Our trainee programme is very popular and attracts high-quality candidates into an exciting, challenging and inclusive environment.

During the 2-year training contract, trainees gain experience in a range of practice areas with most completing four six-month seats in a range of departments across the firm.

We welcome four new trainees to the firm, Rosie Bamforth, Kieran Berry, Waqar Munir and Liam Murphy. They join Ellen Preston-Gelderd and Caprice Coulson who earlier this year also started their training contracts.

Ellen previously worked as a paralegal in our Environmental & regulatory team and Caprice a legal apprentice in our Commercial litigation team. Caprice is completing the solicitor apprenticeship which is an alternative route to the traditional qualification route through university. It consists of studying and working for 6 years and then qualifying as a solicitor. She has joined the Commercial team to start the last 2 years of her apprenticeship.

Caprice adds: “Schofield Sweeney has given me invaluable experiences and I look forward to completing my apprenticeship and becoming a qualified solicitor.”

The firm also celebrates the retention of newly qualified solicitors, Lois Smith and Leigh Freeman who both trained with the firm. Lois is one of the first people in the country to qualify via the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) assessments route and further strengthens our commercial property team. Leigh joins the Private Wealth & Succession team.

“I am delighted to be staying with the firm. I have had an enjoyable time during my training contract, particularly with the private wealth & succession team, and I am looking forward to developing my knowledge and skills moving forward with the team.” Leigh Freeman, Solicitor.

Leo Jones-Rowe, Partner and Training Principal commented: “We are very pleased to be joined by new talent and to retain our existing talent. We invest a huge amount of time in identifying, nurturing, and retaining who we hope will be our Partners of the future. We offer training with the best possible hands-on experience and learning opportunities throughout their contracts.  Our trainees, newly-qualified solicitors and apprentices remain a key aspect of our strategy for the future success and ongoing development of the firm.”

To find out more about our graduate offering and what it is like to work with the firm, visit our Careers page or follow us on Instagram/LinkedIn.