Frequently Asked Questions

Vacancies

In response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, we have moved our recruitment process predominately into the virtual world. All interviews are currently taking place through Microsoft Teams. If you think that this may be a problem, please do not hesitate to contact your recruiter who will be happy to explore any alternative options with you.

Please contact the recruiter for the role using the details on the vacancy page and they'll be happy to help you out.

If we don’t currently have a vacancy that you’d like to apply for, we encourage you to sign up to our Talent Communities. This is our way of keeping in touch with you and letting you know about suitable vacancies that may arise.

Yes, please follow this link to sign up for job alerts and get notified when we have a potential opportunity for you.

Please email careers@wbd-uk.com and one of our team will be happy to help you out.

Applications

Please contact the recruiter for the role using the details in your application portal and they'll be happy to help you out.

If at any stage of our application process you need adjustments to be made, please get in touch with the recruitment team. We will, together be able to determine any adjustments you require to help you perform to the best of your ability.

Yes absolutely. You may be able to transfer your existing skills to a new challenge.

We use a recruitment system called eArcu in which we store and use your data in accordance with GDPR regulations. Here is our privacy policy and our candidate privacy statement

Please email careers@wbd-uk.com with your full name and the Talent Community that you would like to be removed from.

Interviews

Please contact the recruiter for that particular role using the details in your application portal and they'll be happy to help you out.

You do not need to bring any identification documents to your interview. All right-to-work checks will be made after an offer has been accepted.

You will be advised by the recruitment team in advance if any advanced preparation is required.

For some roles there may be some assessments alongside your interview. You will be advised in advance if this is the case and how long the interview and assessments will take.

Yes, we are happy to refund reasonable travelling expenses. If you would like to claim for travel, please contact the recruitment team and request an expenses form. We'll ask you to complete and return this along with relevant receipts.

Yes, absolutely. Whether you are successful or unsuccessful, we will offer to set up a call with you to run through all of your feedback. This will cover all of the brilliant parts of your interview and any constructive points that will help you in future processes.

Background Checks

We carry out pre-joining background checks once you have accepted our formal offer. At that point we provide full details of the process, explain what we require to complete these and keep you updated every step of the way.

Our screening provider, Vero, will run an ID check, credit and criminal record checks (for both the UK and abroad), education and will verify any professional qualifications [and social media checks]. On top of this our recruitment team will check your right to work in the UK, request five years' worth of references and contact the SRA to run a Section 43 check and if you are a lawyer, to check if there are conditions on your practicing certificate.

Once we contact you to commence the background checks we would always encourage you to flag anything to us that you think may arise as part of this process. We understand this can sometimes be a difficult conversation, but our experienced team of recruiters are experts at handling such situations sensitively. Please be assured that an adverse result on the background checks, does not automatically mean a negative impact on your continued employment with us.

Diversity & Inclusion

We have an equal opportunities policy and diversity & inclusion is embedded in our recruitment processes. If you have any queries, please contact the recruitment team on careers@wbd-uk.com.

As a business we strive to create a diverse and inclusive culture to attract and retain the very best people to our business. To ensure that we are doing that, and that we are running a process that is inclusive for all, we need to be able to monitor certain characteristics. Please be assured, this information is anonymous and separate from your application. We use it for monitoring purposes only and as it is stored on our system anonymously and will have no bearing on your application.

Talent Communities

We have a number of Talent Communities relating to different roles in the business. Follow the link to sign up to the one suitable to your career aspirations and then create your profile. This is our way of keeping you connected to our business with relevant news and recruitment updates. We may also contact you via this route to signpost you to job opportunities that we might be of interest to you.

Events

We have an events page to let you know all of the recruitment events that we are hosting or attending.

For in-house events held by us, please resister your interest using the registration tab. If the event is being held by an external provider or university please follow the relevant link shown in the event information.

Social Media

Yes! We have social media accounts across LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. We hope that these channels give you an authentic insight into what life at Womble Bond Dickinson is really like and to give you any recruitment updates. Follow us now to find out more.
LinkedIn
Twitter: @WBD_UK @WBD_CareersUK @WBD_TraineesUK
Facebook
Instagram

Graduate Recruitment

Please keep an eye on our events page and our social media channels as these will be kept up to date.

