Lisa McLaughlin

The Belfast office launched training contract opportunities to internal candidates in 2012 and, to date, has supported 33 Belfast-based candidates to qualify as solicitors in England and Wales.

This year, 10 years on from its inception, ALT is expanding the programme by increasing the overall number of trainee solicitor positions available and welcoming direct applications from external candidates for the first time.

Lisa McLaughlin, managing partner for the Belfast office, said: “We are extremely proud to launch our refreshed ALT Belfast trainee solicitor programme.

“We welcome candidates who have a desire to be part of a firm that is at the forefront of the future of law – combining cutting-edge technology with expert legal talent.

“We want to ensure that we continue to recruit candidates with diverse interests and experience, and that we continue to attract top talent to drive the ongoing success of both ALT and the wider firm.”

The programme will comprise a rotation of four seats within the Belfast office, covering practice areas such as disputes, corporate, funds, finance and banking, real estate and construction, and employment, with trainees also offered the opportunity to complete a seat in the firm’s London office if they wish to.

Trainees will complete the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) learning programme on a part-time basis during their second, third and fourth seats, and on completion of the programme, will become England and Wales-qualified solicitors.

The programme is open for applications from final year law students, or those who have already completed their law degree. Applications to commence the training programme in September 2023 should be submitted between 20 September and 18 October 2022.

More information is available from the Herbert Smith Freehills website.