Training Contracts

Applications for our 2025 Training Contracts are now open. To apply, please click here.

We offer a training contract that encourages a hands-on approach from the outset, encouraging individuality and drawing on previous experiences.

We offer our trainees responsibility, exposure to the firm’s business and clients, and a tailored training contract to ensure you are well prepared and equipped for life as a fully-rounded solicitor. All of our trainees are encouraged to handle their own caseload under the supervision of a Partner.

Our training contract is divided into four seats lasting six months in each chosen department. Seats are offered in Commercial and/or Residential Property, Dispute Resolution, Employment Law, Family and Childcare Law and Wills and Probate. We also offer the opportunity to do a seat in our London office.

We pride ourselves on recruiting trainees who have something different to offer. If you feel you have done something different and have an appreciated level of individuality, we would like to hear from you.

We also like our trainees to have some experience in the law, whether this is by way of a vacation placement or other pro bono or work experience. Language skills are also welcome.

Why Choose a Career With Us?

Making the choice to join our Team will provide you with opportunities to work with market leading professionals and clients across a range of industry sectors such as property, litigation and private client.

We are committed to ensuring that you have the opportunity to grow your client skills early in your career, by providing you with access to clients in each part of the business you train within. This may include attending client meetings, participating in tenders and managing your own caseloads.

As a trainee you will work across a number of different parts of our business and we encourage and invite ideas on new ways of working so, as a business, we can constantly improve.

The support network you build internally and externally with colleagues and clients is critical to how you learn and develop and we encourage you to build and maintain these relationships throughout a career with us, working together as one team.

Training and Prospects

We consider trainee solicitors to be part of our professional team and fundamental to the future progress of the firm. Initiative is expected and rewarded, and subject to ability, trainees will be entrusted with responsibility.

On appointment you will be attached to a Partner, and during training will spend six months in each of four different departments, thus gaining a wide variety of legal experience. You will work closely with the Partner and are encouraged to assume responsibility for clients’ matters at an early stage.

Your salary will be reviewed every six months through the training period and our trainees are entitled to 21 days paid holiday a year in addition to public holidays. Additional benefits include participation in the firm’s pension, death in service and healthcare schemes.

Although we make no formal commitment at the outset – nor ask for one – we encourage proven trainees to remain with us after training. We regard our trainees as the main source for our solicitors, and, indeed, future Partners. Many of our present Solicitors, Associates, Principal Associates and Partners trained with the firm.

Who Should Apply?

We hold interviews for prospective trainees 24 months in advance of employment. Applicants for training contracts should bear this in mind when choosing which year to apply for.

First interviews will be held via Skype with the HR Team. Second interviews will be with the Head of HR and three partners and will consist of a formal interview and presentation exercises.

Trainee FAQs

Yes, we prefer to recruit a mix of candidates with strong academics.

You should apply one or two years before you wish to start your training contract so it would be too early for first year students.

Yes! We appreciate and understand that future potential trainees may have relevant previous legal experience and therefore all ‘time to count’ forms are considered during the training contract.

We welcome applications from all types of people and if you wish to take one year out, consider the year you wish to apply for.

No. We find that students often feel obliged to undertake vacation placements every year, or as often as they can, because it will look good on their CV. Vacation placements are good for you because they give you a good look at different firms. It also gives the firm a chance to interact with you. However, if you have done something else very interesting or challenging, we would like to see that on your CV.

No, you may sit whichever electives you prefer.

No, we feel that this is your decision especially in terms of location.

Yes! Work at Nockolds can be demanding, so it’s important that you enjoy yourself and we have a genuinely sociable and fun culture. Events are organised by the firm, social committee, and by individuals.

Unstuffy, friendly but very focused on their work. We have always sought to hire people who have personality and a sense of humour to go with the required skills and commitment. Everyone is pleasant to deal with and this makes a good working environment.

You will initially receive a call from us with a verbal offer which will give you the ‘headline’ details about the offer. This will then be followed up by a formal written offer and contract. Offers are usually held open for a specified period of time from the date they are made. If you accept the offer in writing, we will then be in regular contact with you while we take up references and agree start dates and you will receive further information relating to your employment and induction. In some cases you may also be invited along to a team social event if there is one planned before you join.

Everyone has an appraisal on an annual basis (usually between August and September). This is based on a self-assessment which you discuss with your line manager/Partner, reviewing performance against agreed objectives over the year, as well as setting objectives and development targets for the year ahead.