What are we are looking for?
There's no such thing as a typical Dickinson Dees lawyer. We deliver a wide range of legal services to a broad spectrum of local, national and internationally based clients and it's important that our lawyers reflect this diversity. We certainly don't recruit clones. Basically, we are interested in who you are and what you can do, not where you come from. We're looking to recruit talented individuals who :-.
• have intellect, creativity and energy;
• enjoy solving problems;
• thrive in teamwork situations;
• are articulate and resourceful; and
• really want to work for us.
We recruit from a wide variety of backgrounds. About a third of our trainees are non-law graduates, and several have had previous careers before converting to law. Our selection process is designed to establish whether you have the intellectual, communication and problem solving skills we and our clients need.
Work Placement Programme
Our work placement programme is part of the recruitment process for training contracts and we strongly encourage applicants to apply for a place. We hold placements at the Newcastle offices with one placement at the end of March and three placements during June and July. There are 10 places on each. and applications are made online using the training contract application form. Applications for our work placement programme need to be submitted by the end of January each year for both the March / April, June and July placements. Candidates of all ages and disciplines are welcome to apply provided you are at least in the penultiamate year of a law degree or hte final year of a non law degree. But you don't have to be a current undergraduate of recent graduate to apply.
We shortlist down to around 125 applicants who will be asked to complete online aptitude tests followed by an interview during February and March. We give successful applicants the opportunity to choose which two departments they wish to spend time in. The placements are for one week, with two days in each of two departments and an assessment day. We aim to give applicants the opportunity to experience the atmosphere of the firm, learn about life as a solicitor and undertake some real work too.
Our work placement programme is part of the two-way process of selection. We get a chance to see potential applicants and they get a chance to see us. We cannot over-emphasise how valuable this is for both of us.
APPLICATIONS FOR OUR 2008 PLACEMENT WEEKS HAVE NOW CLOSED AND WILL REOPEN FOR 2009 PLACEMENTS IN OCTOBER 2008.
Training contract Applications
Training contract application forms should be submitted online. Whilst online applications are preferred, a hard copy of the form is available on request. Applications need to be received by 31 July 2008 for training contracts starting in September 2010 in Newcastle, Tees Valley and York. Shortlisted applicants will complete online aptitude tests, an online personality questionnaire and a prioritisation exercise. Interviews for training contracts are conducted by our Graduate Recruitment Team and candidates are asked to make a short presentation as part of this. We make offers as soon as possible after the interview process is completed (subject to Law Society requirements).