The application process for 2020 Legal Work Placements has now closed. The 2021 application process will open 1 November 2020.
Our two week summer Legal Work Placement scheme is a great way to get an insight into what life is really like at Irwin Mitchell.
You can choose to apply to either business legal services or personal legal services, and spend time with two different departments within your chosen area to get a true insight and a real feel for what each stream is like. You’ll gain first-hand experience of our culture, the work we do and the wide range of opportunities we have to offer.
You’ll experience an induction, social activities, breakfast meetings, and have the opportunity to get involved with community and sports activities.
The Legal Work Placement plays an important part in our trainee recruitment strategy. It’s a great way for you to showcase your skills in a practical environment and leave a positive and lasting impression. You'll also get a glimpse into what life is like working here.
Anyone who completes a Legal Work Placement with us is automatically considered for a training contract. A large proportion of our training contracts are awarded this way every year, so we encourage anyone interested in joining us on a training contract to come to one of our events in the first instance and then to apply via the Legal Work Placement route.
90% of people who complete the Legal Work Placement tell us that their placement “exceeded expectations” and we hope that you’ll find it a rewarding and enjoyable experience too.
All About You
We're passionate about attracting and finding the right individuals to join Irwin Mitchell.
We're looking for people who show a genuine interest in the law and are hungry to learn more about Business and Personal Legal Services. We value individuality, passion and innovation as much as we do academic achievement, which is why we operate an anonymised screening process.
Many of our lawyers come from a non-legal background and so we welcome applications from all degree types. Our recent 2019 intake of 57 trainees came from 40 different universities, of which 17% had read non-law degrees.
You will need to demonstrate the following skills throughout the assessment process:
- Commercial awareness
- Tenacity
- High attention to detail
- Teamwork
- Initiative
- Analysis and problem-solving skills
- Empathy and interpersonal skills
- Strong communication skills
“The LWP at Irwin Mitchell felt very much like a mini Training Contract. Now that I’m a trainee, I can really appreciate how much responsibility I was given and how involved I was able to become in live cases.”
Jack Davies - Trainee Solicitor, Newcastle
Why Choose Us
Every business has its own unique culture and Irwin Mitchell is no exception. We’re proud of the values that make us who we are and that make us one of the most successful law firms in the country.
We’ve come a long way since starting out in Sheffield in 1912 but we haven’t let that change how we operate. We maintain 15 offices in key areas around the country because we understand the importance of local expertise and a personal touch. Our clients range from international corporations to small businesses and private individuals.
We are renowned for our friendly and approachable attitude towards everyone we work with – private clients, business clients and each other. You’ll be encouraged to work as closely with clients as we do and you can always count on getting the support you need while working at Irwin Mitchell.
Our community presence is also a big part of daily life at our locations around the country. Each of our offices select a local charity to work with every year and you’ll have the opportunity to get involved with charity fundraising, volunteering and pro bono legal work.