What are the dates of your 2021 vacation scheme?
We currently plan to run our summer 2021 vacation scheme on the weeks beginning 5 July 2021 and 12 July 2021. We usually take 6/7 graduates each week. These weeks will be used to select our future trainees from those that apply for a training contract with us. Obviously our ability to host the vacation scheme may depend on government guidance in place at that time.
When is the application deadline?
31st January 2021.
Will I be paid during the vacation scheme?
We pay £250 per week to cover expenses.
What are your academic requirements?
ABB at A Level and a 2:1 at degree level.
I have missed the deadline to apply for a vacation scheme – can I still apply?
Unfortunately, if the deadline is passed, we do not accept further applications.
Do you offer work experience outside of your vacation schemes?
Not at the moment.
Do you accept CV applications?
No, all applications must be submitted through our online applications.
I require adjustments due to a disability; can you accommodate these?
We are happy to work with you on adjustments that you might need, please email applications@foxwilliams.com and someone from the graduate recruitment team will be in touch.
We respond to all applications whether successful or not. Please bear with us and you will hear back.
Will you cover any costs I incur to attend an interview?
We do not usually cover costs for interview or vac scheme attendance, unless the candidate is in financial difficulty and unable to attend otherwise.
I am qualified in another jurisdiction, should I apply for a training contract?
Our training contract process is primarily for those not yet qualified in any jurisdiction. The QLTS is the process for becoming admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales if you are already qualified in another jurisdiction, please see the SRA website for more details.
If I was unsuccessful during the application process can I reapply next year?
We do not automatically reject anyone that has applied before, sometimes additional experience may mean your application will score higher and you may be successful the second time around.
We are interested in applications from people with varied qualifications, however, applying for a training contract with us if you are qualified in another jurisdiction is not what our process is aimed at.
Do you pay a maintenance grant to future trainees?
Sorry, we do not.
Do you provide sponsorship for the GDL and LPC?
We do not sponsor the GDL. We will cover the costs of the LPC if you have not yet started this qualification. We do not fund the LPC retrospectively.
Sorry, we do not.
Do you require future trainees to choose specific LPC electives?
We do not ask future trainees to study particular electives.
Will I have any contact with the firm between accepting my offer and starting my training contract?
Yes, we do stay in regular contact with our future trainees and we invite them to twice yearly social events with our current trainees. We also appoint a buddy trainee from our existing trainees to stay in touch with you.
How many trainees do you take on?
Typically, we have seven trainees in total at any one time. We may hire anything between two to four per intake.
How many intakes do you have per year?
Usually two – March and September.
What is the starting salary for trainees?
£37k in year one rising to £39k in year two.
Will I be able to select my seats during my training contract?
Usually those trainees in their second year have first choice as they are considering where to qualify. The seats that are available to first year trainees depend on where the business needs trainees and what seats are available. Trainees have their choice for at least two out of the four seats and often trainees do get three seats as chosen by them (although sometimes in a different order).
We do not usually offer secondments as we prefer each trainee to complete a full 24 months in four seats, learning as much as possible at Fox Williams before they qualify.
Can I get involved in pro bono as a trainee?
Absolutely, we have a volunteering scheme where each employee is entitled to half a day per quarter on volunteer leave to either volunteer with one of our chosen charities or to volunteer at a charity of their choosing.
Will I be kept on after I qualify?
We try to retain all our trainees on qualifying. Spaces for NQ positions do depend on business need in each department and where the trainee wants to qualify into a certain department we will do all we can to make this happen. Sometimes two trainees want to qualify into the same department and that might mean we only are able to retain one of them if there is not sufficient work to make a business case to do so.
During my training contract can I work from home?
We do have an agile working policy and whilst we think most trainees benefit enormously from being in the office and listening to their colleagues deal with issues, we recognise that trainees do sometimes need to be at home for personal reasons.