Trainee solicitor experience

AnnabelleK

I'm currently studying for my fe1 exams. I'm hoping to start applying for a training contract next year. I'm just wondering is it better to apply to a small law firm? I would love to hear your experience working as a trainee solicitor and get advice whether I should apply to a small firm or the big ones in Dublin.

Coulter97

AnnabelleK wrote: »

I'm currently studying for my fe1 exams. I'm hoping to start applying for a training contract next year. I'm just wondering is it better to apply to a small law firm? I would love to hear your experience working as a trainee solicitor and get advice whether I should apply to a small firm or the big ones in Dublin.

The advantage with big firms is that you'll be taken care of very well: the salaries are top of the market, they'll pay for all of your fees, and there's a lot of support structures in place. They invest a lot of time and resources into grad recruitment. The downside is that you'll be working difficult hours. And the big firms are also very competitive and can be difficult to get into.

The advantage with small firms is that you're getting a wider range of issues and cases to deal with. You'll have a more hands-on approach, and get a very practical learning experience. The disadvantage is that you'll be struggling financially - you probably won't have your Blackhall fees paid and you'll get minimum wage most likely.

Sonrisa

It really depends on what type of law you would like to work in.

If you want to work in family law, criminal law or conveyancing, it's all well and good to train in Dublin and get the big money, but your training is unlikely to cover these areas or give you much practical experience.

If you want to work more on the corporate side, go for it.

There are medium sized firms that should be able to cover blackhall fees, even if the salaries won't be as high. Unfortunately I think things will be tight in a lot of firms next year, so things will probably be very competitive.

chunkylover4

Right now training in a bigger firm is probably a more realistic option unless you have some specific connection to a smaller firm. I have worked in a large multinational firm in the UK and a medium size specialist firm here and both have their merits, many of which have already been outlined. There are a lot of variables at play here.

chops018

I agree with the above posters. Training in the bigger firms will have you secure financially but you will be doing seats in areas like corporate, capital markets, funds, energy, etc. So not the traditional type of property deals or criminal law and family law type stuff. In saying that, you will be working for industry experts in those areas with top Irish and foreign companies as clients and exposure to work and deals that affect the country as a whole, and be well paid to do so. That type of experience is good in itself. People forget that and usually say that if you train in a top firm that you will be stuck to a photocopier. While that can be true you will also be exposed to good work. However, as mentioned, it is a certain type of work and so on qualifying you will probably be restricted to applying to big firms. Also, yes, the negatives are you will be working long hours.

I worked in a couple of small firms, then trained in a mid size firm. I then worked for a year where I qualified. Then I went in-house for a while and I am now back to private practice. The mid-size firm I trained in were very good and had about 20 Solicitors. They had department rotations - litigation, private client, commercial property and corporate. You were given decent work mostly and became involved but there was certain areas where you were just doing admin. My firm actually didn't pay well or for fees as it was at the end of the recession when I trained there. However, they started paying fees again and I have heard most mid-size firms pay fees.

I reckon a good mid-size firm is the best way to go as they should pay your fees and hopefully a bit more of a salary than a smaller firm and they usually do have a trainee programme so you're not just stuck doing a load of different areas and once and you can learn each area well. Also, mid size firms will see you dealing with regular people and also dealing with companies etc. so it is a good mix.

As above posters said, it all depends. You might have an offer from a small firm close to home and be happy to train there as you can stay at home and the small wages won't matter and you won't be doing long hours. However, you could go to a big firm and have a high salary and everything paid for and do long hours and save loads. Alternatively, find a decent paying mid-size firm with a trainee programme and you can then choose when you qualify if you want to go for a big firm working in corporate or if you're happy to stay with a mid-size firm.

Guy0012

Hi Everyone - I was wondering is it possible to get an idea on the average salary for the top firms in Dublin for trainees?

I am just about complete with my FE'1's and will be applying for traineeships soon. This is a career move for me rather than a first job and as I have years of working already I know I will have to take a hit to my salary, but trying to estimate how much.

chunkylover4

Some firms operate on a different basis and the average is perhaps a bit misleading but probably around 35-40k with ppc fees covered in my experience.

Guy0012 wrote: »

Hi Everyone - I was wondering is it possible to get an idea on the average salary for the top firms in Dublin for trainees?

I am just about complete with my FE'1's and will be applying for traineeships soon. This is a career move for me rather than a first job and as I have years of working already I know I will have to take a hit to my salary, but trying to estimate how much.

