Qualifying as a Lawyer with Appleby

Appleby is a multi-jurisdictional firm with established training programmes in our Bermuda, Cayman and Jersey offices. We offer students access to some of the best legal minds in the offshore world via a structured training programme. The programmes will vary depending on what jurisdiction you are in. The goal is the same: provide the training needed to deliver the quality of service and technical expertise our clients expect.

In Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, the trainee programme begins in September with each trainee having to complete two six month seats in our Corporate and Commercial, Trusts, Property or Litigation Departments.

Assessments are completed by the trainee’s mentor on a quarterly basis. By the end of the year trainees are offered full time employment if their performance has met or exceeded expectations.

In Bermuda, ‘pupillage’ lasts one year and trainees are called to the Bar upon successful completion of their pupillage. The lawyer will be given the title of Associate, but will have a further year of supervised practise in our Bermuda office or elsewhere in our global network.

Important Note: Appleby Bermuda are no longer accepting applications for Training Contracts in September 2010 as we have now filled all available opportunities.

In the Cayman Islands, the training period is 18 months. Trainees are known as ‘articled clerks’. As in Bermuda a person may be admitted as an attorney upon completion of articles.

Important Note: By reason of local immigration restrictions, our qualification programmes in Bermuda and the Cayman Islands are open only to citizens of those territorities.

Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man

In Jersey, the training period to qualify as a Jersey Solicitor or Advocate is generally two years. A person must attend weekend workshops run by the Institute of Law and pass six specific exams over one, two or three years. There is a fast-track option which involves taking all six exams in one sitting. In order to qualify it is also a requirement for a person to have worked in a Jersey law firm for at least two years.

As Guernsey law has its roots in Norman Law, becoming a Guernsey advocate requires three months' study in France at the Universite de Caen Basse-Normandie as well as passing the Guernsey bar exams, currently comprising four exams taken over the period of one week.

You can only be admitted as a Guernsey advocate if:

• you are a barrister or solicitor qualified in England & Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland; and
• you are ordinarily resident in Guernsey for a minimum period of two years; and
• you have undertaken a pupillage in Guernsey whilst accredited to an Advocate of the Royal Court of at least five years standing for either a 6 or 12 month period (depending on the nature of the UK qualifications).

To qualify as an Isle of Man Advocate, each trainee must undertake two years’ articles with an Isle of Man law firm, during which time five examinations will need to be passed. Those already qualified as an English Solicitor or Barrister, with a minimum of three years pqe, may qualify as an Isle of Man Advocate after having completed one year of articles and passing all five exams.

Appleby does not offer training contracts to qualify as an English Solicitor at present.

Appleby employs a number of paralegals throughout all areas of our Practice, other than in the Bermuda office. Specialist roles exist in the areas of Intellectual Property and Trademarks as well as more traditional roles in Litigation, Corporate and Property.

All applications should be submitted electronically via the website. To do this, please select ‘Positions Available’ and follow the application process. If you are unable to apply electronically, please refer to the ‘Careers Contacts’ section of our website to find out the contact details for each Appleby office.