When does your application process open?
Our application process will open on Thursday 5 December 2024. Please click here to apply.
When is the application deadline?
The application deadline is on the 2 February 2025.
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 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.
What are your academic requirements?
ABB at A Level and a 2:1 at degree level.
We also partner with social mobility charity upReach to use a contextual recruitment tool, to ensure equal opportunities for all our applicants. The tool, called REALrating has been created by upReach, a social mobility charity. It considers academic performance in the context of factors such as school attended and background and gives employers a fairer measure of academic achievements than exam grades alone. To find out more, please click here.
What qualification route (SQE/LPC) do you accept for trainees at Fox Williams ?
We accept applications from students working towards their Legal Practice Course (LPC) qualifications or the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). However, the current route of the LPC will be replaced eventually by the SQE route only. As with most other firms we are in transition phase and will have trainees at our firm doing both routes for several years.
You can find more information on the SQE route to qualification on the SRA website.
Do I need to complete my LPC/SQE routes before applying for a Training contract at Fox Williams?
No. We accept applications from those at all stages of LPC or SQE. We ask that your LPC or SQE is completed and passed before you start your training contract with us, but you can apply before starting it or during your studies.
We only fund the LPC or SQE study and exam fees if you have not started studying yet as we don’t fund these exams retrospectively.
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 respond to all applications whether successful or not. Please bear with us and you will hear back.
How many trainees do you take on?
Typically, we have eight 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?
£46k in year one rising to £48k in year two.
Do you offer work experience outside of your vacation schemes?
Not at the moment.
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 SQE 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.
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 provide sponsorship for the GDL and LPC/ SQE?
We do not sponsor the GDL. We will cover the costs of the LPC/SQE if you have not yet started this qualification. We do not fund the LPC/SQE retrospectively.
Do you pay a maintenance grant to future trainees?
Sorry, we do not.
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 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).
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.
During my training contract can I work from home?
We have moved to an agile hybrid approach to work. Currently all team members can split their time between home and office and this applies to all trainees. Our policy is working in the office for 60% of the time and working from home 40%. We encourage all of our trainees to attend the office as much as possible to get the most out of in-person learning and supervision, attending client meetings and BD and marketing events.
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.