Graduate Programmes

Traineeship Highlights

As a William Fry Trainee, you will benefit from a structured programme designed to build your knowledge and experience over your Traineeship.

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Trainee Highlights

Before You Start

We will make you a verbal offer followed by a written offer outlining salary and benefits. Our HR team will be a point of contact for you from the time of offer until you join the firm. Closer to your start date, you will need to sign ‘Indentures of Apprenticeship’ paperwork from the Law Society, which bind the Trainee, the Law Society and William Fry for the duration of your Traineeship.
Comprehensive Induction

During your first week, you will attend a comprehensive induction programme run by the firm’s dedicated Learning & Development team. This will give you an introduction to our people and our culture. You will also receive training on all our systems.
Your Buddy

On joining the firm you will be assigned a ‘buddy’ – a fellow trainee who joined ahead of you and works in the practice area to which you have been assigned. Your buddy will help you settle in and show you around, make the necessary introductions and answer any questions you may have.
Practice Rotations

As a trainee solicitor, you will work in a variety of William Fry's practice areas where you will be assigned to a team and a supervising partner. During these rotations you will acquire practical legal skills such as how to draft legal documents, interact with clients, manage cases and, importantly, work as a team member. Your assigned rotations will enable you to develop your professional skills and reach your potential. If there is a practice area you would particularly like to work in, we will do our best to accommodate this.
Challenging Work

At William Fry, we strive to ensure the work you are given is challenging and extends both your experience and capabilities. At every stage of your development within the firm, you are encouraged to use your own initiative as much as possible. Your responsibility for handling aspects of cases and transactions will increase rapidly as your knowledge and confidence grows. But you will not be working alone – our ethos is team-based, and you will have the support of an assigned partner throughout your traineeship.
Regular Feedback

Regular reviews help identify any difficulties you may be experiencing during your traineeship but are also designed to help you develop your strengths and abilities. For every rotation, you will have a mid-seat and end of seat review with members of your team. These reviews are intended to be objective and constructive and feedback is shared with the HR team.
Knowledge Resources

At William Fry you will have access to comprehensive internal and external knowledge resources which allow you to perform to the highest level, e.g. know-how, library and other electronic services. Our Knowledge team will train and support you in legal research and will keep you up to date with legal developments throughout your traineeship.
Secondment

It may be possible for you to do a secondment in the firm's London office, or with a client either in Ireland or abroad. This has proven an invaluable experience for trainees.
Support & Consultation

Trainees elect a committee which meets regularly to identify any issues that need to be brought to the attention of senior management. The trainee committee meets quarterly with the trainee liaison partner and HR to discuss suggestions for refinement and to share ideas. Trainees also have the support of our HR and Learning & Development teams throughout their traineeship.
Life Beyond Work

William Fry’s social committee regularly organise events throughout the year and there are a variety of social clubs to join (book club, choir, tennis etc.). The trainee committee also organise dedicated trainee events such as the trainee weekend away and trainee Christmas party.

The William Fry offices also house a state-of-the-art gym and changing rooms with personal training sessions and exercise classes on offer.
Responsible Business

There are opportunities to participate in the Firm's Responsible Business programme which includes volunteering projects and pro bono work. Our community partners for 2021-2023 are the Irish Youth Foundation and Depaul. The firm also regularly supports local community initiatives.