• Well-rounded individuals with good personal and communication skills
• Commercial and business awareness
• A professional approach
• Practical problem-solving skills
• Decisive people keen to make their mark
• First-time pass in the LPC and, if appropriate, the GDL (or equivalent)
• 2:1 degree in any subject
• At least three B grades at A-level (or equivalent)

The academic criteria set out above are a guide only. If you believe that you have what we are looking for in a trainee solicitor, then please still apply.

Our first stage interviews will give you the opportunity to meet one of our current Trainees, a member of our People Team, our Emerging Talent Manager and two Associate/Senior Associate fee-earners. The format of the interviews will be competency based along with discussions around your knowledge of the legal sector. You will also be required to take a Watson Glaser critical thinking assessment.

Although we prefer to see you face to face, we also recognise that this may not always be practical, therefore if you live 50 miles+ (by postcode) from our Tunbridge Wells office, the first stage interview can be conducted via Microsoft Teams.

COVID restrictions permitting, our second and final stage interviews do need to be attended in person at our Tunbridge Wells office. When you arrive, you will be given a written exercise (approx. 45mins) followed by a tour of the office with one of our current Trainees. You will then have an opportunity to discuss your written exercise with two Partners.

To be considered for our trainee solicitor programme, please:

• Complete our application form
• Complete the optional equal opportunities form

Please send your completed application form, and equal opportunities form to graduates@crippspg.co.uk

The deadline for applications is midnight on the 15 July 2021. Applications after this time will not be considered.

We prefer our trainees to study BPP’s Legal Practice Course (LPC). Unless you have already completed this elsewhere, we ask that you study the LPC at one of BPP’s campuses.

If there is no BPP campus near you, or you have already committed elsewhere, please get in touch. We may be able to arrange an exemption.

Please be aware that the “City” LPC, which focuses on large public companies, is unsuitable for graduates joining us. We prefer courses with a “commercial” focus that concentrate on small and medium sized enterprises.

Although we ask to be consulted before you select your LPC options, we never specify which ones you should take. Instead we’d like you to choose subjects that interest you and help with your training. We do strongly suggest that you take the Advanced Commercial Property elective because real estate forms such a large part of what we do as a firm.

Professional skills course (PSC)

We’ll ask you to attend the PSC’s ‘fast-track’ programme at BPP. You’ll take the core modules ‘advocacy and communication skills’, ‘client care and professional standards’, plus ‘financial and business skills’. You’ll take the electives, which you’ll choose with our help, once these core modules have been completed.

Cripps Pemberton Greenish will pay 100% of your course costs if you study the BPP’s Legal Practice Course (LPC). Unfortunately, we cannot offer funding for the GDL.

You will be given a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, including an uplift in salary while undertaking your London based seat as well as the associated travel costs between our Kent and London offices.

We’ll stay in touch in the time between you accepting your training contract and your start date. This will help you to feel comfortable when you join.

We’ll introduce you to a buddy, usually a trainee who started the year before you, so they can offer advice and answer any questions you might have. We’ll also put you in touch with the other trainees starting at the same time as you. This means you’ll have a network of contacts from the beginning.

In the summer before your contract begins, a Hello Day will be organised, you’ll visit our offices and meet the other trainees in person. You’ll learn about things like what Tunbridge Wells and London are like, and find out more about our culture.

The weekend before your contract starts, the current trainees will organise a get-together meal for the new group. You’ll also be invited to our lively ‘end of quarter’ drinks. These are either held in-house or at a nearby venue. Everyone in the firm is invited so it’s a great opportunity to meet new people in a casual environment.

You will spend the first two weeks of your training contract taking part in an induction process with the other new trainees, this provides a great opportunity for you to get to know everyone.

Trainees usually start in September. You’ll experience four different seats over the course of your contract. These will be based in our Tunbridge Wells office and our London office and there are a number of seats to choose from across real estate, corporate and private client.  We’ll be in touch before your contract starts to give you a choice in which seats you take and will do our best to arrange seats in your preferred areas, although this cannot always be guaranteed.   

From the off, you’ll be working on ‘live files’ and have direct contact with clients and other professionals. We’ll give you all the support you need, review your progress on a regular basis whilst also empowering you to use your initiative.

You’ll be invited to attend a wide range of training activities. There will be seminars and workshops led by internal or external speakers, IT training sessions, plus skill-boosting training to improve things like time management, negotiation, client care, communication and presentation skills.  

The majority of your training, however, will be ‘on the job’ with your supervisor’s help. You’ll be given a checklist for each seat to make sure you cover the necessary ground. You’ll also have monthly meetings with your supervisor to assess progress.

At the end of each seat your supervisor, our Managing Partner, and our Emerging Talent Manager will review your performance and give you constructive, honest feedback, with the focus on identifying your development needs.  

Aside from the formal training, you will be encouraged to take the lead in organising firmwide and charitable activities, and to get involved in our numerous sports and social groups.

The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is a new independent centralised assessment for would be solicitors and will be introduced on 1 September 2021. However, transitional arrangements apply which mean that students already on their way to becoming a solicitor can continue to qualify through existing routes for some time.

We are currently considering how this new pathway into law will shape our trainee solicitor programme. However, the SQE will not affect the trainee solicitors joining the firm in this recruitment window.

To find out more about life as a trainee solicitor at Cripps Pemberton Greenish take a look at our Trainee Blog.

If you have any questions about our trainee solicitor programme, please contact Annabel Goh, Emerging Talent Manager or Melanie Forrester, Talent Development Advisor.