FAQs

How many trainees are you looking to recruit this year?
What are you looking for in a trainee solicitor?
What are your closing dates?
How many people apply each year, and of those how many do you interview?
Could you explain the assessment procedure?
When can I expect to receive an offer?
How long do I have to decide?
Can I defer my start date once I have accepted an offer?
Do you have any preferences as to where I attend Law School?
Do you sponsor students through Law School?
Will there be any contact in between?
What are your minimum criteria?
What happens if I fail parts or all of my GDL/LPC?
Will you withdraw my offer if I do not get a 2.1?
Can I have some say in where my seats are?
How much responsibility can I expect whilst I am a trainee?
Apart from the practical work experience, what other training can I expect to receive?
Do I receive language refresher training, if I am going abroad?
Once I have qualified, can I immediately go out to one of the international offices?
What are your retention rates for newly qualified solicitors?
What is the starting salary?
And what is the salary on qualification?
Would you pay for me to undertake any post graduate studies before commencing my training contract?
Are there any compulsory seats which I have to do?
Tell me about your international offices and client secondments?
Are you looking to expand further internationally?
Tell me about your pro bono work?
What makes Lovells different from your major competitors?
Can I qualify into a Group that I have not done a trainee seat in?
When do I do my Professional Skills Course?
Are there salaried partners at Lovells?
Do you run a vacation scheme?
What are your closing dates?
What are the dates for the vacation schemes?
Do you hold interviews for the vacation scheme?
Would I have to reapply for a training contract?
What are your criteria for the vacation programme?
What can you tell me about paralegal work?

Graduate Recruitment — Typical questions asked by students/candidates

How many trainees are you looking to recruit this year?

Around 90 in each year divided between the autumn and spring intakes.

What are you looking for in a trainee solicitor?

• Strong academic/intellectual ability
• Ambition/Motivation. Clear reasons for career choice
• Good communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills
• Professional/Commercial Attitude

What are your closing dates?

Please refer to the website for specific details but broadly May for Non-Law undergraduates, postgraduates and individuals seeking a career change, and 31 July for Law Students.

How many people apply each year, and of those how many do you interview?

Well over 2,500 candidates apply annually, and of those we would expect to interview more than 350, depending on the calibre of the applicants. If there are very good candidates we will interview them.

Could you explain the assessment procedure?

The first step is to log on to our website at www.lovells.com/graduates and fill in an on-line application form. If you are successful at this stage then we will invite you to one of our assessment days. There are no first interviews. The day is intended to be a two-way process to allow candidates to find out about us as well as for us to assess them. The day starts with a short presentation about the firm by one of our Partners. Then candidates will be asked to complete a test to examine their analytical and critical thinking ability. A similar test can be found in the "What's my next step" section of this site. This is followed by a group discussion exercise where candidates will analyse and discuss a business-orientated case study. The day will end with one interview - with two partners or recruitment experts and a partner. The firm's buffet lunch with trainees also provides the opportunity to ask questions in an informal environment.

When can I expect to receive an offer?

Within 7 - 10 working days after the assessment day. We are confident of making the right decision promptly after the assessment day and do not wait until the end of the recruitment season to make our offers.

How long do I have to decide?

Final year law students until 1 November. If interviewed earlier in the year, we would expect to receive a decision by May/June. However, we are flexible and will not rush anyone who needs more time. If help is needed in making a decision then a member of the Graduate Recruitment team (or the partners or trainees you meet on the assessment day) will be happy to meet with you to discuss matters or to organise the chance for you to meet other members of the firm.

Can I defer my start date once I have accepted an offer?

We do appreciate that candidates are making commitments quite a long way in advance, and we will try to be as flexible as we can. However, deferrals should be discussed with the Graduate Recruitment team, and it is advisable to let them know as early as possible.

Do you have any preferences as to where I attend Law School?

