Gouldens has a unique training
system. Other firms run a rotational system of, usually, four seats
of six months in different departments. Our non-rotational training
system is designed to give you freedom, flexibility and
responsibility from the start.
You will have your own office and work with different departments at the same time. This means that nobody owns you and that you can compare and contrast the different disciplines alongside one another. You don't have to compare your final seat with your first seat after an 18 month gap. Any number of departments will work on a particular transaction. Because we don't pigeon hole you as a trainee, you can assist on, say, both the corporate and property aspects of a transaction and
learn how they inter-relate.
Transactions don't fit in to neat six month slots and at Gouldens you won't miss the end of a deal because you have moved departments: you will always see the transaction through.
Various structures are in place to underpin the freedom and flexibility of the system. Each trainee has a senior lawyer as a mentor. Review sessions take place each month when trainees discuss the work they are doing and the work they want to do. We run a structured training programme with weekly seminars and you will also, of course, receive thorough practical training and feedback from all the assistants and partners you are working with.
Your learning curve will be steadily upwards throughout the two years as you build relationships with colleagues and
clients. You won't go back to square one every six months. We will give you responsibility early on and your contribution will make a difference.
We want dynamic lawyers who know their own mind and so you will be encouraged to be proactive from the start and to let us know what you want from your training.
