Womble Bond Dickinson UK LLP - True Picture

Delivering the services our clients need most is what drives us, and our energy and determination to provide the best possible legal advice means that we’re a forward-thinking practice open to innovative ideas and new ways of working.

How do we make this happen? Our lawyers and professionals share ambitions, common values and a flexible working style that combines with strong personal connections to deliver outstanding levels of client service across every office, every day.

Collaborating is second nature to us – and by working together we explore new ways to better serve our clients, whether that’s using technology to drive practice innovations, or investing in our people to make sure we can continue to deliver the high quality, cost-effective, and personal service that our clients rely on us for.

We always put ourselves in our clients’ shoes and ask the right questions so that we can really understand and anticipate their needs. That’s why we look for trainees who take the time to listen and who want to work for a firm where integrity and reliability matter every bit as much as insight and legal expertise.

We focus on twelve key sectors (Public, Government and Third Sector; Technology, Healthcare; Insurance, Manufacturing; Real Estate; Retail and Consumer; Transport, Logistics & Infrastructure; Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences; Technology and Private Wealth).

Our clients include Nissan, HSBC, Grainger, Bellway, Sainsbury’s, New Look, Atom Bank, HS2 and Five Guys.

Responsible business is an integral part of who we are as a firm and we focus on six key areas: environment, community engagement, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), wellbeing, social mobility and governance.

We seek out initiatives that enable us to live up to our commitment to create better places to live, work and do business and our decisions are always shaped by our desire to have a positive impact on our colleagues, clients, and the local communities around us.

Our gold sustainability rating from EcoVadis ranks us in the top three percent of participating companies and is testament to our work ensuring responsible business remains front of mind for everyone at our firm.

Whether it’s our commitment to net zero by 2030; our sustainable procurement policy; or our decision to give all colleagues 14 volunteering hours every year, our actions are focused on the future as we strive to continuously improve for our people, the planet and our clients.

Our work in this area has been recognised by rankings in the Stonewall Top 100 and being names on the Social Mobility List 2024.

And it’s not just within the firm that we take this holistic approach – we’re just as committed to it through our work with clients. You can read more about our environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy here. 

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Graduate Training Programme 

We offer training contracts across all our UK offices: Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds, London, Newcastle, Plymouth and Southampton. We also have a small office on Teeside which is key to growing our practice in manufacturing, renewable energy, digital transport, and local government.

Over the course of two years, you’ll rotate through different seats, gaining exposure to several of our key sectors. Seat options vary depending on business need, but we ensure you receive a diverse and well-rounded experience, which may include a client secondment.

In our English offices, trainees qualify via the SQE route, or the traditional LPC route if already completed.

In Edinburgh, our traineeships follow the Law Society of Scotland route to qualification, rather than the SQE. As a trainee in our Scottish office, you’ll gain experience in sectors relevant to the Scottish market, while also contributing to our wider UK and international practice. You’ll be part of a close-knit team with access to high-quality work and client contact from the outset.

We encourage our Scottish trainees to get involved in firm-wide initiatives and cross-office collaboration, helping you build strong networks and a broad understanding of how WBD operates across jurisdictions.

This is your training contract, and it’s up to you to make the most of it—but we’re here to support you every step of the way. Our supervisors are trained to provide ongoing guidance, and you’ll be given opportunities to develop your legal career in a growing, forward-thinking firm.

But don’t just take our word for it! Chambers Student spoke to our trainees and our training Principal, Simon Hughes: you can read the full review of our training contract programme here - Womble Bond Dickinson UK LLP – True Picture – Chambers Student Guide

And remember, while a training contract is undoubtedly a lot of responsibility at an early stage in your career – we think it’s exactly this that makes our training programme so appealing. We may push you to move outside your comfort zone, but we’ll also provide all the support you need to succeed.

Have a question about our training contract route to qualification? Take a look here: WBD’s Training Contract FAQ’s.

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When To Apply 

Applications for our training contract to start in 2028 open in November 2025 and the deadline to apply will be in January 2026.

For more information on our recruitment process please visit https://www.trainingcontract.com/apply/.

Who Should Apply  

To be eligible for our 2028 Training Contract, you must meet one of the criteria below:

If you are applying for one of our offices in England: 

• You are currently studying (in your penultimate or final year) or have completed a law degree in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland

• You are currently studying (in your final year) or have completed a non-law degree in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland

• You are currently studying (in your final year) or have completed a non-law degree in Scotland

• You are in your final year of or have completed an international qualifying law degree  

If you are applying for our Edinburgh office: 

• You are currently studying (in your penultimate or final year) or have completed a law degree in Scotland

• You have completed a non-law degree and you have started (or completed) the accelerated LLB in Scottish Law

• You have completed an international degree and you have started (or completed) the accelerated LLB in Scottish Law

Graduate Training Programme Application Process 

Stage 1: Application Form 

The first stage of our process is a short application form. You’ll be asked to share details of your undergraduate degree and any further vocational education, your life history, and information as part of the Rare Contextualised Recruitment System, which allows us to understand the context in which your experiences have been gained and enables us to identify top candidates from the widest pool possible.

