Trainees & apprentices

Your journey in law begins here. At Ward Hadaway, we are committed to nurturing the next generation of legal talent through comprehensive training, hands-on experience, and unwavering support.

A comprehensive training program

For trainees, our two-year training contract is designed to give you a broad and balanced foundation in law. You’ll complete four six-month seats across key departments, gaining exposure to areas such as Corporate, Commercial, Dispute Resolution, and Real Estate. With opportunities for client secondments, you’ll also experience the inner workings of in-house legal teams, enhancing your understanding of client needs.

Apprentices can look forward to a structured six-year program that combines academic learning with practical experience. By the end of your apprenticeship, you’ll have a qualifying law degree and six years of hands-on legal experience, culminating in solicitor qualification.

Support every step of the way

We understand that starting your legal career can be daunting. That’s why we provide a two-week induction program to help you settle in, a dedicated buddy system to guide you, and regular feedback to ensure your development stays on track. Our experienced supervisors are always on hand to offer advice, share insights, and support your growth.

Opportunities to thrive

You’ll have access to a range of soft skills development programs, legislation update seminars, and networking opportunities. Our goal is to equip you with the skills, confidence, and knowledge to excel in your legal career.

A responsible firm

Our commitment to sustainability, social value, wellbeing and equality, diversity, and inclusion is reflected in everything we do. By joining us, you’ll be part of a firm that not only delivers excellence to clients but also contributes positively to society.

A culture of inclusion and respect

As a trainee or apprentice, you’ll be welcomed into a supportive and inclusive culture where your contributions are valued, and your voice is heard. From wellbeing initiatives to social events, we ensure that your experience is both rewarding and enjoyable.

You can read more about us in law.careers.net and the Chambers student guide.

Start your legal career with a firm that’s as committed to your future as you are.

At Ward Hadaway, we believe in investing in our people.

We are passionate about helping our people to fulfil their potential and grow their careers with the firm. This is why we ensure that the training experience is rich and rewarding for each of our junior lawyers, with a focus on allowing our people to develop successful, fulfilling careers in the law.

We are members of The Sustainable Recruitment Alliance and we make sure the impact on the environment during our search for early talent is minimised.  As such we are very proud to have won the 2022 Award for Sustainability in Early Talent Recruitment. The Sustainable Recruitment Alliance have also written about our win, which you can read about here.