“If you demonstrate a willingness to learn, proactivity and interest in the area then you are encouraged to take a more prominent role in client-facing situations.”
From the moment you accept a training contract offer, you’ll begin a structured development journey with Osborne Clarke. Alongside your SQE preparation and examinations with BPP, you’ll be invited to join our 'Ready for Success' programme – a two year pre joining programme designed to keep you connected with the firm, build your commercial awareness and help you transition smoothly into life as a trainee. Through a mix of touchpoints such as firm events, skills sessions and regular contact with our Future Lawyer team, you’ll start to get to know our people, our work and the opportunities available.
When you join the firm, you’ll embark on two years of placements across our different practice areas. We structure your training so that you gain broad experience across the full range of work we do, with an expectation that you will complete at least one seat in each of the following areas: transactional, disputes and regulatory. This will ensure that you build the foundations you’ll need as a future OC associate.
You will be able to express your seat preferences as you progress through your training, and we encourage you to be as open as possible about the areas that interest you.
You will also receive regular reviews throughout your period of training. These conversations give you the chance to reflect on what you’ve enjoyed, discuss what comes next and understand what you need to do to get there. By the time you reach qualification, you’ll have experienced a variety of work, understood where your strengths lie and be prepared – and inspired – to take the next step in your career.
And it doesn’t stop at qualification. Unlike many training programmes, ours extends into your first year as a qualified associate. You’ll continue to receive support to develop your technical and client skills, grow your internal and external networks and, where possible, experience opportunities such as secondments. Our aim is to give you a clear, structured framework for your development, while still leaving room for you to shape your own path within the firm.
The OC difference lies with our people. So we don’t just make sure our future lawyers have all the legal and technical training to succeed – we care about their personal needs, too. That means:
“I am passionate about our training and early career development. It is my mission to ensure that Osborne Clarke offers all our Future Lawyers every opportunity to flourish here for many years to come. As a firm, we are proud that many of our partners began their careers as trainees here...” Marc Shrimpling, Training Principal
New experiences
One of the most rewarding experiences both personally and for your career is going on secondment, either to a client or to one of our international locations. It’s the fastest and most exciting route to growing your network while building industry, sector and client insight and experience. You’ll have the opportunity to experience a secondment either during your first two years, or after qualification.
Innovation
Whether you start out with an interest in legal tech, or go on to develop one, we encourage you to consider a seat with OC Solutions as part of your training contract. At the forefront of innovation in our industry, the team focuses on providing our clients and lawyers with digital solutions that will help revolutionise the way they work.
Making an impact
Our role as good corporate citizens is central to who we are as a firm. It’s also fundamental to your growth both as a lawyer and as an individual. From the day you start at Osborne Clarke you’ll be an integral part of our CSR and D&I committees, giving you the chance to have an active role in improving life at the firm, in our communities and the world at large. We allocate more hours to CSR activities than many of our peers, and we’re proud of what our people have achieved through pro-bono work, fundraising and making Osborne Clarke a more diverse and inclusive place to work.
Bristol is a thriving city and one of the most vibrant legal centres outside of London. From our Bristol office we advise national and international clients, as well as the high-growth and entrepreneurial businesses that are putting the South West on the map. Our Bristol team includes some of our key corporate, commercial and litigation Partners, as well as specialist teams in areas like pensions, tax and residential development.
From mid-2023 our Bristol office has been housed in the brand new Halo building in the buzzing Finzels Reach area of the city. Halo has been certified by BREEAM as Outstanding – the first building in the UK to attain this certification. With energy coming from renewable sources like solar panels, and innovative water and heat saving technology throughout, Halo is is one of the UK’s most sustainable office buildings. While working in the office you’ll be able to enjoy green spaces throughout, excellent cycle facilities that include changing areas and showers, and beautiful in-house yoga and spin studios.
Competitive in the Bristol market, in your first year you will receive £50,500 p.a., rising to £52,500 p.a. in your second year, and to £76,000 once qualified.
Bristol trainees have been able to complete placements in up to four of the following areas:
Bristol is where Osborne Clarke was founded, and one of our early clients was Isambard Kingdom Brunel. We acted as legal advisors to Brunel on the construction of the Suspension Bridge and the Great Western Railway. There’s always something happening at our Bristol office, from our legal battle of the bands in aid of our location charity, to informal team evenings in one of Bristol’s many great bars and restaurants.
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