Team Specific Trainee Programme

Team Specific Trainee Programme

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP
Basingstoke, RG21 4FF

£27,747 per year - estimated ?
CLOSING SOON

This programme is open to internal paralegals working at Penningtons Manches Cooper only.

We are committed to widening access to the legal profession and in 2022 we launched our 'team specific trainee programme' to further enable internal mobility.

Our team specific trainee programme is designed to offer trainees a breath of experience within the team they currently work in, with the aim of providing trainees with as much exposure as possible to our business and clients. During your training programme, we will work with you to ensure your career aspirations and interests are met, all while learning from recognised experts, taking on real responsibility and interacting with great colleagues. The programme involves an element of study alongside a fee earning trainee position. The length and mode of study will be determined by the level of qualification you have obtained to date, and is always balanced to ensure you have time to focus on your studies whilst also gaining your qualifying work experience.

• Ensure you have been at the firm for a minimum of 6 months by the deadline date
• Know which team it is that you are looking to train in/qualify into (there are no rotations as part of this programme)
• Have obtained a 2:1 in any degree discipline
• Be a great team player
• Have exceptional communication skills
• Have an entrepreneurial mindset and will help drive PMC forward in our vision for the future

We understand that extenuating circumstances can happen during studies and therefore if you do not meet these criteria and feel that your grades do not reflect your abilities, please include the context of this within your application and this will be considered.

If you have not obtained or are working towards a degree, please contact Niamh Madden or Helen Lewis to discuss alternative routes to qualification.

The recruitment process

First stage

The first stage is to complete our application form. Talk to your team partner/HRA or HRBP to make them aware of your intention to apply as any roles need to be budgeted for. We will screen applications from April 2026 onwards. As part of your application you will be required to submit a covering letter (Max 500 words). The covering letter is an opportunity for you to tell us about:

• why you are applying for the team specific programme;
• why you are focusing on the specific team you wish to complete the training programme in;
• why you are keen to pursue this opportunity at PMC;
• and the skills and experience you could bring to the team and wider firm in a trainee position.

If successful at application stage, you will be asked to:

Second stage

Complete a written assessment which incorporates typical tasks a trainee may be asked to complete. This is not specific to the team that you are applying for and no prior legal knowledge is required for this.

Third stage

The final stage consists of an interview with a partner from the team you have applied to and a member of the early careers team (this comprises competency-based interview questions and a legal case study based on your practice area of interest).

At our firm, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is a priority and at the heart of everything we do. We actively want to attract a diverse workforce and welcome applications from everyone, from all backgrounds. We are committed to promoting an inclusive culture where everyone can be their full selves and experience being seen and heard. You can find out more about our firm's commitment, initiatives and Pennclusion committees here.

We ensure that there are equal opportunities and treatment for all job applicants and employees, at all stages of the recruitment process and employment, regardless of age, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability, race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and social background.

We are committed to ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity to apply and be considered for any role, and our recruitment process is accessible to all candidates. If you would like to request an adjustment (including requests for alternative formats) to our process, please contact the early careers team at TraineePost@penningtonslaw.com

#s1-Gen

We are committed to widening access to the legal profession and in 2022 we launched our 'team specific trainee programme' to further enable internal mobility. Our team specific trainee programme is designed to offer trainees a breath of experience within the team they currently work in, with the aim of providing trainees with as much exposure as possible to our business and clients. During your training programme, we will work with you to ensure your career aspirations and interests are met, all while learning from recognised experts, taking on real responsibility and interacting with great colleagues. The programme involves an element of study alongside a fee earning trainee position. The length and mode of study will be determined by the level of qualification you have obtained to date, and is always balanced to ensure you have time to focus on your studies whilst also gaining your qualifying work experience.

• Ensure you have been at the firm for a minimum of 6 months by the deadline date
• Know which team it is that you are looking to train in/qualify into (there are no rotations as part of this programme)
• Have obtained a 2:1 in any degree discipline
• Be a great team player
• Have exceptional communication skills
• Have an entrepreneurial mindset and will help drive PMC forward in our vision for the future