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- Tasks: Support future Trainees and manage early careers processes in a dynamic HR team.
- Company: Join a leading firm in London, dedicated to developing future legal talent.
- Benefits: Gain hands-on experience, work in a collaborative environment, and develop your professional skills.
- Why this job: Be part of an exciting journey as we welcome our first Solicitor Apprentices in 2025!
- Qualifications: Enthusiasm, attention to detail, and a strong grasp of Microsoft Office are key.
- Other info: This is a 12-month fixed-term contract with opportunities for growth.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
ROLE OVERVIEW //
We are recruiting for an Early Careers Development Assistant to join the HR Department on a 12-month FTC.
The Early Careers Development Team is part of the HR Department and the wider Business Services function based at the firm’s head office in London. The Early Careers Development Team support future Trainees through law school and current Trainees with seat allocations, secondments and the qualification process. The Early Careers Development Team will welcome the firm’s first Solicitor Apprentices in September 2025, and will be instrumental in developing the programme.
The Early Careers Development Manager who reports into the Head of Employee Relations, manages three team-members: two Early Careers Development Advisers and the successful Early Careers Development Assistant.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES //
The key responsibilities of this role are set out below and there may be others which are not listed. You may be required on occasion to work outside our normal working hours of 9:30am to 5:30pm.
Future Joiners (Trainee Solicitors and Solicitor Apprentices):
- Organise and help present at future joiner events.
- Organise early careers induction materials and communicate starting details.
- Organise early careers onboarding.
- Help instruct and collate SQE assessments and booking materials as well as other law school related information.
- Share information and work with teams across the firm including the Early Careers Recruitment and Learning & Development team.
- Liaise with BPP as required on future joiners and help support ongoing relationship with provider.
Current Trainees:
- Support processes surrounding trainee secondments including: preparing application forms, booking in trainee meetings, collating feedback for all applicants, drafting secondment allocations and producing secondment paperwork as well as other similar duties.
- Book seat allocation meetings with 1st seat trainees. Prepare seat allocation forms and spreadsheets to support the process as well as updating relevant individuals. Help draft seat allocations.
- Assist with the administration for international secondments to best friend firms and coordinate the quarterly Brussels secondment process.
- Manage supervisor allocations, continuity partner and buddy programmes.
- Work with HR Systems team to ensure the trainee’s LeaP (online learning and performance system) and SelectHR records are accurate and correct throughout their training contract.
- Work with Global Mobility on onboarding trainees, and those with visas, and liaising with them throughout the secondment process.
- Assist with employee relations cases including but not exclusive to, health and well-being, absence and performance management.
- Help present at the biannual trainee induction sessions to the new trainees.
- Work with the Group Trainee Partners to ensure the trainee reviews are completed, raising any ad hoc group trainee issues and provide any relevant future qualifiers information when requested.
- Note take in Trainee Solicitor Committee meetings and other trainee meetings.
- Similar administrative support across trainee process and other ad hoc tasks as required.
Administration:
- Maintain up-to-date records of early careers’ seat history and to initiate and follow-up on reviews through email/LeaP and TCRs.
- Coordinate qualification leave; add to SelectHR and support the overall qualification process.
- Produce all associate contracts and upload to online signature page, working with other members of HR for updated wording. Create and send early careers paperwork in induction, and ensure completeness.
- Monitor and action tasks from the early careers mailboxes – take responsibility for tasks including: system updates, supervisor changes, reference requests and holiday, seat and training contract record queries. Escalate queries where necessary.
- Review early careers holidays and send holiday reminders at each seat rotation. Support holiday queries, calculations and annual carry forward processes.
- Review trainee intranet and seat selection brochure every 6 months to ensure information is up-to-date.
- Process early careers development related invoices and expenses.
Regulatory responsibilities and projects
- Good working knowledge on SRA requirements for early careers.
- Support Early Careers Development team with projects.
- Seek ways to develop processes and efficiencies within the early careers space.
CANDIDATE PROFILE //
Candidates for this position must have:
- Enthusiasm and a can do attitude
- The ability to manage processes autonomously to ensure all requirements and deadlines are met
- A high level of attention to detail, strong numeracy, and good use of grammar
- A hands-on approach to managing their own workload, using their own initiative
- The ability to multi-task and prioritise as appropriate
- A strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office (in particular Word and Excel)
- The highest standards of professional ethics and confidentiality
- Experience working within HR, ideally Early Careers
- Experience working in a corporate or professional services environment
- Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills
- Experience of working in a diverse team whilst fostering an inclusive team culture
Early Careers Development Assistant (12-month FTC) employer: Slaughter and May
Contact Detail:
Slaughter and May Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Early Careers Development Assistant (12-month FTC)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarize yourself with the key responsibilities of the Early Careers Development Assistant role. Understanding the specific tasks, such as organizing future joiner events and managing trainee secondments, will help you demonstrate your knowledge during the interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your enthusiasm for early careers development by researching current trends in trainee programs and apprenticeship models. This will allow you to engage in meaningful conversations with the team and show that you're proactive about the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Highlight any relevant experience you have in HR or working with early careers. Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've managed processes autonomously or contributed to team projects in a corporate environment.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel and Word. Consider bringing examples of how you've used these tools effectively in past roles, as this is crucial for managing records and documentation in this position.
We think you need these skills to ace Early Careers Development Assistant (12-month FTC)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in HR and early careers development. Emphasize any administrative roles or tasks you've handled, especially those that demonstrate your attention to detail and ability to manage processes autonomously.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for the role and the firm. Mention specific responsibilities from the job description that excite you, such as organizing future joiner events or supporting trainee secondments, and explain how your skills align with these tasks.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since excellent written communication is crucial for this role, ensure your application is free of grammatical errors and clearly structured. Use concise language and bullet points where appropriate to enhance readability.
Highlight Relevant Experience: If you have experience working in a corporate or professional services environment, make sure to highlight this in your application. Discuss any previous roles that involved managing multiple tasks or working within a diverse team, as these are key aspects of the position.
How to prepare for a job interview at Slaughter and May
✨Show Your Enthusiasm
Make sure to convey your enthusiasm for the role and the company during the interview. Share specific reasons why you are excited about supporting future Trainees and contributing to the Early Careers Development Team.
✨Demonstrate Attention to Detail
Since the role requires a high level of attention to detail, prepare examples from your past experiences where you successfully managed processes or projects with precision. Highlight how you ensured accuracy in documentation or communication.
✨Highlight Your HR Experience
If you have experience working within HR, especially in Early Careers, be ready to discuss it. Share specific tasks you handled, such as onboarding or managing trainee processes, and how they relate to the responsibilities of this role.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize effectively. Think of situations where you had to juggle various responsibilities and how you approached them to meet deadlines.