Stage 2: Online Assessment  

Shortly after the close of the application window, everyone who has applied and is eligible to complete a training contract will be invited to complete our online assessment.

Stage 3: Assessment Day 

If you’ve been successful in the online assessment stage, you’ll be invited to attend an assessment day. This will involve a commercial understanding task and some short interviews, as well as giving you the opportunity to hear from a variety of people at WBD and ask them any questions you may have about the firm.

Remember, it’s a two-way process – by the end of the assessment day, you’ll be able to decide whether WBD is right for you – and we’ll have a better understanding of who you are.

Stage 4: Work Placement Week and Final Interview 

Our placement weeks form part of our recruitment process. Our hybrid placement weeks give you a great insight into our business as well as the responsibility and quality of work that is given to our trainees.

The placement week will also involve a final, strengths-based interview with two of the WBD team. Again, this is also a chance for you to find out more about our business, get a feel for what it would be like to work in our team, and understand if it’s the right place for you.

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Early Talent Community 

Looking to take the first step in your legal career? Whether you're a school leaver looking for an apprenticeship or work experience programme or a graduate looking for a training contract, we have several fantastic opportunities just for you.

If you would like to hear about our programmes, sign up to our Early Talent Community by visiting here for updates about new opportunities as they become available.

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Solicitor Apprenticeship 

The legal sphere is rapidly changing and in recent years there has been an increasing demand for business focussed legal education within the workplace. We champion alternative routes into the legal professional and the Level 7 Solicitor Apprenticeship offers just this and more. It is fast becoming a sought-after option for post A level students.

We currently have 20 Solicitor Apprentices at WBD in our Newcastle, Southampton, Bristol and Plymouth offices.

Through this six-year programme you'll experience different practice areas of law, learn from experienced professionals, build a portfolio of work showcasing your development and knowledge, and gain an LLB. You'll have 20% protected study time throughout the apprenticeship which counts towards your 'off the job' training. As you reach your final years you will sit the Solicitor Qualifying Exams (SQE 1 & 2) and ultimately qualify as a solicitor.

We're truly passionate about making a legal career more accessible to local students who aspire to become lawyers and welcome applications from those who have a genuine interest in law.

Solicitor Apprenticeship Application Process 

We believe that the variety of stages and methods we use increases our chance of recruiting top talent. We have designed our assessments in a way that enable candidates to demonstrate a range of behaviours in a variety of ways. As a result, we gain a more holistic understanding of each applicant.

Our recruitment process also allows us to showcase the firm in different ways and gives candidates a chance to assess whether Womble Bond Dickinson is the right fit for them, which is equally as important.

Applicants need the minimum grades to be eligible for the programme:

· 3 A Levels at Grade C or above, or equivalent*

· 5 GCSEs, including Maths and English, or equivalent, at Grade C/4 or above.

For more information and to apply visit https://www.womblebonddickinson.com/uk/careers/apprenticeships.

Stage 1: Application Form 

The first stage of our process is a short application form. You’ll be asked to share details of your educational history, your life history, and information as part of the Rare Contextualised Recruitment System, which allows us to understand the context in which your experiences have been gained and enables us to identify top candidates from the widest pool possible.

Stage 2: Online Assessment 

Shortly after the close of the application window, everyone who has applied and is eligible to complete a solicitor apprenticeship will be invited to complete our online assessment.

Stage 3: Assessment Day 

If you’ve been successful in the high potential assessment stage, you’ll be invited to attend an assessment day. This will involve a commercial understanding task and some short interviews, as well as giving you the opportunity to hear from a variety of people at WBD and ask them any questions you may have about the firm.

Remember, it’s a two-way process – by the end of the assessment day, you’ll be able to decide whether WBD is right for you – and we’ll have a better understanding of who you are.

Stage 4: Work Placement Week and Final Interview 

Our placement weeks form part of our recruitment process. Our in person placement weeks give you a great insight into our business as well as the responsibility and quality of work that is given to our solicitor apprentices.

The placement week will also involve a final, strengths-based interview with two of the WBD team. Again, this is also a chance for you to find out more about our business, get a feel for what it would be like to work in our team, and understand if it’s the right place for you.

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Virtual Experience Programme 

Forage is a free, virtual law programme that you can complete in your own time. The programme introduces you to roles in law and some law-based tasks, as well as supporting you with developing a personal statement. This is available to all students and a great addition to your CV.

