FAQs

 I have mitigating circumstances that impacted my studies. Can I share these with DWF?

I'm worried that my A-Levels or Scottish Highers won't meet the entry requirement for the trainee solicitor roles. Should I still apply?

We made the decision to remove our A-Level and Scottish Highers criteria in 2020 for our trainee solicitor roles, so we now look at your academics in the context that you gained them using REALrating. The only academics that we will consider going forward is a 2:1 law degree. If you have not gained a 2:1, we welcome your application and it will be reviewed in full, considering any relevant mitigating circumstances. If you are a non-law graduate, then we will look for a LPC or PGDL (England) or an accelerated LLB or Diploma in Professional Legal Practice (Scotland). 

I haven't been able to gain any legal experience. Will that go against me? 

At DWF we do not penalise candidates who have not yet gained any legal work experience. We encourage you to list details of any non-legal work experience, which can include part-time, volunteering, charity work or events where you have gone through a selection process to attend. 

I didn't study in the UK, do you have any tips on how I can enter my academics? 

Please list your qualifications as they are within the application form and we will be able to consider how they apply to our entry requirements. It is helpful if you can provide as much information as possible about your qualification.    

I will require some adjustments throughout the recruitment process. How can I flag these? 

Please flag these directly onto your application form. Each individual may have different requirements so at some stages, we may ask you to re-confirm what adjustments you would need for that application stage. Please ensure that you confirm these promptly so that we can ensure they are in place for you.  

I'm looking for a career within a law firm but don't want to commence a legal career. Do I have any options at DWF?

Our non-legal apprenticeships and business services graduate schemes will be the best options for you. For more information on whether these programmes are live and accepting applications, please visit the page directly.

I am worried about funding for postgraduate qualifications. Will DWF support with this? 

DWF will pay the course fees for the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (England), Diploma (Scotland) and the Institute of Professional Legal Studies (Northern Ireland). In each of these offices, successful applicants will also be offered additional financial support, which depends on the structure of the course. 

For example, in England and Northern Ireland this would be an apprenticeship and therefore candidates will receive a monthly wage which covers the in-office training and periods of full-time study. 

How soon will I hear back from the point of submitting my application?

We do not recruit on a rolling basis for any of our programmes, so you will not receive an update until after the application deadline. After the deadline, we kindly request that you allow 14 working days for us to screen the remainder of applications before you approach the team for an update. 

I've noticed a mistake on my application form. Can I amend this? 

Unfortunately it's not possible to make changes to an application form once submitted. However you can log in to your Apply4Law account and add supplementary information which will be considered if it is available prior to your application being screened. 

What is the trainee salary if successful? 

Our salaries vary by office. Please see a list of our most up-to-date first year trainee solicitor salaries below: 

• Belfast: £21,255
• Scotland: £26,000
• Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle: £26,000
• London: £38,000 

For our apprenticeship opportunities, the salary will be Real Living Wage which is currently £23,400 based off a 37.5 hour week. Apprentices in our London office would receive London Living Wage which is a separate higher rate. 

If I'm unsuccessful, can I request feedback? 

We will provide feedback for those who joined us on the Vacation Scheme and were unsuccessful in obtaining a Training Contract. Unfortunately we are unable to provide feedback prior to this stage.  

In England, you will study full-time for the SQE1 in the first year. Once you pass, you will begin your two-year practical experience with the firm, during which you will start the SQE2. If you haven't enrolled and started studying the SQE at the point of offer, we will fund this for you. 
In Scotland, you must complete the Diploma before beginning your two-year practical experience with DWF. In both jurisdictions, the practical period will be divided into four seats, each lasting six months. 

The SQE is also now an option based at the Belfast office, qualifying for England and Wales. For our IPLS Belfast Training Contract, applicants must must be successful in obtaining a place at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies (IPLS) and will study this alongside their two year practical experience.

Our application deadlines can vary. For all of our application deadlines, please visit the application portal.