Yes, insight days are open to both graduates and undergraduates looking to gain a better understanding our business, our people and the graduate recruitment process. Please register your interest via our Talent Communities.

We currently recruit our trainees two years in advance, the application process is open to graduates, final year non-law students and penultimate year law students.

Our online application process opens annually, in October.

Each step of the recruitment process can be found on our graduate microsite - https://www.trainingcontract.com/apply/

Yes. The placement is an opportunity for you to get to know our business, our people, the work of a junior lawyer and the support networks open to you. However, we appreciate not everyone is able to attend a week placement. Therefore, if you are unable to attend a placement we will invite you to a training contract interview day, which consists of a morning spent within our business, before attending the training contact interview in the afternoon. We believe everyone should have the opportunity to spend time getting to know us a little better.

We recruit up to 25 trainees per year (currently, Scotland 1, Newcastle up to 7, Leeds 3, Bristol up to 6, London 4, Southampton 3, Plymouth 1).

Yes, we full fund both the GDL and the LPC. We'll also pay you a £6000 maintenance grant per course.

We have a graduate recruitment website with details of the programme and information on how to apply. If you can't find the answer to your query there then we have a contact form on the website which will send a message directly to our Graduate Recruitment team.

Apprenticeships

We provide a range of apprenticeships from level 3 through to level 7, including business support, finance and legal apprenticeships. Available apprenticeships are detailed on our vacancies page.

We have apprentices across most locations with Solicitor Apprenticeships in Bristol, Newcastle and Southampton. Paralegal apprenticeship programmes in Plymouth and a range of business support apprenticeships across all other locations.

Eligibility varies depending on the apprenticeship you're looking to undertake. Our support opportunities vary with some requiring a minimum of 5 x GCSEs at A-C/9-4 and our legal apprenticeships require 3 x A levels or equivalent as a minimum.

An apprenticeship is a great way to earn while you learn, building knowledge and practical skills. You will need to balance work and study, working 80% of your contracted hours in the office and 20% of your contracted hours dedicated to your apprenticeship. Some higher level apprenticeships require additional study time outside of your contracted hours. This may include preparation for exams, seminars and course reading.

We have an annual recruitment process for legal apprenticeships with applications starting in the Autumn. Other applications open as and when a vacancy within a team becomes available and will be detailed on our vacancies page.

All vacancies start with an online application form. The next stages of the recruitment process vary and may include online video interviews, assessment days, work placements and formal interviews.

Yes, you can apply if you have a degree as long as your degree is not the same subject as the apprenticeship you are applying for. For example, we cannot accept applications for the Solicitor Apprenticeship from those who have obtained a law degree.

You will be fully supported throughout your apprenticeship by the business, team, supervisor and mentors. You will also be supported by the apprenticeship provider and college / university where applicable.

No, there is no age limit for apprenticeships.

Early Careers Programme

Work experience is any opportunity provided by an employer to enable you to gain an insight into the business, support your development, and build your skills and knowledge ready for your future career.

Yes, we offer a range of work experience across most of our locations as part of our Early Careers Programme.

We offer a range of experience including insight days and workshops which provide an introduction to the firm and careers in law, as well as longer placements providing practical experience. A full list of our programmes can be found on our Early Careers webpage.

Our programmes are available online and in person across most of our offices.

This depends on the programme that you apply for. Work experience can range from a 1-2 hour careers workshop, 1 day Insight programme or 3-5 day work placement.

Work experience takes place throughout the year. Available programmes and dates are detailed on our website where you can apply online.

You can apply for our Early Careers programmes online, via our vacancies page.

Our programmes are tailored to suit different levels of academic study. For example, our Insight Days are for A-level students with an interest in Law and considering the next steps, whether that is an apprenticeship or university.

Unfortunately work experience can only take place during office hours which are Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm.

Agencies

Here is our guidance page for agencies looking to work with us.