Newly Qualified Lawyers

Harneys Professional Development Programme derives from our philosophy that continued growth and success depend on recruiting the brightest and best young legal talent available, and that a dedicated programme of professional development is the best way to ensure that such talent is developed to its full potential.

The professional development programme recognises that the successful completion of your academic training is only the first step in equipping you to operate at the extremely high level required by leading global businesses. It further recognises that making an informed choice about the area of specialisation you are best suited to is virtually impossible without first having gained some practical experience. The programme is designed to achieve the twin aims of enabling you to become a commercial lawyer of the highest calibre and enabling you to make choices as to specialisation from a position of practical experience.

The programme has its origins in the training contract system as implemented by English law firms and comprises a 4 or 5 "seat" system to give participants the best possible chance of finding the most appropriate area of the firm in which to pursue their career. During your two-year contract you will rotate through the major departments of the firm. Participants in the programme will usually have one 6 month rotation, or seat, in four of the following departments: Corporate and Commercial, Banking and Finance, Investment Funds and Regulatory, Litigation, and Private Client.

Seats in most departments will involve sharing an office with a partner or senior associate and in all cases the head of the department is directly responsible for your development. It is daily exposure to how more experienced lawyers operate that is at the heart of the programme, but you will also have the opportunity to participate fully in the firm's seminar programme. Workshops are offered which allow you not only to enhance your technical legal skills, but also build on your commercial awareness, and business, finance and management skills essential to a well-rounded legal career. There may well also be the opportunity to attend external conferences overseas.

The aim is constant feedback on your performance and progress but a formal appraisal process towards the end of each seat is designed to enable you to review your development and to assist us in ensuring you are exposed to as much of our practice as possible.

What happens when the programme ends?

During the fourth seat, consultation takes place between the firm and the programme participant to determine whether extension of the contract is available and if so in which department of the firm your future lies. Whilst your preferences will form a part of that decision making process the personnel needs of the departments and offices of the firm are of primary relevance.

It may be that either you or we decide that extension of your contract is not appropriate. There are a number of factors that might contribute to this decision but even if your career is not to be with us we believe that the programme will provide an extremely solid foundation and an experience which will have been rewarding in itself. Part of our commitment to you as a programme participant is to working with you to plan and attain in the next steps in your career. The programme is not a competition between participants for jobs and given our emphasis on teamwork such competition is discouraged.

The Application Process

Initial interviews are conducted in May of each year at the regional law school campuses by a partner of the firm. You are advised to send your résumé to the Human Resources Director well before this time. Final decisions are usually announced in July, and the programme starts in October.

We are looking for intelligent and focussed lawyers. Perhaps the most critical characteristics are a genuine interest in commerce and a recognition that the very best lawyers strive to provide practical solutions.

Very good academics are a prerequisite but alone they are not sufficient; we need evidence of an ability to take responsibility and lead (be it at school or elsewhere). We also look extremely carefully at all work experience; the ability to deal with people is as important as mental agility. Anything which demonstrates communication and public speaking skills, leadership qualities, commercial awareness and the ability to persuade is relevant.

Preparing for the interview

You may be tempted to see the interview as a one way process, simply a question of persuading us to take you on, but we do not see it that way. The interview is as much an opportunity for you to discover whether we are the right career choice for you as anything else. For that reason as much as any other there is no excuse for not coming to the interview prepared. Information about the BVI, the firm and its practice is available from many sources including the internet and a candidate who has not done his or her homework is unlikely to have convincing reasons for applying to us.