Paris Smith LLP
Training Contracts & Vacation Placements
In this section you can find out all you need to know about our training contract and vacation placement schemes. At the bottom of the page you can apply for either or both schemes.
Training Contracts
We currently recruit 6 trainee solicitors each year and have 4 vacation placement opportunities. We welcome applications from students who have taken a non-law degree as well as those who have studied law with a strong academic background and at least a 2.1 honours degree. We are proud, in most years, that we have a 100% retention rate. We usually recruit trainees up to two years ahead of the starting date for their training contract, as we recognise that many candidates look for the security of having a training contract in place before committing to their post graduate legal courses. We sometimes recruit within a shorter time period, for example if it is decided that the firm can accommodate extra trainees. We suggest that your application states the year in which you are applying to start a training contract, but if appropriate also states that you could join us earlier. Whilst most successful candidates will study for the SQE 1 and 2 and pass the exams before starting their training contract, we recognise that this may not work for some of you. We are therefore flexible – you could study for, and pass, SQE1 and 2 before starting your training contract or you could study, and pass, the SQE 1 and 2 while working at the firm as a trainee solicitor. If you are successful in our selection process, we will discuss which route will work best for you. We have partnered with BARBRI to prepare you for the SQE 1 and 2 exams because they offer flexible full-time and part-time courses and a foundations in law course for non-law graduates. Please visit the BARBRI website for more details. The deadline for training applications (using the form at the end of this page) in 2026 (for 2028 training contracts) is yet to be set. We aim to send invitations to those candidates who have been selected to our assessment day a fortnight after the deadline date. Our assessment day will be held in a morning or afternoon session and will consist of an introduction to the firm, group exercises and a short written exercise. Candidates who are successful following our assessment day will be invited back for interview. Our assessment day will be held a couple of weeks later and interviews will typically be around two weeks after the assessment day. In considering applications we take account of academic achievements and the standard of degree likely to be obtained but also a genuine desire for a career in the profession and an interest in working and living locally. We place great importance on good interpersonal skills in the context of both the workplace and client care. We are looking for trainees who combine intellectual ability with practical common sense. Our aim is to continue to recruit trainees who upon qualification will wish to continue as valued members of the firm. Trainee solicitor, Kim and former trainee solicitor, Alicia have produced videos describing the sorts of things a trainee solicitor does on a daily basis. The training we provide
The training given at Paris Smith LLP is highly regarded by the SRA’s assessors. Our trainee solicitors spend 6 months in 4 seats from corporate, commercial and finance; commercial property and planning; conveyancing; employment; family; tax trusts and wills; and dispute resolution. This is flexible and is tailored as far as possible to each individual trainee. The training principal supervises the trainees and they are encouraged to give regular feedback as to training. The firm as a whole operates an open-door policy and trainees and work experience students often comment on our informal, friendly and approachable culture at all levels of the firm. As soon as a trainee joins us they are considered a full member of the firm. Trainees are involved in client matters as fully as possible and are expected to undertake work under supervision assuming increasing responsibility as training progresses. We aim to ensure that trainees learn to apply their knowledge on a practical basis. Our trainees are given wide experience including meeting clients, dealing with Counsel, technical experts and other lawyers, attending court, drafting and research. At Paris Smith LLP we ensure that our trainees have access to extensive on-line research facilities in the same way as all other lawyers. Trainees are entitled to study leave for examinations when undergoing the ongoing training required by the Solicitors Regulation Authority during a training contract. Money matters
Paris Smith LLP is committed to paying its trainees a competitive salary. Currently our full-time trainee solicitors earn £31,000 per annum in the first year of their training contract and our full-time NQ solicitors earn £51,500. Subject to some sensible conditions which we will discuss with you, we will cover 100% of BARBRI’s fees for the SQE 1 and 2 preparation courses and the foundations in law course if you are a non-law graduate, and one set of exam fees for the SQE 1 and 2. Selection process
