Training Contracts

Kickstart your legal career with a two-year training contract designed to give you the skills, confidence and experience to stand out as a solicitor.

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Guide to Lester Aldridge Training Contracts

Start your journey with Lester Aldridge and take the first step towards a successful legal career. Our training contracts are designed to give you more than just experience – they provide the skills, confidence and support you need to thrive as a solicitor. From hands-on work with leading clients to tailored development programmes and full SQE support, we’ll help you build a career that stands out.

Life as a Trainee at Lester Aldridge

Your training contract at LA is all about real responsibility and meaningful experience. Over two years, you’ll complete four six-month seats across a range of practice areas and our three offices, gaining broad, hands-on exposure from day one.

Trainees are fully embedded within their teams, working with high-profile corporate clients and high-net-worth individuals, supported by approachable and experienced lawyers. You’ll be encouraged to get involved beyond your day-to-day work – from business development and training to social and CSR activities.

Alongside regular supervisor meetings, you’ll take part in our Trainee Development Programme and, in your second year, be matched with a mentor to support you as you prepare for qualification.

We value feedback and are committed to continually improving the trainee experience. In May 2025, we brought all trainees together for a dedicated workshop to explore the trainee journey, leading directly to new initiatives – including our Trainee Development Programme and a meet-and-greet event to help new trainees connect with their cohort and teams from the outset.

Trainee Development Programme

We are proud to run our Trainee Development Programme for all trainees at Lester Aldridge, alongside their academic pathways.

This 12-month programme is designed to:

Develop and enhance key skills to support professional growth
Build emotional intelligence and resilience
Gain confidence in communication, networking and business development
Improve collaboration and leadership potential

Support with SQE

To start your training contract, you’ll need to complete both parts of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).

If you secure a contract with LA, we’ll support you by covering the cost of your SQE preparation and exam fees with our chosen provider, BARBRI*. You’ll also have a choice of study pathways to fit your preparation around your other commitments.

*Subject to terms and conditions – available on request.

What Our Trainees Say

“There is a strong sense of teamwork which sits at the heart of each department; it is demonstrated best by the great working relationships among colleagues and the genuine friendships you see throughout the firm.”

“Despite being one of the largest firms in the area, the culture at LA is very tightly knit. All of the partners are approachable, and there is a lot of collaboration between the various departments.”

“The diversity of the practice areas within the firm was definitely what attracted me to the LA trainee scheme… it became really clear that LA stood out as having a wide range of practice areas, and that really appealed to me when I was applying for training contracts.”

“The support from all levels is brilliant, with everyone looking to ensure you can get the most out of your role, and people usually have time for all kinds of questions, ranging from specific legal queries or more general questions surrounding procedure or even development.”

“At LA, there are regular social events. I have taken part in firm-wide quizzes and department-specific mini golf and drinks. There are also trainee meet-ups – most recently, the trainees went axe throwing! Getting to know your colleagues outside of the office and having some fun is important.”

How To Apply

Applications for our 2028 intake open on 8 January and close 12 April. Please follow the link below to start your application.

Minimum Requirements

In order to apply for a Training Contract at LA, you must:

Currently be in the penultimate year of your degree or beyond
Hold or be predicted to achieve a Degree classification 2-1 or above
Have the right to work in the UK

Q&A Session

Join Us for a Trainee Q&A Session – 12th March 2026

Curious about life at Lester Aldridge? Want to get the inside scoop on our application and assessment process? Come along to our Q&A session on 12th March 2026 and hear directly from our current and past trainees. They’ll share their experiences, insights, and top tips, and will be on hand to answer all your questions. Whether you’re just starting to explore a career in law or preparing to apply, this is a great opportunity to get a real feel for what it’s like to train and grow with LA. Don’t miss out on this chance to connect, learn, and get inspired!

Our Inclusive Approach to Screening and Shortlisting

At LA, we are committed to taking an inclusive approach to recruitment, ensuring accessibility and reducing bias at every stage of the process. All applications are reviewed using a consistent approach, with initial screening carried out “blind” to remove identifying information, and each application reviewed by more than one member of our recruitment panel.

Applications will first be checked to ensure they meet the minimum criteria. They are then carefully considered by our panel, which includes partners, associates, and members of the People & Culture team, to identify candidates for the next stage. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a screening call, during which we’ll explore your motivation for applying and give you the opportunity to ask questions about life at LA.

Following these calls, a final shortlist will be prepared for our assessment centres, which will take place between 1^st June 2026 and 12^th June 2026.

Assessment Centres

Our assessment centres are designed as a person-centred, interactive experience, giving you the opportunity to showcase your skills, experience, and personality through a variety of assessment activities. These may include exercises such as group discussions, practical tasks, and one-to-one interviews, allowing you to demonstrate your strengths in different ways.

We are committed to making our assessment centres as accessible and inclusive as possible. If you have any adjustments or accessibility needs, we encourage you to let us know in advance so we can ensure the day works for you.

Assessment centres are a two-way process: they allow us to get to know you beyond your application, while giving you a chance to see what it’s like to work at LA, meet the people you could be working with, and ask any questions you have about life at the firm.

After the assessment centres, the panel will reconvene to make final decisions, and we aim to communicate outcomes to all candidates by the end of June.

If I am unsuccessful, will you give me feedback on my application?

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unable to provide feedback to all applicants. However, if you are shortlisted for and attend an assessment centre, we will provide constructive feedback on any areas for development to help you in future applications.