Training in Northern Ireland

Exceptional experience. Serious opportunity.

Training in Northern Ireland

Our Belfast Training Contract offers two years of high-quality legal experience, with opportunities to develop technical expertise, commercial awareness and client-facing skills. Through a range of entry pathways, we support aspiring solicitors at every stage of their journey towards qualification.

Our pathways to training in Northern Ireland:

  • Accelerate Programme, applications open in January 2027.
  • Aspire Vacation Scheme Northern Ireland, applications open on Monday 2 November 2026 and close on Monday 1 March 2027.
  • Direct Training Contract Northern Ireland Application, applications are now open and close on Friday 23 October 2026.
How to apply

A training contract for a great future

There are many great reasons why you should consider a training contract at Foot Anstey.

Real world experience

Work as a trainee solicitor alongside other legal professionals. Developing skills, gaining hands on experience and contributing to the work and success of the firm.

Breadth of experience

Complete seats in different areas of the firm including litigation, corporate, property and banking. Rotating from seat to seat provides the opportunity to develop a broad skillset.

Expert supervision

Learning from some of the most experienced people in our firm. Each trainee will have a supervising Partner (Master) and a supervising Solicitor / Associate (Mentor).

Study sponsorship

Studying at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies (IPLS), forms an important part of your training. We will cover your tuition  fees, as well as support you with a tutor to best prepare you for the entry exam.

Peer connection

Benefit from being part of a small trainee cohort, allowing for high levels of responsibility, hands-on experience and a close-knit trainee network.

Clear progression

We believe in giving our trainees high levels of responsibility and, as they progress, supervised ownership of their own case load to achieve the skills required to be a high performing solicitor.There are many great examples of colleagues who have built rewarding and successful careers with us.

Aspire Vacation Scheme Northern Ireland

Our vacation schemes are a fantastic way to experience life at Foot Anstey for yourself, and to see the work, the career and the life you could have here. During your vacation scheme, you will have the opportunity to work on live cases to understand the work you would be doing as a trainee. At the end of the week, you will join and take part in an assessment centre day and, if successful, you will be offered a training contract. Plus, we support with your travel and accommodation costs, in addition to paying you for your week of hard work.

A taster

See what it’s like to be a Lawyer in a fast-growing firm.

An insight

Gain a real insight into the type of work you would undertake as a Trainee Solicitor.

An experience

Experience the culture and buzz of our dynamic workplace.

Our Accelerate Programme

Opening doors to law

We believe a career in law should be open to everyone. That’s why we created Accelerate, an internship and support programme for first-year law students in Belfast that may face additional barriers to entering the legal profession. Accelerate offers financial, professional and personal support to those taking their first steps into the legal world. We want to create opportunity where it matters most so there are some additional widening access criteria that participants will need to meet to be eligible.​​​

What does the programme entail?

A one-week paid internship in our Belfast office in June, where you’ll experience:

  • Hands‑on office life
  • Real client work
  • Skills workshops
  • Opportunities to meet our lawyers and build your network

This is your chance to see what a career in law really looks like.

Fast-track career opportunities

This opportunity could fast‑track you to our Aspire Vacation Scheme, where you’ll get early, hands‑on experience with real client work. Everyone who completes Aspire is assessed for a potential training contract.

Accelerate could be your very first step towards securing a training contract.

Ongoing support and connections

Throughout your studies, you’ll stay connected with us through:

  • Regular check‑ins with colleagues from Foot Anstey
  • Guidance from our Early Careers team
  • Mentoring, insights and encouragement as you navigate your next steps

We know that university life can be expensive, which is why Accelerate includes the following financial support to help you make the most of the experience:

  • £500 at the start of your second year
  • £500 at the start of your third year

There’s no repayment required. This support is here for you – wherever your future leads.​​​​

Eligibility criteria

We want to make the biggest difference where it matters most. That’s why this programme is designed to support students who, according to research, may face additional barriers when pursuing a career in the legal profession.

To apply, you’ll need to meet one or more widening‑access criteria:

  • Be a first-year undergraduate law student and
  • Be eligible for or are currently receiving free school meals (FSM) and/or Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) or
  • Be the main carer for a family member or dependant or
  • Have had a permanent residence eircode at the age of fourteen that is classified as being in a “disadvantaged neighbourhood” by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency*. You can check the eligibility of your eircode through the POP 2026 Postcode Checker or
  • Be a Refugee or an Asylum Seeker or
  • If you are care experienced or currently in the care of a Health and Social Care Trust (e.g. Foster Care, Residential Care, etc.) or
  • Have Traveller, Romani Gypsy or Roma heritage.

* If you grew up in the Republic of Ireland, please get in touch with us and we’ll check your eligibility via postcode individually.​

Our Accelerate Programme

Opening doors to law

We believe a career in law should be open to everyone. That’s why we created Accelerate, an internship and support programme for first-year law students in Belfast that may face additional barriers to entering the legal profession. Accelerate offers financial, professional and personal support to those taking their first steps into the legal world. We want to create opportunity where it matters most so there are some additional widening access criteria that participants will need to meet to be eligible.​​​

What does the programme entail?