For training contracts the selection process comprises of three stages: application and CV; assessment day; and interview. If you have been successful at the application stage, you will be invited to an assessment day. If you have been successful at the assessment day, you will be invited to attend an interview with two partners of the firm. Vacation Placements
Paris Smith LLP operate an annual vacation scheme to give both law and non-law graduates the opportunity of experiencing the daily life of the firm. Dates for the 2026 vacation scheme have yet to be set. The deadline for applications is the 31st January 2026. For vacation placements we select on the basis of application and CV only. Application Form
Whether you are applying for either or both schemes please complete the application form below. Load saved progress Checking for saved data... Your progress will be automatically saved. First Name * PLEASE NOTE YOUR CONTACT DETAILS WILL BE STORED FOR CORRESPONDENCE PURPOSES AND YOUR APPLICATION FORM IS ANONYMISED FOR FAIR CONSIDERATION Last Name * Your Email * Your Phone Number * Address Line 1 * Address Line 2 * City * Post Code * How did you hear about us and how did you hear about our training schemes? (Please state if you have had any previous connection with the firm) Name of School, University & Law School Please include number of GCSES, grades at A-level, class of degree and, if relevant, detailed breakdown of law school grades and current predictions.
What job are you applying for? * Graduate Placement Both Name(s) of firm, date(s) and role(s) undertaken Other work experience Name(s) of firm, date(s) and role(s) undertaken Why do you want to become a solicitor and why at Paris Smith? Limit of 100 words and must be completed in the first person Non-academic achievements and interests Limit of 100 words and must be completed in the first person Upload CV * PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND CONTACT DETAILS ON YOUR CV. WE OPERATE AN ANONYMISED APPLICATION PROCESS DATA PROTECTION AND PRIVACY NOTICE If you are a direct applicant or a recruitment agency, for more information on how we deal with your personal information please see our
Job Applicant Privacy Notice
. For all other visitors, for more information on how we deal with your personal information please see our general
Privacy Notice.
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In this section you can find out all you need to know about our training contract and vacation placement schemes. At the bottom of the page you can apply for either or both schemes.
Training Contracts
We currently recruit 6 trainee solicitors each year and have 4 vacation placement opportunities. We welcome applications from students who have taken a non-law degree as well as those who have studied law with a strong academic background and at least a 2.1 honours degree. We are proud, in most years, that we have a 100% retention rate. We usually recruit trainees up to two years ahead of the starting date for their training contract, as we recognise that many candidates look for the security of having a training contract in place before committing to their post graduate legal courses. We sometimes recruit within a shorter time period, for example if it is decided that the firm can accommodate extra trainees. We suggest that your application states the year in which you are applying to start a training contract, but if appropriate also states that you could join us earlier. Whilst most successful candidates will study for the SQE 1 and 2 and pass the exams before starting their training contract, we recognise that this may not work for some of you. We are therefore flexible – you could study for, and pass, SQE1 and 2 before starting your training contract or you could study, and pass, the SQE 1 and 2 while working at the firm as a trainee solicitor. If you are successful in our selection process, we will discuss which route will work best for you. We have partnered with BARBRI to prepare you for the SQE 1 and 2 exams because they offer flexible full-time and part-time courses and a foundations in law course for non-law graduates. Please visit the BARBRI website for more details. The deadline for training applications (using the form at the end of this page) in 2026 (for 2028 training contracts) is yet to be set. We aim to send invitations to those candidates who have been selected to our assessment day a fortnight after the deadline date. Our assessment day will be held in a morning or afternoon session and will consist of an introduction to the firm, group exercises and a short written exercise. Candidates who are successful following our assessment day will be invited back for interview. Our assessment day will be held a couple of weeks later and interviews will typically be around two weeks after the assessment day. In considering applications we take account of academic achievements and the standard of degree likely to be obtained but also a genuine desire for a career in the profession and an interest in working and living locally. We place great importance on good interpersonal skills in the context of both the workplace and client care. We are looking for trainees who combine intellectual ability with practical common sense. Our aim is to continue to recruit trainees who upon qualification will wish to continue as valued members of the firm. Trainee solicitor, Kim and former trainee solicitor, Alicia have produced videos describing the sorts of things a trainee solicitor does on a daily basis. The training we provide
