Training Contract - Manchester

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 700 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 proud winners of the ‘Firm of the Year’ category at The Lawyer Awards 2025 – the most prestigious category in the UK’s most important legal awards. This is testament to our innovative approach and collaborative culture.

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Our Manchester office

We kickstarted our North of England presence in Manchester in 2022, with a team of four employment law specialists. In less than three years, the Manchester office has grown to comprise seven partners and a wider team of over 40. This includes two Commercial partners and the recent hire of two Corporate partners. Due to this rapid growth, we have one training contract available in Manchester in 2028.

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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 practice areas and 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.

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Training Programme

At Lewis Silkin, we provide trainees a unique and exciting opportunity that seamlessly encapsulates our firm’s strategy that we like to call: Ideas + People.

We believe that learning should be fun and engaging. Our Training Contract is designed to provide aspiring lawyers with a dynamic and stimulating environment where you are able to develop your skills, experience, and passion as you start your path to becoming a qualified Solicitor. We understand that the best learning happens when you are motivated and enthusiastic, so we've created a program that brings out the best in you.

As a trainee at Lewis Silkin, you'll have the chance to work alongside experienced professionals who are not only passionate about what they do but are leading specialists in their field. Our team of legal experts will guide and mentor you, ensuring that you receive the support you need to excel in each of your chosen seats. From day one, you'll be given real responsibilities and be involved in high-profile cases, allowing you to gain hands-on experience and make a meaningful impact.

We celebrate individuality and believe that a diverse workforce fosters creativity and innovation. Our commitment to diversity is reflected in our Training Contract, where you'll have the opportunity to work on a wide range of cases and gain exposure to different areas of law.

As a trainee, you will spend time in 4 different seats, spending six months in each area. This allows you to gain as much experience as possible, and helps you decide which area of law you might like to qualify into at the end of your training contract.

At Lewis Silkin, in our Manchester office, we have three seat options: (1) Corporate, (2) Digital, Commerce, and Creative, and (3) Employment.

You may also have the opportunity to go on a client secondment, where you’ll work in-house on a placement to a client’s legal team. For more on Secondments please see our blog here.

Further information about the seat rotation process can be found here: https://www.lewissilkin.com/insights/2023/05/16/seat-rotations

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When and how to apply

You’ll need to apply through our online application form via Candid. The deadline to apply is 14 January 2026. Further information is available on our website and social media channels.

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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.

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to everyone at every stage. Therefore, if you wish to discuss any reasonable adjustments or support needs, at any stage of the process, please let us know by emailing train@lewissilkin.com and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.