A one-week paid internship in our Belfast office in June, where you’ll experience:

  • Hands‑on office life
  • Real client work
  • Skills workshops
  • Opportunities to meet our lawyers and build your network

This is your chance to see what a career in law really looks like.

Fast-track career opportunities

This opportunity could fast‑track you to our Aspire Vacation Scheme, where you’ll get early, hands‑on experience with real client work. Everyone who completes Aspire is assessed for a potential training contract.

Accelerate could be your very first step towards securing a training contract.

Ongoing support and connections

Throughout your studies, you’ll stay connected with us through:

  • Regular check‑ins with colleagues from Foot Anstey
  • Guidance from our Early Careers team
  • Mentoring, insights and encouragement as you navigate your next steps

We know that university life can be expensive, which is why Accelerate includes the following financial support to help you make the most of the experience:

  • £500 at the start of your second year
  • £500 at the start of your third year

There’s no repayment required. This support is here for you – wherever your future leads.​​​​

Eligibility criteria

We want to make the biggest difference where it matters most. That’s why this programme is designed to support students who, according to research, may face additional barriers when pursuing a career in the legal profession.

To apply, you’ll need to meet one or more widening‑access criteria:

  • Be a first-year undergraduate law student and
  • Be eligible for or are currently receiving free school meals (FSM) and/or Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) or
  • Be the main carer for a family member or dependant or
  • Have had a permanent residence eircode at the age of fourteen that is classified as being in a “disadvantaged neighbourhood” by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency*. You can check the eligibility of your eircode through the POP 2026 Postcode Checker or
  • Be a Refugee or an Asylum Seeker or
  • If you are care experienced or currently in the care of a Health and Social Care Trust (e.g. Foster Care, Residential Care, etc.) or
  • Have Traveller, Romani Gypsy or Roma heritage.

* If you grew up in the Republic of Ireland, please get in touch with us and we’ll check your eligibility via postcode individually.​

Ready to apply?

At Foot Anstey, our recruitment process is designed to identify people who have the key qualities to succeed and thrive. We aim to discover whether our firm is the right fit for you, and if you have the potential to excel and grow with us.

For further details on what we look for and the different stages of our application process, visit our dedicated page on application guidance at the link below.

Find out more

Upcoming events

Our benefits

We pride ourselves on being a supportive employer, and we’re always looking at what our people need; to enjoy the best of work and life.

Find out more

Your lifestyle

From birthday leave to taking a sabbatical.

Your health

From our health cash plan to free eye tests.

Your family

From fertility checks to enhanced parental leave.

Your wealth

From saving money on everyday purchases to investing in your pension.

Podcast episodes

People stories

Hear from some of our recent Trainees. Find out why they joined, what their highlights have been, and how they see their future at Foot Anstey.

View all

Contact us

We’re excited to hear from you and help you start your career journey. Check out our FAQs below and if you have any other questions, complete our contact form or get in touch directly.

Get in touch

Training in Northern Ireland: frequently asked questions

  • Accelerate programme, applications open in January 2027.
  • Aspire Vacation Scheme NI, applications open on Monday 2 November 2026 and close on Monday 1 March 2027.
  • Direct Training Contract NI Application, applications open on Monday 7 September 2026 and close on Friday 23 October 2026.

Take the time to do the best application you can, see our guidance on the application process here.

Our vacation scheme is a great way to experience Foot Anstey and find out more about the work you could be doing here. At the end of each vacation scheme, you’ll have the opportunity to complete an assessment for a training contract. If you already have plenty of work experience and would prefer to apply directly for a training contract, feel free to do so.

Just remember:

  • If you are applying for a training contract, you need to be eligible to start this in September 2027.
  • If you are applying to the vacation scheme, this will take place in June 2027 with a view to successful candidates starting their training contracts in 2028.

Yes! We help you with the cost of travel and accommodation and you will receive a competitive salary for your week’s hard work.

Our application process is designed to identify individuals who have the key qualities to succeed and thrive. For further information and the different application stages, find out more here. 

Yes. We take mitigating circumstances into consideration when reviewing applications. There is space on the application form for you to let us know what your mitigating circumstances relate to.

Please enter your qualifications (including the scores that you have) as normal. You do not need to convert your grades to the UK equivalent; we will do this for you.

Yes. We’re committed to supporting you every step of the way. As well as covering your IPLS fees, we’ll fund a tutor to help you prepare for the entrance exam.

Our vacation schemes are targeted at those in their second year of a qualifying law degree in Northern Ireland, and above.

Accelerate is designed to improve access for those who need it most, which is why we have set specific eligibility requirements.

​You will receive £500 at the start of your second year, and £500 at the start of your third year.

No. Accelerate is here to support your journey, whatever direction you take. We hope your experience with us inspires you to consider a future at Foot Anstey, but there is no requirement to join the firm.

Not directly from the Accelerate programme. It’s designed to help you develop and prepare for your next steps. But it can fast‑track you into our Aspire Vacation Scheme, where you’ll gain real client experience and be assessed for the chance to secure a training contract.​

 

 

We value the responsible use of AI in business and in everyday life. We also embrace innovation and value authenticity. Your application form provides you with the opportunity to shine. Whilst we recognise that you may wish to refer to AI tools to help with idea generation, we’d recommend that you do not simply copy and paste AI-generated responses.

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