The training given at Paris Smith LLP is highly regarded by the SRA’s assessors. Our trainee solicitors spend 6 months in 4 seats from corporate, commercial and finance; commercial property and planning; conveyancing; employment; family; tax trusts and wills; and dispute resolution. This is flexible and is tailored as far as possible to each individual trainee. The training principal supervises the trainees and they are encouraged to give regular feedback as to training. The firm as a whole operates an open-door policy and trainees and work experience students often comment on our informal, friendly and approachable culture at all levels of the firm. As soon as a trainee joins us they are considered a full member of the firm. Trainees are involved in client matters as fully as possible and are expected to undertake work under supervision assuming increasing responsibility as training progresses. We aim to ensure that trainees learn to apply their knowledge on a practical basis. Our trainees are given wide experience including meeting clients, dealing with Counsel, technical experts and other lawyers, attending court, drafting and research. At Paris Smith LLP we ensure that our trainees have access to extensive on-line research facilities in the same way as all other lawyers. Trainees are entitled to study leave for examinations when undergoing the ongoing training required by the Solicitors Regulation Authority during a training contract. Money matters
Paris Smith LLP is committed to paying its trainees a competitive salary. Currently our full-time trainee solicitors earn £31,000 per annum in the first year of their training contract and our full-time NQ solicitors earn £51,500. Subject to some sensible conditions which we will discuss with you, we will cover 100% of BARBRI’s fees for the SQE 1 and 2 preparation courses and the foundations in law course if you are a non-law graduate, and one set of exam fees for the SQE 1 and 2. Selection process
For training contracts the selection process comprises of three stages: application and CV; assessment day; and interview. If you have been successful at the application stage, you will be invited to an assessment day. If you have been successful at the assessment day, you will be invited to attend an interview with two partners of the firm. Vacation Placements
Paris Smith LLP operate an annual vacation scheme to give both law and non-law graduates the opportunity of experiencing the daily life of the firm. Dates for the 2026 vacation scheme have yet to be set. The deadline for applications is the 31st January 2026. For vacation placements we select on the basis of application and CV only. Application Form
Whether you are applying for either or both schemes please complete the application form below. Load saved progress Checking for saved data... Your progress will be automatically saved. First Name * PLEASE NOTE YOUR CONTACT DETAILS WILL BE STORED FOR CORRESPONDENCE PURPOSES AND YOUR APPLICATION FORM IS ANONYMISED FOR FAIR CONSIDERATION Last Name * Your Email * Your Phone Number * Address Line 1 * Address Line 2 * City * Post Code * How did you hear about us and how did you hear about our training schemes? (Please state if you have had any previous connection with the firm) Name of School, University & Law School Please include number of GCSES, grades at A-level, class of degree and, if relevant, detailed breakdown of law school grades and current predictions.
What job are you applying for? * Graduate Placement Both Name(s) of firm, date(s) and role(s) undertaken Other work experience Name(s) of firm, date(s) and role(s) undertaken Why do you want to become a solicitor and why at Paris Smith? Limit of 100 words and must be completed in the first person Non-academic achievements and interests Limit of 100 words and must be completed in the first person Upload CV * PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND CONTACT DETAILS ON YOUR CV. WE OPERATE AN ANONYMISED APPLICATION PROCESS DATA PROTECTION AND PRIVACY NOTICE If you are a direct applicant or a recruitment agency, for more information on how we deal with your personal information please see our
Job Applicant Privacy Notice
. For all other visitors, for more information on how we deal with your personal information please see our general
Privacy Notice.
#J-18808-Ljbffr