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Training Contract - 2027 - Simkins

Training Contract - 2027 - Simkins

companySimkins
locationLondon, UK
PublishedPublished: Published 1 week ago
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Full time
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not stated
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not stated
Role CommencementWithin 2 years
SRA QWE competencesApplying critical thinking and analysis (SRA competences A5) | Applying legal principles (SRA competences A4) | Clear Oral and Written Communication (SRA competences C1) | Client relationships (SRA competences C2) | Learning from practice and other people (SRA competences A2) | Legal Drafting (SRA competences B4) | Legal Research (SRA competences B2) | Opportunity to gain feedback from effective supervision (SRA competences A3) | Project/case management (SRA competences B7) | Technical legal practice (SRA competences B1) | Self-management (SRA competences D1) | Working in professionally regulated environment (SRA competences A1) | Professional workplace relationships (SRA competences C3)

Application deadline 30 April 2025

The firm is currently inviting applications for training contracts to commence in September 2027. Training contracts will be made available for up to two candidates.

Interviews will take place in a one-week period during the week beginning Monday 7 July 2025. Interviews will take place at our offices at Lynton House (WC1).

Following interview, successful candidates will be invited to attend a work placement for one week at our offices at Lynton House. The firm will offer up to eight work placements. There will be one work placement week in 2025 – it will take place in the week beginning Monday 4 August 2025.

During the work placement week, candidates will be given the opportunity to work-shadow lawyers within the firm and will participate in a number of practical, legal and analytical exercises. Following the work placement, if you are successful, an offer of a training contract to start in September 2027 will be made at some time shortly after your attendance on the work placement.

You should ensure you can be available to attend an interview and work placement on the dates specified above before submitting your application.

Who we're looking for

A 2:1 degree or above is desirable. We expect all candidates to have a commitment to the law (although we welcome applications from non-law graduates) and a proven interest in business and commerce. We look to recruit trainees who are ambitious, motivated, considerate and collegiate; trainees who understand our core values and who seek to build upon our excellent reputation. We recognise and believe that today’s trainees can be our future partners – we encourage that focus and determination to drive our firm forward.

Diversity and inclusion

We are fully committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion and we aim to recruit our trainees on the basis of their experience, abilities and qualifications alone. We are delighted to be working with Aspiring Solicitors as part of our drive to increase diversity in the legal industry. We also have a partnership with ReachOut, a mentoring charity that helps young people from disadvantaged backgrounds improve their career prospects. We don’t recruit directly from the ReachOut programme, but we do provide mentoring, an Insight Day and two spaces for candidates to attend our placement week to gain invaluable work experience.

Application process

You should ensure you can be available to attend an interview and work placement on the dates specified above before submitting your application. Applicants must be eligible to work in the UK - unfortunately, given the size of the firm, we are currently unable to provide VISA sponsorship. Applicants are asked to complete an application form and attend an interview. Following interview, up to 8 successful candidates will be invited to attend a work placement for 1 week at our offices. As we receive a large number of applications, unfortunately it isn’t possible to interview every candidate or offer feedback, should you not be selected for the work placement week.

Funding and support

If you are successful, our training contract offer will be conditional on you successfully completing the LPC, passing each module on the first attempt. For those who have yet to take their LPC, we will meet the cost of the LPC at our preferred supplier, BPP, provided that, if you subsequently choose not to join us as a trainee, you will be obliged to refund those costs to us. We will meet the cost of your attendance on the compulsory Professional Skills Course which will take place during the course of your training contract. We will consider the cost of any required re-attendance or re-sits at our discretion.

The SQE

With the introduction of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) as an alternative route to qualification, the way in which solicitors qualify is changing. Our recruitment programme to date has been based on the traditional route to qualification but we are now transitioning to the SQE. Non-law graduates will be required to take a law conversion before embarking on SQE prep courses.  We will meet the cost of the SQE1 prep & exam, the SQE2 prep & exam and the Essentials for Practice at our preferred supplier, BPP, provided that if you subsequently choose not to join us, you will be obliged to refund those costs to us. Once passed, candidates will join the firm for two years of Qualifying Work Experience.

What you can expect

Our practice is split into the following areas of law: civil litigation, commercial and company, employment, family, private client, and property. We want our trainees to receive a broad depth of training and we have restructured our programme so that our trainees can gain experience in each of our practice areas. During your training contract/qualifying work experience, you will be given the opportunity to work in employment and disputes/reputation management, property and family/private client and corporate/commercial. You may also be asked to complete an ad hoc client secondment for up to three months. Alongside a competitive salary, our trainees are eligible for a range of benefits including a cash plan scheme, 24/7 GP access, an employee assistance programme, discounted gym membership, private health insurance, group income protection, mindfulness and well-being sessions, death in service, pension, cycle-to-work scheme, payroll giving and season ticket loans.

Practice area

  • Dispute resolution / Civil litigation
  • Business, company and commercial affairs
  • Employment law
  • Family law
  • Probate, wills and trusts
  • Residential property / conveyancing
  • Commercial property / conveyancing

Required degree level

  • Law degree/GDL/CILEX level 6 or equivalent
  • Non-law degree

Years of experience

  • not stated

Salary range

  • not stated