FAQ's

FAQs

• When am I able to apply for a Training Contract?

We recruit two years in advance, so our Training Contract opportunities are open to all graduates, all final-year non-law degree students and all penultimate-year law degree students. Our applications are due to open on the 14th October 2024 for our 2027 cohort.

• When will I hear back on my application?

  As applications are not reviewed on a rolling basis, all applications will need to be reviewed before any updates will be communicated. Candidates should not expect to hear back until all applications have been reviewed, which is due to be the end of January 2025. Please be patient with us, we always endeavour to get back to candidates as soon as we can.

• Will I receive feedback if my application is unsuccessful?

  Unfortunately, due to the volume of applications we receive and limited resource in the team, we are unable to provide individual feedback on unsuccessful applications. However, we will publish general feedback on our website at the end of the recruitment process. You will receive individual feedback following both the assessment day and final assessment day.

• I don’t have any legal experience; can I still apply for a Training Contract?

  Yes! We appreciate that legal experience can be very hard to come by. We believe everyone should have equal access to legal work experience and so we have partnered with PRIME to develop a Virtual Legal Work Experience Programme. Anyone can do it – there are no restrictions or even an application process. It’s been designed to provide an insight into what a career in law might look like, building legal skills and gaining an understanding of what it means to be a lawyer.

  When reviewing applications, we’re looking for candidates who show real potential, assessing applicants on their transferrable skills rather than their legal knowledge.

• I don’t have a degree; can I still apply for a Training Contract?

  You must have completed a degree before you are able to start your Training Contact. If you’re interested in qualifying as a solicitor but have not yet started a degree, take a look at our apprentice opportunities here.

• I didn’t study law at a Russell Group university; will this affect my application?

  No. Our trainees come from a variety of backgrounds and just under half (around 46%) of our trainees studied law at university. Applicants will not be at an advantage just for having attended Oxbridge or a Russell Group university. We look at applications holistically and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

• Do I need the right to work in the UK to apply for your Training Contract?

  If you do not currently have the right to work in the UK please provide full details of how you intend to qualify for this so that we can consider whether or not it is possible for us to progress your application. We will look at each application on a case by case basis. Any offer will be conditional on your right to work in the UK.

• Do you sponsor international students?

  We currently hold a Visa Sponsorship license and therefore welcome applications from international students. As mentioned above, we will look at each application on a case by case basis.

• Do you have any minimum/average grade requirements?

  When we recruit, our focus is simply on finding the best candidate for the role - regardless of their background. We are looking for genuine passion and interest within our specialist sectors.

  We want someone who is enthusiastic and motivated, possesses strong communication skills and is a team player who works for the benefit of all.

  We do not have minimum grade requirements for either degree classification or A levels. On average, our trainees have achieved AAB at A level and a 2.1 in their degree, but these are not requirements for us. We also take any extenuating circumstances into account that may have impacted your grades and there is a section on the application form to input this information.

• I haven't done lots of extracurricular activities; will this affect my application?

  Absolutely not. We want to know about you and your interests, or involvement in any activities that demonstrate the skills we are looking for. It doesn’t matter what those examples are, we’re solely focused on the skills you have gained. For example, improving your communication skills whilst volunteering in a local charity shop or working in a restaurant is equally as impressive as doing so whilst volunteering for a NGO in Africa.

• What if I can’t make it to one of your events?

  Don't worry if you can't make it to one of our events, there are plenty of other ways for you to learn more about our firm. Although it’s a great way to find about us, your (non) attendance will not have a direct impact on your application.

• What should I do if I am unable to attend any of the Assessment Day dates?

  Our Assessment Day dates are aligned as best as we can to ensure all candidates can attend as well as internal assessors. We are offering multiple dates for both our London and regional assessment days which can be found here. Due to the format of the assessment days, candidates must be able to attend in-person and unfortunately, we are not able to accept applications for candidates who cannot attend these dates or the Final Assessment Day.

• If I have been unsuccessful at assessment day stage, can I reapply?

  If you have completed an assessment day and have been unsuccessful, you may reapply. We encourage you to show you have learnt from your experience and have taken on board the feedback we have provided during the process.

• If I’m successful in securing a Training Contract, will I study the LPC or SQE?

  It is our preference that you will study the SQE route. However, at Lewis Silkin, we don't exclude candidates based on whether they have completed the LPC or SQE, or if they have or have not yet studied a PGDL, LPC, or SQE at all. If you are offered a training contract with us, we will discuss your individual circumstances with you.

  Whichever route you would prefer, we recommend all future lawyers keep up-to-date on the changes through  https://www.sra.org.uk/

• Do you have a preferred provider for the PGDL or SQE?

  If you have already completed your courses, we do not mind where you studied. We ask all our sponsored students to attend BPP, although the location is up to you.

• Can I study the SQE and complete the Training Contract at the same time?

  Whilst the SRA allows QWE to be completed at the same time as SQE exams, our training contract is a formalised and structured programme, not just QWE, and it is a requirement that trainees have completed their studies in advance of joining us. Additionally, due to the intensive nature of the SQE and the fact you'll be managing a busy workload alongside this, we believe it is more beneficial to do this for wellbeing purposes.

• Are there specific electives I should study at law school?

  We do not specify which electives you should study however we do ask that you consider the areas we work in before you choose your electives.

• Do you offer financial assistance for studying the PGDL and/or SQE studies

  All GDL, LPC and/or SQE fees are reimbursed (or sponsored if you're yet to complete your studies), and you'll be awarded an £8,000 maintenance grant whilst studying the GDL/LPC/SQE. For more information on our benefits, please see more here.

• I’m interested in paralegal opportunities; how can I apply for a role?

  We advertise all our paralegal vacancies on our website. You can check for any suitable opportunities and sign up to receive alerts about new opportunities here.

• Do you offer work experience placements or internships?

  Due to limited capacity within the team, we do not currently offer work experience or internships on an ad-hoc basis and our formal placements are only open to sixth-form students. We encourage you to keep an eye on any events we are running, including our Trainee Open Evening, which can be found here.

• Does my previous work experience count as Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) at the firm, and if so, does this shorten the length of my training contract?

At Lewis Silkin, we require all trainees to complete the entire two-year training contract, composed of 4 seat rotations. This wouldn't include experience from elsewhere.

Applications for our London, Manchester Cardiff, and Belfast 2027 Training Contracts open on 14 October. Apply here. Applications will close on the 15 January 2025.