the LPC is the first part of your vocational training and focuses on the skills you will need to begin working as a trainee solicitor.  At Pinsent Masons we ask our future trainees to undertake the LPC+ which is like the normal LPC but in addition involves you completing a group project with other future Pinsent Masons trainee solicitors based across the UK.

Trainee salaries are benchmarked against local market rates at all of our offices and reviewed every summer to ensure that, alongside the outstanding training package we offer, we also deliver an attractive and competitive remuneration and benefits package. 

In England, we pay GDL and LPC fees and a maintenance grant for graduates who have accepted the offer of a training contract with us prior to starting law school. Similarly in Scotland, we provide financial assistance for your Diploma fees and a maintenance grant.

The routes or timelines into a career in law vary depending on whether you have studied law or another subject. Click on law students’ route or non-law students’ route to view your timeline.

Qualifying for a training contract

To be accepted for a training contract you will need at least a 2.1 degree – in any subject (a Scottish law degree is required to qualify in Scotland).  In addition to your degree, you will also need a minimum of 300 UCAS points across your best three A-levels, excluding General Studies (or equivalent qualifications). If you are unsure of how to calculate your points visit www.ucas.com/candq/tariff/index.html or contact us at graduate@pinsentmasons.com

Applying for a training contract

We are currently recruiting for training contracts beginning in September 2013 or March 2014 in our English and Scottish offices. To apply for a training contract you must complete our online application and submit it by the 31 July 2011 for England and 22 October 2011 for Scotland. 

To apply for a training contract, please complete our online application form.