UK Student Careers - PwC Legal

What we do

PwC Legal LLP is an independent member of the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) international network of firms. Based in London, we have more than 20 partners and employ over 150 people. As well as project-based, specialist legal advice, we offer our clients ongoing general counsel support; and our alignment with PwC makes us unique in our ability to provide seamless, multi-disciplinary advice.

As we’re part of the PwC network, we can call upon the firm’s specialists when we need to offer complete, rounded solutions for clients. We often work with PwC tax advisers, human capital consultants, corporate finance and financial services experts, actuaries, management consultants and, of course, accountants. What’s more, we have access to legal expertise in over 70 countries and immigration expertise in over 112 countries.

Thanks to such resources, we’re able to deliver a superior client experience and more than just legal services. Currently these services include:

• banking
• corporate restructuring
• commercial contracts
• company secretarial
• mergers and acquisitions
• employment
• environment
• financial services
• intellectual property
• information technology
• immigration
• litigation
• pensions
• private client
• real estate

What you'll do

As a trainee solicitor, you’ll enjoy exposure to client work and the chance to take on early responsibility. You will play an integral part of the team you join, taking a hands-on approach to projects making a valuable contribution. If that sounds daunting, don’t worry. Our constant coaching, development and support means you‘ll never feel like you’re on your own.

Although your practical experience will differ in each practice group, you’ll always play a key role, working closely with the partners and assistant solicitors. Along the way, you’ll hone strong business advisory skills including networking, client relationship development and negotiation skills. Whether clients need general legal advice or complex legal and commercial expertise, you’ll think laterally, gain practical experience and help us deliver creative solutions.

In the process, you’ll become a top lawyer in one of the following practice groups:

• Banking
• Corporate
• Employment
• Financial Services
• Immigration
• Intellectual Property
• Litigation
• Private Client
• Pensions
• Real Estate

Our Culture

Life at PwC Legal can be demanding and challenging. We believe in working hard as part of a team and, above all, in enjoying what we do. There will be times when you have to work late or are under pressure to help your team complete a deal, or prepare for a proposal or last minute client presentation. However, our strong support network means there’s always someone you can ask for help or advice. Our open-plan office fosters a friendly, collaborative atmosphere and avoids the hierarchical arrangements found in so many other law firms. As a result, our working atmosphere is relaxed as well as highly professional.

We also do all we can to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance and offer many activities that encourage a busy social life. As well as monthly drinks, we organise activities like regular football and netball matches, and have an active social committee.

Training & Development

We believe in providing an exceptional personal experience through technical learning, feedback and coaching. Our extensive training and development programme boosts your legal expertise by combining a broad range of work with a wide variety of challenges. Your legal training contract is divided into four periods (or seats) of six months. Although two – corporate and litigation – are mandatory, we’ll do our best to give you your choice of the remaining two.

Our development programme includes:

• A thorough induction covering our firm strategy, core practice groups, client care and time management skills, and IT, research and admin. You are also given the opportunity to network with other PwC graduates and start building your internal network across the business.
• Support to gain professional qualification – you’ll take the core modules of the Professional Skills Course (PSC) during your second seat, normally via the Fast Track course at The College of Law.
• A range of electives modules for the PSC during your fourth seat – all your own preferences
• Extensive internal training, including technical seminars and soft skills courses, to develop your legal knowledge, business, management and interpersonal skills.
• Your own mentor from among our third or fourth seat trainees who will be there to guide you right from the start
• Continuous feedback from your supervisor – either a partner or an assistant solicitor – who will monitor and assess the quality of your work and make sure you get a broad spectrum of experience.
• Regular appraisals to set objectives and assess your progress, giving you tips and guidance along the way
• Exceptional prospects as you develop along a path shaped to fit with your goals as well as the ever-changing needs of our business. Throughout your training contract, and when you qualify, you’ll take on more responsibility and extend your client network and technical expertise. What’s more, PwC Legal has big growth plans for the next four years – and joining us now will put you in an ideal position to grow with us.

If we accept you for a legal training contract, you can apply for a scholarship award to help with the costs of the Graduate Diploma in Law Course and the Legal Practice Course. If successful, we’ll pay your course and examination fees, and contribute substantially towards your living expenses. We make the payments in three equal instalments.

For the 2010/ 2011 academic year we’ll pay the following:

• Graduate Diploma of Law (GDL) – £6,000 plus fees
• Legal Practice Course (LPC) – £7,000 plus fees

Summer Vacation Scheme

This three-week scheme for trainee solicitors runs in June / July and will help you decide whether a career with PwC Legal is right for you. You’ll experience three different practice groups, carry out research, draft legal documents and attend client meetings. You’ll also work on a case study at the end of your placement. Do well and you’ll qualify for a graduate training contract.

About you

Our people make us stand out as a firm. So we look for ambitious, motivated individuals with the drive to become the top lawyers and company secretaries of the future. Then we invest heavily in them.

We recruit two years in advance for trainee solicitors and therefore focus on penultimate year law students and final year non-law students. As well as at least a 320 UCAS tariff or equivalent plus a keen interest in business law, you’ll need to have, or be on track for, at least a 2:1.

You must also be a lateral thinker who thrives on challenge and enjoys coming up with up new and innovative solutions to complex problems.

If you want to work for a fast-growing firm and capitalise on a unique opportunity develop both professional and commercial skills, apply now.

Next steps

• View all PwC Legal vacancies