Trainee Solicitor Programme - 2027 - Pennington Manches Cooper

Trainee Solicitor Programme 2027

We accept direct applications for our Trainee Solicitor Programme in 2027.

If you would like to be considered for more than one office location, please apply to your first choice location and state any additional locations in your covering letter. 

Covering Letter

As part of your application you will be required to submit a covering letter (Max 500 words). The covering letter is an opportunity for you to tell us about:

- yourself;

- why you are interested in a career in law;

- the office location you are applying for and why;

- and your reasons for applying to Penningtons Manches Cooper and why they resonate with you personally.

Deadlines

Trainee Solicitor Programme 2027 (direct application): 28 March 2025

Overview

We welcome applications from all degree disciplines and from applicants at all stages of their careers – we see the value people can bring when they have gained relevant experience in other roles. We offer training contracts in London, Basingstoke/Reading, Birmingham, Cambridge, Guildford and Oxford. You can find out more about the seats available in each location on our website. Please note that available seats will vary at each rotation.

Responsibilities

Our training contracts are designed to offer trainees a breath of experience and consist of four seats that are rotated every six months, with the aim of providing trainees with as much exposure as possible to our business and clients. During your training contract, we will work with you to ensure that your career aspirations and interests are met, all while learning from recognised experts, taking on real responsibility and interacting with great colleagues.

Essential & Desirable Criteria

We are looking for dedicated, diverse candidates with a strong academic record and commercial awareness.  

Eligibility Criteria:

• Penultimate year or final year law undergraduate, final year non-law undergraduate or post-graduates/career changers
• No minimum A-Level grade requirements  
• Have, or be on track for a 2:1 degree in any discipline 
• Dedicated to a career in law
• Be a great team player
• Have exceptional communication skills
• Have an entrepreneurial mindset and will help drive PMC forward in our vision for the future

We understand that extenuating circumstances can happen during studies and therefore if you do not meet these criteria and feel that your grades do not reflect your abilities, please include the context of this within your application and this will be considered.

The recruitment process

Application screening and interviews commence in April and run through to August.  Please note if you have already applied for our 2025 Vacation Scheme, you DO NOT need to make a separate application to our 2027 Trainee Solicitor Programme.

First stage  

The first stage consists of a competency based telephone interview with a member of the early careers team. 

Second stage 
You will be required to complete a written assessment which incorporates typical tasks a trainee may be asked to complete. No prior legal knowledge is required for this. 

Third stage 
The final stage consists of an interview with a partner and member of the early careers team, which will also incorporate a presentation based on a legal case study.  

At our firm, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is a priority and at the heart of everything we do. We actively want to attract a diverse workforce and welcome applications from everyone, from all backgrounds. We are committed to promoting an inclusive culture where everyone can be their full selves and experience being seen and heard. 

We ensure that there are equal opportunities and treatment for all job applicants and employees, at all stages of the recruitment process and employment, regardless of age, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability, race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and social background. 

We are committed to ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity to apply and be considered for any role, and our recruitment process is accessible to all candidates. If you would like to request an adjustment (including requests for alternative formats) to our process, please contact the early careers team.