There can be a long gap between accepting a training contract with Linklaters and actually starting work with us but you're part of our team from the very beginning, so we'll try to make sure you feel a strong sense of belonging from the start. Our Trainee Development Team will work with you from when you're recruited to when you qualify, supporting, encouraging and helping you to become the lawyer you want to be.
For those who are studying for the GDL, around halfway through the academic year we'll invite you to Silk Street for a presentation with partners, followed by a lunch. The LPC Integration Programme keeps you in touch with the firm while you study for the Linklaters LPC at the College of Law, London. You'll also benefit from presentations on the various practice areas and regular updates on developments within the firm. There will be business briefings and social events. And we'll also provide opportunities to meet and mix with a range of Linklaters people, so that you can ask questions and begin to build networks within the firm.
The liaison programme will make you feel part of the team, but it will also help you to start planning your future with Linklaters. The transition from study to commercial practice will be much smoother, because you will already be familiar with many aspects of the firm. And the Trainee Development Team is always there to help. We can advise you with everything from what to do if ill health threatens your exam results to choosing your first seat.
When you start work with us, you will join the three-week global induction programme which includes the obligatory SRA Professional Skills Courses. We use interactive exercises based on real practice areas to develop further the core skills you've already been introduced to on the LPC, such as drafting and client management. Alongside the syllabus laid down by the SRA, we'll also give you a detailed introduction to the systems and structures of the firm. By the time you start work, you'll know your way around and you should feel right at home.