Lewis Silkin

With a standout employment practice and a focus on media and entertainment, Lewis asserts itself as a titan of Silkin-dustry.

Lewis Silkin training contract review 2026

About the firm

Don’t adjust your TV sets – your eyes do not deceive you. We are live from the stage of media and entertainment giant Lewis Silkin. That’s right: from sportspeople to musicians, this firm covers all your employment needs and more. As exciting as this is for us, the firm’s presence in the space also proved particularly enticing for new joiners. “I was aware of the firm’s work in the creative sector,” one nodded, “it’s really impressive stuff and super cool to work on.”

Suffice to say, the firm has a winning formula when it comes to helping those who seek them out, as training principal Shalina Crossley affirms: “I would say that our approach is unique,” she begins, “in that we help our clients protect and enhance what really matters to them, their ideas and their people.” This ethos dates back to the origins of the firm, and boy, does Lewis Silkin have some strong roots. Born to immigrant parents, Lewis Silkin himself led an impressive life as a solicitor, MP, and of course, founder of a firm that is dedicated to carrying on his legacy.

“You’re not just a cog in a machine here; fitting in was seamless.”

That positive energy has been passed all the way down to our insiders at the firm today. “I don’t want to sound like I’ve drank the Kool-Aid,” one particularly enthusiastic interviewee told us, “But you can just be yourself here and feel very at home.” The culture was a highlight amongst all our insiders, ensuring that the trainees could feel the influence of the firm’s founder to this day: “You’re not just a cog in a machine here; fitting in was seamless.” Outside of the vibes alone, the firm’s strengths were heralded by our sister guide Chambers UK, which praised the firm in over 20 departments including standouts for employment (naturally), intellectual property, corporate/M&A, and media and entertainment. Read on to find out more about where else this star shines…

Training Contract Structure

The seat allocation process was praised amongst our interviewees, with most reporting they often got their desired preferences, meaning “we can mould the training contract to the things that speak to us the most.” No seats are mandatory, but as the employment practice takes up around half the firm, a stint in that group is likelier than not.

We heard client secondment opportunities pop up as and where there is a business need for them, but their durations can vary: “They can be around three to six months,” a helpful source described, “usually we swap with someone in-house.”

Pro bono also played into our sources’ contracts, with a minimum of 30 billable hours up for grabs in the area. “I’ve been doing loads at the moment,” one insider exclaimed, “you’re encouraged to do it, and there’s a lot to get involved with.”

Seat Experiences

Trainee Life

Supervision varied from trainee to trainee, as “they’re definitely guided by us and how hands-on we would prefer them to be.” Sources found that weekly catchups were more consistent for first years, with supervisors naturally taking off the stabilisers where appropriate as trainees progressed: “As I’ve gone along, I’ve gained more independence and less reliance on my supervisor,” a rookie affirmed.

For training, every seat starts with some structured sessions, but it is the employment group that keeps up with consistent weekly sessions because: “the law is changing so quickly in that area.”

The London office is conveniently situated in Blackfriars and has a two day in-office policy, though a lot of sources noted that “we love being in, so we usually do around four days a week.” The office is open plan and has fitness classes in the basement, but there was a clear highlight that almost all our interviewees thought was worth mentioning.

A special shoutout to the baristas – the proclaimed “most popular people in the office” – who run the firm’s free coffee bar, where “they just introduced matcha, so that’s a huge perk. It’s a great place to be in the office!”

Free matcha aside, just how long are juniors spending in the office? Though most trainees cited a 6pm finish, when deals and trials heat up, we heard that hours could get as late as 10.30pm, with employment being the busiest group. Insiders felt their relatively lean hours made up for their compensation not always being on par with other firms, and although the Belfast salary is less than that of the London cohort, it was reported that it comes out on top in the region.

“People love what they do, and they love who they’re working with. There’s a real buzz here.”

The culture was looked upon favourably by sources who noted that: “it’s genuinely a really nice atmosphere at work, and everyone is approachable and friendly.” That environment was clear from the get-go, with insiders pointing out the passion was palpable even at the interview stage: “People love what they do, and they love who they’re working with. There’s a real buzz here.”

The firm provides a budget for trainee socials and Christmas and summer parties, with the employment group also holding a retreat every year. Once a quarter, the London office can congregate and indulge in a social gathering filled with donuts to enjoy, an occurrence appropriately dubbed Donut Fest.

Trainees also organise an annual fundraising walk for the firm’s charity partner. Other ad hoc events pop up as well, with one newbie joking that: “we have a group chat for juniors, and if you’re above a senior, then you’re not allowed in!”

Inclusivity was deemed a focus for the firm as they target areas of improvement (such as the male-dominated partner group). “We’re really big on social mobility which, of course, is tied to our roots,” commented one insider, “it’s all really organic for us in those areas.” Affinity groups, celebration events and mental health awareness were all praised, with a recent accomplishment being mentioned: “Our new parental leave policy now allows for equal time off for both the primary and secondary parent, which is amazing.”

Qualification

Once qualification is within sights, it’s a good idea for trainees to have already flagged potential interest in departments, as “I think they just like to keep an eye on things, so you can express a preference early on.” For those worried about CVs and cover letters, you’re in luck: most departments are happy to offer a role without so much as a formal interview, and all potential NQs will have a career conversation to know if they’ve done enough to join the team.

Keep in mind, though: some groups are more competitive than others, so those groups will require formal interviews. Trainees can apply for more than one group, though, so this was not a point of concern for anyone we spoke to. In fact, sources were simply overjoyed at the straightforward nature of the qualification process, largely because they just wanted to look forward to becoming associates at the firm without any extra stress: “I think it would be hard to find another firm that could live up to this one!” In 2025, Lewis Silkin retained 5 of its 6 trainees.