Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Support future Trainees and manage onboarding processes in a dynamic HR team.
- Company: Join Slaughter and May, a leading law firm known for its commitment to excellence.
- Benefits: Gain valuable experience in HR while working in a collaborative and inclusive environment.
- Why this job: Be part of shaping the future of legal careers with exciting projects and events.
- Qualifications: Enthusiasm, attention to detail, and strong communication skills are essential.
- Other info: This is a 12-month fixed-term contract based in London.
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
Slaughter and May | 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 Slaughter and May | 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 in your conversations. Highlight any relevant experiences or initiatives you've been involved in that align with supporting trainees and apprentices, as this will resonate well with our team.
✨Tip Number 3
Network with current or former employees in HR or early careers roles. They can provide valuable insights into the company culture and expectations, which can help you tailor your approach when applying.
✨Tip Number 4
Demonstrate your organizational skills by preparing a mock schedule or plan for managing trainee onboarding processes. This practical example can illustrate your ability to handle multiple tasks and prioritize effectively, which is crucial for this role.
We think you need these skills to ace Slaughter and May | 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 Strong 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 and explain how your skills align with them. Use clear and professional language to showcase your written communication skills.
Highlight Relevant Skills: Clearly outline your proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel, as these are crucial for the role. Provide examples of how you've used these tools in previous positions to manage data or create documents.
Showcase Teamwork and Inclusivity: Since the role involves working within a diverse team, include examples of how you've contributed to an inclusive team culture in past experiences. This could be through collaboration on projects or supporting colleagues from different backgrounds.
How to prepare for a job interview at Slaughter and May
✨Show Your Enthusiasm
Make sure to express your enthusiasm for the role and the company during the interview. Highlight your passion for supporting early careers and how you can contribute to the team's success.
✨Demonstrate Attention to Detail
Prepare examples that showcase your attention to detail, especially in administrative tasks. Discuss any experiences where your meticulousness led to successful outcomes, particularly in HR or similar environments.
✨Highlight Your Organizational Skills
Be ready to discuss how you manage multiple tasks and deadlines. Share specific strategies or tools you use to stay organized, as this role requires strong multitasking abilities.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Anticipate scenario-based questions related to managing trainee processes or handling employee relations cases. Think through how you would approach these situations, demonstrating your problem-solving skills and initiative.
