Training Contract - 2027 - Northridge

Applications close at midday (UK time) on 31 January 2025.

Northridge was set up in 2017 to focus on the most complex and important matters in sport. Since then, the firm has continued to grow and cement itself as the largest sports law practice in Europe (whether boutique or within a full-service firm), with 37 dedicated fee earners.

The firm has acted on some of the highest profile matters in sport in recent years – see the case studies on our website linked below – and many more confidential matters, establishing itself as the firm to turn to in sport when the stakes are highest.

Our lawyers are experts in sports law and the sports sector but also advise on matters outside these areas given the depth of knowledge and experience across general contentious and non-contentious legal issues.

Northridge possesses all the benefits of a small firm, such as a close and supportive environment, the freedom and nimbleness to operate innovatively and a lack of hierarchy, whilst also benefitting from the client roster and quality of work which are typically associated with much larger law firms.

We typically recruit two trainees each year.

As we are a small firm, you’ll have close contact with some of the best sports lawyers in the UK. Most of your training will be on the job, working alongside your principal and other members of the department. Alongside this, you’ll engage in our structured training to ensure you have access to regular high-quality training in all areas.

The training contract

Your training contract will consist of two years of training, split into four six-month seats. You’ll gain exposure to contentious and non-contentious work, including litigation, sports arbitration, disciplinary processes, rights of appeal, regulatory issues, M&A, investments, corporate and sporting governance, employment, and gambling.

Trainees will also have the opportunity to work on a wide variety of commercial contracts including talent endorsements, player transfers, and sponsorship agreements.

Most of our trainees will also have the opportunity to spend one of their six-month seats on secondment with one of our clients, whether that be The Football Association, or a Premier League football club. Client secondments are invaluable for learning about how our clients operate and a great chance to experience at first hand working inside a sports business.

Benefits

First year trainee salaries are £52,500 (gross) per annum.

In addition to your salary, you can also expect to enjoy a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance
• Pension scheme
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Travel Season Ticket Loan
• Health & wellbeing contribution (via Heka)
• Eyecare

Eligibility

At this time, candidates can only apply for a Training Contract commencing in 2027 through our Assessment Centre / Vacation Scheme process. You will therefore need to be available to attend a half-day in person assessment centre and/or a one-week placement at our offices in summer 2025. The exact dates will be confirmed closer to the time.

In order to be eligible for a Training Contract commencing in 2027 and so this year’s Assessment Centre / Vacation Scheme process, you should be a penultimate year law student, final year non-law student, or have progressed past this point.

You will also need to have completed the PGDL (if applicable), LPC, or SQE in time to start as a trainee in September 2027. Otherwise, we ask you to please apply in a later year.

We ask that candidates have a 2:1 or higher (or equivalent) in their undergraduate degree to be considered. If you have not achieved this, or are not likely to achieve this, please note any mitigating factors on your application form.