Howells – expert legal advice for individuals

Trainee solicitors


Howells solicitors is committed to recruiting trainee solicitors in order to produce the Legal Aid lawyers of the future.  We  normally seeks to recruit four trainee solicitors every two years, with the intention of each trainee having four six monthly placements during their training contract – one in the Criminal Department, up to two in the Civil and Community Law Department and up to two in the Family Department. Whenever possible Howells aim to offer trainees full time employment when they qualify.  Four of our current Partners and twelve other solicitors working for us now were all trained at Howells.


In the Civil Department, placements may include Housing, Clinical Negligence, Employment and Civil Liberties. If a trainee has two placements within the Family Department, one will be in the Matrimonial Team and one in the Children Team. Consideration will be given to each trainee's particular interests in devising individual training contracts.

 

Applicants that demonstrate an ability to hit the ground running will be favoured, and so it is strongly recommended that candidates seek paralegal work experience whilst applying for Training Contract in order to familiarise themselves with casework and office practices.


If there are more than four suitable candidates at interview, the firm may consider recruiting more than four trainee solicitors. Internal applicants are considered separately and in accordance with paragraph 2.6 of the Office Manual.


Please note that the closing date for applications for Training Contracts commencing 2011 and 2012 has been changed to 1st December 2010.

 

We will be applying for the Legal Services Commision Training Contracts Grant Scheme 2010 for a trainee to start in 2011.  The result of our application for a grant will not be known until October 2010.

 

Interviews will take place early in 2011. Please submit a CV and covering letter to Dawn Sweeting at the address below:-

 

Howells LLP
15-17 Bridge Street
SHEFFIELD
S3 8NL

 

Partner Mary Rose Macadam is responsible for short listing and interviewing candidates, and also acts as the trainees' training principal. Applicants are considered in accordance with the Equal Opportunities Policy as outlined in paragraph 9.1 of the Office Manual (copies available upon request). Candidates are short listed in consideration of the factors outlined below.

 

- Relevant work experience

- Vacation placements in similar firms

- Any other legal experience; legal secretarial or paralegal work

- Work experience relevant to our areas of expertise, or to the kinds of clients that we represent. For example, social work, benefits advice work, working for the CAB or any other voluntary advice organisation

- Knowledge and understanding of the firm
- A knowledge and understanding of the firm's ethos, including its commitment to publicly funded work

- A knowledge and understanding of our areas of legal expertise

- An active interest in publicly funded legal work

 

Academic Record

 

 

A first / upper second degree, with relevant options taken, and/or relevant options on the Legal Practice Course, and/or other relevant qualifications e.g. a masters / diploma / doctorate, not necessarily in law, but in a subject relating to the areas of work in which we specialise or relating to the kinds of clients that we represent.

 

 

Other relevant experience


  • - Fluency in a relevant language, such as Urdu/Punjabi
    - Confident IT knowledge

  • - Involvement in a relevant charity / political organization
    - Any other life experience that may be of relevance to our areas of specialism, and the kinds of clients that we represent.

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