Humphries Kirk is committed to the training of solicitors and many of the solicitors working for the firm have come through its training programme.  We would normally expect to take on one new trainee in the Autumn of each year.  However next year is an exception because we have trainees qualifying in Spring 2011 so we will be looking to recruit at least one trainee to start at that time and are currently taking applications for that position as well as for Autumn 2011.

Applications for Spring 2011 should be received before 30th September 2010 and for Autumn 2011 before 31st December 2010.

After their initial induction, trainees will often spend their first seat working with our commercial team where they will gain experience in many different areas including company/commercial/construction/employment/commercial litigation and international law.

Subsequent seats (each will usually last for a period of up to six months) will give experience in the core areas of land (commercial and residential), private client (including wills, probate and trusts) and litigation (civil, commercial and possibly personal injury and family). 

Towards the end of the traditional two year training programme discussions will take place both internally and with the trainee to see what area of law the trainee would like to practice in after qualification and to see if the firm has a position to offer the trainee. If a position is offered and accepted then it would be usual for the trainee to return to the particular department in which they are going to practice after qualification so that they have an opportunity to prepare and “hit the ground running”.

The training supervisor will oversee the individual training programme but work will be supervised by different people in different departments around the firm. 

As a firm with six principal offices throughout Dorset, trainees should expect to work in several of these offices during the training programme.  We would also expect the trainees to visit our consulting rooms in Yeovil and London and there may be an opportunity for trainees to visit and possibly work with one of the international firms of lawyers with whom we are associated. 

At Humphries Kirk we believe in involving trainees in all of our business which may include on the one hand producing a perfect photocopy of a document and on the other hand attending meetings on their own with clients and even running small matters themselves but under the direct supervision and guidance of a qualified solicitor.  We do not believe that trainee solicitors are there to be dogsbodies doing boring and repetitive work.  They are an important part of the team and will be given experience and responsibility appropriate to their particular skills and knowledge at the time.  We also encourage our trainees to get involved in the some of the charity and community work we do.

Our investment in the training programme is significant but we believe that trainees who come to Humphries Kirk are also investing their future in us and we are proud that so many of our trainees have remained with us after qualification as solicitors.  Many have gone on to hold senior positions in our firm.

If you want to live in a beautiful part of the country, completely committed to the law and are prepared to work hard then write to:-

Darrell Stuart-Smith (Training Partner)
Humphries Kirk LLP
40 High West Street
Dorchester
DT1 1UR

Email: dss@hklaw.eu
Tel: 01305 251007