RPC Graduate Opportunities




	Here are the answers to some of the questions you may want to ask. We hope it helps you towards a decision. When should I apply for a training place? Our training contracts start in September. If you'd like to join us you'll need to apply online by mid-August of the year two years prior to your anticipated start date. The closing date for this year's applications is 11th August 2006. Is the application form really that important? Yes. Because we select the candidates we'll invite to take part in the next stage, one of our recruitment days, entirely on the basis of the completed application form. We find it gives us a good initial insight into your personal qualities and how you might fit in. What do you look for in your trainees? We look for good academic achievement - at least 8 high grade GCSEs, 3 high grade A levels and a 2.1 degree awarded or predicted. But there's more to it than that. We're looking for confident, ambitious individuals. Natural communicators with flair, energy, business sense, leadership and commitment. What happens at the recruitment days? We invite around 12 candidates to each recruitment day, held in September. It's a great chance for you to demonstrate your strengths, and helps us to make an objective selection. There are written and oral exercises to help us select the most likely candidates. It's hard work, but fun. It gives you the opportunity to have an informal chat to partners and trainees alike and make your own assessment of what training with us would be like. Do I have to be a law graduate? No. Some of our best and most successful trainees have graduated in other subjects. What will happen when I arrive to begin my training contract? Initially we run a two week induction programme. You'll find out about how your training will be organised. We'll brief you on office procedures, take you around both inside and outside the firm, and train you in IT, time recording and the use of secretarial support. Where will I sit? You will generally share an office with an assistant solicitor in the same department. This helps you to observe their work and practices and gives you the benefit of someone more experienced on hand to answer questions you might have about the tasks you have been assigned. Will I go through a period as an 'office junior'? You may be inexperienced and new to the firm, but you are a valuable resource. We don't want you spending time on menial tasks which won't help you develop your legal skills. How much responsibility will I have? It depends very much on your confidence and ability. Your supervising partner will judge how much you should take on at each stage of your training, and will delegate work to you accordingly. How will I know how I'm doing? Your supervising partner will give you regular informal feedback. A formal review every six months will give you and the firm a chance to assess your progress and identify any areas where further attention or experience is required. As a trainee will I have to work long hours? When there is a lot of work to do or deadlines to be met, of course we'll need everyone to put in the hours and work together. But we don't expect anyone, trainees or otherwise, to work long hours for the sake of it. Do you do any international work? Yes, particularly in our corporate and insurance practices. We are founder members of the Terralex worldwide network of law firms which helps us to service this work. Do you have up-to-the-minute IT resources? All trainees are equipped with networked PCs running uptodate Windows and Microsoft Office, a Document Management System, Internet E-mail and Laserform. We will provide thorough and comprehensive IT training on our systems when you join. What proportion of trainees stay on after they qualify? It varies from year to year. Trainee retention rates for 2005 were 90%. Where's the application form? You can apply online by clicking on the link above, "Apply now/Brochure". Is there a way I can get to know more about the firm before I apply? We run summer vacation schemes in June and July each year to enable students to sample our training, work and atmosphere. Students are integrated as far as possible into the normal day to day life of the firm. Six students at a time spend two weeks with us during which they will spend a week each in two different departments. Students will work closely with solicitors and trainees and be given real work to do. There will be opportunities to go to court, assist with research and draft documents. A series of informal talks are arranged to provide information about the firm, its practice areas and its people. There will also be visits to court and other trips of interest. Vacation students undertake a work related group project which runs for a full day and is intended to be challenging but fun. The social side of the firm will not be neglected either and there will be plenty of opportunities to meet partners, solicitors and trainees in a relaxed and informal way. The Summer 2005 scheme 18 students will be offered placements for two weeks during June and July 2006. Students will be paid £250 per week. How to apply for a summer placement Applications from both law and non-law students are welcomed. We would expect you to be in the penultimate year of a degree course or the second year of a four year course if the third year is to be spent abroad. Informal interviews will take place in March 2006. Where's the application form? If you are interested in applying to us for a training contract commencing in 2008, or for a place on our summer vacation scheme in Summer 2006, please apply online by clicking on the link above "Apply now/Brochure". Training contracts commencing in September 2008 We have 15 vacancies for September 2008 and we will be considering applications from 1st July 2006 to 11th August 2006. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to one of our recruitment days to be held in September 2006. Salary and benefits (for trainees commencing in September 2006) First year £29,000 (reviewed annually) Second year £33,000 (reviewed annually) Four weeks holiday, bonus scheme, corporate private medical scheme, private health insurance, life cover, season ticket loan, subsidised gym membership, four office parties per year. Bursaries Financial support is offered to prospective trainees for the GDL and LPC. The firm will cover your fees for these courses and provide a maintenance grant. The maintenance grant is currently £6,500 per annum for trainees studying in London or Guildford, and £6,000 for elsewhere in the country. Finance available from your local education authority will be taken into account. If you need any further information about us please call the human resources department.