Winckworth Sherwood LLP |
Winckworth Sherwood is a full-service, forward-thinking law firm with offices in London, Oxford and Manchester. We work with clients across a diverse range of sectors including real estate, social housing, education, charities, employment, ESG, parliamentary and infrastructure. Our culture is professional yet friendly, down-to-earth and highly collaborative. We focus on building long-term careers, not short-term competition.
Why Join Us as a Trainee?
Small Cohort, Real Responsibility
We recruit just eight trainees each year, meaning you are supported as an individual, not a number. From your first seat, you will take on meaningful work — including managing your own files under supervision — and work closely with partners and experienced solicitors.
Structured, High-Quality Training
You will complete four six-month seats across our practice areas, giving you breadth and the chance to explore your interests. Each trainee has a tailored training diary, plus mid-seat and end-of-seat reviews to help you set goals and track progression.
Business & Professional Development
Alongside legal training, we provide practical skills training in areas such as project management, networking, presentation skills and client development — preparing you to be a well-rounded, commercially aware solicitor.
Supportive, Inclusive Culture
Our values guide everything we do:
- Think – we are progressive, diverse and inclusive.
- Work – we support entrepreneurial thinking and vocational passion.
- Act – we foster respect, teamwork and positive intent.
We have an active equality, diversity and inclusion programme and are committed to creating a psychologically safe and supportive environment for all trainees.
More from Winckworth Sherwood
Who We’re Looking For
We welcome applications from candidates with strong academic ability, curiosity, commercial awareness and a collaborative mindset. You don’t need legal work experience to apply — we value transferable skills and diverse backgrounds.
Application Process
1. Online Application
All applications are reviewed by our Recruitment Manager using blind screening and contextualised recruitment to ensure fairness.
2. First Interview
Shortlisted candidates are invited to a first-stage interview via Microsoft Teams, Zoom or telephone.
3. Assessment Day (July)
Our Assessment Day includes:
- Individual and group tasks
- A short presentation
- Discussions with partners and lawyers
- Lunch and networking with current trainees
- An informal drinks session at the end of the day
We believe participation is key — we want to see how you think, communicate and interact.
4. Final Partner Interview
Candidates progressing from the Assessment Day attend a panel interview with partners.
Retention & Long-Term Careers
We invest heavily in our trainees and aim to retain as many as possible upon qualification. Many of our lawyers trained at the firm and have developed long-term careers with us.
Key Facts
- Offices: London (HQ), Oxford, Manchester
- Trainee Intake: 8
- Seat Structure: 4 x six-month seats
- Culture: Supportive, collaborative, inclusive
- Benefits: Strong responsibility early on, structured development, business skills training, approachable partners, high retention focus
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