FAQs

What are your deadlines for applying?

For UK Summer and Easter Placement Schemes 2012, the application deadline is 31 January 2012.

For UK and Middle East training contracts beginning in 2014, the application deadline is 31 July 2012.

In Hong Kong, applications for our 2012 Summer Placement Programme (June to September) should reach us by the end of February 2012. Applications for our 2012/13 winter placement programme (December to February) should reach us by the end of August 2012.

The deadline for Hong Kong training contract applications is 31 August two years before your start date.

Do you reimburse travel for interviews/assessment centres?

We always reimburse travel expenses to interviews and, once a training contract has been accepted, social functions such as the Christmas drinks event we host annually for our future joiners.

What emphasis do you place on previous work experience when considering applications?

Previous work experience is an important part of the application form. We look for a solid mix of legal, commercial and general work experience.

How many trainees do you recruit per year?

In the UK, each year we recruit between 35-40 trainees to start in September. We do not have a March intake.

In the Middle East and Hong Kong, we recruit a small number of trainees for our region-specific schemes.

Can I defer my start date for 12 months and would this affect the likelihood of being made an offer?

If you wish to defer the start of your training contract for a year, we encourage this as long as you are going to do something constructive with the extra year.

We feel that the experience of travelling, learning a language, studying or working in another industry can only serve to enhance the skills of the person and therefore, ultimately, Clyde & Co. Each case would be considered on an individual basis.

Will I be able to go abroad during my training contract?

For trainees in the UK, there are secondment opportunities to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and occasionally to Hong Kong, Piraeus, Dar es Salaam and Singapore during the training contract. There are also occasional business trips to other overseas offices and clients, depending on the practice area and the language skills needed.

Trainees in Hong Kong may be seconded to our Shanghai or London offices, and trainees on our Middle East scheme complete the first half of their contract in London.

The majority of those who apply for an overseas secondment normally have the opportunity to undertake one during their training contract.

What is the dress code?

The firm's formal dress code is smart business attire.

How do you keep in touch with trainees before they join the firm?

We regularly communicate with future trainees via email and letters. We also hold social events, normally every six months, to allow you to meet other future trainees before your training contract starts.

What seats do you offer, and are any of them compulsory?

We do not have compulsory seats, but you will normally undertake a seat in each of our core practice areas: insurance/re-insurance, marine transport, trade and energy, corporate (including property, construction, tax and employment) and aviation. One of these has to be a contentious seat and one has to be transactional seat (to adhere to Law Society Training Guidelines).

Find out more about our expertise.

Will I have to work in Guildford during my two-year training contract?

We offer a Clyde & Co training contract. This means you will spend part of your training in Guildford and part in London. Normally, this means you would spend at least six months in Guildford. As far as possible we will accommodate your seat choices, always ensuring that we balance your training needs with the needs of the business.

Do you specify which electives future trainees should study on the Legal Practice Course?

We currently have provider relationships with both Kaplan Law School and the College of Law.  We ask that our future trainees study their GDL and/or LPC at one of these institutions, as they provide a tailored course and relevant electives to better prepare our future trainees for life as a trainee at Clyde & Co.  We may look to appoint a sole GDL and LPC provider next year.

We will consider requests to study at other locations depending on individual circumstances.

How many law and non-law students do you take for the placement scheme and training contracts?

We place more importance on candidates' academic achievements and skills than their degree discipline. Therefore, we do not have a quota for recruiting specific numbers of law and non-law graduates for either the vacation scheme or for training contracts.

Do you accept applications for the placement scheme and training contracts from mature graduates?

Clyde & Co is a strong believer in diversity and we encourage applications from anyone who has the appropriate experience and qualifications for both the placement scheme and for training contracts.

Does the firm advise future joiners on which colleges to study the GDL and LPC at?

From experience, we have a preferred list of Law School providers: BPP Law School, College of Law, Nottingham Law School and University of West England.

We feel these specific institutions provide a broader base of commercial and litigation electives to study from. However, dependent on personal circumstances, we will consider candidates' wishes to study elsewhere.

How many people do you interview for the placement scheme and for training contracts, and how many do you interview?

Every year, we are heavily oversubscribed, as all law firms are, for both the summer placement scheme and training contracts.

For the placement scheme, we interview approximately 80 applicants. For training contracts, around 150 are invited to a first-round assessment day and from there 50 are invited back for a final round interview.

Do I have to apply using the online system?

We have developed an online application system because it provides an efficient response service to applicants and helps them to track their application.

However, if you are unable to use the online system or feel that it is disadvantageous to your application, a manual channel is available. Please contact us to find out more.

What are your retention rates?

Very good! We recruit trainees with a view to them becoming partners.

For the past few years our retention rate has been between 80 - 90% per year. The market average for the retention rate of trainees is 82.5%, so we have been successful in keeping a large majority of our trainees.

Our combined average retention rates were 84% in 2010 and 79% in 2011.  This sits consistently with the rest of the market.

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