Securing the right training contract, that combines high-quality learning and support with comprehensive practical experience, is a vital step towards becoming a successful, qualified lawyer. Our trainees really enjoy working with us and appreciate the depth of expertise they gain. We’re proud that when they finish their training, we’re usually their first choice for employment.
We want our talented group of trainees to stay with us and so invest heavily in your training and development. During the two-year training, we focus on your learning and personal growth. This involves you gaining experience during your four six-month seats, in a range of 15 different practice areas, including corporate, commercial, commercial litigation, commercial property, insolvency, private client and employment. When you qualify, we’ll continue providing the very best training and encourage you to develop your own practice.
As soon as you start, you can expect to be involved in client work, have direct contact with clients and your mentors will coach you in our approach of being responsive, straightforward, and offering commercially astute advice.
As one of Yorkshire’s leading and award-winning law firms, we’re recognised for providing sound advice that’s both high quality and innovative. We’ll work hard to make sure you develop at the right pace throughout the two years, moving on to more complex work when you’re ready.
With us, you get the advantages of working alongside a range of highly experienced lawyers, combined with the benefits of a friendly, close-knit culture. Alongside our training principal, you’ll be supported by your training partner, seat supervisors and personal mentor, who will take time to answer your questions, pass on their knowledge and provide feedback.
While our focus is very much on working hard to achieve results for clients, there are plenty of chances to build your own network and profile. You’ll be encouraged to work and develop contacts across our three offices, attend networking events, seminars and meetings. We have groups such as ESG, wellbeing and the social committee which you can get involved in for fundraising events, social gatherings and more.
More than law – charitable, social and environmental
More than law – inclusivity and wellbeing
© Sam Toolsie 2023
Our application period for training contracts beginning September 2024 is now closed.
Access our application portal here.
When live, interviews usually take place in late Spring/early Summer and training contract offers are made usually by early Autumn.
Most applicants apply either when they’re at law school or, having completed the academic stage of training while working as a paralegal. We recommend that you have at least some work experience before applying for a training contract with us. It doesn’t have to be in law, however; we recognise that experience from other sectors can often add real value to someone’s skills in becoming a qualified lawyer.
All details can be found here.
Once the deadline has passed, our trainee recruitment team will review and assess each application to produce a shortlist of candidates we would like to invite to the next stage of our selection process (in May/June 2024). You should receive an email around the end of May confirming whether or not you have been successful in reaching that stage.
Our portal for applications for training contracts starting in September 2025 is expected to open in late 2023.
Applicants will have between 1st December 2023 and 31 March 2024 to submit their application.
Please note that we only accept applications made through the portal on this website. Unfortunately, we do not review CVs and/or covering letters sent by any other method.
If you have any further questions which are not covered on the website or you would like an informal discussion about the firm or your application, please contact Neil Towse, our HR Director (neiltowse@schofieldsweeney.co.uk).
We want your application to be as good as it can be, so please do not hesitate to get in touch if you are in doubt.
Good luck with your application!
We offer work experience opportunities to under-graduates and to graduates each summer. For further details of future work experience programmes click here.
We are happy to consider applications by candidates from both the LPC and SQE routes. We require that candidates have completed and passed either the LPC or SQE1 and SQE2 before commencing a training contract with us. Unfortunately, with regard to the SQE route, any Qualifying Work Experience you hold will not reduce the length of the training contract.
“The training at Schofield Sweeney has been fantastic, particularly given the supportive environment and the wide range of departments to experience.”
Oliver Brooke“Schofield Sweeney has given me invaluable experiences and I look forward to completing my apprenticeship and becoming a qualified solicitor.”
Caprice Coulson“Training at Schofield Sweeney has given me the opportunity to be involved in high value and complex work”
Alex Aitken“Schofield Sweeney is a friendly firm which undertakes really high-quality work. The firm has everything that I wanted from a commercial law firm, with a structured training contract and lots of opportunities for growth.”
Elizabeth Foster