Training Contract - 2027 - Payne Hicks Beach

Deadline: 28 March 2025

Payne Hicks Beach LLP is a long-established, yet forward-thinking firm of solicitors that can trace its history to 1770. We are fortunate to be located in picturesque Lincoln’s Inn at the heart of the legal world in Central London.

We offer a full range of services to individuals, corporates, trusts and charities with practice areas ranging from Private Client, Family and Dispute Resolution to Property, Corporate, Employment and Immigration. Many of our solicitors are leaders in their field and we have an outstanding reputation across our practice areas.

Payne Hicks Beach LLP is noted as having a first-rate training programme for aspiring solicitors. The firm has been included in The Lex 100 Winners List for many years and has again been named a Lex 100 Winner for 2023/24. Over the years, the firm has received accolades for job satisfaction, living up to expectations, work life balance, friendliness of the firm, quality of work, client contact and stress levels.

Training Contracts

Our assessment days will take place on 8, 9 and 10 April 2025, with interviews being held on 14 April and 15 April 2025.  No other dates are available therefore you must be available to attend in person.  

There is no requirement to attend an open day to be considered for a training contract.

Following the relevant closing date all applications will be reviewed. Successful applicants will be invited to an assessment day.

Candidates will be told as soon as possible following the assessment day whether they have been selected for interview. We will also notify you if you are on the interview reserve list.  If a place then becomes available, it will be offered to a reserve.

No other dates are available for either the assessments or interviews, so if you are unavailable on those dates, you will not be considered.

Offer letters will be sent out as soon as verbal acceptances are received. At that time, those on the reserve list will also be notified.

Due to the volume of applications we receive, we are unfortunately unable to provide feedback to unsuccessful candidates.

Unfortunately we do not hold a licence to sponsor international students.

The Training Programme

During the two year training period trainee solicitors usually spend six months in four of the top leading law firm, Payne Hicks Beach LLP’s six specialist departments, so that they have experience of a wide cross-section of the Firm’s work.

These departments are:

Private Client
Family
Company and Commercial (including Employment)
Property
Dispute Resolution
Citizenship & Immigration

As far as possible, the trainee’s choice of department will be taken into consideration. Trainees are involved in the day to day activities of the department to which they are assigned. They attend conferences with clients, counsel and other professional advisers and may be asked to assist in all aspects of the department’s work. Since there is usually only one trainee per department at any one time, the trainee plays a very important role.

During each six month period the trainees are given increased responsibility, depending on their ability and aptitude, and are subject to continued assessment. Mid and end of seat appraisals take place.

The Firm considers the continuing academic learning of its trainees to be extremely important. In addition to the Professional Skills and induction courses, the Firm runs a formal training programme and trainees are required to attend all lectures and seminars, on various legal topics, held throughout the two year period.

Partners, Senior Associates and many others devote a great deal of time to your development. As one of a small intake of trainees each year, you will need to be ready for real work and supervised client contact from the very start.

All trainee solicitors must complete the Professional Skills Course (PSC) or the Solicitors Qualifying Exam during their training contract. The PSC comprises two sections: Core and Electives. In addition to the PSC, you will attend a general induction to the firm, equipping you with the basic skills you need for the first day in your seat.

Salary & Benefits

The current salary paid to our trainee solicitors who started in 2023 is £49,000 per annum, rising to £52,000 per annum for the second year. These figures are reviewed on an annual basis.

The firm also offers a wide range of benefits including private medical insurance; permanent health insurance; employee assistance programme; life assurance scheme; health screening; contributory pension scheme; cycle to work scheme; season ticket loan; wellbeing programme; staff introduction bonus; dental cover; and gym membership.

Course Fees and Maintenance Grant

The fees for the Postgraduate Diploma in Law, the Legal Practice Course, the Solicitors Qualifying Exam and a maintenance grant (currently £7,000 per annum) whist studying are paid, if incurred after selection. These are not repayable provided examinations are passed at the first attempt, training is completed and the trainee remains with the Firm for a period of at least two years post qualification.

We have an exclusive arrangement for the provision of legal training with BPP.

Academic Requirements

The Firm recruits both law and non-law graduates and also mature students. Although good academic qualifications are essential, we are also looking for applicants with personality and enthusiasm. We expect successful applicants have obtained, or be on course for a 2:1 degree classification for their undergraduate course minimum, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Selection Process

Trainees are selected from a large number of applicants, so very high standards are set in the selection process. The Firm recruits both law and non-law graduates and also mature students. Although good academic qualifications are essential, (an upper second class degree is a minimum requirement), we are also looking for applicants with personality and enthusiasm. The firm does not hold a licence to sponsor overseas students.