Along with other leading City firms, we have developed a new Legal Practice Course with BPP Law School in London. The course meets the standards approved by the Law Society, and builds upon them to help prepare students better for practice in the City. It is grounded in black letter law but also teaches students about the business context in which they will give their legal advice when they start work. Our future trainees will have close access to the firm as they will all be based in London for this important year before starting work. All of our students will have their 'study day' on one of two days each week, and we will arrange a programme of events spread over the academic year to help them feel part of the firm before actually joining. Candidates may study the GDL at the provider of their choice but should bear BPP in mind.

Do you sponsor students through Law School?

Candidates that accept the offer of a training contract with us will receive a grant that includes full payment of fees and provide you with a contribution towards maintenance. Our maintenance grants for all future joiners are currently £8,000 for LPC and GDL students in London and £7,000 for GDL students outside London. If you have already started the GDL or LPC when you accept a training contract offer, we will reimburse all fees and provide a full maintenance grant as detailed above. It is a long time between the time I am recruited and my eventual start date.

Will there be any contact in between?

Yes. Throughout the period primarily with our Trainee Development team, but also with our Recruitment Partners, Lawson Caisley and Frances Le Grys, who produce updates for future joiners on the latest Lovells news and events. The Trainee Development team is happy to talk to future joiners at any time if they have any queries, concerns or problems. We encourage prospective trainees to keep in touch with us, and with each other, as much as possible. We also ask for a volunteer "social secretary" from amongst the students at each law school, to arrange social events each term. We meet up with all future joiners currently at law school and host an annual event. We also hold regular receptions in the summer at our London offices to which all our students are invited.

What are your minimum criteria?

We look for very strong academic performance and would expect candidates to be aiming to achieve, at least a 2:1 (or the equivalent) consistently throughout their studies.

What happens if I fail parts or all of my GDL/LPC?

That is unlikely as most of our trainees get distinctions and commendations. If exams have to be retaken, it's important to get in touch with us immediately so we can discuss the situation. We may recommend a deferral of the start date for six months to allow time to concentrate on your exams. Every case is considered individually - there are no hard and fast rules.

Will you withdraw my offer if I do not get a 2.1?

Yes, unless there are mitigating circumstances which will be looked at on a case by case basis.

Can I have some say in where my seats are?

Yes. Our planning for trainee seats is based upon accommodating trainees' interests, ensuring trainees' receive broad-based training and meeting the needs of the business. Given the breadth of our practice we are better placed than most leading firms to meet requests for particular seats. We request preferences for your first seat before you join, and will try to plan you into something for your first seat that is complementary to your long-term interests. Upon joining you will be assigned to a member of the Trainee Development team who will act as your career coach throughout your training contract, somebody who can really get to know what your interests and plans are and give you advice and guidance about your training contract seats. We will ask you mid-way through your first seat where you would like to sit in seats two, three and four and create a bespoke seat plan for you. Of course, we will provide information to help you decide which practice areas might interest you most and point you in the direction of associates and partners who can talk to you about working in their practice. We will ensure that you spend time in at least one of your preferred practice groups. Most trainees get at least one or two of their choices.

How much responsibility can I expect whilst I am a trainee?

This depends on the individual. Our policy is to give as much responsibility as people feel happy with, and which they prove able to cope with. Taking responsibility is essential for a developing professional and we actively encourage this. What if things go wrong, is there a network of support? Absolutely. We provide a range of people to whom trainees can turn with any problem they may have, whether it is work-related or not. The Trainee Development team provide contact, in addition to our recruitment partners, Lawson Caisley and Frances Le Grys, throughout the training contract. A "contact partner" or mentor will be allocated to provide personal contact in the partnership. There will be a supervisor in each seat, and every group has a trainee solicitor partner who is responsible for the work of trainees in the group. During the first seat there will also be access to a trainee solicitor mentor who will be a member of the firm's Trainee Solicitor Liaison Committee. The firm makes a significant investment in its trainees and it is in our interests to ensure that they have all the support they need to establish a successful career.

Apart from the practical work experience, what other training can I expect to receive?

We are particularly proud of our training programme which is given very high priority within the firm because we understand that formal training is as important as learning on-the-job. Trainees will attend lectures and courses throughout the training contract which have been designed to complement the practical on-the-job experience. Each practice area has its own training programme and trainees will complete the whole series of programmes by the time they qualify. We are authorised by the Law Society to run the Personal Work Management and Advocacy modules of the Professional Skills Course (PSC) ourselves and they have been specifically tailored for the needs of our trainees. Some of our litigation partners teach on the Advocacy module. We also provide a wide range of information technology training.

