Opportunities

Training Contract

Our training contracts are designed to help you reach your potential as quickly as possible through constant exposure to high calibre work. We take an open and transparent approach to progression with a structure that makes sure you get the best start to your legal career.

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During your training contract, you will complete four seats of six months each.


In each of your four seats, you will share an office with your supervisor, which means you will always have someone to guide you in your day-to-day work. In each seat you will have a mid-seat and end-of-seat performance review to help you identify areas of strength as well as areas for development. You will also receive plenty of real-time feedback.

The seats you undertake will depend on your own personal preferences and development needs. We require our trainees to undertake one Corporate and one Finance seat with some trainees completing a secondment in our US offices.

Key Dates

Applications open

1 June 2024

Application deadline

31 July 2024

Recruiting for

2025/26

Training contract at a glance

Training, mentoring and support


The training, mentoring and support you receive as a trainee means you can progress and reach your goals sooner than most law firms. Here is what you can expect to help you develop:

  • A comprehensive induction

  • A dedicated supervisor, providing you with plenty of real-time feedback who you will share and office with

  • Mid-seat and end of seat performance review

  • Departmental training every time you move seats

  • Practice area specific training throughout your seat

  • A partner mentor, who will be there to advise and guide you throughout the full two years of your training contract

  • The option to have two additional mentors

  • 1-2-1 coaching

  • Supported throughout your training contract by the Early Careers & Development team

Flexible working as a trainee


Here at Weil, we understand the way we work has changed. Currently, all lawyers and trainees work in the office a minimum of four days a week with Friday as a day when everyone can work from home, with some additional flexibility as needed.  

We recognise the many benefits that come with people working regularly in-person. As a trainee associate you share an office with your supervisor and, by working in the office together, this helps you and your supervisor build a strong working relationship and provides the opportunity for you to learn by osmosis. Trainees are able to listen in on live calls, attend in-person client meetings, and receive face-to-face feedback. Working in the office allows Weil to provide high quality training, mentorship and provide opportunities to build relationships with colleagues. 

If trainees would like to work from home on Fridays, we make sure you have the necessary IT equipment (monitor, keyboard, mouse and headset etc.), enabling you to perform at your best and work comfortably. We appreciate not everyone has the space to work from home and some people find it easier to focus in the office, so you are welcome to work from the office on Fridays as well if you prefer.

Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE)


We have partnered with the University of Law to deliver the PGDL and the SQE 1 and 2 preparation courses and exams, providing law and non-law graduates with excellent training and continuous development. We offer full sponsorship of the PGDL and SQE 1 and 2 in addition to an annual maintenance grant of £20,000 per year of study.

 

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Keeping in touch with our future trainees


Being a future trainee at Weil is the start of your journey to becoming a qualified lawyer, so we want our future trainees to feel like part of the firm from the moment they accept a training contract. We invite our future trainees to attend social and networking events throughout the year, a few examples include; our summer and festive parties. We will send you a calendar of events with your training contract offer.

Application process

Frequently asked questions

How many trainees do you recruit each year? How many trainees do you have now?

We recruit up to 15 trainees a year and altogether we currently have 26 trainees.

What is the starting salary for trainees?

£60,000 first year, £65,000 second year and £165,000 on qualification, plus trainees are eligible for an annual discretionary bonus.

What is your trainee retention rate for 2023?

We have retained 100% of our trainees in 2023.

What practice areas offer trainee seats? Can I choose which seats I do?

Trainees can undertake a seat in the following practice areas: Antitrust, Banking & Finance, Funds, Funds Regulatory, Disputes & Investigations, Private Equity and M&A, Private Equity Infrastructure, Private Equity Infrastructure Finance, Restructuring, Structured Finance and Tax.

Yes, you are able to submit three preferences ahead of every seat rotation. We will consider these preferences alongside business need and training requirements when deciding the allocations.

Can I apply directly for a training contract? When will applications open? Are applications reviewed on a rolling basis?

We feel that the best way for you to decide if Weil is right for you is to complete a vacation scheme at the firm and we hope to recruit the majority of our future trainees in this way. However, if we are not able to fill our 2024/25 training contract positions with vacation scheme participants, we will open applications for direct training contracts on 1 June 2023. All applications will be reviewed after the deadline.

Am I eligible to apply for a 2025/26 direct training contract?

You can apply for a direct training contract if you are able to join the firm as a trainee in 2025/26.

Do you accept CV applications?

No, we do not accept CV applications. If you are unable to complete the online application form, please contact the Early Careers team at early.careers@weil.com or on 0207 903 1000 to discuss, in confidence, your individual circumstances.

I’ve missed the deadline to apply for a training contract – can I still apply?

Unfortunately, we are unable to accept applications received after the deadline.

What do I do if I am unsuccessful during the application process? Can I reapply next year?

If you are unsuccessful during the application process, we encourage you to wait a year before reapplying and spend some time improving your application.

Is it possible to receive feedback if my online application is unsuccessful?

We appreciate your eagerness to receive feedback, however, we receive a high number of applications each year. In fairness to all candidates, we are unable to provide individual feedback at the application stage.