During your two years as a trainee solicitor you will spend time in a variety of practice areas (seats).
To ensure you get the best experience from your time our Professional Development team will work closely with you to design a training programme which best suits your preferences (and the business needs).
All trainees complete a transactional and contentious seat. Trainees are able to choose two seats from five practice areas.
Trainees are able to sit within the following specialist areas:
We will ask you about your seat preferences before you join the firm. To help you decide you will be invited to a live discussion (Seat Spotlight) to give you further information on the seats available. During each seat you will share an office with a partner or an associate (supervisor) and you will also have an additional supervisor on hand to help guide you through your time and your work in the relevant practice group. You will receive regular informal feedback as well as a formal mid-seat and end of seat review.
Secondments
As a trainee you will also have the chance to apply for an international or client secondment, which is an excellent opportunity to develop an understanding of the global nature of our work and to experience working in a different cultural environment. Our client secondments offer the opportunity to deepen relationships and to really develop an understanding of what clients want from their lawyers. Secondments are not compulsory and there may be visa restrictions.
A secondment to Covington’s Brussels office provides an opportunity to work in our EU Competition law practice group. Ranked among the top antitrust and competition firms in the world, the team advises clients on a range of issues - cartels, abuse of dominance, mergers, and State aid, and represents them in front of the European Court, the European Commission, national competition authorities, and national courts.
A secondment to Covington's Dubai office provides an opportunity to work with Covington's project finance, corporate, global dispute resolution, government affairs and public policy, and regulatory practices across the firm in a challenging and rapidly evolving market. Our lawyers in Dubai provide advice to business entities, government agencies, sovereign wealth funds and private investors in the Middle East and those based outside of the region to navigate a wide array of business opportunities and respond to complex legal challenges throughout the Gulf.
Opportunities are provided to trainees to undertake a six month client secondment, which typically takes place in the second year of their training contract.
Qualification
During your final seat (if not before) we will open up discussions with you regarding your qualification preferences. We are happy to say that most of our trainees stay with us upon qualification. Our Professional Development team will support you on your journey to becoming a newly qualified solicitor and you will also participate in the Newly Qualified Solicitors Transition Programme.
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