Trainee Solicitor
Trainee Solicitor
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£ 26409 - 32654
1 Vacancy
Job Description
#internal
Please note this vacancy is only available to Birmingham City Council employees.
Trainee Solicitor (separate advert for the Solicitor Apprentice)
Fixed Term Contract 24 30 months depending on qualification route
Grade
Consultation grade subject to formal evaluation under the Pay Equity Review
Working 36.5 hours per week
A brilliant opportunity has arisen within our dynamic progressive legal service where you will be given the opportunity to work on some incredible projects and cases while learning and developing as a Trainee Solicitor or Solicitor Apprentice within local government.
Our legal service is unique and one of the largest inhouse local authority legal teams. The City Council is on its journey of resetting reshaping and restarting and everyone within legal services is essential to the Councils success and achieving beneficial outcomes for our citizens. We want to offer existing City Council employees a change to be a part of this whilst receiving the best legal training!
Legal Services covers all areas of work that the Council undertakes from employment to property from adult social care to contracts. The variety of work that our team undertakes is wide and at the highest level. The work is challenging and rewarding in equal measure. Based in Victoria Square in the City Centre you will have excellent transport links access to Courts and tribunals partner organisations and all the benefits that working in the wonderful City of Birmingham brings.
Birmingham City Council is committed to achieving excellence putting our citizens first acting courageously and being true to our word. We are also committed to developing our staff and providing them with the best opportunities to qualify as a this resonates with you then we want to hear from you.
We have vacancies for three training posts for aspiring lawyers who already possess a 2.1. honours degree. Trainee Solicitors will have passed the GDL where required and Legal Practice Course on their first attempt prior to being appointed. Candidates who have not completed the Legal Practice Course would be eligible for a Solicitor Apprentice post to qualify via the SQE pathway.
You will possess experience of providing a facetoface service to customers/clients and be able to communicate concisely and effectively. You will be required to conduct case work under supervision including preparing reports letters memos and drafting documentation for Court and work collaboratively with your team and with managers.
Key responsibilities:
You will be required with appropriate supervision to:
- Undertake qualifying work experience in at least three different service areas in Legal Services (whilst we will do our best to agree these service areas with you availability of a seat will depend on business need);
- Communicate with client departments elected members solicitors and other professional advisers courts and members of the public;
- Provide assistance to all team members lawyers and other staff members as required;
- Carry out legal research and give legal advice;
- Draft legal documents;
- Interview and advise clients and other individuals;
- Manage cases and transactions;
- Gain experience in negotiation and dispute resolution;
- Learn the principles of professional conduct;
- Gain experience in advocacy and presentational skills;
- Undertake all compulsory courses as required by the SRA and maintain an appropriate training record;
- Safeguard information in line with Data Protection laws and BCC policies; and
- Complete extra tasks that the role may include related to the jobs purpose sometimes necessitating work beyond typical office hours.
For any informal enquires please contact:
Deborah CarterHughes (emailDeborah CarterHughes)or
Julia (emailJulia .
Application via CV Cover Letter and Written Assessment (including first stage assessment questions)
Please upload your uptodate CV and cover letter via the attachments part of your application this is required for shortlisting. The cover letter should include how you meet the person specification.
You should also attach a document providing answers to the following questions:
- Why are you interested in undertaking your training in local government (in less than 1000 words)
- Tell us of a recent newspaper or legal press article you have read concerning a legal matter which impacts on local government. What was the story about and why did it interest you (in less than 1500 words)
- Why do you want to qualify as a solicitor (in less than 1000 words)
The responses to these questions will be assessed as part of the shortlisting process and for those candidates who are shortlisted these responses will form 10 of your overall mark as part of the final assessment. Unfortunately we cannot consider any applications without a CV cover letter and assessment questions attached
Assessment and selection
Shortlisted candidates will be notified by 21 May 2025 and provided by email with a written question on a general legal topic which will require research and response. If you are invited to progress to an assessment day this response will form a further 10 of your overall mark.
Assessment days will be arranged during June or early July 2025. The assessment day will consist of a meet and greet interviews presentation and a group exercise. 80 of your overall mark will be calculated at the assessment day.
Successful applicants will be notified by 31 July 2025 with a view to starting their training position in September 2025.
Please note that we are also willing to accept applications from individuals who would be ready to start their training (having completed the required educational requirements) in September 2026 also. Any such applications will be considered for a September 2026 start date.
We want to ensure your recruitment journey with us is a positive and equitable one so please let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments additional support accessibility needs or if there is any way in which we can support you through your application.
We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the communities we serve. Our data tells us that for this level of role ethnic minorities are underrepresented and therefore we will use positive action to support us to achieve diverse shortlists. This may mean that recruitment times are a little longer but we think this is worth it to achieve our aim.
We strive to advertise all roles for a minimum of two weeks. However due to high application volumes vacancies may close earlier than the stated deadline. We encourage you to submit your application without delay to ensure consideration.
Closing date:6 May 2025
For further information or to apply please click on the Enquire/Apply button below.
Job Description and Person Specification
Required Experience:
Intern
Employment Type
Full-Time
