Herbert Smith Freehills has started taking on trainees in its Belfast legal support centre for the first time, with the firm offering some of its legal assistants training contracts in a bid to retain talent. 

Three legal assistants took up contracts with the firm in September, with more expected to do the same next year, depending on business needs. 

To apply for the traineeships, candidates must have worked at the Belfast base for at least one year and, on qualification, will only be offered jobs in the Northern Ireland office.