When undertaking a training contract, the hours will invariably be long as you start at the bottom of the ladder. It will often be the case that you find yourself working into the evenings in order to finish off projects and meet fast-approaching deadlines. This will especially be the case at large-scale city firms with multiple offices, rather than local, high street firms - the more the professional opportunities and the higher the salary, the more you’ll be expected to give your time to the company.

How can I strike a balance between work and personal life?

Nevertheless, it’s important that you don’t dedicate yourself 24/7 to your placement, so you avoid a burnout. Switching off from work from time to time will help you increase your focus at the office and will be beneficial to your health, both mentally and physically. Ultimately, striking a work-life balance as a trainee in a law firm is possible, but you’ll have to actively make an effort to do so.

It might be the case that the hours vary, as sometimes you’ll be clocking out at 6pm, while on other days you’ll be working into the early hours of the morning.

Will there be many after-work socials?

Firms will often try to sell their training contracts to prospective applicants by emphasising the value they place on maintaining this balance, so it’s a good idea to do some research and check what they say on their website. This is especially the case as awareness surrounding issues of mental health increases. This might include regular company socials and other outside-of-work events, as well as respecting personal commitments in general.

Is it worth it?

Overall, you’ll undoubtedly have a high workload, especially if you secure a training contract in corporate law at a City firm. That said, you’ll have ample opportunities to socialise with your workmates and time off for personal commitments. Ultimately, at the end of your training contract, you’ll have gained a wealth of experience and knowledge that will stand you in good stead for the rest of your career, and if you’re passionate about what you do that time will fly by.

If you’re interested in finding out more about training contracts, you can check out the dedicated section on our website with more advice and the latest openings!