Mills & Co. Solicitors Limited specialises exclusively in shipping and international trade. We are based in Newcastle upon Tyne, which has strong historical roots in shipping and has long been the UK’s ‘second city’ for shipping law. From here, we work in London arbitrations / courts for clients across the globe. We are regularly ranked favourably alongside the leading London law firms in Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners for shipping and international trade. Training with us provides a unique opportunity for academically gifted lawyers to combine the intellectual stimulation of working in some of the most interesting and varied areas of international commercial law with the quality of life advantages of the North East.

Types of work

We work solely in the shipping and international trade sectors. That work encompasses:

Dry shipping –  essentially contract law type work relating to hiring and insuring ships, carrying cargoes, building and financing new ships, and buying, selling, financing and repairing second-hand ships

Wet shipping – essentially tort law type work involving collisions between ships or between ships and other structures, groundings, as well as specialists contracts concerning salvage, towage and other services provided to ships in distress

International trade – drafting, advising on and litigating/arbitrating contracts relating to commodities and the international sale of goods

Who should apply

We aim to provide work to the highest standards. Our work involves a detailed consideration and application of the law alongside complex technical and factual issues. We therefore seek trainees who combine high academic achievement (at least A*AA at A level and 2:1 at university level) with practicality, commerciality and an international outlook. An interest in shipping/international trade is desirable but no prior knowledge/experience is necessary. We are committed to providing the best training possible with a view to our trainees staying with us upon qualification and ultimately becoming directors in the firm. In return, we are seeking a genuine interest in shipping law and a clear commitment to the North East.

Company Registration No. 09654668 (SRA No. 636160)

We offer one-week vacation schemes in spring and summer 2025 ahead of our 30 June 2025 deadline for 2027 traineeships.

We operate a four-seat system each of about six months. In each seat, the trainee sits with a director but will also work with others in the firm. The work will involve both discrete tasks but also handling matters under supervision. Our ratio between directors and non-directors allows us to provide detailed supervision and teaching of trainees and junior lawyers. Trainees can expect to receive work from most of the directors during the training contract, as we do not operate in teams and aim to ensure that trainees sample all areas of the firm’s work. Trainees therefore obtain two years’ experience in shipping / international trade matters.

We sponsor successful candidates through future PGDL and LPC/SQE studies. We usually meet the cost of the fees for the courses/exams and pay a maintenance allowance of £5,000, subject to certain criteria and conditions.

• Niche

• Newcastle