With application season upon us, first-seat trainee Ruby Day shares why choosing where to apply can feel overwhelming and why Russell-Cooke should be on your shortlist.
At the time of writing, there are currently 9,045 law firms in the UK, many of which offer training contracts. With the vast amount of online guidance recommending prospective trainees to apply for 10-15 training contracts per year (and with many applying for significantly more than that!), it can be difficult to know where to even start. Applying to train at Russell-Cooke is a strong first step, and here’s why.
Broad range of practice areas
Each trainee spends six months in four different seats during their two-year training contract. Whilst seat rotation is typical practice in most firms, Russell-Cooke is unique in both the range of practice areas it offers, and the encouragement and facilitation of trainees to take up seats in a plethora of areas.
The current trainee cohort is completing seats in:
- charity and not-for-profit
- trusts and estate disputes
- immigration and employment
- dispute resolution
- private client
- personal injury and medical negligence
- family and children
- real estate
- enfranchisement
- insolvency
- property litigation
- professional regulation
The collaborative nature of the firm means that it is not uncommon to work alongside other departments, exposing trainees to a variety of different departments even beyond their seat. This provides ample opportunities for trainees to figure out what they like best ahead of qualification.
Excellent work-life balance
Russell-Cooke is well-known for its excellent work-life balance. And if you don’t believe me, we have won awards for it – literally! This year, Russell Cooke won the 2025 Legal Cheek Award for Work/Life Balance.
This firm-wide commitment to work-life balance extends to trainees, and is highlighted in how much the firm encourages the trainees to socialise beyond work. There is a firm-funded trainee social committee that organises social events for the trainees. Previous trainee socials include: ABBA Voyage, pizza making at Pizza Express, wine tasting, a picnic in Lincoln's Inn Fields, go karting, and many lunches out!
Small trainee cohort: bigger learning opportunity
Although a lot of firms of a similar size recruit upwards of 20 trainees per year, Russell-Cooke recruits eight to 12 trainees. Whilst initially this seems like a daunting statistic for any potential applicants, the smaller number of trainees is what makes training here so great: it allows trainees to get the most out of each seat.
Typically, there are only one to two trainees in each department. This means you receive comprehensive training and meaningful responsibility, supported by guidance from experienced colleagues. Even first-seat trainees are entrusted with significant duties from the outset: they often manage their own caseloads, participate in key aspects of matters, and have direct client contact. This level of responsibility is made possible by the strong support network within each team, facilitated by the smaller trainee cohort, which ensures thorough, high-quality training.
Good luck!
Ruby Day is currently a first-seat trainee in the charity and non-profit team.
Applications for Russell-Cooke's 2026 spring vacation scheme and 2028 training contract are open from 7 November 2025 to 6 February 2026.
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