Embark on a journey through Osborne Clarke’s prestigious training and vacation schemes, where tradition meets innovation. Discover a career path that promises growth, diversity, and cutting-edge legal practice, tailored to your ambitions. Unveil the secrets to joining one of the most dynamic law firms in the industry in our comprehensive student guide.
Having a well-crafted legal CV and a personalized cover letter can significantly increase your chances of securing a training contract or a vacation scheme.
What is the Osborne Clarke Training Contract?
The Osborne Clarke training contract is a bespoke program tailored to the individual’s skills, ambitions, and passions. As you embark on your journey with Osborne Clarke, you’ll find that the training contract is designed to be uniquely yours. After you’ve completed the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) courses and examinations, you will begin a two-year series of placements within the firm. These placements are crafted to expand your skills through early and extensive client contact. By the time you qualify, you’ll have a clear vision of your career path and the preparation needed to pursue it with confidence and inspiration. Check out our training contract deadlines calendar.
Osborne Clarke offers 30 training contract vacancies, with positions available in London, Bristol, and Reading. Support is a cornerstone of the Osborne Clarke training experience. You’ll have access to a trusted network that includes dedicated development managers, supervisors, mentors, and peers—available from the moment you accept your training contract. Embracing modern work-life balance, the firm offers a flexible approach to connected working, which means there is no strict requirement for you to be in the office five days a week. This holistic approach ensures that while your legal and technical skills are sharpening, your personal well-being and professional development are also given paramount importance.
Osborne Clarke Training Contract Requirements
The firm welcomes applications from both law and non-law students, and they recognize that academic results may not always reflect an individual’s talents or abilities. The entry requirements for the Osborne Clarke training contract are as follows:
- Academic Qualifications: There are no strict A-level law or university grade requirements for training contract applications. The firm recognizes that academic results may not fully reflect an applicant’s talents or abilities, and space is provided within the application form to disclose any mitigating circumstances.
- Degree Type: The firm welcomes applications from both law and non-law students, and they recognize that academic results may not always reflect an individual’s talents or abilities.
- Work Experience: Legal work experience is not a mandatory requirement for obtaining a training contract at Osborne Clarke. However, the firm values transferable skills gained through work experience or extracurricular activities. Applicants are encouraged to reflect on their experiences and align the skills they’ve developed with those necessary for a successful legal career.
- Extracurricular Activities: Osborne Clarke looks for candidates who engage in activities they enjoy and from which they can learn. The firm recruits trainees with a variety of extracurricular experiences and interests, indicating there is no fixed ‘Osborne Clarke-shaped’ lawyer profile.
These requirements highlight Osborne Clarke’s holistic approach to recruitment, focusing on the individual’s potential, skills, and fit with the firm’s culture, rather than just academic achievements.
What is the Osborne Clarke Vacation Scheme
The Osborne Clarke vacation scheme is an immersive opportunity for candidates to experience the firm’s culture and work environment first-hand. Annually, 70 candidates are offered a two-week placement in one of Osborne Clarke’s UK offices during the summer, which serves as a perfect opportunity to gain insights into the day-to-day operations of a global commercial firm. Participants are encouraged to actively engage with the work, shadow lawyers, and partake in knowledge sessions with partners, as well as attend social events to enhance their networking skills.
The scheme is a comprehensive program that allows candidates to dive deeper into areas of interest and receive mentorship from senior lawyers. Most participants of the vacation scheme accept offers to train at the firm afterwards, highlighting the scheme’s effectiveness as a pathway to a legal career. The placements run throughout June and July, and offer a salary of £450 per week, and the application process for the scheme opens in early October, with a deadline in mid-January. Take a look at our vacation scheme deadlines calendar.
Summer Vacation Scheme at Osborne Clarke
The summer vacation scheme at Osborne Clarke offers a unique two-week placement that provides candidates with an in-depth experience of life at a global commercial law firm. It’s an ideal way for 70 individuals annually to immerse themselves in the firm’s culture, engage in real legal work under expert supervision, and gain valuable insights into the legal industry.
Participants will not only shadow lawyers and attend knowledge sessions with partners but also have opportunities to network at social events and receive mentorship. With over 90% of attendees receiving training contract offers, the scheme is a significant step toward a legal career at Osborne Clarke. The scheme runs in June and July, with a competitive weekly salary, and the application timeline is set with an opening date in October and a deadline in January of the following year.
What You Will Do at Osborne Clarke Vacation Scheme
During the Osborne Clarke vacation scheme, you will engage in an array of activities designed to immerse you into the life of a solicitor at the firm. You’ll be actively involved in client meetings, working on live matters for a truly hands-on experience. The scheme involves shadowing lawyers, participating in legal work, attending knowledge sessions with partners, and social events for networking. You’re encouraged to take initiative and explore areas that interest you, with the support of a mentor who will guide your progress. Overall, it’s a dynamic and interactive introduction to the legal profession within a global commercial firm.