We hope this programme helps upskill you in law and explore a potential career with us at WBD. For more information and to take part please visit https://www.theforage.com/virtual-internships/prototype/fszzwX6Jb33P4okPs/Law-Programme.

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Diversity Access Schemes 

Our work around social mobility includes our refreshed Early Careers Programme, our work with schools and universities, as well as our Apprenticeship programme. We are passionate and dedicated about inspiring young people to unlock their potential and widening access to the legal profession.

In 2022, we started working with Strive – a social mobility charity who source and develop talent from inter-sectionally diverse, socially mobile and under-represented backgrounds to help them realise their full potential.

We've recently also partnered with Zero Gravity - who work to spot unrecognised talent and spread opportunities across the UK.

We use the Rare Contextual Recruitment System (CRS) for our Early Talent recruitment (graduates and apprenticeships). The system allows us to understand the context in which a candidate’s experiences have been gained and enables us to identify top candidates from the widest talent pool possible.

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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 

Our approach is to make sure that we have policies which are fit for purpose, and then to concentrate hard on bringing them to life throughout the firm. This filters through at every level – we nurture a spirit of equality, fairness and respect and we challenge non-inclusive behaviour. We want everyone to reach their full potential by being themselves, whilst encouraging each other to achieve their goals with courage, determination and enthusiasm.

We work hard to ensure that difference is visibly valued and welcomed. We want our people to understand there is so much to equity, diversity and inclusion and it's not about a set of paper policies. Everything from our award-winning apprenticeship scheme to our Investors in People accreditation and our focus on health and wellbeing underlines the importance of a visibly proactive and diverse and inclusive culture.

• Retained our Stonewall Gold Award and a place in the top 100 of their Workplace Equality Index for our work around LGBTQ+ inclusion.

• Achieved, for the second year, the Mansfield UK Certification which requires a consideration of 30% diverse candidates for 70% of internal roles, lateral hiring, promotions and participation in pitch meetings.

• Charlotte Hall, our Inclusive Recruitment Lead, won the DE&I Champion of the Year at the 2025 Women & Diversity in Law Awards.

• WBD also won the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award at the NEPIC Industry Awards 2025.

• Hidden Disability Sunflower training was rolled out across the firm, continuing our commitment to inclusion as a Disability Confident Leader. This allows anyone to indicate that they may need extra support or help, extra time and patience. We have given out 146 Sunflower products, including lanyards, so far.

• In October, WBD held an event with North Somerset Council on empowering inclusion, sharing practical insights on disability, neurodiversity and accessibility in the workplace.

• We have also built on the success of our sensory kits and our Neurodiversity Hub by launching mini sensory kits and quiet rooms across our offices for all events and large meetings (for both colleagues and clients).

• WBD Family & Carers rebranded and expanded to become inclusive of carers – whether that is those with caring responsibilities for children, teenagers or adults, within or outside of their family, with a dedicated careers contact group being established. The steering group also consulted on policy development relating to carers.

• We celebrated Pride Month with a fireside chat on 'Asexuality, intersectionality and allyship' with Yasmin Benoit who spoke about her research on issues that asexual individuals face and the importance of intersectionality. WBD US colleagues and clients joined the event virtually.

• We used other key days such as International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, International Asexuality Day and Bisexual Visibility Day to raise awareness of LGBTQ+ issues and the importance of inclusion.

• In response to the UK riots, we issued urgent guidance to line managers to enable them to support colleagues with the option to work flexibly, and we launched 'Safe Space conversations' to provide a confidential forum for our ethnic minority staff to seek support.

• We marked several religious festivals including the month of Ramadan by hosting an Iftar and issuing new Ramadan guidance for line managers.

• In January we hosted a Flexible Working event – over 250 employees attended and addressed why flexible working continues to be a key issue for our teams and particularly women. The event looked at how fair flexible working policies can help with career progression and retention.

• Another 'Women in…' event was held in February focused on imposter syndrome. This series of events has looked to build connections with women across several clients and perspective clients and has been very well received.

• We circulated Diwali gifts to all our members raising awareness around these celebrations.

• A client event on the theme of 'Reclaiming the Windrush Narrative' was run for Black History Month with renowned anthropologist Dr Audrey Allwood.

• For South Asian Heritage Month, we launched the WBD Heritage Map linking with the theme of 'Free to Be Me' which encourages WBD employees to share their heritage.

• We held an event with our US colleagues for International Women's Day in March and heard from Michelle Banks who has held executive positions across several Fortune 500 companies. She spoke candidly about her career and focused on the importance of sponsorship to support the career paths of female colleagues.