Training Contract/Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship

School of Creative Thinking; Liverpool; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a prestigious training program at a leading law firm, where you will receive exceptional training and mentorship as you work towards becoming a qualified solicitor. This role offers a unique opportunity to gain experience across various business areas while being supported by a robust network. The firm is dedicated to fostering a culture of equality and diversity, ensuring that all employees are respected and recognized for their contributions. If you are passionate about law and ready to embark on an intense yet rewarding journey, this is the perfect opportunity for you to thrive and make a difference in the legal field.

Benefits

28 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Hybrid working

Healthcare cover

Pension plan

Life Insurance 4 x salary

Interest free travel loan scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Discounted gym membership

Discounted dental scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Passionate about law and committed to a solicitor career.
• Resilient individual with drive and determination.

Responsibilities

• Complete various work with support for solicitor qualification.
• Engage in different areas of the business during training.

Skills

Problem Solving

Time Management

IT Literacy

Commercial Awareness

Emotional Resilience

Customer Focus

Flexibility

Integrity

Communication Skills

Teamwork

Education

Legal Practice Course (LPC)

Job description

About your new role

Please note: These roles are for a September 2026 start.

Our trainee programmes will provide you with excellent training and experience across seats in different areas of the business, which will include everything which is required for your qualification to solicitor. During this time, you will be given the opportunity to complete a range of different work with a robust support network of supervision and mentoring.

You can apply to complete our training contract if you are currently studying towards, or have completed, the Legal Practice Course (LPC). If you have not yet commenced the LPC, you can become a trainee solicitor by following our pathway to qualification.

Key Dates

Application deadline: Thursday 30 January 2025 at 12noon.

1. 1st Stage: Hipo-I (interactive online assessment)
2. 2nd Stage: Virtual interviews will take place: Week commencing Monday 24 March 2025.
3. 3rd Stage: In-person assessment centre: Week commencing Monday 14 April 2025 and week commencing Monday 21 April 2025 in one of our offices.
4. 4th Stage: Please note, there are no other alternative dates available for interviews or our in-person assessment centre.

About You

We are looking for a specific type of individual who will fit in well with our ethos and culture. Our trainee programmes will be an intense path, so we are looking for those who are passionate about law and committed to a career as a solicitor. You will need to show that you are a resilient individual, with the drive and determination to succeed for our clients.

Our aim is that our qualified solicitors will possess the below competencies as they progress through and complete their programme:

1. Reasons and problem solves effectively with complex data and information and learns quickly
2. Plans, organises, prioritises and manages resources and time
3. IT literate
4. Has a strong commercial focus
5. Emotionally resilient, mature and positive when the going gets tough
6. Customer-centric — both internal and external
7. Flexible and adaptable
8. Demonstrates integrity
9. Is achievement-driven, shows initiative, takes responsibility with a ‘can do’ attitude
10. Committed to continuous improvement
11. Attends to the detail and is quality minded
12. Self-aware — knows own strengths and weaknesses
13. Demonstrates effective communication both verbally and in writing
14. Assertive and socially confident
15. Influential and persuasive
16. Team player and team builder who networks effectively
17. Diplomatic, tactful and empathic
18. Interpersonally skilled, reads people and situations and then adapts accordingly
19. Aware of and propagates a positive and professional image and persona

Why work for us

Weightmans is a Top 40 law firm with offices throughout the UK. Having been recognised as the leading legal employer and 10th overall employer at the annual Britain's Top Employers awards 2024 and achieved record rankings in Chambers UK.

We are proud to be an accredited living wage employer.

The independent research showed "Weightmans provides exceptional employee conditions, nurtures and develops talent throughout all levels of the organisation."

We are truly committed to fostering a culture of equality and diversity, where everyone in the firm is respected and recognised on merit for the work that they do.

We strongly encourage applications from people of all ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations and disabilities. Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustment at any stage of the application process.

Please feel free to note your preferred pronouns in your application.

Work for a firm where people matter – work for Weightmans – We See the Possibility in you.

As well as being immensely proud of the work we carry out for our clients and the culture we provide to our people we offer a wide range of benefits including:

1. 28 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays (pro-rated for part time)
2. Hybrid working including provision of home office equipment*
3. Healthcare cover/ Medicash
4. Pension plan
5. Life Insurance 4 x salary
6. Interest free travel loan scheme
7. Employee Assistance Programme including counselling, legal and consumer advice service
8. Discounted gym membership
9. Discounted dental scheme
10. Cycle to work scheme
11. Offers & discounts
12. Great reward and recognition scheme

*there are a small number of roles that cannot be performed from home, your Recruitment Adviser can confirm.

Important Notes

1. We encourage candidates to speak to us direct/apply direct for the opportunities we have available.
2. Any reference to experience or PQE in our adverts or job descriptions is to be used as a guideline only. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and with different levels of experience who can demonstrate that they fulfil the requirements of the role.
3. The successful candidate appointed to this role will be subject to our standard background checking process, and any offer of employment made is conditional upon successful completion of those checks. Further details can be obtained from the Recruitment team.
4. We are open to part time/job share applicants.

Recruitment agencies (PSL /non-PSL)

Weightmans operates a strict 'preferred supplier list' (PSL) and is committed to working closely with the recruitment agencies that feature on that list. As such, Weightmans does not accept speculative or unsolicited CVs, profiles or any other introductions from both our PSL and non-PSL agencies. If a PSL or non-PSL agency chooses to submit a speculative or unsolicited CV, profile or introduction without instruction from a member of Weightmans’ recruitment team, we will reserve the right to treat the introduction as a gift and contact the candidate directly without accepting or entering into the agency’s terms nor being liable for a recruitment fee.

Eligibility to work in the UK

Eligibility to work in the UK will be verified in the final stages of the selection process. All candidates must either already have a right to work in the UK before commencing employment, or meet the Home office criteria for Visa sponsorship. Candidates who require sponsorship should evaluate the Home Office eligibility criteria for a Skilled Worker visa before applying.