Trainees

Training contracts with a difference.

What sets our training contract apart is also what sets us apart as a firm – the fact that we offer a unique combination of quality and culture.

Application Process

Applications for our London, Belfast, Cardiff and Manchester 2028 training contracts are open now, with a deadline of 23:59 on Wednesday 14 January 2026. Please follow this link to apply.

There are up to six training contracts available in London, up to two training contracts available in Belfast, and one training contract available in Cardiff and Manchester to start September 2028.

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 [contact hidden] and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.

Stage one: Application form

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 [Employer hidden — view at passion-project.co.uk]. Likewise, we want you to get to know us in return.

Throughout your application, we will be looking to understand two fundamental points:

• Why you want to be a solicitor?
• Why you want to train at [Employer hidden]?

You should view your application as an opportunity to introduce yourself to us, and layout what makes you a strong candidate for our training contract. Please read the questions asked of you, and consider how your answer relates to the two questions asked above. Please also be conscious of timelines - the deadline for applications is Wednesday 14 January 2026.

Stage two: Optional networking event

Ahead of the initial Assessment Day, shortlisted candidates will be invited to a networking event. This will be optional and is an opportunity for candidates to informally get to know us better and meet people you may not get a chance to on the assessment day itself.

London candidates

The event will be held on Wednesday 4 March 2026 at our London office. 

The event will include afternoon tea with the early careers team where you'll be able to ask any questions about the process, how the training contract works or generally anything else you’d like to know about life at LS!

You’ll also have the opportunity to attend a speed networking session with colleagues from all of our main Legal Practice Groups (LPGs), before breaking into a networking evening (featuring canapes!) with various people across the firm.

Regional candidates (Belfast, Manchester and Cardiff)

The event will be held on Monday 9 March 2026 remotely via Teams.

The event will include a welcome from the early careers team where you'll be able to ask any questions about the process, how the training contract works or generally anything else you’d like to know about life at LS!

You’ll also have the opportunity to network with various people across the firm, including associates from different Legal Practice Groups (LPGs), trainees and our training principal.

Stage three: Initial assessment day

Following the application stage, shortlisted candidates will be invited to one of our Assessment Days, dependent on the location they have applied for. These will all take place at our London office and will be held on the below dates:

• Friday 13 March 2026 (London Candidates)
• Monday 16 March 2026 (London Candidates)
• Tuesday 17 March 2026 (London candidates)
• Tuesday 7 April 2026 (Cardiff, Manchester and Belfast Candidates)
• Wednesday 8 April 2026 (Cardiff, Manchester and Belfast Candidates)

The day will include a group exercise, a written exercise, and one interview (your interview will be with a Partner and Managing Associate). You will also get to meet with trainees and ask them any questions you have. Remember, the Assessment Day is also as much an opportunity for you to get to know us, as it is for us to meet you, so we encourage you to ask questions and get to know our firm.

We appreciate assessment days can be nerve-wracking and the advice "be yourself" can feel redundant, but what this really means is "try not to let the nerves get the better of you". At [Employer hidden], we champion an open, friendly culture through our ethos of bravery and kindness, so we hope this will shine through on the day and you have the best experience possible!

Stage four: Final assessment day

Following the Initial Assessment Days, shortlisted candidates will be invited to a final Assessment Day at the office they have applied for on the below dates:

• London Candidates: Saturday 28 March 2026
• Manchester Candidates: Tuesday 21 April 2026
• Belfast Candidates: Thursday 30 April 2026
• Cardiff Candidates: Thursday 14 May 2026

Ahead of the final Assessment Day, you’ll be asked to submit a short video presentation on a subject of your choice. The day itself will then include two partner interviews and a case study exercise.

Hopefully you'll be feeling more confident and comfortable after already doing one assessment day, but the same advice of trying not to let nerves get the better of you still applies. If you've made it to the final assessment day, that means that a number of professionals across the firm have recognised your potential!

Top tips for throughout the process:

Be yourself

Relax, smile and let your personality come out. You’ll perform at your best if you’re relaxed and allow your personality to shine through. It’s also likely being yourself will help make your answers will also be more genuine and therefore convincing. There's nothing worse than seeing someone trying to be what they think we want them to be, rather than themselves.

Be professional

Your attitude should at all times remain professional and aimed at showcasing your strengths. Remember you are being assessed on the application process as a whole. Treat everyone you meet with respect and present yourself well.

Be confident

Confidence is the act of trusting yourself. Showing that you trust yourself is critical because it can lead your assessor to trust in you, as well.

Take time to think

Many people worry about how to deal with difficult or unexpected questions. It is okay to take a minute to consider your answer to questions and gather your thoughts.

Admit if you don’t know something

If you really don't know how to answer a question it is better to say so with a smile and allow the interview to move on. Don't try to bluff your way through or make something up - you can end up getting badly caught out.

Don’t dwell on perceived failures

If one exercise doesn’t go as well as you’d hope, don’t dwell on it and focus on your next assessment. You’re being assessed on the application process as a whole and we’re not expecting you to be perfect! The likelihood is, your assessor won’t have noticed a mistake as much as you, so don’t let one slip-up impact the rest of the process.