Training contracts Qualify with a firm consistently rated as a Top Employer

What is the Weightmans training contract?

You can apply to complete our training contract if you are currently studying towards, or have completed, the Legal Practice Course (LPC). If you have not yet commenced the LPC, you can become a trainee solicitor by following our graduate solicitor apprenticeship pathway to qualification.

Our 24-month training contract will provide you with excellent training and experience across four six-month seats in different areas of the business, which will include everything which is required for your qualification to solicitor. During this time, you will be given the opportunity to complete a range of different work with a robust support network of supervision and mentoring.

Why Weightmans?

Here at Weightmans, people are the most integral part of our culture and business, and so your success is our success. We have great working practices for ensuring a mindful and considerate working culture, as such we are signatories of the Mindful Business Charter.

In many of our offices, we have a unique and open office space accompanied by agile working for a great work-life balance. 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 an appropriate work-life balance 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 pride ourselves in our CSR (corporate social responsibility) work and support a number of deserving charities, both nationally and local to our offices, including Zoe’s Place, 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.

We offer an excellent salary and benefits. For year one as a trainee solicitor, you would receive a salary of £27,000 (£34,000 London), which will increase after 12 months to £29,000 (£36,000 London). As a Weightmans employee, you will also be entitled to our excellent staff benefits including:

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

What is the application process?

Applications for positions commencing September 2025 are now open and you can apply via the button below. The closing date for applications is Wednesday 31 January 2024 at 12 noon.

Start my application

Our application process consists of 4 stages:

Stage 1 — Written application

At this stage, we will look at your predicted/obtained degree score and your answer to an open question. This open question is designed to check your understanding of how a law firm, and Weightmans, works. We will also assess structure, depth, punctuation and grammar. The quality of your answer will determine if you progress to the next stage, therefore we suggest you spend some time on this and proofread before submitting it. We will review all written submissions individually, along with your degree score, in a blind marking process. You must complete this initial application by Wednesday 31 January 2024 at 12 noon. We will not be able to accept applications after this date.

Stage 2 — HIPO-I interactive online assessment

If you are successful at the written application stage, you will then be invited to complete an online assessment called the HIPO-I. This assessment has been designed to test verbal and numerical reasoning along with some situational judgement questions to assess if our values align.

Please note that this online assessment is not timed. You will also be invited to inform us during your initial written application if you require any reasonable adjustments to be made at any point during our recruitment process. If you would prefer to discuss with a member of the Early Careers team, please email earlycareers@weightmans.com or call us on +44 (0)345 073 9900.

Stage 3 — Virtual interview

If you are successful at the HIPO-I assessment, you will be invited to attend a virtual interview with a member of HR and a Partner or Principal Associate from the Firm. The interview will be conducted via Zoom and will include a presentation. Virtual interviews will take place the week commencing Monday 18 March 2024.

Please note, there will be no other dates available.

Stage 4 — assessment centre

If you are successful at the virtual interview stage, you will then be invited to attend an assessment centre. This will consist of two parts: a group exercise and a written exercise. Before you attend, you will be given the opportunity to attend an online insight session which will be designed to prepare you for assessment, we will then walk you through the day and answer any questions you may have. You will also be provided with a written brief. Assessment centres will take place on the following weeks:

• Week commencing Monday 29 April 2024
• Week commencing Monday 6 May 2024

Please note, there will be no other dates available.

We welcome you to contact us if you have any queries regarding this process.

Application tips

Watch our video below where Marc Prats from our early careers team provides some hints and tips for those looking to apply for one of our early careers programmes.

Read video transcript

Welcome to Weightmans. We're a national law firm with over 1400 people and nine offices across the UK.

My name is Marc, and I work in the Early Careers department at Weightmans. We're one of the first law firms of our size in the UK to offer a new ground-breaking pathway into law.

Our apprenticeship Academy launched in 2020.

Now you can become a solicitor, gain a qualifying law degree, earn a good salary and work in one of the top UK law firms.

Our unique application process doesn't just give us the chance to review your application fairly, but it also gives you insights about the firm. There two areas where we are going to apply scoring in your application: your academics and an open question at the end of the form. Let's look at some top tips.

Do your research on the company and the role. How do you fit the brief?

We run open evenings every autumn, so come along and find out more about us.

Take your time with the responses and start early. Don't leave it until the last minute.

The application is open for at least two months, so we would advise you to consider your answers and take your time. Don't worry, the application can be saved, so you can continue it at a later date.

Don't be afraid to ask for help. Ask someone you know to read through your application and give you feedback.

The most common reasons for loss of points are punctuation, spelling, and grammar. So make sure to double check your application.

The HiPo-i has been designed for Early Career's recruitment to identify potential in our candidates.

You are usually given around a week to complete the assessment, so make sure to find a quiet space to complete it. If you pass the online assessment stage, it's time to come and talk to us at an interview. We will ensure that you are ready for the day. A member of the Early Careers team will call you to that you're prepared.

At your interview, you will meet with two people: a member of HR and the lawyer from the firm so that we can get to know you better.

We're a friendly team and want the best for you, so we'll try our best to make you feel at ease.

Once past the interview stage, you will receive an invite to our assessment day. The assessment day is held at a Weightmans office. It includes group activities and other tasks designed to see how you respond to practical challenges, for you to show us your personality, and your problem solving skills.

It is also a good chance for you to decide if Weightmans is a good fit for you.

If you're a successful applicant, the support does not stop there.

During our week long induction in Liverpool, you will learn more about the role and you'll get to meet other apprentices.

We really look forward to meeting you all at Weightmans and we want to wish you the best of luck during your application process.

If you would like more information, please contact us at earlycareers@weightmans.com.

We welcome you to contact us if you have any queries regarding this process.

Summer vacation scheme

If you are interested, please check out our Summer Vacation Scheme page for more information.

Meet us and out more

During Autumn we will be attending events and hosting virtual open evenings. Please see further details below:

Law fairs & careers fairs (to attend, please contact the university or organisation directly):

Wednesday 4 October — Glasgow University  

Tuesday 10 October — Legal Cheek (online)

Tuesday 10 October — Edge Hill University

Thursday 12 October — University of Leicester

Wednesday 18 October — University of Liverpool

Wednesday 18 October — BPP (online)

Tuesday 24 October — De Montford University

Wednesday 25 October — University of Salford

Monday 30 October — University of Nottingham

Tuesday 31 October — University of Northumbria

Wednesday 8 November — University of Birmingham

Wednesday 8 November — University of Leeds

Wednesday 29 November — Liverpool John Moores University

Open Evenings

28 November — 4.00 – 5.00

14 December — 12.00 – 1.00

4 January — 4.30 – 5.30

Do you have any further queries?

Please contact our graduate recruitment team on +44 (0)345 073 9900, earlycareers@weightmans.com or by tweeting your question to @WeightmansJobs with the hashtag #askatrainee.