Recruitment: more firms offering trainee places, course funding, and big starting salaries

Trainee vacancies and starting salaries for solicitors at leading business law firms are on the up, according to the annual GTI graduate trends survey.


The research - based on information provided by 75 medium-sized to large firms from across the country - showed the average number of trainee vacancies increased to 31 per firm, up two from the previous year. The average starting salary rose for the sixth consecutive year and now stands at £26,070.


At the same time. the average number of work experience placements offered rose from 39 to 46 per firm. They are now offered by 93% of the firms taking part - a rise from 77% the previous year.


In addition, 97% of the firms surveyed financed the legal practice course and 91% offered to finance trainees taking the common professional examination, up from 87% and 76% respectively.


GTI also surveyed 40 London and regional barristers' chambers, and found the average pupillage award had gone up from £24,686 last year to £29,538. There was also an increase in the number of sets offering awards and guaranteed earnings at the top end of the scale, with 50% offering more than £30,000.


The number of pupillages offered per set remained at three, unchanged from the previous year, and 97% of the chambers that took part offered mini-pupillages.


Olivia McKendrick, the partner responsible for recruitment at City firm Linklaters, said she was not surprised by the results.


'We have increased the number of vacation placements we offer in our London office to 100 a year, plus 15 for overseas students, and receive almost 3,000 applications for them,' she said.


Clare Harris, head of the graduate recruitment team at Lovells, said: 'Law firms are always recruiting for the future and more firms are making the financial commitment to provide work experience.'


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