Training contract at Pinsent Masons (England)

A Training Contract at Pinsent Masons represents the first stage of a focused development programme that will enable you to become a qualified lawyer and fulfil your potential. Our training programme has been developed in-house; this ensures you receive a bespoke, balanced and comprehensive introduction to the legal profession.

Read the Legal Cheek profile of Pinsent Masons.

Programme Structure

We are proud of the high quality work, early responsibility and exposure to clients we can offer our Trainees, and are keen to offer the best possible training experience to those who join us. This begins from the moment you accept your Training Contract offer. We have a programme of events and communications which allow us to keep in touch with you throughout the time between you accepting your offer and joining the firm. However, the journey doesn’t stop there; indeed it is only the beginning of your Training Contract experience. This starts with an induction at our Crown Place Headquarters in London, where you will meet with your Trainee peer group, get your training off to a flying start and begin to grow your network of contacts across the business. The following week all Trainees attend a residential induction, where you will undertake intensive legal training.

Skills Development & Secondment Opportunities

Throughout your Training Contract you will continue to receive the technical legal skills training you require, as well as complementary skills training, which will fully equip you for your life as a newly-qualified Solicitor and business advisor.

Training & Seat Rotations -- Our Graduate Development Team will work with you throughout your two years as a Trainee to ensure that you meet the requirements of your Training Contract, as outlined by the SRA, as well as working with you and the wider business in the allocation of seats. Trainees in our English offices move departments every six months, this gives you the necessary time to develop the legal and commercial depth of understanding required to take on real responsibility. Our aim is to give you broad exposure to a number of different areas of the firm so that you have a number of options when you come to qualify. We do this by allowing Trainees to indicate which practice areas they are most interested in exploring, while balancing this against the needs of the firm.

Secondments -- During the second year of training you may also have the opportunity to undertake a secondment to either one of our clients or another office, perhaps an international office such as Dubai or the Falkland Islands. However, it is important to remember that you do not need to work overseas to undertake work with an international dimension, given that so much of the work undertaken in our UK offices has a global aspect. We also have long-standing arrangements in place with a number of clients as well as new and exciting opportunities presenting themselves at each seat move. At present about 25% of our trainees undertake a secondment during their training contract. Current and previous client secondments for English-based trainees include Asda and E-on. You may also have the opportunity to undertake a secondment to one of our Scottish-headquartered clients.

Salary & Benefits

Law School Sponsorship -- Any English training contract offer would be conditional on you achieving a commendation or better in the Legal Practice Course (LPC) prior to joining. Non-law graduates must also achieve a commendation or better in the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL). As a firm we’re keen to ensure we recruit the most talented people and so in order to help ensure fair access to the profession we are willing to cover the cost of tuition for future English trainees. This means you will have your LPC fees paid by the firm and we allow you to choose where you study towards the qualification. To help you make ends meet, we’ll also provide you with a competitive maintenance grant.

Reward Package -- Salaries vary upon location but once you join the firm you will receive a competitive salary: English Regions: £26,500 rising to £28,500 in your second year and £40,000 upon qualification. London: £38,000 rising to £41,000 in your second year and £62,000 upon qualification. The firm also offers the sort of comprehensive benefits package you would expect from a leading employer.

Training contract application deadline: 29 July 2016 (England)