Training Contract - September 2026 - Holmes & Hills

The deadline for applications is 31st March 2025.

The Assessment Day for all applications will be Wednesday 9th July 2025.

Becoming a Solicitor at Holmes & Hills

Our aim is to recruit trainees who will be with us beyond their training contracts/qualifying work experience. We therefore look to recruit trainees who are committed to a career based in East Anglia and at Holmes & Hills. We work in partnership with our trainees to ensure they receive the best possible training, experiencing a mixture of opportunities and developing their career so they are ready for qualification when the time comes. Of course we want to retain our trainees and this is demonstrated in the number of Solicitors, Associates and Partners within the firm who were previous trainees.

As a trainee you will spend time in at least 2 of our 7 offices providing proactive legal services and pragmatic advice to a mixture of public sector, commercial and individual clients across the region.
To ensure you flourish in the role, we will provide you with regular supervision, feedback and support, enabling you to shape and grow your career at the firm. From day one you will be encouraged to contribute, get involved and will be given responsibility appropriate to the level you are working at. At all times you will be supported by our experienced fee earners.

We actively encourage our Trainees to get involved in marketing, networking, training and social events. We have a Junior Lawyers Network which you will become part of, allowing you to network with your peers, exchange knowledge, support you and gain appropriate non legal training (commerciality, marketing, networking etc).

Routes to qualification at Holmes & Hills:

1. Training Contracts via LPC

This route is open for those who started their degree before September 2021.

Entry requirements: 2:1 law degree (minimum) or a 2:1 degree in a non law subject and then taking GDL (Graduate Diploma in Law), and successful completion of the Legal Practice Course (LPC). You can apply for a Training Contract whilst studying but should have completed your LPC prior to commencing your Training Contract in September 2026.

During the Training Contract we will pay for you to complete your Professional Skills Course (PSC) and you will receive the time off to complete this; you will need to ensure you pass this. Over the 2 years you will work full time to complete your ‘Period of Recognised Training’/Training Contract usually rotating through 4 placements of 6 months each, experiencing a mixture of contentious and non-contentious work across Private Client and Commercial areas.

Subject to the SRA’s character and suitability test you will be admitted as a solicitor.

2. Qualifying Work Experience via SQE

Entry requirements: 2:1 degree and have already passed both stages of the SQE (e.g. as part of a Masters qualification) but needing Qualifying Work Experience. You can apply for qualifying work experience whilst taking your SQE 1&2 Assessments but these should be passed before you commence your Qualifying Work Experience in September 2026. Please note we are unable to offer this route to those who wish to use previous Qualifying Work Experience and are hoping to qualify in less than 2 years. We are looking for Trainees who are looking for Qualifying Work Experience for a 2 year duration akin to a Training Contract.

During your 2 years Qualifying Work Experience you will work full time to complete your ‘Period of Recognised Training’ usually rotating through 4 placements of 6 months each, experiencing a mixture of contentious and non-contentious work across Private Client and Commercial areas.

Subject to the SRA’s character and suitability test you will be admitted as a solicitor.

3. Solicitor Apprenticeships*

Entry requirements: 2:1 Law degree (or 2:1 non law degree and a pass in a GDL/PGDL) minimum. You can apply for an Apprenticeship whilst studying but your degree should be passed prior to commencing your Apprenticeship in September 2026.

You will join us as a Trainee Solicitor on a 30 month Apprenticeship. You will spend 80% of your time working at Holmes & Hills and 20% dedicated to learning ( usually 1 day a week) allowing you to complete your Qualifying Work Experience and Studies alongside each other. Whilst studying you will complete your SQE 1 and 2 with our chosen Training Provider BPP. Holmes & Hills will cover the costs of your SQE with BPP. BPP will provide you with the appropriate SQE preparation courses and support you in your apprenticeship journey as you take your SQE exams.

Upon successfully passing your SQE exams and subject to the SRA’s character and suitability test you will be admitted as a solicitor.

All prospective employees should have the right to permanently live and work in the UK. Apprenticeships are not covered by student visas.

*subject to the continuation of Level 7 funding

Why Train at Holmes & Hills?

Who better to ask than our current Trainees. What do our current Trainees say about a day in the life of a Trainee at Holmes & Hills?

