FAQs

What are you looking for in an application?

Aside from excellent academics, we are looking for well rounded, ambitious and commercially minded applicants - how can you demonstrate that you are 100% lawyer? Also, tell us what attracted you particularly to Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP and what personal qualities you can bring to the firm.

Remember, the obvious rules apply; ensure your application is clear, spellchecked, concise yet informative.

What if I don’t have the minimum academic requirements?

We will only consider such applications if there are strong mitigating circumstances and these are clearly highlighted in your application.

Do you fill all your Training Contract vacancies from your Vacation Schemes?

Vacation Schemes are becoming increasingly important as part of the recruitment process. They give us the chance to really see each other in action. Although we aim to fill many vacancies this way, we appreciate not everyone is able to attend. We do recruit trainees who have not been on our Vacation Schemes.

Does the firm have preferred law school providers?

Recently we have chosen Kaplan Law School (based in London Bridge) to be our preferred provider for the GDL and LPC. Trainees can choose their own LPC electives, provided they are relevant to our core practice areas.

Can I defer my start date once I have accepted an offer?

Only in exceptional circumstances.

Do you keep in touch with your future trainees during their GDL/LPC years?

We arrange regular seminars and social events for our future trainees and keep them informed of developments in the firm. You can also join some of our sports teams before you start work.

Are there any opportunities for secondments for trainees?

There are opportunities for trainees to be seconded to clients, such as MTV and BP. We also offer a secondment in our Brussels office.

What compulsory seats do you have?

We do not ask our trainees to do any compulsory seats, but in line with SRA requirements, we ask them to complete one contentious and one non contentious seat.

Are there any opportunities for paralegal work?

Any paralegal opportunities will be posted on our website. If you wish to apply speculatively, please contact Amelia Goodwin.  Preference is offered to our future trainees.

Why are we using Psychometric tests to recruit trainees?

Using an objective selection method such as psychometric testing is a useful way of comparing an individual against their peer group. Using psychometric tests is best practice for law firms now due to the high volume of applications (for our 2011 vacation schemes alone, we received over 690 applications). Without these, our dedicated assessors would have to sieve through too many application forms to make it a fair process.

What are psychometric tests?

Psychometric tests are designed to measure various aspects of a person's skills and abilities compared against norms established for particular groups.

The tests we use in recruiting trainees include an inductive reasoning test and a verbal reasoning test.  Inductive reasoning tests measure the ability to work flexibly with unfamiliar information and find solutions. People who perform well on these tests tend to have a greater capacity to think conceptually as well as analytically.

Verbal reasoning tests measure the ability to understand, analyse and interpret written information, often of a complex or specialised nature.

What happens if I miss the deadline?

Unfortunately if we have not received your completed application by midnight on the closing date, it can not be considered.  We would recommend you complete your application form as soon as you can.

Are applications reviewed on a rolling basis?

Applications remain open until the deadline, but we may start reviewing applications, and inviting applicants to assessment centres a few weeks before the deadline, if volumes are high.

What should I do if I do not receive the first psychometric test after I have submitted my application form?

Once you have submitted your application, you will automatically receive an email asking you to complete the first of the psychometric tests. If your junk email filter is set too high, the email may not get through to you. However, if you log in to the application system, you will see a log of emails and the test email can be viewed through this.  If you can not see the test on the application system, please contact Amelia Goodwin immediately (don’t wait until after the deadline!).