Early Careers at Harbottle & Lewis

We’re seeking talented, open-minded, friendly people who are passionate about law and are curious about business and the world around them. You should have strong A-level results and at least a 2.1 degree. However, we do take mitigating circumstances into account when reviewing applications. We also use Rare’s contextual recruitment system which helps us identify high potential candidates from disadvantaged backgrounds. We offer six training contracts a year, three commencing in March and three in September.

Our aim is to recruit trainee solicitors who will later be employed as the Firm’s lawyers and progress to partnership. We’ll pay for all course fees associated with the Post-Graduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) for non-law students and provide a £8,000 maintenance grant. We’ll also cover all course fees associated with the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) studies prior to your training contract start date and provide a £8,000 maintenance grant. If you’re a law graduate qualifying under the Legal Practice Course (LPC) route, we’ll cover all course fees associated with this and provide a £8,000 maintenance grant.

Starting your career with us will equip you with the expertise and deep sector knowledge needed to establish yourself as a highly experienced qualified lawyer. You’ll work on deals or cases from across a wide variety of practice areas and sectors, which will open doors to a whole host of opportunities. We adopt an environment that’s collegiate, collaborative and supportive, and our trainees will experience a full range of legal work which is both relevant and challenging.

Seat options

During your two-year training contract with us, you’ll be given the opportunity to thrive in our key practice areas, you’ll rotate through a number of different departments within the Firm, spending six months in four different seats. Here are a list of the seats you can choose from:

• Commercial Litigation
• Corporate
• Employment
• Family
• Film, TV & Theatre
• IP Litigation
• Media & Entertainment
• Media & Information (Litigation)
• Private Client, Tax and Immigration
• Property
• Technology, Data and Digital

Routes to a training contract

SQE at Harbottle & Lewis

Transitional arrangements have been set by the SRA until 31 December 2032 for candidates that have already started a qualifying degree, GDL or training contract. Any non-law graduates who haven’t completed the GDL, will be required to undertake the Post-Graduate Diploma in Law qualification, followed by the SQE 1 & 2 Preparation Courses and Examinations prior to commencing their Training Contract/Qualifying Work Experience with the Firm. Harbottle & Lewis have partnered with BPP to deliver the SQE. Any law graduates including those who have completed the GDL will qualify through the LPC route, although we expect most trainees will have completed the SQE by 2025/2026. Any trainee looking to qualify as a solicitor with the Firm will be required to complete their QWE through our two-year training contract.

Polly Broad, Associate

"After completing my training contract at Harbottle & Lewis, I qualified into the Family Department. I enjoy the opportunity to help my clients at critical points in their lives, and to support and assist them through what can be a very challenging process. The interesting clients and cases that the Firm attracts means my work is always varied and exciting."

 

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