Application Process for Training Contract and Vacation Scheme at Osborne Clarke
The application process for the training contract and vacation scheme at Osborne Clarke involves the following steps:
- Online application form submission.
- Completion of a verbal reasoning test.
- Participation in an assessment centre that includes a group exercise and the Watson Glaser Test.
- Undergoing a partner interview.
Candidates are expected to show clarity in their applications, express their motivations for joining Osborne Clarke, and demonstrate an understanding of the firm’s business. The best way to show clarity is to prepare for application questions by reading our guides on how to answer why this law firm and why study law questions.
Assessment centres and interviews are scheduled for February and March, and applicants must be available for these dates as no alternatives are offered. Additionally, it’s noted that in-person attendance is required for certain exercises, precluding virtual alternatives.
Why You Should Apply to Osborne Clarke?
Applying to Osborne Clarke can be a pivotal step in your legal career for several reasons. The firm is renowned for its tailored training program that extends beyond qualification, its embrace of diversity with the integration of the Contextual Recruitment System, and its commitment to professional growth with dedicated support systems.
Osborne Clarke values innovation, offering a dynamic work environment with a flexible approach to working practices. Moreover, the firm’s vacation scheme is highly immersive, giving candidates a real taste of the solicitor’s role and a high chance of securing a training contract, evidenced by the high conversion rate of scheme participants.
History of Osborne Clarke
Osborne Clarke’s history dates back to 1748 when Jeremiah Osborne began practicing law in Bristol, England. It played a crucial role in the UK’s industrial expansion, particularly by representing the Great Western Railway and working with engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Through mergers and international expansion, Osborne Clarke has significantly grown its global footprint and expertise, especially in the media and technology sectors, serving high-profile clients such as Yahoo!, Facebook, and Google. This rich history and ongoing development reflect the firm’s established position and forward-looking approach in the legal industry.
What Makes Osborne Clarke Stand Out
Osborne Clarke differentiates itself with several key attributes:
- Historical Legacy: Founded in 1748, it has a storied past with deep roots in the legal tradition of England.
- Industrial Impact: Played a pivotal role in the UK’s industrial revolution by representing the Great Western Railway.
- Global Footprint: Has expanded significantly across Europe, the United States, and Asia, adapting to global legal markets.
- Sector Specialization: Recognized as a tier 1 firm in media and technology, advising some of the world’s leading companies.
- Progressive Training: Provides an innovative training contract that extends into the first year of qualification, focusing on future-facing skills.
- Diversity and Inclusion: Partners with diversity organizations to ensure a broad range of backgrounds in their recruitment process.
- Client-Centric Approach: Known for high levels of client exposure and engagement from the early stages of a lawyer’s career.
- Work-Life Balance: Offers flexible working arrangements reflecting modern work practices.
- Professional Development: Emphasizes continuous learning and development throughout one’s career.
- Forward-Looking: Continuously evolves its practice areas to align with emerging global business trends and legal needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the answers to the frequently asked questions regarding the Osborne Clarke training contract and vacation scheme:
How much do Osborne Clarke trainee solicitors make?
First-year trainee solicitors at Osborne Clarke’s London and Reading offices earn £47,500, while those in Bristol earn £45,000. Second-year trainees in London and Reading earn £41,500, and in Bristol, they earn £43,000
Is Osborne Clarke a good firm to work for?
Osborne Clarke has been recognized for its positive work environment. It ranked 5th in Roll on Friday’s 2023 Best Law Firms to Work At Survey. This survey, which is comprehensive in the sector, compiles feedback from over 8,000 people in private practice. Osborne Clarke has consistently performed well in this poll over the past eight years. Although it is not a magic circle law firm, it is known for its supportive culture, focusing on the well-being and development of its employees.
Did Osborne Clarke increase salary?
Osborne Clarke has recently increased salaries for junior lawyers across its three UK offices. The base rates for newly qualified solicitors in London moved from £90,000 to £91,500. In Reading, salaries increased from £81,000 to £82,350, and in Bristol, from £69,000 to £70,000.
What do Osborne Clarke look for?
Osborne Clarke seeks individuals who possess qualities conducive to success in a legal environment, such as the ability to listen, learn, and collaborate, a passion for client service, a genuine interest in the business world, a problem-solving mindset, and the drive and motivation to succeed.
They value diversity highly and strive for an inclusive workplace, actively working to ensure equal opportunities for all through internal networks and partnerships with organizations like Stonewall and Rare. Academic excellence is acknowledged through the Rare Contextual Recruitment System, which appreciates the context in which academic achievements are gained, and they welcome career changers as well. The firm also places importance on the commercial awareness of its candidates.
What is an insight scheme at Osborne Clarke?
As for insight schemes, these are work placements that allow prospective candidates to experience the workings of Osborne Clarke firsthand. They provide an opportunity to engage with the day-to-day activities of a global commercial firm, participate in knowledge sessions with partners, and attend social events to develop networking skills. The scheme emphasizes active participation, with candidates encouraged to take initiative and explore areas of interest.
