- Deadlines:
Training contract to commence 2020: 28/02/2019 Training contract to commence 2021: 28/02/2020 Other deadlines
Overview
- Address: Dumfries House, Dumfries Place, Cardiff,
CF10 3ZF - Phone: 029 2039 1777
- Email: recruitment@geldards.com
- Web: www.geldards.com
| Vacancies: | 6 |
|---|---|
| Trainees: | 12 |
| Partners: | 57 |
| Staff: | 352 |
| Work placement: | No |
| Minimum qualification: | 2.1 preferred |
Remember to cite LawCareers.Net on your application form if you apply to Geldards LLP.
Application details and method of selection
The training contract recruitment process has four parts, starting with an online application form. The application form is designed to collect information such as academic record, work experience and finishes with four questions that explore personal qualities.
Applicants are then shortlisted to complete a short notice written assessment around a topic of law so that we can gauge the candidates' ability and aptitude. The written assessment will be issued to successfully shortlisted applicants at noon on a Friday to be returned by 9am on the following Monday. The date of which will be confirmed when the recruitment drive has begun.
The next stage of the process is to be invited to an assessment centre in the favoured office location. We will be looking to see candidate's individual personalities as well as skills such as team working, problem solving, commercial awareness, enthusiasm and initative. Finally those who are successful following the assessment centre will be invited to attend a panel interview with a selection of our partners.
The recruitment process for 2018, 2019 and 2020 training contract intakes opened on 2 January 2018 and applications will close at 1pm on Wednesday 28 February 2017. There are also limited training contract's available to start in 2017 in our Midlands offices. If you are interested, please apply at: www.geldards.com/training-contracts-application-form.
HR-led interview
Partner interview
Written exercise
Firm description and career prospects
Geldards LLP is a top 100 regionally based commercial practice. It serves its clients from offices located in Cardiff, Derby, Nottingham, Ilkeston and London, drawing business from all parts of the United Kingdom. Geldards' approach to life is collegiate and supportive. The firm has succeeded in establishing long-term relationships with its clients and staff and has an enviable reputation in developing its people. A number of the firm's partners were previously trainees with the firm.
Types of work
Within the firm are some of the strongest core practices in the regions, with particular emphasis on corporate finance, property and dispute resolution.
Over recent years there has also been rapid growth within the firm of what might once have been considered niche areas; such as commercial law, planning and environmental law, energy law, rail and transport law, construction contracts and building arbitration, employment law, restructuring and insolvency, trusts and tax. The firm offers candidates an opportunity of completing seats in all of these areas.
Who should apply
We are looking for candidates with a strong academic background who display evidence of being motivated and hard working. Throughout the recruitment process, we are looking for individuals who exhibit potential to be future business leaders.
Beyond that, we are looking for individuals with a sense of humour, a degree of self-confidence and the ability to work in a team environment. Geldards employees show commitment, passion and drive in everything they do. They hold a high level of ambition, and display enthusiasm within their approach. We often find that successful candidates can demonstrate an involvement in extra curricular activities, which to us are indicators that we will be working with like minded individuals.
Work placements
We offer vountary work experience placements on an ad hoc basis throughout the year, typically to undergraduates for four to five days. During the week that our work experience students spend with us, we do our best to ensure they spend each day with a different department within the firm to ensure they get a rounded picture of the day to day activities of our lawyers. The departments will often get students to help them with current cases, undertake relevant legal research or produce a peice of work relating to that area of law.
If you are interested in completing a work experience placement please send an up to date CV, along with a cover letter, office preference and your available dates, addressed to Lauren Britton at recruitment@geldards.com. We are often oversubscribed during academic holidays but do our best to accomodate as many students as possible.
Training contract programme
Training is divided into four six-month seats in the firm's main practice areas. Trainees are allocated to a particular team and are supervised by the lead partner or senior solicitors within the team. For their first seat, trainees are assigned a department by human resources which has been carefully considered and matched to their personality, experience and/or academic background. Towards the end if their first seat, we meet with each trainee to discuss their next seat and do our best to accomodate department preferences.
Trainees are formally reviewed at the end of each seat but informal feedback is given throughout a seat. There is also an opportunity for trainees to discuss their progress and that of the firm's during trainee forums. An open-door policy applies and trainees are regarded very much as an integral part of the team. Formal training will be a combination of external course and internal seminars.
Seat options
Commercial property, corporate, employment, commercial services, commercial dispute resolution, private client, family, injury dispute resolution, planning, construction
Type of practice
Corporate & Commercial, General Commercial, Niche
Work areas
Offices
Cardiff, Nottingham, Derby, Ilkeston, London
Insights
Featured Lawyers
Gemma Lewis
Associate
Apart from the quality of work, some of the factors that make Geldards a great firm are the genuine open door policy and the ethos of teamwork. Geldards' understand that their greatest attribute is the staff and that makes the firm a truly enjoyable place to build a career.
