Training Contract - Belfast

Successful businesses rely on a unique set of ideas and people. We help our clients protect and develop those vital assets, unlocking possibilities for future success.

From iconic brands and leading multinationals to pioneering start-ups, we are proud to work with a huge range of inspiring clients, helping them to turn their ideas into reality and get the best from - and for - their people.

Our people are not only exceptional at what they do, they also enjoy doing it and consistently give their best to a firm they’re proud to be part of. This stems from our firm culture and our ethos of bravery and kindness. That ethos runs through everything we do, from our approach to recruitment, business practices, and DEI activities to the day-to-day environment in our office and our relationships with clients. 

With an internationally minded team of more than 800 working across key areas of law – plus strategic partnerships around the world – we’ve got both the combination and calibre of legal experts it takes to enable our clients’ businesses to thrive. Whether it is providing global employment law advice, managing a global IP portfolio or piecing together a multijurisdictional corporate transaction, we are able to have the right people, in the right place, at the right time.

We are very proud to have won ‘Firm of the year 2026’ at the May 2026 Legal Cheek awards.

--------

What we do
Our major practice areas include: digital, creative and commerce; corporate; data, privacy and cyber; dispute resolution; employment; immigration; investigations and regulatory; partnership; real estate; tax, reward and incentives; and trade mark and portfolio management.

Key sectors we work in include advertising and marketing; financial services; media and entertainment; professional services; retail, fashion and hospitality; sports business; and technology.

For more information on our sectors, visit our website here: https://www.lewissilkin.com/how-we-can-help-you/our-sectors

--------

Our Belfast office

Lewis Silkin expanded into Northern Ireland in 2021 after a merger with Northern Ireland’s leading employment law firm, Jones Cassidy Brett Solicitors. Forde Campbell LLC merged later, in January 2022, bringing expertise in the creative sphere, with particular focus in Intellectual Property, Dispute Resolution, Reputation Management, and Commercial and Corporate law. Five years on, the office now comprises over 80 colleagues, spanning employment, immigration, intellectual property, corporate, tech, media and data specialisms.

There are up to two training contracts available in Belfast in 2029.

To find out more about working in our Belfast office as a trainee, please see our blog here.

--------

What we look for

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

When applying for our training contract, it can be tempting to tell us what you think we want to hear, and pretend to be someone you're not. However, the person we most want to hear from is the genuine 'you'. We want to get to know you, your experience, and what excites you about a training contract at Lewis Silkin. Likewise, we want you to get to know us in return.

Throughout the process, we will be looking to understand two fundamental points:

• Why you want to be a commercial solicitor

• Why you want to train at Lewis Silkin

You should view your application as an opportunity to introduce yourself to us, and highlight what makes you a strong candidate for our training contract, including an understanding and genuine interest in the firm’s work.

--------

Training Programme
At Lewis Silkin, we require all trainees to complete the entire two-year training contract, composed of 4 seat rotations. Further information about the seat rotation process can be found here: https://www.lewissilkin.com/insights/2023/05/16/seat-rotations

Our Trainee Hub contains information on the seats you can work in as well as typical trainee tasks, the type of work you’ll do and the skills needed to succeed as a Lewis Silkin trainee: https://www.lewissilkin.com/life-at-ls/careers/trainees#stories

--------

When and how to apply

You’ll need to apply through our online application form via Candid. The deadline to apply for our Belfast Training Contract is 21 December 2026. Further information is available on our website and social media channels.

--------

Diversity and inclusion

Our firm is named after Lewis Silkin, whose story of social mobility continues to inspire us. His family were refugees from Lithuania and he was brought up in poverty, but qualified as a solicitor before becoming an MP and eventually sitting in the House of Lords. This history is at the core of our culture and our values and it drives our commitment to ensure that access to the legal profession is open and fair and that the profession itself is diverse and socially inclusive.

More broadly, we recognise that a more diverse and inclusive workplace allows for a plethora of ideas, thoughts and skillsets, a variety of points of view that can generate broader discussions and result in innovation, enhanced client service and a stronger and more cohesive team.

We are proud of the diverse range of people within Lewis Silkin and culture of bravery and kindness that allows individuals to be themselves at work, ensuring we provide the best possible service to our clients. All colleagues are encouraged to play a role in activities related to DEI or Responsible Business. A number of DEI groups are active across the firm - Gender, Age, Race and Ethnicity, Social Mobility, Lewis SilkOut (LGBTQ+), Disability, Wellbeing, and Interfaith – supported by our DEI Board and DEI & Wellbeing Lead.