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RPC Graduate Careers

Find out everything you need to know about RPC using this law firm hub. From practice areas to opportunities, application process to people, this is your one-stop shop for all things RPC! 

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The AllAboutLaw perspective on RPC

RPC (Reynolds Porter Chamberlain) is a firm for those who aren’t interested in sticking to the status quo. It’s a firm that values personality as much as professionalism, “character, over conformity, the unique over the uniform and ambition over apathy.” Such a stance is incredibly refreshing for aspiring lawyers who are interested in finding a firm that will fit their vibrant personalities.

With a slogan of “strikingly real,” diversity and inclusion is paramount at this firm. Offices are open-plan and non-hierarchical, so trainees can sit next to a partner. Even those doing vacation schemes get the chance to meet clients. One trainee appreciated that the firm is “not a big machine, and you’re not just a cog in that machine, you're an individual.” 

Diversity-wise, the firm recruits blindly and has a variety of ‘work streams’ for different disabilities, ethnic groups, faiths, and sexual orientations. There is even a network dedicated to allies. Pro bono is central to RPC, and employees have provided young entrepreneurs from disadvantaged backgrounds with legal advice. Other projects include working to stop financial crime and corruption. 

While the firm works in sectors such as real estate and finance, trainees can get involved in client secondments and pro bono work. If you are interested in international work, you will be working with one of the founders of the TerraLex network. This network gives the firm access to lawyers in over 100 jurisdictions, allowing you to become familiar with the international legal world. If you fancy working abroad, you can even do a secondment in Hong Kong or Singapore.

What the firm says

At RPC, you can be you. In an environment that’s real. Strikingly real.

Ambitious in mindset. International by nature. Our vision is to be our clients' first choice law firm, leading them through opportunities and challenges. We support our people to lead and thrive and deliver outstanding service to our clients.

For us, success comes from building trusted relationships. Trusted relationships with our clients as much as our people. And it comes from thinking creatively to achieve the best commercial solutions. We thrive in an environment that’s collaborative and forward-thinking, where you’re free to express your personality. To be authentic. An environment that allows you to make the most of your strengths. This is our commitment to y

Our lawyers are market leaders. Our clients are often household names. And together we achieve award-winning results. Results that have seen RPC regularly voted amongst the best for commercial advice across our sectors of specialism.

Our business is built on mutual respect and trust. That’s where you come in. From day one, you’ll collaborate with our Partners; you'll have contact with clients; and you'll be given real responsibility. As a Trainee, you could be assisting with large-scale global disputes, or offering business-critical commercial advice. 

But you won't be left to fend for yourself, you’ll receive first-rate training. You'll be able to develop your skills and you'll be encouraged to use your creativity to solve complex problems. We're agile and flexible, and that's reflected in our approach to our Trainees. You can choose to spend time in a wide variety of practice areas supporting a range of dynamic sectors. And not just in London, with training contracts, placements and secondments on offer in Bristol, Hong Kong and Singapore, too, we're truly international.

We also offer alternative routes into law. No matter what stage you are at in your life, our apprenticeship scheme will help build the foundations of your career with the training and support you’ll need to excel. 

Our award-winning Summer Schemes are as much about you experiencing life with us, as us experiencing working with you. Over two weeks you'll get real exposure to real work in a real-life environment. Fully integrated into our teams, you'll get to know the people from the get-go. If you're just after a snapshot of life in our law firm, we also offer Insight days where you can shadow, network, and experience our culture first hand.  

So, if you’re a creative thinker who wants a career in an international firm that values personality as much as professionalism, we want to hear from you.

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Data

• 1st year trainee - London£48,000
• 2nd Year Trainee - London £52,000
• 1st Year Trainee - Bristol £42,000
• Second Year Trainee - Bristol £44,000
• NQ salary - London£85k - £95k
• NQ salary - Bristol£60,000
• SQE course fees paid?Yes
• SQE maintenance grant£12,000
• PGDL course fees paid?Yes
• UK Offices2

Sustainability

Sustainability is incredibly important to this law firm. The firm has signed up to the Sustainable Recruitment Alliance pledge, which is a movement committed to finding more sustainable ways to attract early talent.

Academic requirements

• Degree 2:1

What do we look for in our trainees?

The recruitment process is important to us. We only recruit Trainees who share our values to help grow our ambitious firm. 

Although proven academic ability is important (we require a 2:1 degree or above, not necessarily in law) we value diversity, flexibility, commitment, energy, collaboration and commerciality just as highly.

If you're applying for a training contract in the UK, you’ll need a 2:1 degree awarded or predicted, or the equivalent qualifications. Mitigating circumstances will be considered when reviewing an application.

Recruitment process

Applications for both London and Bristol opportunities must be submitted via our online recruitment portal.

We are looking for individuals who demonstrate genuine drive, curiosity, and commitment to a career in law and a future at RPC. Our application form is intentionally concise — we focus on understanding your motivations and potential. We explore this further later in the process through our RPC Early Talent online assessment, which allows us to look beyond academic and work experience to assess your natural strengths.

Shortlisting

If you meet our eligibility criteria — for example stage of study — you will be invited to complete the RPC Early Talent online assessment.

Early Talent online assessment

The assessment is designed to measure your potential by focusing on two areas:

• Behavioural skills – how you typically respond in different situations, such as your ability to collaborate, adapt, or communicate.
• Cognitive skills – your ability to understand information, analyse it, and make sound, evidence-based decisions.

When a skill is not only performed well but also used often and enjoyed, it is recognised as a strength. By identifying your strengths, we focus on your potential, rather than your background or previous experience.

You will receive more information before completing the assessment and will have the chance to practise in advance

What if I need an adjustment?

We are committed to making our recruitment process inclusive and accessible to all. If you have a disability, are neurodiverse, or feel that any aspect of the assessment may not fairly reflect your strengths, we encourage you to reach out. Our Early Talent team can make reasonable adjustments and discuss the support available.

Please contact us confidentially at strikinglyreal@rpclegal.com. 

Based on the assessment results, selected candidates will be invited to attend an assessment day in either London or Bristol, depending on the location of your application.

In some cases, we may hold brief screening calls with successful candidates ahead of the assessment day.

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