The key to choosing the right place for you to do your law training contract is to fully research the firms and areas of law so you know the options and you have considered which are the best fit for you. You may already think you know a lot about the legal profession and the firms within it because you have read a few firms’ websites and brochures and may have even spoken to a few at law fairs and open days.

No matter what you think you know, it’s best to slow down a bit and think about where you will complete your training contract very carefully. You don’t want to make a rash decision that could affect your future and haunt you further down the road. Of course, you might be able to change law firms after you’ve entered your training contract, but you may find that your options are limited depending on the experience you’ve received as a trainee solicitor. Doing your research is important so that you come across as confident and knowledgeable during interviews with recruiters. Knowing everything about a firm that you’re applying for a training contract with can only help your chances of being accepted.

The main factors to consider while researching your options are as follows:

Type of Work – It is absolutely critical that you consider the areas of law that you want to get practical exposure to. You will likely find that actually practicing an area of law can be far different than studying a specific type of law as a student. For this reason, look for firms that will give you some much needed exposure to the practical side of things. Keep in mind that you might not always have the option to choose the area of law you will be working in for the duration of your training contract. This could be affected by a number of things like the size of the firm you are training with and the number of other trainees that are under contract. You can get a pretty good idea of the areas of law that are available to a trainee solicitor by going through a firms’ recruitment materials carefully.

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.?

Colleagues – An important decision to make is also what sort of size firm do you want to work for in terms of headcount. Do you want to be one of a few or one of many? Do you want to be part of a large intake of trainees or want it to just be you and one or two others? Similarly, do you want to have many and varied colleagues, perhaps with various nationalities under one roof and also worldwide, or to be part of a smaller team where you can maybe build stronger 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.

Other Considerations – In addition to the factors mentioned earlier, many law firms offer perks such as overseas placements, gym memberships, and travelcard loans in London just to name a few. These perks should be nothing more than a secondary consideration but they may help you make a decision between two or three very similar firms.

Follow these links to read more about becoming a trainee solicitor and securing legal work experience and/or a law training contract