At RPC, you can be you. In an environment that’s real. Strikingly real.

If you value character over conformity, the unique over the uniform, and ambition over apathy, let’s talk.

For us, success comes from building real-life relationships. Real-life relationships with our clients as much as our people. And it comes from thinking creatively to achieve the best commercial solutions. We thrive in an environment that’s collaborative, forward-thinking and where you’re free to express your personality. An environment that allows you to make the most of your strengths.

Our lawyers are market leaders. Our clients are often household names. And together we achieve award-winning results. Results that have seen RPC regularly voted amongst the best for commercial advice. 

Our business is built on mutual respect and trust. That’s where you come in. From day one, you’ll have contact with our Partners; you'll have contact with clients; and you'll be given real responsibility. As a Trainee, you could be assisting with large-scale global disputes, or offering business-critical commercial advice.

But you won't be left to fend for yourself, you’ll receive first-rate training. You'll be able to develop your skills and you'll be encouraged to use your creativity to solve complex problems. We're agile and flexible, and that's reflected in our approach to our Trainees. You can choose to spend time in a wide variety of practice areas supporting a range of dynamic sectors. And not just in London, with training contracts, placements and schemes on offer in Bristol, Hong Kong and Singapore, too.

We also offer alternative routes into law. No matter what stage you are in your life, our apprenticeship scheme in Bristol will help build the foundations of your career with the training and support you’ll need to excel. 

Our award-winning Summer Schemes are as much about you experiencing life with us, as us experiencing working with you. Over two weeks you'll get real exposure to real work in a real-life environment. Fully integrated into our teams, you'll get to know the people from the get-go. If you're just after a snapshot of life in our law firm, we also offer Insight Days where you can shadow, network, and experience our culture first hand.  What's more, all of our Summer Schemes and Insight Days can be delivered virtually.  You will experience the same RPC environment and culture, just online

So, if you’re a creative thinker who wants a career in a firm that values personality as much as professionalism, we want to hear from you.

London and Bristol 

As a Trainee, we believe you’ll deliver your best if you’re free to be you. And that means being able to ask questions openly, being supported to develop your strengths, and having the right opportunities to grow. Our physical offices are non-hierarchical and open plan. This means from day one you’ll be sitting close to a partner.  In our virtual office, we use video call and messaging technology to ensure support is available and to maintain our non-hierarchical culture. Whether you’re handling complex insurance claims, resolving large-scale global disputes, or providing commercial advice and transactional support, your opinions will be listened to and respected. 

We believe personal growth comes from being challenged. You’ll be given real responsibility throughout your training, but you’ll never be left to fend for yourself. Our training is award-winning. You’ll have a Supervising Partner and Associate to help you day to day, a mentor to show you the ropes, and a dedicated Trainee development team to support you. 

We also believe you’ll grow if you’re free to explore. At least six months will be spent in four different areas of our practice, so you can discover where you fit in the best. You may have an opportunity to be seconded to one of our clients as an in-house lawyer. This will give you the chance to form genuine relationships with the people behind the cases. Real people with lives away from their desks. You’ll use your personality to become more commercially aware and legally proficient. 

In addition, as an RPC Trainee you may get an opportunity to spend six months of your contract seconded to our Bristol, Hong Kong, London or Singapore offices depending on where you’re based.

London

Speed networking, meeting clients, pizza-making classes, attending court and hands-on real case experience. We’ll show you the real RPC during our Summer Schemes. And be warned, it’s pretty striking.  

You’ll be welcomed into our London office and given an opportunity to spend time getting to experience life in a unique law firm for yourself. It’s also our chance to get to know you and understand what you may be able to offer us. During these two weeks, you’ll be fully integrated into our teams, getting involved in projects and giving you a fantastic insight into whether a career at RPC is right for you.

What's more, our Summer Schemes can be delivered virtually.  You will experience the same RPC environment and culture, just online.

Areas of practice:

Banking & finance • banking & financial markets disputes • commercial litigation • corporate • corporate crime & investigations • corporate insurance • competition• corporate finance • data protection • employment • energy • financial services regulation • health, safety & environmental • restructuring and insolvency • insurance & reinsurance • intellectual property • IT • media • pensions & benefits • personal injury • product regulation • professional negligence • professional practices • real estate • regulatory • tax • technology • outsourcing • international trade and arbitration

Awards:

Our Trainees – and our training programme – have been consistently recognised for excellence, too, including winning Best Commercial Awareness Blog at the Legal Cheek Awards 2017 and Best Vacation Scheme – International or City Firm – All About Law Top Law Firms. In 2019 we were highly commended for Training Innovation at the Legal Week Innovation Awards as well as for Best Trainee Recruitment Campaign at the HR in Law Awards. This year we were shortlisted in Legal Cheek's Best Law Firms awards for peer support and partner approachability.

Funding (London)

Future RPC Trainees will complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Law (only if you are a non-law graduate) and the Masters in Legal Practice at the University of Law.  Bursaries are available for these courses, the SQE as well as maintenance grants up to £7,000.

Benefits 

Along with a competitive annual salary, you’ll be offered a creative and comprehensive package of benefits. 

We’re all unique. And that’s why RPC’s benefits package is, too. We respect we’re all real people with passions, families and lives away from our desks. So we offer you the chance to tailor your benefits, offering choice and flexibility to everyone who works here.  

Our benefits package covers almost everything, from wellness festivals and social events, to extra annual leave, and family and wealth-related rewards.

What do we look for in our trainees?

The recruitment process is important to us. We only hire Trainees who share our values in order to help grow our unique firm. 

Although proven academic ability is important (we require a 2.1 degree or above, not necessarily in law) we value personality, flexibility, energy, creative thinking, business sense, loyalty and diversity just as highly. 

If you're applying for a training contract in the UK, you’ll need high-grade GCSEs, three high-grade A-levels and a 2:1 degree awarded or predicted, or the equivalent qualifications.

Recruitment process

Recruitment for Bristol and London training contracts usually takes place in April and August respectively.  If you're shortlisted, you'll be invited to one of our assessment days during which you'll meet our existing Trainees, Associates, Legal Directors and Partners.  If successful following the assessment day, your training contract will start two years later.  Our assessment days can be run virtually.

So, if you’re a creative thinker who wants a career that values personality as much as professionalism, we want to hear from you.

Recruitment for our summer schemes usually takes place in January and February. If you’re shortlisted, you’ll be invited to one of our assessment days, during which you’ll meet our existing Trainees, Associates, Legal Directors and Partners. If successful following the summer scheme, your training contract will start two years later.  Our assessment days can be run virtually. 

Visit this link to find out more.