The Training Contract

We still encourage four seat rotations for training contracts, which are designed to provide a wide breadth of experience, and opportunities ranging from Corporate Commercial, Residential and Commercial Property, Dispute Resolution, Family, and Private Client.

During the two-year training contract, you will be exposed to all aspects of work within each training area, working with lawyers who are experts in their field and a supervising Partner who will support your learning and development. We endeavour to assign seats according to candidate preference whilst balancing this against business needs. We will ensure that allocated seats are complementary to ensure you gain the maximum benefit for your longer-term career.

How we will support you

To ensure you achieve the best results during your training contract, you will have a wealth of support at your fingertips including: 

     - Supervising Partner

     - Training Principal

     - HR & Early Careers Manager

     - Trainee buddy

Training Contract Sponsorship

We typically offer five training contract places each year and sponsor those through SQE/LPC where necessary. 

Legal Apprenticeships

Porter Dodson typically takes on two apprentices every year, offering one apprenticeship for law (or equivalent) graduates and one for non-graduates.

Apprentices will spend 80% of their time in one of the firm’s seven offices and 20% off-site at the University of Law. A minimum 2:1 degree (or equivalent) is expected for the firm’s Solicitor Graduate Apprenticeship. For the Solicitor Apprenticeship, applicants will be expected to have a minimum of five GCSEs (grades A-C or 4-9 including Maths and English) and three A Levels (grade B or above).

Applications for our Legal Apprenticeship Scheme are currently closed, the application window will be confirmed in the Spring. 

Applying for our Training Contract

Applications for our Solicitor training contract for our 2024/2025 trainee intake are now closed. If shortlisted, you will be invited to our Assessment Centre. Our next window for trainee applications will open Autumn 2024.  

Training Contract Eligibility

We continue to run a parallel intake of LPC and SQE candidates and invite applications from candidates pursuing both routes to qualification. All future trainees will be required to have completed either the LPC or the SQE1 and SQE2 exams prior to joining the firm to undertake your 2 years’ qualifying work experience (QWE).

To apply for a training contract, you will need to either be in your final year of study of a law degree or non-law degree, or have already graduated. 

We typically encourage applications from those with a 2:1 Degree and who have connections to the South-West. We consider all applications on their individual merits and will consider any mitigating circumstances, please reach out to our recruitment team with any queries in relation to this on recruitment@porterdodson.co.uk 

Key Dates for your Diary

Training Contract Application Window Closed - Friday 12th January 2024
Trainee Assessment Centre, Yeovil - Wednesday 21st February 2024
Bath Spa University Law Careers Fair - Wednesday 24th April 2024
University of Bristol Careers Fair - Wednesday 1st May 2024
Legal Apprenticeship Applications Open – TBC