Since choosing where you will spend two years as a trainee solicitor is an important one, you should thoroughly research all the areas of law and firms so you will know you have entered a law training contract that’s a perfect fit for you. You may think you know a great deal about the legal profession and the different firms that specialize in this field because you’ve read some brochures and websites and even talked to a few solicitors at open days and law fairs.

However, making a rash and ill-informed decision at this stage could come back to haunt you down the line. Whilst it is always possible to change firms after your training contract, your options may be limited based on the type of training you received during your training contract. Additionally, if you do not fully research, and think through, your decision about where to do your training contract and why, this will come across to recruiters in your applications and interviews.

The main factors to research and consider are as follows:

Work – Before entering a training contract it’s critical that you think about the precise areas of law that you want practical exposure to. Keep in mind that studying a specific area of the law as a law student can be far different than actually practicing it so it may be well worth your while to explore the practical side of the area that interests you. Once you’ve made your decision, start looking for firms that are able to provide experience in these areas. It should be noted that you might not always be able to choose which areas of law you will be working in while completing your training contract. This can be affected by the number of other trainees and the size of the law firm. You should be able to get a good feel for the type of work that’s usually available for a trainee solicitor by studying the firms’ recruitment materials.

Type of Clients – As well as the type of work, you should also think through what sort of clients you might like to get experience in working for. Do you want to do work for large blue chip clients where you are unlikely to get very much direct client contact or would you prefer to work for smaller commercial clients or individuals where you are likely to get more direct contact and be able to more directly help them yourself.?

People – Another important factor to consider before entering into a training contract is the size of the firm you’d like to work for. Do you want to work with many colleagues or just a few? Do you want to be just another trainee solicitor among many others or enter into a firm with just a few other trainees? Also consider whether you want to gain experience working with a wide variety of colleagues that may be different nationalities, or would you prefer working with a smaller team that would allow you to build strong and lasting relationships?

Geographical Location – One factor that’s always a hot topic among those in the legal profession is the balance between work and personal life. This can often be affected by the location of where you work. For instance, working in London will likely mean a very hectic lifestyle and long commute, while working in the regions might offer more in terms of the quality of life. These factors can be subjective so you will have decide for yourself what affect, if any, living in a particular location for the duration of your training contract would have on your life.

Additional Factors – In addition to the above, firms often offer perks to their suppliers such as travelcard loans in London, gym membership, overseas placements or secondments to clients. These should always be a secondary consideration but they can still be used to help you decide between similar firms.

If you are seeking to become a trainee solicitor and secure legal work experience and/or a law training contract follow these links for more information