Register Your Interest - Law Training Contract

Register Your Interest - Law Training Contract

We offer direct training contracts, which includes a two-week Academy programme before you start. Once the Academy is completed, you will work across different practice groups, alongside our lawyers, covering at least three distinct areas of law.

About the Training Contract

The route to securing a training contract with us is through an assessment day. Upon successful completion of our assessment day you will be offered a direct training contract plus be enrolled on our award-winning CMS Academy programme.

Typically, you will complete four six-month long seats across a two year period, working across different practice groups. We also provide alternative qualification routes, such as part-time training contracts, which are offered on a case-by-case basis.

We understand that everyone’s circumstances are unique and are proud to offer flexible training contracts promoting inclusivity to all.

Meeting clients and working alongside lawyers at all levels will soon become second nature to you.

Courses, lectures, and workshops will sharpen your technical expertise. On the job training and technical workshops will broaden your skillset.

You will always have someone to turn to whether that’s your designated seat supervisor, the dedicated Emerging Talent team or the trainee representative committee made up of elected trainees from all locations and intakes.

There can be the opportunity to undertake a client secondment, or a secondment to a CMS international office or another of our UK based offices. There will also be time to make a contribution to social causes via pro bono and responsible business work as our communities and environment matter.

About CMS Academy

Our flagship CMS Academy consists of a week-long Business of Law developmental programme and a one week internship within your chosen CMS office. As a firm we feel it is important to invest in you right from the day we make a training contract offer and this programme represents one of the largest investments any law firm makes in nurturing its next generation of talent.

During the two-week Academy you will have the opportunity to learn the Business of Law and the context in which we work, to meet some of our clients, work on live matters and network with our partners, employees and clients. All of this is designed to fully embed you into the firm from day one.

Duration: Two-year programme

Locations: Bristol, London, Manchester, Liverpool and SheffieldInternational locations Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong – please click here for more information.Opportunities for international secondments (restrictions permitting)

Eligibility

All graduates, undergraduates or postgraduate students studying either law or a non-law subject or career changers looking for a new role in the legal industry.

What to expect out of your Training Contract

Here are just some of the experiences and benefits you can expect during your four six-month seats:

• Courses, lectures, and workshops Learn from the best lawyers and subject area experts to develop your skills in a variety of ways.
• Always supported Our Emerging Talent team is committed to ensuring you get the backing and advice you need to help your career thrive.
• Secondments During your training contract, you could go on a client secondment, or a secondment to a CMS international office or another of our UK based offices.
• Pro bono and responsible business You’ll have the opportunity to provide pro bono legal advice to community groups and not for profit organisations getting involved in responsible business initiatives right away.

What's the next step?

Before you start your training contract, we will sponsor your studies and pay you a maintenance grant while you complete your Solicitors Qualification Examinations (SQE). If you are studying or have a non-law degree, we’ll sponsor your Post Graduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) and subsequent SQE. These will be completed prior to your Qualifying Work Experience (QWE).

Salary and benefits

Location - Salary

Bristol: First-year trainee (£43,000), Second-year trainee (£45,000), Newly-qualified (£70,000)

Manchester, Sheffield and Liverpool: First-year trainee (£33,000), Second-year trainee (£35,000), Newly-qualified (£62,000)

London: First-year trainee (£50,000), Second-year trainee (£55,000), Newly-qualified (£110,000)

If you are offered a training contract with us, you will receive the following grants:

• Contract - Grant
• LPC or SQE - £15,000 (London) and £13,000 (studying outside London)
• PGDL - £15,000 (London) and £13,000 (studying outside London)

Eligibility

Location of Undergraduate Degree

Eligibility for a training contract by office location

• England, Wales and NI Offices in England and Dubai: Current law students in their penultimate or final year of study.
• Current non-law students in their final year of study.
• Graduates from both law and non-law subjects.
• Candidates from a non-law career background.

Application process

Interested in applying? Here’s an outline of the different stages involved.

• Online application form: An opportunity for us to start to get to know you, your educational background, work experience and interests and why you are interested in a career with CMS.
• Critical thinking test: Designed to test your analytical reasoning and logic.
• Video interview: A short 15 minute interview where you will answer a series of pre-recorded questions.
• Assessment day: An immersive assessment experience and an opportunity to meet other people from around the firm and learn more about CMS.

How to apply

To apply for this role and to find out more, please click on the apply button. Please note that applications may close before the application deadline, so apply early to avoid disappointment.