Do I receive language refresher training, if I am going abroad?

A number of the international secondments do not require language skills. However, if trainees are going to Brussels, Paris, Frankfurt or Tokyo language skills will be assessed by an external consultant and they will put together a package of training as appropriate. As a general rule, candidates for these international secondments where languages are necessary should be of A-level standard.

Once I have qualified, can I immediately go out to one of the international offices?

Trainees can apply to work in one of the international offices on qualification in just the same way as they apply to work in one of the London groups. Some of our newly qualified solicitors move into one of the international offices. However, in most cases we feel it is important to have up to two years post qualification experience in London. It depends on the needs of our international offices and an individual's career path. What is the process for deciding which practice area I will qualify into? Around the second month of the final seat, i.e. after a trainee has been at the firm for approximately 20 months, we will meet to find out which area(s) they would like to specialise in. They will be told about all the vacancies available in the various practice areas, so the process is completely transparent. They can consider a number of areas if they wish. The partners in the working groups will meet with all trainees who express an interest and will decide which people they wish to take. If we cannot find a job for them in their first choice group, we then try to place them in their next choice.

What are your retention rates for newly qualified solicitors?

We aim to keep as many people as possible at qualification. It costs the firm around £150k to recruit a student, fund them through law school and train them. Currently our retention rate is about 90%. We aim for 100% retention, regardless of the short term economic climate.

What is the starting salary?

As at May 2008 trainees in their first year receive £37,000 per annum and £42,000 in their second year. Salaries are reviewed annually in May.

And what is the salary on qualification?

This is £65,000, in line with market rates. Lovells will continue to review its salaries in line with those at other top City firms. In addition, from September 2007, those who trained with the firm and remain with the firm on qualification will also be entitled to a qualification bonus of £1,000.

Would you pay for me to undertake any post graduate studies before commencing my training contract?

We offer some financial assistance to people undertaking postgraduate studies where those studies are likely to be of specific benefit to the firm - for example we have paid for people to do EU Law at postgraduate level. We look at all requests on a case by case basis.

Are there any compulsory seats which I have to do?

In order to meet Law Society requirements, trainees must have experience in contentious and non-contentious work in at least three practice areas. Unlike some of our competitors, we have no difficulty meeting these requirements. We require and encourage trainees to gain as broad an experience as possible during their training contract.

Tell me about your international offices and client secondments?

All second year trainees have the opportunity to apply to spend either six months abroad or with a client, in-house, as part of their in-house legal team. We currently send trainees to Brussels, Frankfurt, Moscow, Hong Kong, Paris, Singapore and Tokyo. We require fluent French for Paris, fluent German for Frankfurt and fluency in one major European language for Brussels. Japanese is helpful for the Tokyo secondment, but not a requirement. Decisions are based on performance and personal qualities. During the second seat we have presentations on the international and client secondments and trainees can apply for those which really interest them. Currently about 30 trainees will go on either an international or client secondment at each seat change, so, depending on the size of the intake, trainees have a good chance of a secondment or international placement. For example, amongst the latest group of Lovells' trainees to qualify, 40% had been on an international secondment with a similar proportion on a client secondment. If trainees go on a client secondment, they will typically spend 6 months in the client's in-house legal department. If you go on a client secondment, you will typically spend 6 months in the in-house legal department. Clients to whom we are currently second trainees include BAA, Barclays, BAT, Egg, Equitable Life, Exxonmobil International, Ford, Ford Credit, John Lewis, Lloyds TSB, Merck Sharpe & Dohme, Prudential, SABMiller and The International Save the Children Alliance. A client secondment provides excellent commercial experience and an opportunity to take on more responsibility within a small team. The work can be extremely varied. They will of course have the full support of the firm's resources to call on whilst they are on secondment. Secondments provide a great opportunity to gain a unique insight into a client organisation.

