Graduate recruitment FAQs

Applications are now closed but you can sign up here to be reminded when applications open. We recruit two years in advance for training contracts. Applicants this year should be able to start a training contract in September 2025.

Generally speaking we recruit 4 trainees per year.

We deliberately recruit a small number of top-notch trainees and aim to retain them all. Over the last five years, job offers have been made to most of our trainees. Last year, we retained all our trainees.

There are a few qualities we like our trainees to have:

• Academic strength. A/B grades at A level and a 2.1 degree or above. You won’t automatically be rejected without these if there are mitigating circumstances.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills. We have a wonderful team ethos and build close working relationships with our clients and colleagues. It’s important you’re able to connect well with both.
• Enthusiasm, a strong work ethic and a great attitude with commercial and business focus. You should have an interest in learning about business and want to work in a commercial firm.
• A genuine motivation to work at Muckle LLP.

No. We don’t have a preference between law and non-law graduates, as reflected in our current roster of trainees.

We appreciate there are many different reasons for taking some time out and have no problem with it whatsoever. Enjoy it!

That’s ok. One of the main purposes of the vacation placement is to see whether our firm is the right place for you. Plus, we’re always interested in hearing about other work experience you’ve undertaken, its benefits to you and how it highlights the qualities we’re looking for.

Yes, of course. We’ve recruited several trainees in the past who applied more than once to get their place. But we’d like you to start each application from scratch – don’t cut and paste!

Sorry, no. We look for applicants who have achieved (or are predicted to achieve) a 2.1 or above.

If there are genuine mitigating circumstances, and you demonstrated very strong academics at A level, then we will of course be willing to listen. You will also want to check out the rest of the FAQs and Graduate Recruitment information for a good idea of what we’re looking for.

No, we don’t. But we do encourage you to take subjects you find enjoyable and interesting. We’re a commercial firm so we suggest you take a broad range of subjects relevant to our firm and the type of work we do. 

We do not have a preferred institution for the GDL or LPC, however, successful candidates who have yet to complete the LPC must enrol with ULaw in order to secure sponsorship.

Currently we reimburse LPC fees for those applicants who start a training contract with us and pay LPC fees for those who enrol with ULaw. However, at this time we do not pay GDL fees or maintenance grants.

Whilst there is no longer a requirement for trainees to rotate seats in order to satisfy the qualifying work experience (QWE) requirement we think it is important for you to generally spend 6 months in 4 different teams as this will help you decide into which department you may want to qualify.

Business requirements of the firm take priority, but we do try to accommodate any burning desires to gain experience of a particular discipline. You can discuss seat rotations as part of your regular team catch ups.

No, we do not reimburse expenses for travel or accommodation.

No. Please use the online application form. You can sign up here to be reminded when applications open.

Yes. We accept applications from international students subject to the correct work permit/visa being held at the start of the training contract. For non-EU applicants, we are not listed as a sponsor.

We have partnered with ULaw to provide a fully funded and tailored SQE Masters programme who will not only support you to complete SQE1 and SQE2 but also provide you with additional learning content to ensure you develop your legal knowledge skills and behaviours to make sure you are practice ready.  

If you are successful in getting a training contract with us we will provide your details to ULaw who will work with you to complete the online enrolment process.  Whilst our preference is that you work with ULaw, applicants who are keen to join Muckle but have already enrolled with another provider should of course still feel able to apply to Muckle for consideration.

We fund the SQE Masters programme for those applicants who are successful in gaining a training contract with us.  

At this time we do not pay the PGDL fees (for non-law graduates).  However, we can introduce you to ULaw so you can discuss with them the most cost effective approach for you to study the PGDL.  

There is also further information on ULaw’s website regarding self-funding a conversion course which can be found here.  Details (including deadlines) for ULaw’s postgraduate scholarships can also be found on their website, and includes a few different options for scholarships based on merit and/or needs. More information can be found here. 

We will be working closely with ULaw to ensure that they help you chose subjects which will be most valuable to you when you start your training contract with Muckle.