Rayden Solicitors Training Contract
Your training contract is where your journey to becoming an exceptional legal expert truly begins. It is very much “your” training contract and over the two years you will be working at the forefront of all aspects of family law, being trained by leading family law specialists across a breadth of family law issues, which will provide you with an outstanding foundational pillar, on which the rest of your legal career will be built on.
Every trainee’s journey is different, so we design the training contract to give you the widest range of experience possible and the opportunity to play a meaningful role on some of the most exciting cases as you learn from the top legal minds.
The training contracts involve a 2-year programme, structured so you are immersed in client work almost immediately. During the programme you will work across as many areas of family law as possible, but you will also have opportunities to learn other business skills through bespoke training sessions.
We offer training contracts in St Albans, Harpenden, Berkhamsted, Beaconsfield, London Bridge, Hampstead, Epping, Bishop’s Stortford and Birmingham.
Work Type and Client Exposure during the 2 year programme
Our training programme provides high quality work with trainees playing a vital role in case progression, client responsibility and development of legal skill, technical ability, and business acumen.
During your training your experience of family law matters will include, but not be limited to, divorce, financial remedy, children matters, cohabitation disputes, domestic abuse, surrogacy, adoption and nuptial agreements. You will be supported throughout, working within a team structure. This is done with the aim of providing trainees with as much exposure as possible to our business and our clients. Working within a team structure ensures that you will work very closely with the solicitor/partner who has overall supervision of the matter, and you will be given key responsibility on the cases you are working on so you can understand case progression and the importance of case strategy.
As a Trainee, you will meet clients in person or online for client meetings and then regularly interact with them via email or over the phone. You may also be asked to attend conferences and court hearings with them. This helps you develop your client care skills whilst being supported by other senior colleagues.
What other skills can you learn?
We know it is fundamental to your career that we train and develop you towards becoming an exceptional lawyer but we also know there are other important business skills that will be vital to your professional development. So we make sure that you have a thorough grounding in these skills, equipping you to deal with clients, other professionals and the competing pressures of life as a lawyer.
Business Acumen
- Working with business operations
- Business development and client care
Risk STRATEGY
- Understanding risk management
- Understanding how to handle complaints
Financial Management
- Understanding client ledgers and accounts
- Debt recovery and claims process
What direct support do you have?
We know it’s important to provide as much support as possible – both from your educational development as a lawyer but also to ensure you are enjoying your training contract, and to help you work consistently, towards excellence and navigate any issues that might arise. So we make sure you have access to different levels of support to cover all aspects of your training contract, a whole team that is by your side throughout.
Manager
- A dedicated line manager throughout your training contract
- Your line manager will help you directly with your case work
- Your line manager is there to provide you with any work or personally related support you need
Trainee Supervisor
- An allocated Trainee Supervisor who you will meet monthly
- Determines any gaps in knowledge
- Supports you with capacity related issues
- Listens to your thoughts on areas of interest and helps you to develop in those areas
Buddy Support
- Your buddy is someone more junior, who understands what you are dealing with as a trainee
- Your buddy is there to answer those questions you might be more reluctant to ask a senior colleague
Benefits of a Training Contract at Rayden Solicitors
Learning and Development
Learning and Development forms the core of what we do at Rayden Solicitors and our trainees are no exception. We have developed a bespoke trainee learning and development programme, tailored to introduce key legal aspects to our trainees, in an insightful and practical way. The programme also goes beyond key legal concepts and aspects and covers other skills that we believe help our trainees progress towards becoming inspiring legal professionals. The L&D programme is in addition to the Professional Skills Course you will have to complete.
Induction
- Key policies and procedures in a law firm
- Online systems expertise
- Introduction to other business operations functions eg. finance & marketing
Know How
- External sessions delivered by barristers, pensions experts, financial experts and more
- Internal sessions delivered by senior colleagues
Technical Skills
- Communication and relationship building
- Emotional intelligence
- Negotiation
- Writing skills
We invite our staff including our Trainees to feed into our training and development programme as it is each of those individual contributions that enable us to deliver a tailored, bespoke Learning& Development programme, fit for purpose and helps us to offer you the opportunity to develop into a knowledgeable and confident lawyer who will help propel us further as a leading family law firm.
The Social Side!
Your training contract is not all hard work and no play – it’s also about enjoying your time as a trainee and looking forward to your future life as a lawyer. We know how beneficial it is to socialise and get to know your other trainees and junior professionals both within Rayden Solicitors and also from other firms and barristers’ chambers. So we arrange social events – they might be team building events, or informal networking events – for you throughout the year. And we actively encourage you to start to develop your professional network in this way – you get a budget to attend events and you join up with the junior solicitors when they are attending or hosting events!
The recruitment process
Key dates:
Applications open – 1 April each year for a training contract to start in September of that year
Applications Close – Mid-April
Interviews Take Place: May
Please note applications are now closed for training contracts to start in September 2024.
The interview process consists of one interview and two written assessments, one to be under taken prior to the day of the interview and the other on the day of the interview. The assessments focus on your writing and research skills.
The interview itself will in part focus on the two assessments you have undertaken and a discussion around them, followed by a more general discussion regarding you, your CV and matters regarding the law, the firm and the role of a trainee.
If you require any special assistance or adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact our HR team at hr@raydensolicitors.co.uk.
What are we looking for?
We are looking for candidates with a strong academic record, and who can demonstrate empathy and that they know what it means to be a great family lawyer. We want candidates who show a willingness to become involved in all aspects of the firm – everyone is encouraged to get involved with initiatives in the firm that interest them e.g. joining the Well-being Committee, the EDI Committee, participating in rep meetings, arranging social events and attending networking events. There is a whole host of opportunities to develop yourself and the firm outside of just the legal work and we are looking for candidates who have the drive and confidence to take those opportunities and excel
How to apply
Applications are now closed for a training contract to start in 2024.
For training contracts to start in 2025, applications will open on 1 April 2025.
Training Contracts
There are currently no available training contracts. Please register your interest by sending us your details to: careers@raydensolicitors.co.uk
Training Contract FAQs
What educational qualifications do you need to apply for a Training contract?
We expect applicants to have achieved an undergraduate degree as a minimum.
How long does the Training Contract last?
The Training Contract is a set 2 year contract.
Will you be paid during your Training Contract?
Yes, you will be paid a salary in line with industry benchmarks for trainee solicitors.
Can you choose where you do your Training Contract?
When we advertise Training Contract vacancies we identify where that position will be based, so in effect you can apply for positions in the location that you are specifically interested in.
What if there isn’t a Training Contract advertised in the office that I would prefer to work in?
We do accept speculative applications and review our training contract opportunities regularly so please feel free to send in your CV to careers@raydensolicitors.co.uk.
