Beginning your legal career

Legal Placement

If you are studying for a degree, in the law or otherwise, and have the opportunity to fulfil a legal placement (40 weeks or 1 year) as part of your degree, we highly recommend it. There are lots of benefits, you will get to experience working in a law firm, make some great contacts, and the time can count towards your training contract or qualifying work experience.

We offer several opportunities for legal placements each year. Ideally, the successful candidate would be looking to maximise this chance of paid work experience and start with us in July and work for at least one year. Many of our placement students have started soon after completing exams in year 2, and not wanted to leave us until just before they return to study in the final year.

If the placement goes well, there are also many opportunities to carry on working with us on a part time basis when you go back to Uni to finish your final year.

The placements that we offer involve working out of one of our offices in either Bournemouth, Ringwood, Swanage, Canford Cliffs, Wimborne and London, and with one of our legal teams (you can view all of our Personal services and Business services here).

There is also the opportunity to work with more than one of our teams and get a true understanding of what it is like to work in a law firm. The rate of pay for the placement is based on a competitive salary, and you will have access to all of our normal staff benefits.

You will be working within a dynamic and challenging environment with a fun and supportive culture, providing a high-quality service to our clients. Our culture supports and encourages your career development and we have previously taken placement students who have gone on to continue working for us on a flexible and part-time basis while they complete their studies, secure permanent paralegal roles, training contracts and qualify as lawyers with us.

You can also view our recent news articles from our current placement students by following the links below:

• Why Ellis Jones is the perfect placement
• My legal placement year at Ellis Jones
• Placement Year at Ellis Jones
• Legal Placement Year at Ellis Jones

SQE

To qualify via the SQE route, you will need to have:

• a degree or qualifying equivalent level 6 equivalent
• passed both stages of the SQE assessment
• 2 years’ full-time (or part-time equivalent) qualifying work experience
• Passed the SRA character and suitability requirements.

You will find loads more information on the SQE on the SRA website.

If you have decided that SQE is the route for you, or you are still making the decision, then we have various opportunities for work experience that may help you make up your mind, which may count towards your qualifying work experience.

Training Contracts

Every year we offer training contracts for those who have completed the LPC or are undergoing SQE.

Our 2-year Training Contract or qualifying work experience will enable you to build on the knowledge that you have gained through your degree and LPC/SQE in a supportive and practical environment whilst you are mentored and trained by some of the best legal minds within their field of expertise.

Our training contracts typically include gaining experience in four different legal teams. The training contract is, however, flexible to accommodate those who have time to count and wish to experience specialist areas.

Typically Trainees move between our 7 offices.

During your training contract, you will be supported by a training contract partner, and be part of our mentoring group. You will have access to a partner and mentor to support your development within the law and the firm and introduce you to new contacts.

In each training seat, you will be supported by a partner in the team and will get lots of on-the-job training. You will also have access to external training, for example, MBL.

You will have access to core skills training through the mentor programme and our regular lunch and learn sessions.

You will receive regular informal feedback through each seat, and a formal end-of-seat review. You will be asked to carry out regular motivational maps, and we will support you in ways to enhance your motivation using Mojo.

We welcome applications from law and non-law graduates. We are recruiting for training contracts to start in September 2026 and September 2027. Our trainees development policy includes access to funding and study leave. If you would like to get an insight into the Ellis Jones Training Contract, you can read an article from one of our newly qualified solicitors.

Apply for a Training Contract

We are proud of our values and culture. If you are interested in applying for a training contract for 2026 and 2027 and think that you would fit into our culture, please give us at least one example of how in a covering letter attaching your CV. Please send your CV/Covering letter to recruitment@ellisjones.co.uk.

Vacation Scheme

We offer a 2-week vacation scheme which takes place in the summer.

You will have the opportunity to work within two different teams.

You will experience the culture of the firm, and you will have the opportunity to hear from qualified lawyers and trainees about their journeys to qualification, gather tips on CV writing and interview skills, socialise and make new contacts. It will also look great on your CV, and there may well be some opportunities for some paid paralegal work after the placement has finished.

The 2-week summer vacation scheme is unpaid.

We are happy to receive CVs from law and non-law students, who have usually completed their first or second year of study.

On the job SQE and CILEX

We support our staff to grow and develop and be the best they can be. We understand that this involves a flexible approach that works for each individual.

We have a training and development policy which provides access to financial support and study leave

We supported many paralegals in qualifying through CILEX.

We are also supporting staff to qualify via SQE. Staff have the option to either apply for a 2-year training contract or, if they are established paralegals, to qualify alongside work. We will also support paralegals and trainees in meeting the requirements of the SQE exams by supporting access to other teams, and firm-wide training such as negotiation, interviewing and advocacy.

Find out more about how we have supported our Banking & Finance Paralegal, Leah Sharman, in her article on her experience with both CILEX and SQE.

Key Dates for Applications

Ellis Jones offer a variety of career opportunities, including legal placements, vacation schemes and training contracts. This page includes all of the key dates for these applications.

October

31^st October 2024: Applications open for Legal placement year, Easter Vacation Scheme & 2026/2027 Training Contracts

January

31^st January 2025: Applications close for Legal placement year & Easter Vacation Scheme

April

7^th April – 18^th April 2025 Easter Vacation Scheme will be held

30^th April 2025: Applications close for 2026/2027 Training Contracts

May/June

Interviews for 2026/2027 Training Contracts

July

30^th June: Start of Legal Placement Year

Successful 2026/2027 Training Contract applicants notified

Any time: speculative applications for qualifying work experience

Speculative CVs
If we do not have a suitable vacancy, no matter what stage you are at in your legal career, we are always happy to receive speculative applications for ad hoc work, flexible work, and permanent candidates.

We are proud of our values and culture. If you think that you would fit into our culture, please give us at least one example of how in a covering letter attaching your CV. Please send your CV/Covering letter to recruitment@ellisjones.co.uk