No two-year wait for firm’s Bristol trainees
RPC has bucked law’s graduate recruitment penchant for hiring years in advance, offering brand new training contracts in Bristol with a start date of September 2018.
This is thanks to the recent reinstatement of RPC’s Bristol training programme, which had been discontinued some years ago. Now, those who fancy starting at the global firm in just seven months’ time can now apply for two trainee positions at its insurance practice in Temple Circus. By contrast, students and graduates can currently apply for a training contract at RPC’s London office to begin in 2020 — the same year the new Bristol trainees will qualify.
This quick start date won’t be a fixture of RPC’s Bristol programme, however. Legal Cheek understands the firm plans to begin recruiting for its annual Bristol trainees two years in advance, subject to review. The focus for the moment is this year’s recruitment round.
Start date is just one difference between RPC’s London and new Bristol offering.
Additionally, West Country applicants must have completed the Legal Practice Course (LPC) by September 2018 and have achieved at least a commendation. This isn’t a requirement for London applicants. The firm will consider LPC reimbursement on a case-by-case basis.
Unsurprisingly, pay is different too. Bristol’s newbies will earn £35,000 in year one of their training contract and £36,000 in year two. London trainees make £38,000 in year one, rising to £41,000 in year two. The deadline for applications in Bristol is 3 April.
A spokesperson for the firm said:
“The Bristol training contract has been reinstated to provide trainee level resource for the growing office as an integral part of our plans to establish an organic pipeline of high-quality junior talent into Temple Circus. It will run alongside the apprenticeship programme to which we are currently recruiting.”
RPC — which scored A*s and As across the board in the Legal Cheek Trainee and Junior Lawyer Survey — is one of many firms with a presence in Bristol. Burges Salmon, CMS, Osborne Clarke and TLT are also on the list.
Just weeks ago, Legal Cheek reported that Simmons & Simmons had near doubled the size of its Bristol office, while Clyde & Co will be opening an office in the South West city soon too.