IgoPAP

chunkylover4 wrote: »

Some firms operate on a different basis and the average is perhaps a bit misleading but probably around 35-40k with ppc fees covered in my experience.

It's a big higher than that I'm pretty sure - around 40-45k for trainees, 65-70k on qualification.

chunkylover4

IgoPAP wrote: »

It's a big higher than that I'm pretty sure - around 40-45k for trainees, 65-70k on qualification.

Yes, I know of there firms at least who offer 70k post qualification, 35-40 is taken off Glassdoor but I know one firm (not too 6) but specialist who pay 50k for trainees

IgoPAP

chunkylover4 wrote: »

Yes, I know of there firms at least who offer 70k post qualification, 35-40 is taken off Glassdoor but I know one firm (not too 6) but specialist who pay 50k for trainees

Maples is not top 5 but it's known for having one of the highest trainee compensation packages. In any case, it really doesn't matter all that much - the big firms pay about the same give or take a few, what's more important is the culture of the firm and whether you like it or not. If you're able to get offers with the big firms you should be more concerned with the environment as they pay close to the same.

Lawbloke

There isn’t a single trainee in Ireland on 50k. 46k is the highest and that was before covid related pay cuts. Average is a lot closer to 40k now

rightytighty

Top 6 salaries are all 42/43k

20082014

Hi,

I have been offered a traineeship to start this coming September in what seems to be a small firm in Dublin city centre.

I have to pay the fees and will not be getting a salary from them while attending Blackhall this September to March. From March I will be getting the Law Society recommended salary.

Is this normal practice for a small sized firm in Dublin city? Any advice/info would be great!

Thanks!

Coulter97

Anybody know what the retention rate is going to be at the big firms now? Some of the firms like WF pride themselves on a close to 100% rate. That can't be case now. A lot of the UK firms are showing massive drops.

Diana_Diamond

Hi AnnabelK,

I have send you a private message.

Kind regards,

Diana

channing90

Diana_Diamond wrote: »

Hi AnnabelK,

I have send you a private message.

Kind regards,

Diana

Hi, I'd be very interested to hear thoughts and opinions from people, I have 6 fe1s passed to date and in the process of looking for a traineeship. Thanks in advance for any info.

hullaballoo

I suspect we may be looking at someone PMing people to advertise their paid products and or services.

Not so much "thoughts and opinions" as "please pay me to tell you what I think".

Legalfarmer89

My experience, is if you are not from Dublin do not move to Dublin to train in a small or small to medium boutique practice as the wages/blackhall expenses do not make the experience that enjoyable if you have to pay Dublin rents/living expenses on a smaller firms wage.

Bigger firms will(or so I am told) take care if you reasonably well financially and nearly all bar 2 or 3 are based in Dublin. If you want to get into Corporate/Banking/Funds you will have to train in a large firm. You may have to work longer hours in a bigger firm but they do for the most part take the seat rotations seriously so you will get experience in at least 3/4 different blocks of law, depending on what their departments are. Some Big firms are in a bit of a shock due to this Covid pandemic so I think that it could be competitive to get a traineeship, however I've worked in one before(as an intern) and long term it was not my thing!

I work in a boutique small to medium sized firm and the one disappointing aspect is I didn't get to experience the different seats as circumstances dictated that I was needed to work on the firms main business which I got great experience in and I am qualifying this November and feel that I probably didn't get to do enough work in different areas such as conveyancing(I got the bare bones training) which I am actually very interested in. Another thing I will say is it depends on the partner/solicitor you work for as well, for the most part you can get alot of autonomy in a smaller firm which is refreshing as long as you have an idea of what you are doing and as a Senior Counsel once said to me "you'll only learn something if you actually do it yourself"

If you go into a traineeship, particularly with a smaller form, go in with your eyes wide open!

Corplawtrainee

Lawbloke wrote: »

There isn’t a single trainee in Ireland on 50k. 46k is the highest and that was before covid related pay cuts. Average is a lot closer to 40k now

Yep, its up to 47k for the top 5. That said, the likes of Dechert, Pinsent Mason, Maples are 50K

ACGrad2023

Corplawtrainee wrote: »

Yep, its up to 47k for the top 5. That said, the likes of Dechert, Pinsent Mason, Maples are 50K

This is not true. Dechert, Pinsent Masons, and Maples all currently pay trainees less than 50k in year one and year two.

rightytighty

ACGrad2023 wrote: »

This is not true. Dechert, Pinsent Masons, and Maples all currently pay trainees less than 50k in year one and year two.

Dechert pay 50k in year two in fairness