Law Graduate Jobs – Training the firm’s future lawyers
Senior Partner, Tim Bishop, and 3 recent members of our Accelerated Development Programme
Here at Bonallack & Bishop, we are really proud of our programme for trainee law graduate paralegals.
In general we have two levels of paralegals.
- New law graduate paralegals – these entry level law degree or LPC graduates automatically form part of our Accelerated Development Programme. The purpose of the programme is to provide more structured training and development for our paralegals, with the intention of bringing them on as our future lawyers, and to do so quickly.
- More experienced paralegals – we are always interested in talking to you, if you are an existing paralegal with some good experience who feels frustrated by a lack of likely career progression at your current law firm
When selecting paralegals for either of these two positions, wherever possible, we choose candidates who live near to our 4 offices in Wiltshire and Hampshire.
Bonallack & Bishop | Salisbury | Fordingbridge | Andover | Amesbury
Click here to visit our legal jobs page with up-to-date details of any current paralegal vacancies
Why did we design this Programme?
Simple. We decided we needed a strong drive for new local talent through excellence because we are growing so rapidly and want to get the right people on board.
Our law graduate scheme is designed to identify, assess and train the firm’s next generation of lawyers.
We strongly believe that the right people are our most important asset. As a result, provided provided you have a law degree or LPC qualification, when recruiting we put greater weight on values, character and talent – and that, in contrast, skills and knowledge can be taught.
Too few real opportunities for a legal career – too many McJobs
According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency, over 80,000 students enrolled to study a law degree in the UK each year. In contrast, for example, the annual number of training contracts offered vary between 5,000 and 6,000.
As a result, far too many of those lawn graduates who want a legal job, end up with a paralegal position offering no realistic chance of progression. We don’t think that’s fair.
Our Accelerated Development Programme – Training and Development – Investing in Your Future
At Bonallack & Bishop, we believe that investing in our people is one of the best investments we can make. That’s why we’re developing our own comprehensive in-house video training programmes, designed to help our paralegals build their knowledge, develop their confidence and progress in their careers. Our structured training covers three key areas: legal knowledge and practical procedures, legal software and technology, and essential soft skills and professional ethics. The programmes combine short, accessible video lessons with knowledge checks and practical exercises, allowing our team to learn at their own pace and revisit important topics whenever they need to.
aaOur first legal training programme, covering Wills And consisting of 20 modules , is already in production, with a second programme on Lasting Powers of Attorney currently being developed.
We’ve also started producing videos covering professional skills and ethics, including effective communication, client care and good working practices. These are just the beginning of a growing library of training resources that will support our paralegals throughout their time with us. Whether you’re relatively new to legal work or already have considerable experience, our aim is to give you the tools, knowledge and support to become even better at what you do.
Future professional training?
Although we welcome candidates with practical experience, these entry level jobs are suitable for law graduates with no substantive law firm experience. And here’s how we support our graduate paralegals in their growth into our next generation of lawyers.
- Those who succeed on the programme will be supported by us in further education. This could mean paying for their College Of Law education (if they choose to do this course while continuing working with us) or CILEX.
- Equally if candidates choose to conduct their solicitors qualifying exams full-time, for the successful candidate, we are happy to discuss the possibility of keeping a job open for their return at the end of the course – we have just done that with one of those on the programme.
- Trainee contracts and trainee legal executive contracts are also potentially available for those who succeed on the scheme. In the last 12 months, for example, we have offered 3 training contracts.
But don’t just take our word for it.
Here’s what Jake, 1 of our 1st intake on the programme in our 2018 intake, and who qualified as a solicitor in 2022, remaining with us post qualification says:
“The Accelerated Development Programme is a sure-fire way for graduates to kick start their legal career in a truly meaningful role.
The firm are really supportive and passionate about developing their junior staff from your first day. The firm allows paralegals to develop and grow in their role as far as their ambition takes them.
Within 8 months I was already taking on files in my own name and have now developed my own case load; this is a great credit to both the training the firm provides as well as the faith they place in their junior members of staff. The firm also offered me a training contract within 8 months of me starting, which I am looking forward to starting this year.
The continued personal involvement of Tim, the senior partner of the firm, really shows the important the firm places on paralegals”
JAKE HOLMES