“A day in the life of a Trainee Solicitor at H&H varies and is largely dependent upon the department you are assisting at the time. As a Trainee in the [Dispute Resolution Department/Contentious Probate Division], much of my time is spent sitting in on client meetings, conferences with counsel, assisting with new enquiries and liaising with experts, third parties and clients. I also spend a lot of my time drafting letters, including letters before claim and without prejudice offers. On occasion I am asked to carry out some legal research, perhaps to locate legal precedent which we can attempt to rely on in our cases, or regarding court procedures and applications. Finally, outside of assisting with legal work I may be attending internal get-togethers with other H&H staff as well as attending external events to meet other professionals in the region. Overall, life as a Trainee at Holmes & Hills is varied, sociable and supportive.”

“It is difficult to pinpoint what a day in the life of a trainee solicitor at Holmes & Hills entails as not one day is the same. Every morning, I arrive at the office, I make myself a large cup of coffee and catch up with my colleagues. The day usually starts with checking my emails and to-do list, which will dictate what my daily tasks will entail. I then move on to complete a range of tasks, ranging from drafting a variety of legal documents, to investigating title and raising enquiries to sellers’ solicitors. At the end of the day after completing a range of tasks, I update my trainee diary and reflect on each task that I have completed. I like to use this time to reflect on the tasks that I have completed throughout the day to determine what I have done well and what I would like to improve upon. I update my to-do list and another rewarding day as a trainee at Holmes & Hills is complete. “

“I’m currently sitting in the Construction Division, so no two days ever look the same! Workload fluctuates between contentious and non-contentious work. It can range from resolving a dispute on behalf of a sub-contractor over non-payment or delay notices, or on the other hand, I may conduct contract reviews or provide standalone commercial/legal advice to clients. It’s hands-on from day one, so I often get asked to draft various letters of advice and/or demand letters to either go to the client or the other party in the dispute. A Trainee in the Construction Division also gets heavily involved in marketing activities like attending The Scaffolding Association Conference and writing articles."

Our Mission and five Firm Values

A full service law firm with its heart in Essex and Suffolk, we are legal specialists providing regional services to East Anglia. We excel in creating long standing partnerships with our clients, protecting their interests and supporting their growth and development. Our large team of specialists work in partnership with individuals and organisations to provide them with truly proactive legal services through personal relationships. Acting as a trusted advisor to our clients, we take the time to understand each client's needs and objectives before delivering practical advice through a personal and accessible approach.

Born out of our Mission Statement and taken from in-depth feedback and comments that clients have provided in relation to what they really value about dealing with Holmes & Hills, come Holmes & Hills' five Firm Values:

• Be Professional
• Be Proactive
• Be Accessible
• Be Personable
• Be Empathetic

An ambitious and growing firm

Holmes & Hills has grown significantly over recent years, from 70 staff to 200 and from two offices to seven. The firm's growth continued in 2020 with the opening of its sixth and new regional head office, the A12 Commercial Hub, at Junction 25 of the A12 (Marks Tey, Essex).

The location of the office will provide convenience for clients, staff and professional contacts alike, with ample and free on site parking, as well as being based just a short walk from Marks Tey train station.

Modern and agile working environment

Colleagues based at, or frequenting, the new A12 Commercial Hub will find it has been designed by a team of architects and interior designers to provide a modern, agile working and meeting environment; one that provides space for working alone in different settings throughout the day; working in teams in open and confidential spaces; as well as meeting clients in formal and informal meeting rooms, or indeed in the large dedicated coffee lounge.

Flexibility

45% of colleagues at Holmes & Hills were working flexibly in some form prior to the Coronavirus pandemic, from working part-time to working from home. Your career and working week in the legal industry can look different as part of the ambitious and growing team of legal industry professionals at Holmes & Hills Solicitors.

Benefits

In addition to a great remuneration package, a career at Holmes & Hills also provides a number of additional benefits.

28 days holiday entitlement (plus bank holidays)
Death in service ( Life Insurance)
Employee Assistance Programme 24/7
Virtual GP access 24/7 365 days a week
Mental Health Support
Bereavement Counselling
Online Physiotherapy consultations
Medical second opinion service
Financial and Legal Support
Retail savings and discounts
Holiday buy and sell
Cycle to work
Pension via salary sacrifice
Eye test and Eye wear reimbursement
Discounted Legal fees
Access to group insurance rates for Dental, Health Cash Plan and Critical Illness ( self funded)
Annual discretionary bonus scheme based on performance and objectives
Enhanced maternity/paternity leave
Bereavement leave policy
Family events leave policy
After 1 years service all employees receive Unum Dental Cover and Medicash Health Plan.

We also feel it is important to recognise the hard work and performance of our employees, so we also offer a monthly reward programme, encouraging employees to nominate colleagues that have gone over and above their duty, as well as regular after work drinks and team building events.