Commercial solicitor: Typical employers/vacancy sources

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Typical employers
Sources of vacancies

Typical employers

Most opportunities for commercial solicitors are with large international and national law firms. Many of these firms are recognised for having particular expertise in fields such as finance, employment, media, shipping, etc. Most are based in London, but there are also a large number in major city centres throughout the country. These firms often have considerable networks of offices worldwide and may offer opportunities overseas for qualified solicitors. It is these large firms that typically offer training contracts that include sponsorship for the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and sometimes the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL).

Increasingly, a number of smaller regional firms are offering training contracts within their growing commercial departments. Not all of these firms offer sponsorship, and they frequently respond to speculative applications rather than advertise in the standard directories of contracts. Because they do not have such a predictable turnover of staff, they may also advertise nearer the time of appointment rather than two years in advance, as is often the case with large firms.

A number of large companies recruit solicitors for their in-house legal departments. They look for solicitors who are both qualified and experienced in a specialist area, but there are some large corporations that recruit trainees and train them as commercial solicitors in this environment.