The trainee solicitor role: SQE pathway

How and when will I study the SQE if I am successful in my application?

Our trainees will be guaranteed a place to study towards the SQE1&2 at BPP University Law School. As we recruit two years in advance, you can choose to prepare for the SQE1 on a full time or part time basis before joining us to gain your qualifying work experience (QWE). You will then sit SQE2 when you have gained some on-the-job experience with the firm.

Will I need to pay for the SQE1&2?

No. The examinations and preparatory courses are fully funded by Weightmans if you are successful in securing a position as trainee solicitor.

What qualifications do I need to apply?

You will require a law degree or a non-law degree and PGDL (or equivalent) before you commence your SQE studies. Therefore, you can apply for the role from your second year of your three-year law degree or the final year of your non law degree.

Salary and benefits

For year one as a trainee solicitor, you would receive a salary of £29,000 (£36,000 London), which will increase after 12 months to £31,000 (£38,000 London). As a Weightmans employee, you will also be entitled to our excellent staff benefits including:

• 28 days' holiday plus bank holidays
• Healthcare cover
• Pension plan
• Travel loan scheme
• Employee care scheme
• Discounted gym membership
• Dental care scheme

Why choose Weightmans 

We want to help you nurture a career you love, providing a working life and environment you’ll not only enjoy but a place where you’ll love coming to work every day. We’ll challenge you to meet your potential and support you to achieve it. And then celebrate and reward your success.

In 2024, our commitment to the development and satisfaction of our employees was confirmed with the Top Employers Institute certification for the 17th year. The independent research highlighted our dedication to a better world of work through excellent HR policies and people practices.

We are truly committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion where everyone in the firm is respected and recognised on merit for the work that they do.

In our offices, we have unique and open spaces accompanied by agile working for great work-life harmony. With a focus on learning and development of our people, we are proud to have consistently high trainee solicitor retention rates.

As much as we work hard, we like to play hard too! Having work/life harmony is something we value for all our people. Our social calendar is always full, from theatre visits and quizzes to office parties. Each of our offices has an active social committee who are always looking for new members to get involved. We will encourage our graduates to keep in touch as a national cohort with training and annual events.

We pride ourselves in our CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) work and support a number of deserving charities, both nationally and local to our offices, including Clatterbridge Cancer Charity, Francis House, Simon on the Streets and many more. As part of our commitment, all staff receive two days of paid CSR leave each year, and each office has a local committee who are always looking for new members, and this may be something you would like to be a part of once you join us.

Meet us and find out more

We are holding online open evenings for those who are interested in our trainee roles, so if you want to hear more about the opportunities, the application process and the firm please enrol now.

We are attending careers fairs across the UK this autumn and it would be great to meet you and tell you a bit more about the programme and Weightmans. If your university is not listed and you would like us to attend, please ask your careers team to get in touch.

Any questions? Arrange a chat

If you have any further questions or queries, please email earlycareers@weightmans.com and one of our team will arrange to give you a call.

Summer vacation scheme

You can apply for our summer vacation scheme from the first year of your law degree, or second year of a non-law degree. The week of paid work experience is designed to help students decide if they would like to work in law and if they would like to work for Weightmans. Alongside placements within a range of legal teams, you will attend training sessions tailored towards developing the essential skills you need to successfully apply for roles and understand how a law firm works. Interested? Read more on our summer vacation scheme and find out how to apply.