Are you looking to expand further internationally?

You will know about our very significant recent expansion in China, Germany, Eastern Europe, Amsterdam, Paris, Milan, Rome and Madrid. Through these initiatives we have established Lovells as one of the small group of leading truly international law firms. We continue to look at opportunities and the strategic case for further expansion.

Tell me about your pro bono work?

50% of our legal staff have undertaken pro bono work at some time and we have won numerous awards for our commitment to pro bono. We have a pro bono committee which is headed by one of the litigation partners and we were the first City law firm to have a full time Pro Bono Manager. Some pro bono initiatives include: Representation in the Community: Working with law centres to represent the elderly and disabled in social security tribunals, representing victims of crime, representation in employment tribunals and a duty solicitor scheme with Bow County Court. Enterprise: Advising social enterprises providing supported employment for the homeless, the mentally and physically disabled and those that are excluded. International human rights: Representing prisoners on death row in the Commonwealth, Caribbean and the US, and representation of victims of crime in cross border applications. Trainee solicitors are encouraged to be involved in pro bono work if they wish, however it is not compulsory. To find out more about the firm's pro bono work contact recruit@lovells.com or visit the Pro Bono section of lovells.com.

What makes Lovells different from your major competitors?

• Breadth of practice
• International coverage and work
• Commitment to training
• Collaborative Culture

Can I qualify into a Group that I have not done a trainee seat in?

Yes. Trainees will often qualify into a group where they have not had a seat - although they will usually have had experience in a group that is closely related.

When do I do my Professional Skills Course?

The Finance and Business Skills modules are completed just before beginning the training contract. Advocacy and Communication module is completed during the contentious seat. Client Care and Professional Standards module will be undertaken during the seat.

Are there salaried partners at Lovells?

The very large majority of our partners, particularly in London, are equity partners. This is very different from some of our competitors where salaried partners are much more common.

Vacation schemes

Do you run a vacation scheme?

Yes. We currently run Christmas, Easter and two summer vacation placements. We take on about 90 vacation students each year. There is an organised programme of presentations, talks, discussions, visits and social events. Vacation students also spend time working in two or three different departments. We believe that the combination of all three really make them feel part of the firm for the weeks they are with us and provide every opportunity to gain a real perspective of the firm and the work. The current rate of pay for the vacation placements is £300 per week.

What are your closing dates?

Applications for Christmas 2007 and the Easter and summer 2008 programmes will open on 1 October 2007.

What are the dates for the vacation schemes?

• Christmas: 3 - 14 December 2007
• Easter: 31 March-11 April 2008
• Summer (two schemes): 16 June - 4 July 2008, 14 July - 1 August 2008

Do you hold interviews for the vacation scheme?

Yes. Candidates submitting a successful application form will attend a short interview and sit our Critical Thinking test. They will also be given a tour of the office and the option to have lunch with trainee solicitors.

Would I have to reapply for a training contract?

If a vacation placement application form has been completed and submitted then candidates only need to update their University exam results (if applicable) and work experience sections. We do not expect another application form. Please email the Graduate Recruitment team at recruit@lovells.com to request a Training Contract Update Form.

What are your criteria for the vacation programme?

Exactly the same as for the selection of trainees. Competition is extremely fierce and places are limited, so apply in good time.

What can you tell me about paralegal work?

Lovells welcomes applications from those wishing to undertake paralegal work who have at least a 2.1 degree (or equivalent) and have successfully completed the Legal Practice Course or the Bar Finals. The majority of our paralegals are employed in our commercial dispute resolution and corporate departments where they undertake discovery work which can include producing summaries of documents, but also sorting, indexing and photocopying documents. We do occasionally have vacancies in our real estate department.

Paralegals wishing to apply should send in a curriculum vitae and a covering letter to:

Lucy Hutchinson HR Department, Lovells, Atlantic House, Holborn Viaduct, London, EC1A 2FG

The covering letter should indicate when the individual will be available for work and the CV should contain a telephone number where the person can be contacted during the day at fairly short notice.

If this list fails to answer your questions refer it to the Graduate Recruitment team.

Related Links

• Apply