Simkins LLP is a highly respected law firm located in the heart of London. We specialise in media, entertainment, and commercial law, catering to a wide range of clients. Our expertise in the entertainment industry encompasses various sectors such as music, film, television, theatre, publishing, advertising, and digital media.

In addition to our strong presence in the entertainment field, we also serve businesses and entrepreneurs from diverse industries including property development, retail services, professional consultancy firms, and financial institutions. Our client base spans from individual artists and start-ups to global corporations.

At Simkins LLP, we take pride in our ability to truly understand each client's unique needs. This allows us to provide them with practical advice that is tailored specifically for their situation. We have an exceptional team of specialist lawyers covering all core areas including corporate, commercial, dispute resolution, employment, family, private client, property and reputation management.

Following the interviews, Simkins will select up to eight successful candidates. These chosen candidates will be invited to attend a one-week work placement in our offices at Lynton House. Throughout the week, candidates will have the chance to engage with all members of our firm; shadow partners and associates; collaborate on ongoing cases; participate in practical, legal, and analytical exercises; attend firm social events including our Simkins summer party; and gain insight into what it’s like to be part of our “brilliant and inclusive firm” (2023 placement candidate). The placement week will take place in the week beginning five August 2024. Following the placement week, up to three successful candidates will be offered a training contract/qualifying work experience with Simkins which will start in September 2026.

Our practice is split into the following areas of law: civil litigation, commercial and company, employment, family, private client, and property. It is important to us that our trainees receive a broad depth of training and we have restructured our training programme so that our trainees can experience working in each of our practice areas. During your training contract/qualifying work experience, you will be given the opportunity to work for eight months in corporate/commercial, eight months in property and family/private client, and eight months in employment and disputes/reputation management (known as training seats).

At the beginning of your training contract/qualifying work experience, you will be assigned a training principle who will remain with you throughout your training contract/qualifying work experience. In each seat, you will be assigned a training supervisor, and will share an office with them. We conduct seat reviews at month four and month eight of each training seat to assess your training and development needs, and to set and agree objectives for your next seat in line with the SRA's Practice Skills Standards.

You may also be asked to complete an ad-hoc client secondment for up to three months.

Alongside a competitive salary, our trainees are eligible for a range of benefits including a cash plan scheme, 24/7 access to a GP, an employee assistance programme, discounted gym membership, meditation and well-being sessions, private health insurance, group income protection, death in service, pension, cycle-to-work scheme, payroll giving and season ticket loans.

With the introduction of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) as an alternative route to qualification, the way in which solicitors qualify is changing. Our recruitment programme to date has been based on the traditional route to qualification but we are in the process of transitioning to the SQE. Non-law graduates will be required to take a law conversion before embarking on SQE prep courses. We will meet the cost of the SQE1, SQE2 and Essentials for Practice at our preferred supplier, BPP, provided that if you subsequently choose not to join us, you will be obliged to refund those costs to us. Once passed, candidates will join the firm for two years of qualifying work experience.

Simkins LLP are dedicated to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion and we aim to recruit our trainees and staff based on their experience, abilities, and qualifications alone. We are committed to encouraging a climate of partnership, mutual support, and teamwork in every activity undertaken by and within the firm. We recognise that diverse perspectives reap better results and more innovative outcomes for our clients, and a better work environment for our people.

As a firm, we also share a collective responsibility to the wider community. Our roots are in the entertainment and media industry, and we take great pride in supporting several causes within those communities and elsewhere, whether through practical support or financial sponsorship. Corporate Social Responsibility is key to our firm’s core values. Our people actively invest in the communities in which we live and work, driving forward real change and lasting impact.

Highlights of our Diversity and CSR activities include:

Working alongside Aspiring Solicitors as part of our drive to increase diversity in the legal industry. We provide mentorship to diverse candidates with an interest in law and music. The aim of the programme is to encourage a wider range of candidates to apply for jobs in music law, either in-house or in private practice.

Partnering with ReachOut, a mentoring charity that helps young people from disadvantaged backgrounds improve their career prospects, providing mentoring, an insight day to our firm and although we don’t recruit from ReachOut we do give two additional spaces for ReachOut candidates to attend our placement week to gain invaluable work experience.

Sponsoring and actively participating in the PRS Foundation’s Power Up initiative which supports Black music creators and industry professionals and executives, as well as addressing anti-black racism and racial disparities in the music sector.

Working with the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) and Electric Pineapple Media Group to host events to raise awareness for Neurodiversity the creative industries.

Providing free legal helplines for members of the Music Managers Forum (MMF), the world’s largest representative body of music management which educates, innovates, and advocates for music managers; Ivors Academy, the UK’s independent professional associate for music creators; participants of Power Up, supporting black music creators and industry professionals.

Promoting and fund raising for charities close to our hearts, including Macmillan Cancer Support, AgeUK, Lumos and Honeypot Children’s Charity.

If you are successful, our training contract offer/qualifying work experience offer will be conditional on you successfully completing the LPC/SQE passing each module on the first attempt.

For those who have yet to take their LPC, we will meet the cost of the LPC at our preferred supplier, BPP, provided that, if you subsequently choose not to join us as a trainee, you will be obliged to refund those costs to us. We will meet the cost of your attendance on the compulsory Professional Skills Course which will take place during the course of your training contract. We will consider the cost of any required reattendance or resits at our discretion.

• Corporate
• Commercial
• Dispute resolution
• Employment
• Family
• Private client
• Property
• Reputation management

• Corporate & Commercial
• General Commercial
• Niche

• London

• Aspiring Solicitors
• ReachOut