Pinsent Masons – training graduates to become qualified lawyers

A Training Contract at Pinsent Masons represents the first stage of a focused development programme that enables graduates to become qualified lawyers. The firm’s training programme has been developed in-house, which ensures trainees receive a bespoke, balanced and comprehensive introduction to the legal profession.

The law firm’s apprenticeship programmes also offers an attractive route into a commercial, professional services environment for driven and ambitious candidates. This ‘earn as you learn’ qualification pathway offers the opportunity to combine academic study with work-based learning; simultaneous exposure to university and commercial environments; and potential future qualification and career opportunities on successful completion of a level 3 apprenticeship.

Jennifer’s journey

Jennifer became pregnant in her final year at university, and completed her postgraduate diploma over the term of her pregnancy.

By the time she started her traineeship, she had a son of nearly two. Balancing her home life with the demands of her traineeship was difficult – very difficult at times – but she never got a sense that Graduate Development viewed her circumstances as an obstacle.

On the contrary, she was given plenty of opportunities to develop, and Pinsent Masons worked with her to ensure that all of her four training seats would be in Glasgow, to tie in with childcare commitments. She really appreciates the effort that all four teams made to accommodate her and she was given plenty of leeway to take work home to continue with in the evening.

“I’m grateful for the faith the firm’s shown in me – I doubt there are many places where I’d have been given either the opportunities or the welcome I’ve received here. I know of other women who’ve been in the same position who haven’t enjoyed anything like so positive an experience.”