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Application Process

Information about Lewis Silkin's trainee application process.

There are up to six training contracts available in London, up to two training contract available in Belfast, and up to training contracts in Cardiff to start September 2026.

Applications open for our London, Cardiff and Belfast 2026 training contracts on 31st October 2023. To apply, please follow this link: Apply here.

When applying for our training contract, it can be tempting to tell us what you think we want to hear, and pretend to be someone you're not. However, the person we most want to hear from is the genuine 'you'. We want to get to know you, your experience, and what excites you about a training contract at Lewis Silkin. Likewise, we want you to get to know us in return, so please do explore our website or reach out to us directly with any questions you might have. You can also find out more about life at LS from our trainees here: Lewis Silkin - Trainee Stories

Throughout your application, we will be looking to understand two fundamental points:

  • Why you want to be a solicitor?

  • Why you want to train at Lewis Silkin?

You should view your application as an opportunity to introduce yourself to us, and layout what makes you a strong candidate for our training contract. Please read the questions asked of you, and consider how your answer relates to the two questions asked above. Please also be conscious of timelines - the deadline for applications is 23:59 on Wednesday 31st January 2024.

After reviewing initial applications, successful candidates will be invited to complete our pre-selection exercises, which consist of a video interview and a written exercise. This is your opportunity to really showcase the skills you have highlighted in your application.

In regards to the video interview, please rest assured that we know these may feel a little…unnatural. We are not assessing you on your screen presence. We are assessing you based on how you approach the questions asked of you and your approach to presenting information. Please use the time given to you, and consider how you structure your response. You'll be given some thinking time after being asked the question, to digest what has been asked of you, take a couple of notes, have some water, and then you'll be given two minutes to provide you response.

The written task will not require any legal knowledge but will assess some of the skills that you will rely on in a legal career. We will be reviewing your commercial awareness, your approach to solving problems, and how you relay information. This will be timed, and of course, reasonable adjustments will be made if required.

Ahead of the Assessment day, shortlisted candidates will be invited to a two-day workshop at our London office. This will allow you an opportunity to get to know us better, and meet people you may not get a chance to on the assessment day itself.

The day will include a variety of presentations (including a session with one of our Joint Managing Partners to give you more information about Our Vision and Strategy as a Firm) as well as a Group Project exercise. During the group project, you'll be working with other candidates to come up with a workable solution to a problem relevant to our business.

Following the pre-selection exercises (and two-day workshop for London candidates), shortlisted candidates will be invited to one of our Assessment Days. This will include two interviews and a case study exercise. You'll also tour our offices and meet our current trainee's.

The advice "be yourself" can feel a little redundant at assessment days, but this advice really means "try not to let the nerves get the better of you". If you've made it to the assessment day, that means that two HR professionals, two Partners, and two of our Managing Associates have fully endorsed your application so far, and will already be rooting for you!

The assessment day is also as much an opportunity for you to get to know us, as it is for us to meet you. We implore you to ask any questions you have, and get to know our firm.
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