Practice Trainees
What Are We Looking For?
We look for good lawyers and people who are bright, hardworking and committed and who possess a good dose of common sense and the ability to think outside the box. We also look for individuals who can contribute to and grow with our Firm, hence it is equally important that you are a team player who is motivated to take on challenges and contribute to the success of our Firm.
What To Expect
At Allen & Gledhill, we pride ourselves in training lawyers who will go on to become future thought leaders of the legal industry. We do so through a combination of mentorship and curated training programmes that will draw out the fullest potential of every Practice Trainee that joins us.
Our Practice Trainees are an integral part of the team and while the focus will be on your training, you will be expected to take on active roles in matters. You will undergo a structured training programme during which you will be required to attend regular training sessions on all aspects of legal practice as well as to undertake training assignments.
Our training programme for Practice Trainees adheres closely to the guidelines set by SILE. Our programme is crafted to ensure holistic development of your legal skills through working with the best in the industry, and being exposed to other practice areas outside of your main placement.
In accordance with the revised guidelines set by SILE, the practice training contract period for all Practice Trainees starting with the firm from January 2025 will be 12 months. During this time, Practice Trainees may be rotated to a different department. The order of preference that you have indicated when applying for your practice training contracts will be taken into consideration when you are assigned your placement and possible rotation. Do note however, that placements within each department is limited and you may not be placed in your preferred departments.
During your contracted period, you will be working at all times under the supervision of a Partner from the department that you are placed in, who will be your Supervising Solicitor. You can also expect to work closely with other Partners, as well as Senior Associates and Associates in the department or team which you are training with, who will train you in matters specific to your practice area as well as the soft skills required to become an effective lawyer.
This will provide you with a greater view of how different practice areas intersect in our legal system, and help you to learn from the myriad of experience that we have within our Firm. You will also receive a competitive monthly honorarium based on the guidelines set by SILE.
Of course, life at Allen & Gledhill is not just about work so you will have plenty of opportunities to participate in non-work activities. Social events are part-and-parcel of life at Allen & Gledhill and there are numerous events planned on a Firm, department and team basis, such as the Firm trip, department drinks trolley and movie nights.
More Information
Click on the following links for more information:
FAQ
You should apply for a training contract in your penultimate year of study and during the stated application periods.
You will have to state, in order of preference, your chosen departments. For administrative reasons, our Firm is divided into six departments:
- Corporate & Commercial
Our Corporate & Commercial Department encompasses one of the most highly-regarded general corporate and commercial practices which covers competition & foreign investment review, corporate regulatory & compliance, energy infrastructure & projects, and technology & corporate intellectual property. We regularly handle a diverse and comprehensive range of corporate matters, across all major industries and sectors. Our work encompasses the entire spectrum of corporate and commercial transactions including company law advice ranging from director and shareholder issues to corporate re-organisations and restructurings to licensing requirements and regulatory approvals, and from labour and industrial relations to safety, health and environmental imperatives. Our experience in advising on, and negotiating and drafting commercial agreements, is unparalleled.
- Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions
Our Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions Department advises on a broad range of transactions including local and regional joint ventures, share and business acquisitions and disposals, corporate re-organisations, privatisations and mergers, leverage buyouts, schemes of reconstruction and amalgamation, capital restructurings and private equity investments.
- Corporate Real Estate
Our Corporate Real Estate Department advises on a full range of domestic and cross-border real estate and real estate related transactions including acquisitions and divestments, real estate financing structures, property funds, joint venture and joint development arrangements, high-profile anchor tenant and build-to-suit leasing transactions, property development, securitisations and real estate investment trusts.
- Financial Services
Our Financial Services Department covers banking and finance including project finance; debt and equity capital markets; funds; real estate investment trusts and business trusts; financial regulatory; ship and aircraft financing; securitisations, derivatives and structured finance; as well as tax and private wealth. We develop and provide innovative financial solutions for our clients, which include domestic and international financial institutions and many of the most well-known companies in Singapore and in the region.
- Intellectual Property & Technology
Our Intellectual Property & Technology Department advises on a broad range of intellectual property matters in fields as diverse as biotechnology, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, electronics, computer, software, media and entertainment. Our practice encompasses civil and criminal enforcement, management and transactional matters, ranging from advising, prosecuting and defending our clients' intellectual property rights, managing and co-ordinating our client's intellectual property profiles local and worldwide to drafting, negotiating and advising on technology and communications-related transactions. The team is also well versed in Cybersecurity and Data Protection law and practice.
- Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Our Litigation & Dispute Resolution Department resolves contentious matters on behalf of our clients. These disputes run the gamut from high profile shareholder activism to new age crypto-currency disputes. We are involved in all aspects of each engagement – from the initial investigation to the advisory work to the final resolution whether at the negotiation table or in the Court room or arbitration chambers. We embrace complex contentious work with an international dimension and believe in exposing our young lawyers to the cut and thrust of modern dispute practice.
Our training programme for Practice Trainees adheres closely to the guidelines set by SILE, and is crafted to ensure holistic development of your legal skills through a combination of mentorship, hands on experience, and being exposed to other practice areas outside of your main placement.
For practice training contracts starting in January 2025, Practice Trainees may be rotated between departments in accordance with SILE guidelines. The department you are rotated to will depend on several factors such as availability of positions and mentors.
Where we are able to, we have facilitated requests for transfers to other departments. This, of course, depends on whether there is a position available in the department to which you hope to be transferred.
On average, we accept about 35 Practice Trainees per year. The number of Practice Trainees which we accept may vary depending on various factors, such as current headcount and business requirements.
Our retention rate has historically been very high as we recruit with a view to retention.
Yes. A Partner will be assigned as your Supervising Solicitor during your placement and will oversee your work and development and be directly responsible for you. You can also expect to work closely with other Partners, as well as Senior Associates and Associates in the department or team which you are training with.
For more enquiries, contact us at trainingcontracts@allenandgledhill.com.