Training

We aim to provide our trainees with well-rounded, hands-on training in a collegiate and supportive environment. We’re looking for ambitious trainees who are keen to learn and who are passionate about the practice areas and sectors in which we operate.

Get in touch

Training contract opportunities

The application process for a training contract starting in September 2026 has now closed.

The firm is no longer accepting applications for training contracts to commence in September 2026. Details of our applications process for training contracts to commence in September 2027 will be available on this page from October 2024.

01

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.

02

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.

03

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 via the link below 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.

04

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.

05

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.

06

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.

Training contracts

Applications must be made via Apply4Law. A link to the application form for the September 2027 training contract opportunities will be available on this page from October 2024.  

Applications received in the interim will not be considered.

Apply via Apply4Law



Block quote
Author
You have the opportunity to take on responsibility in every department, if you show you are willing. Everyone here works really hard but is extremely friendly and sociable – it’s a great environment to train in.
Trainee 2020
There’s a wide variety of interesting work and plenty of direct contact with clients. Everyone really cares about giving you the best experience possible and the friendly, open-door culture makes it easy to feel comfortable from your first day.
Trainee 2021
It has been a great experience, and I'm very grateful to have learnt from every task and from the people working here.
Trainee 2023
You have the opportunity to take on responsibility in every department, if you show you are willing. Everyone here works really hard but is extremely friendly and sociable – it’s a great environment to train in.
Trainee 2020

What's it like to train at simkins?

See LawCareers.Net Guide for further information.

LawCareers.net