Non-rotational seats and advisory instead of transactional firms

[TCinpipeline]

Hi - are Jones Day and Kennedys (I think!) the only firms that do non-rotational TCs?
How should one approach a training contract with having an interest in doing advisory instead of transactional seats? I know we need to explore both as our skills could develop more in both however, having worked in transactional practice areas at law firms, I know for certain that transactional is not for me.

Thank you.

 

[Deleted member 3712]

You might be interested to read this page from Burges Salmon which details that apart from one compulsory dispute resolution seat in a six-seat system, you can pick many advisory seats, returning to the same type of work (advisory) as the author did:

Advisory work: training contract seats in pensions and private client | Trainee Blog

If you want intellectual stimulation every day then advisory work may be for you. Solicitor Hugo Holmes reviews his seats in pensions and private client.

www.burges-salmon.com

 

[Deleted member 3712]

Here's a link to all the training contract seats offered at various firms

What seats do firms offer? - Chambers Student Guide

The student’s guide to careers in the law. Gives the truth about law firms and the Bar. Based on thousands of interviews with trainees, pupils and market sources, this site offers the full package of careers advice to anyone entering the legal profession.

www.chambersstudent.co.uk

If you look at 'personal', 'insurance' and 'financial regulation' for example, that should help get a sense for some advisory seats!

 

[Jessica Booker]

I'm not an expert because I'm currently applying for vacation schemes but isn't it an SRA requirement to do a transactional seat? If someone else can help out that would be useful as I don't know the exact details myself. Are you also against contentious seats? If it were me I would apply to firms with transactional seats anyway but really push for and describe in detail my interest in my written application for working in advisory. Then hopefully you can elaborate further on this desire in your interview but say you'd be open to a transactional seat because you understand the broad nature of the TC. And then if you get a TC offer I would ask grad rec if it's possible for them to guarantee I could sit in advisory. Then I would try to qualify in advisory while at the firm and if not, prepare for that possibility by researching opportunities at other firms a few months in advance before finishing the TC.

It isn’t a SRA requirement to do a transactional seat. You just have to see three distinct areas of law (under the old LPC training system) but they could be all in advisory or contentious areas if you wanted.