Trainees
An introduction from the Training Principal
“It’s who you are – not what you know”
In 2005 Berryman was one of only 7 firms nominated for an award in the category “Best Recruiter – Medium Regional Firm” in the LawCareers.net awards. In 2007 we were nominated again, this time for “Best Trainer – Medium Regional Firm”. In 2010 we have again been nominated in the “Best Trainer – Medium Regional Firm” category.
These awards are voted for by trainees and are a testament to how they view their firm, and the training they receive. Our trainees think that this is a great place to train. If you think you have what it takes to be one of our trainees, then read on.
Our trainees are recruited on a Selection Day. Candidates tell us that they enjoy the Day even if they are not selected, largely because we do things differently. We’re interested in you as a person and the activities that take place are designed to find out about the real “you”. If you make it to the selection day then we hope that you will consider the experience a valuable and enjoyable one.
We value our trainees highly. You won’t just be employed to run menial errands. You are here to train and to become the solicitors, associates and partners of the future. In fact, many of the firm’s solicitors, associates and partners started out as trainees in the firm and we want that to continue.
A lot of my time as Training Principal is spent in helping the trainees to identify their goals and to then give them the best possible opportunity to achieve them. We’re not looking for indistinguishable drones – we’re looking for highflying individuals.
Despite the current financial climate, we are committed to continued growth for the Firm and we want to use homegrown talent to achieve that wherever possible. In the 6 years that I’ve been at the Firm we’ve seen 20 trainees through to qualification and only two of them didn’t stay with the firm on qualification. That’s an impressive record.
I hope that life as a trainee here is exciting, that it will challenge and stretch you but, at the same time, support and encourage you.
We offer up to 4 training contracts each year and (owing to various secondments) may have up to 9 trainees working with us at any one time. Because training is about the skills you acquire rather than simply how to follow a process, you will spend 6 periods of 4 months in some of the main practice areas of the firm. I believe that this gives our trainees a breadth and depth of experience not found in many other firms.
If you would like to know more about our trainee recruitment process, what skills and experience you could gain and also unedited comments from previous trainees about their life as a trainee at Berryman, then please click here.
We only accept applications between 1st June and 31st July each year and we normally recruit one or two years in advance. To apply, please send your CV and covering letter by email to our HR Officer, Rebecca Hayes.
We normally receive about 300 applications every year and have to pick 30 or so candidates to attend our Selection Day. This year the numbers are likely to be even higher so competition will be fierce.
The more interesting and impressive your CV is, the more likely you are to make it to the selection day. Make it stand out and make us want “you”.
Stephen Robb, Training Principal