During your training contract we will ensure that you gain hands on experience in 3 different areas of the law, one of them non contentious. The training period will be split into one full year and two six month placements. For some part of your training contract, you may spend time at one of our branch offices in order to give you experience of different types of clients and work.
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The departments that you are likely to gain experience in include; domestic property, litigation, company commercial, commercial property, debt recovery, family and mediation, probate and tax, agriculture or crime. However, not all services are offered from each office, Company Commercial is based in Lincoln and Grimsby, the Agricultural Department is situated at Lincoln and Crime is dealt with at the Lincoln, Louth and Horncastle offices. The 3 areas of law that you will experience will depend on previous training, your stated preferences, the availability of training placements at the time and the firm’s business needs.
Personal Development
The personal development of our staff is particularly important to us. A solicitor will be appointed as your ‘mentor’ to help you settle into the firm and provide help advice and guidance on all aspects of being a trainee.
Throughout your training, you will attend regular meetings with the Chief Executive to ensure that each head covers all the necessary components and that you continue to receive the guidance and help you need.
Internal Training
The firm is accredited as an Investor in People and can award CPD hours for its own internal training. All trainees will attend each internal training session held by the firm to learn about all areas of the law, not just your current seat.
You will be expected to attend the Professional Skills Course held by the Nottingham Law Society, designed to equip you with the skills required of a practising solicitor. We also use specialist legal training providers for all of our external courses.
In a recent monitoring visit by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to Wilkin Chapman, the firm, through its service company which employs staff including trainee solicitors, was told that it exceeds the standards of organisation, training and supervision set out in the training regulations.
During the monitoring visit, three of the firm’s current six trainees were individually interviewed and the report stated that it was ‘the unanimous view of the trainees that they could not have found a better firm in which to train'.
Julia Whittaker, Chief Executive said "We are delighted with the report. We set out to create a strong model for recruiting and training our trainee solicitors about twenty years ago and have built on this ever since. It was very rewarding to receive such glowing praise from the SRA at a time when we are increasing our intake of trainee solicitors.”
Salary/Holiday Entitlement
Our present salary for Trainee Solicitors, who have passed the Legal Practice Course, is above that stipulated by the Law Society’s recommendation. An estimate is available upon request. Some contribution towards the LPC year is usually available to successful candidates. Salaries are reviewed at least twice during the two years. Your holiday entitlement will be 20 days in each year as well as a few fixed days in addition to Bank Holidays.
