Training Contract / Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship 2027 & 2028 - FSP

Application deadline: 31 May 2025

Choosing the right law firm to qualify with is a big decision and you’ll need to weigh up many factors. To make things easier for you, here are the key things you should know about us.

There are two routes for qualifying at FSP: a Training Contract or the Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship.

Training Contracts: a two-year training period for those who have completed the SQE 1&2 or LPC.

The Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship: for Law graduates or those who have completed a Law conversion course, who have not yet started the SQE. Graduate Apprentice Solicitors complete the SQE 1&2 while simultaneously carrying out their Qualifying Work Experience. SQE studies and exams are funded through FSP.

Size
With over 100 people based in one office, our participants can make a big impact while still benefiting from the expertise and training provided by a wide range of highly talented lawyers. At FSP you’ll get client contact and hands on access to deals, cases and advisory work that gets you building and using your legal skills quickly.

Variety
We are a full-service law firm, which means we provide advice to organisations and individuals across a wide range of issues that are likely to affect them (with the exception of general criminal advocacy). We therefore encourage applications from people who see their career as focused on commercial clients and organisations, or on helping individuals, or who want to try both before deciding where to specialise. You’ll experience some very different seats during your training to give you a rounded experience to help you choose where you want to specialise.

Location
Our Reading office makes us well placed to take advantage of a thriving business district in and around the Thames Valley. Being close to London we can attract a wider client base looking for sensibly priced, quality advice, and our proximity to Heathrow and our international network membership of Globaladvocaten gives us an international reach beyond most firms of our size.
Our modern, central, riverside offices are also handily placed for transport links, shopping, restaurants and other useful venues – or just for taking a relaxing lunchtime stroll (or run) beside the river.

Learning & development
As a firm, developing all our people is extremely important to us, as our gold accreditation with Investors in People testifies. We take particular care in ensuring our participants get the support and encouragement they need to reach their potential. The training you will receive ensures you develop a broad spectrum of skills including commercial awareness and the importance of legal technology.

Culture
We are particularly well known for our friendly and supportive culture, which has been a core part of our philosophy since we were founded over 30 years ago. Joining our ‘Family FSP’ you can be confident you’ll be looked after and supported to get that essential balance of work and home-life/outside interests. Health and well-being are at the forefront of the culture we promote and you will be involved in regular training and workshops to build on that culture.

We have a strong social ethos. We value face to face interaction, team meetings and regular social events. We also like to get involved in the local community. Not only are we heavily involved in the local legal and business networks, we support many charitable local initiatives, through the FSP Foundation and beyond.

Training Contracts

Over the two-year period of training, our trainees will usually undertake 4 seats of 6 months each before qualifying. We try to reflect the interests of each trainee in their seat rotations, giving priority to second year trainees to put them in the best place as they approach qualification.  As one of our trainees you may spend time in any of the following teams:

• Corporate
• Family & Matrimonial
• Real Estate
• Residential Conveyancing
• Business Services (Commercial, IP & Technology, Employment, Dispute Resolution)
• Wills, Tax & Trusts

You’ll find more information about the work we do in the ‘Expertise’ section of our website.

We ensure all our trainees have a mid-seat and end of seat review, plenty of contact with supervisors and others and lots of additional training opportunities, including in-house and external training sessions.

Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship

Lasting 27 months, the Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship allows you to start gaining your qualifying work experience while studying for the SQE. In a 5-day week, you’ll spend 4 days working with your team and an average of 1 day ‘out of the office’ for study release. We think this is a fantastic opportunity – you’ll receive a salary during your apprenticeship and also have your SQE studies and exams funded through FSP.  We also make available an intensive week of mock examinations with tutor feedback prior to SQE 1 examinations and SQE 2 assessments. During the apprenticeship you’re likely to follow the seat rotation format, undertaking 4 seats in different teams across the firm before qualifying.

Applicants for the Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship must hold a GCSE English and Maths at Grade C/4 or above (or equivalent).

Application

We typically recruit 2 trainee solicitors and/or Graduate Solicitor Apprentices. Trainee solicitors start in March or September. Graduate Solicitor Apprentices start in February or September.  At any time we have around 6 trainee solicitors (including Graduate Apprentice Solicitors).

Applications opened on 2 January 2025 are for training opportunities in 2027 and 2028.

Work experience applications opened on 2 January 2025 for the 2025 Work Experience Programme in June and July 2025.

Applications are made through a short on-line application form with a supporting CV. Your CV is very important and should contain the following details:

• Candidates must possess a minimum of a 2:1 honors degree (or equivalent).
• Candidates must possess a minimum of 130 UCAS points (or equivalent) and Maths and English GCSEs grade C or above (or equivalent).
• All relevant school, further and higher education qualifications, including academic institutions, subject and grades.
• Your right to work in the UK (for Work Experience only).
• Both your personal home address and email address.
• Your relevant work experience / employment.
• Any other achievements or experience which demonstrate relevant/ transferable skills and expertise.