Slaughters in early closure of non-law applications

Slaughter and May has closed training contract applications to non-law students earlier than usual, while those studying law still have time to apply for a place on the 2011-12 intake.
The City law firm has confirmed that the number of trainees it is planning to recruit for 2011-12 will remain unchanged at approximately 95.
However, Slaughters has conceded that it has been forced to close applications from non-law students early.
The firm’s executive partner Graham White said: “We’ve decided to close applications from non-law students for 2011 for the moment. This is slightly earlier than in previous years. We thought it wasn’t fair to drag people through interviews knowing we wouldn’t be able to make offers.”
Under Solicitors Regulation Authority rules law firms are not permitted to offer penultimate-year law students training contracts until 1 September.