How many trainees do you recruit each year?

We recruit around 10 trainees a year.

What is the seat structure?

We offer four six-month seats as part of your training contract, in both contentious and non-contentious areas of law. We try to ensure that all trainees undertake a corporate seat and in many cases a seat in real estate and commercial litigation as well, as these are our core departments. Other seats include employment, immigration and pensions; banking and insolvency, corporate tax; and private wealth and family.

What level of work can I expect at Stevens & Bolton?

At Stevens & Bolton, you will be given a lot more responsibility than many of the City firms. We encourage everyone to get involved and become part of each department they work in. We are committed to providing excellent quality work and training.

How do future trainees stay in touch with the firm before they start?

We offer a buddy scheme where future trainees are matched with a current trainee who they can contact with any queries. Through-out the year there are occasional opportunities for future trainees to meet up with their buddies.

What are the salaries for 1st and 2nd year trainees and NQs?

1st year trainees = £40,000, 2nd year trainees = £42,000 and NQs = £65,000

Do you pay for the GDL, LPC & SQE?

Yes, we pay the GDL, LPC and SQE fees for both courses and offer a £7,000 maintenance grant for each year of study. We expect our future trainees to study at the University of Law.

When do your vacation schemes take place?

We run two week-long vacation schemes each year, the next ones will take place in spring 2024. We offer 15 places on each scheme.

What can I expect from a vacation scheme?

You will sit in a department and have the opportunity to undertake work for your career progression. We run lunchtime sessions with lawyers from each department so you can learn about all parts of the firm and we also provide you with project work to carry out during the week.  We interview all participants for a training contract during the week and for the last two years we have recruited all our trainee intakes from the vacation schemes.

What are you looking for?

Essential qualities include: very good communication skills, drive and ambition, intelligence, attention to detail, business interest and genuine enthusiasm to be a lawyer and to work at Stevens & Bolton.

When do applications open?

Applications for vacation schemes and training contracts open on 1 December each year and the deadline for vacation schemes is 31 January.

When do you interview for vacation schemes?

Interviews will take place in February/ March 2025 and will be run on zoom by various Partners.

What law fairs are Stevens & Bolton attending in 2024?

• Legal Cheek Virtual Law Fair - 3rd September

• University of Law National Law Fair - 11th September

• George Abbott School - 23rd October

• University of Reading - 30th October

• University of Surrey - 6th November

• University of Southampton - 13th November

• University of Exeter - 20th November

• InterLaw Diversity Student Lab - TBC

Who should I contact with any queries?

Please contact our Trainee team on Ask.LandD@stevens-bolton.com