Training Contract

Lewis Silkin describes its training contracts as offering a combination of high-quality legal work and a supportive culture. Trainees work alongside experienced lawyers who provide guidance and mentoring throughout their seats.

From the beginning of the training contract, trainees are given real responsibility and opportunities to work on high-profile matters. The programme also provides exposure to different areas of law, together with workshops, seminars, secondments and client visits. Trainees will also have opportunities to work with legal technology and develop skills relevant to a rapidly changing legal profession.

All trainees complete the firm's two-year training contract consisting of four seat rotations, even where they have previously obtained Qualifying Work Experience elsewhere.

Who Can Apply

Lewis Silkin recruits two years in advance. Applications are open to:

• Graduates.

• Final-year non-law degree students.

• Penultimate-year law degree students.

First-year university students cannot apply for the training contract.

There are no minimum academic grade requirements for A levels or degree classification. Although Lewis Silkin's trainees have, on average, achieved AAB at A level and a 2:1 degree, these grades are not requirements. Applications are assessed holistically.

The firm welcomes applicants from a wide range of backgrounds. Studying law is not necessary, and approximately half of Lewis Silkin's trainees studied a non-law subject at university. Applicants who did not attend a Russell Group university are considered on the same basis as other candidates.

Legal work experience is also not essential. Lewis Silkin is interested in what applicants have learned from their experiences, which can include part-time employment, volunteering, university societies, hobbies, extracurricular activities and pro bono work.

International graduates and students can apply. Any offer is conditional on the applicant having the right to work in the UK, and Lewis Silkin currently holds a visa sponsorship licence.

Application Process

The recruitment process consists of four main stages.

Stage 1: Application Form and Online Assessment

Applications open on 21 October 2026 and close at 23:59 on 21 December 2026.

Applications must be submitted through Lewis Silkin's Candid applicant tracking system. CVs are not accepted by email.

The application asks for personal and academic information, work experience and information for the firm's Rare Contextualised Recruitment System. Candidates must also explain their motivation for applying to Lewis Silkin.

After submitting the application, candidates will be invited to complete an online assessment. No advance preparation is required, and the deadline for completing the assessment is 31 December 2026.

Lewis Silkin does not recruit on a rolling basis. Applications are reviewed after the deadline. Candidates should expect to hear about the outcome around the beginning of February 2027.

Stage 2: Telephone Interview

Successful candidates will be invited to a short telephone interview with a member of the Talent Acquisition team.

The interview consists of three questions assessing the candidate's motivation for a career in law and interest in Lewis Silkin.

Candidates can also attend an optional networking event before the interview. The networking event is not assessed.

Stage 3: Initial Assessment Day

Shortlisted candidates will attend an initial assessment day at Lewis Silkin's London office.

The assessment includes:

• A group exercise.

• A written exercise.

• An interview with a partner and senior lawyer.

Candidates will also have the opportunity to meet current trainees.

For the 2029 recruitment cycle, London assessment days are scheduled for 26 February, 1 March and 2 March 2027. Belfast, Manchester and Cardiff candidates will attend assessment days on 22 or 23 March 2027.

Stage 4: Final Assessment Day

Candidates who progress beyond the initial assessment day will attend a final assessment day at the office for which they applied.

The final assessment consists of two partner interviews and a case study exercise.

The scheduled dates are:

• London: 12 March 2027

• Manchester: 21 April 2027

• Belfast: 28 April 2027

• Cardiff: 14 May 2027

Qualification Route

Candidates who have already completed the LPC do not need to complete the SQE and can continue through the traditional qualification route.

Candidates who have not completed the LPC will need to qualify through the SQE route. Non-law graduates must complete the PGDL and SQE, while law graduates must complete the SQE before beginning the training contract.

Lewis Silkin requires trainees to have completed the SQE before starting their training contract rather than completing the SQE alongside the training contract.

The firm reimburses or sponsors GDL, LPC and/or SQE fees. Future trainees also receive a £16,500 maintenance grant, reduced to £15,600 for those studying outside London.

What Lewis Silkin Looks For

Lewis Silkin places particular emphasis on authenticity. Candidates should demonstrate a genuine interest in becoming a solicitor and explain why Lewis Silkin's particular practice and culture appeal to them.

The firm is interested in candidates who can use their own experiences to demonstrate relevant skills rather than relying on generic examples or simply describing activities they have undertaken.

The two central questions candidates should be able to answer are:

• Why do you want to become a solicitor?

• Why do you want to train at Lewis Silkin?

AI Use in Applications

Lewis Silkin permits candidates to use AI tools for limited purposes such as checking spelling, grammar and clarity.

However, the substantive content of an application must remain original and reflective of the candidate's own experiences and motivations. Candidates must not use AI as a substitute for their own input or copy and paste content directly from AI tools. Any specific instructions prohibiting AI must also be followed.

Vacation Schemes and Work Experience

Lewis Silkin does not currently operate a vacation scheme for university students or graduates. Instead, the firm focuses its resources on direct training contract recruitment.

The firm considers its assessment days to provide an effective way of identifying future trainees while also giving candidates opportunities to meet people across the firm and learn about its culture and work.

Formal work experience placements and internships are currently limited to sixth-form students, although the firm runs events that are open to candidates at different stages of their careers.

Application Deadline

Applications open: 21 October 2026

Application deadline: 23:59 on 21 December 2026

Online assessment deadline: 31 December 2026

Intake: 2029

Locations: London, Belfast, Cardiff and Manchester

Contract: Two-year training contract