Research as many firms as possible.  Read The Training Contract and Pupilage Handbook, Target Law and similar publications to get a basic idea of the type of firms that are out there. These are usually available either free from your university careers service, or by contacting the publishers. (please see the links section).

By now, if you have read through the previous pages, you should already be familiar with your criteria for choosing a firm.

One such factor will be what area you want to live in. As time goes on, depending upon your success finding a firm, you may consider how flexible you are prepared to be with this. 

Think about whether you want to spend part of your training contract abroad, if so, can you speak the language and are you familiar with the culture?  If you are, then be prepared to state the depth of your familiarity with the country in a form, covering letter and/or interview.  Ask the firm if they provide these opportunities and state that this is one reason why you wish to join that firm.

Consider the size of the firm you want to work for.  If you wish to work for a big firm, then how does this fit in with your personality?  Do you have experience of working in a large organisation?  Partially, this may depend on the way in which they work, i.e. in groups of what size, autonomous or highly supervised.  Again, what experience do you have to back up your choices?  Similar reasoning applies to working within a small firm. Try to get experience by attending open days and summer vacation schemes. Keep a log of the ones which you have been attending. Our downloads section has a free program which will help you to do this.

Overall, consider more than just your potential pay-cheque, working in a firm that does not suit you will make your training contract very difficult and a firm will be unlikely to offer you a new contract at the end if you're not suited to the firm.