Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) advises in excess of 40 FTSE 350 companies, many of the largest businesses in the country, government organisations, wealthy individuals and over 100 rural landowners; including National Trust and English Heritage.
With a focus on twelve key sectors (Public, Government and Third Sector; Technology, Healthcare; Insurance, Manufacturing; Real Estate; Retail and Consumer; Transport, Logistics & Infrastructure; Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences; Technology and Private Wealth).
For more information about our UK offices and regional strength please visit https://www.womblebonddickinson.com/uk/locations.
Our clients include Nissan, HSBC, Grainger, Bellway, Sainsbury’s, New Look, Atom Bank, HS2 and Five Guys. Whether we’re working with a FTSE 100 business, a government organisation or a privately managed company, our approach is to build productive, trusting long-term relationships.
We always put ourselves in our clients’ shoes and ask the right questions so that we can really understand and anticipate their needs. That’s why we look for trainees who take the time to listen and who want to work for a firm where integrity and reliability matter every bit as much as insight and legal expertise.
We take our commitment to being a Responsible Business very seriously and care about the impact of our actions on our people, our local community and the environment.
Building sustainable relationships through partnerships with charities, community projects and our own initiatives and networks, we are determined to play a strong role in creating better places to live, work and do business.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) sits at the heart of our firm’s values. A diverse and inclusive workplace, full of the richness of different perspectives, creates better ways of working.
We want everyone to reach their full potential, by being themselves whilst encouraging each other to achieve their goals with courage, determination and enthusiasm.
We work hard to ensure that difference is visibly valued and welcomed, and that our people understand there is so much to diversity and inclusion and it's not about a set of paper policies. Everything from our award-winning apprenticeship scheme, our Investors in People Accreditation, our focus on health and wellbeing, to our internal EDI networks and our #BeYourself campaign, underlines the importance of a visibly proactive and diverse and inclusive culture.
Apprenticeships
The legal sphere is rapidly changing and in recent years there has been an increasing demand for business focussed legal education within the work place. We champion alternative routes into the legal professional and The level 7 Solicitor apprenticeship offers just this and more and is fast becoming a sought after option for post A level students.
Through this six year programme you'll experience different practice areas of law, learn from experienced professionals, build a portfolio of work showcasing your development and knowledge, and gain an LLB. You'll have 20% protected study time throughout the apprenticeship which counts towards your 'off the job' training. As you reach your final years you will sit the Solicitor Qualifying Exams (SQE 1 & 2) and ultimately qualify as a solicitor.
We're truly passionate about making a legal career more accessible to local students who aspire to become lawyers and welcome applications from those who have a genuine interest in law.
When and how to apply
Our process is very similar to our graduate training programme.
All candidates will need to start with a short application form – which also enables us to obtain contextualised info through Rare's CRS. Following this, everyone who has applied and is eligible to complete a training contract will be invited to complete our blended high potential assessment, which consists of an online assessment and a pre-recorded video interview. Applications open on 29 October and close on 4 December 2023.
Following the blended high potential assessment, we shortlist candidates for our virtual assessment day.
After the virtual assessment day, we shortlist candidates for the work placement week. During the work placement week, candidates will have the chance to meet WBD colleagues and gain real insight into what it's like to work at the firm. The final stage interview will also be conducted, in person, during this week.
We believe that the variety of stages and methods we use increases our chance of recruiting top talent. We have designed our assessments in a way that enable candidates to demonstrate a range of behaviours in a variety of ways. As a result, we gain a more holistic understanding of each applicant.
Our recruitment process also allows us to showcase the firm in different ways and gives candidates a chance to assess whether Womble Bond Dickinson is the right fit for them, which is equally as important.
Applicants need the minimum grades to be eligible for the programme:
3 A Levels at Grade C or above, or equivalent*
5 GCSEs, including Maths and English, or equivalent, at Grade C/4 or above.
Apply online at https://www.womblebonddickinson.com/uk/careers/apprenticeships by 4 December 2023.