An unpredictable world calls for a progressive-thinking law firm. At Hill Dickinson, we bring deep sector expertise, unwavering commitment and a collaborative approach to every situation our clients face, as a business or individual. Our core values drive every decision we make for clients, colleagues and the diverse communities we’re proud to work within.

The services we provide are shaped by the challenges our clients face every day: complex, fast-moving and high stakes. We have a reputation for resolving disputes, enabling transactions, navigating regulations, and optimising legal strategies, aligning with the ambitions of businesses and individuals and turn them into decisive action.

Our expertise extends across a wide range of sectors. From education, energy and financial services to private client, real estate, retail and leisure, technology and transport and logistics.

We support NHS and independent healthcare clients with legal advice that’s clear, practical and build around outcomes. From public inquiries to health tech and regulatory change, we help clients move forward with confidence.

Our marine team is trusted by clients worldwide. With 200+ years’ sector experience with deep technical expertise in everything from crisis response to global trade.

We believe the best lawyers are those who are those who are genuinely passionate about the sectors they work in. That’s why our unique training contract allows you to tailor your experience and develop your expertise within the areas that interest you most.

Over the course of your two-year training contract, you’ll complete four six-month seats, gaining hands on experience across at least three different teams while developing the skills and confidence needed to succeed as a solicitor.

From the outset, your seats will be aligned to one of our three specialist business groups:

• Business services
• Health
• Marine

This approach gives you the opportunity to build sector-specific knowledge, work with market-leading experts and gain meaningful, real-world experience throughout your training.

Insight day

The insight day is designed to go beyond the application process and is a valuable opportunity for us to understand your interests, motivations and career aspirations, and for you to experience what it’s really like to build your career at Hill Dickinson. Throughout the day, you’ll gain valuable insight into your chosen business group, meet the people you could potentially work alongside and develop a deeper understanding of our clients, sector and culture.

We pride ourselves on being a collaborative, supportive and approachable firm and our insight days are designed to help you decide whether Hill Dickinson is the right place for you to start your legal career.

Candidates who are shortlisted for a training contract will be invited to attend an insight day before progressing to the final stage of the recruitment process.

By the end of the day, you'll leave with a clearer understanding of who we are, what we do and what life as a Hill Dickinson trainee is really like.

Internship 

One of the ways we support our commitment to create opportunities, remove barriers and help talent individuals from all backgrounds access careers in the legal profession is through our paid internship programme.

Designed to provide valuable professional experience and insight into life at a leading law firm, the programme offers students the opportunity to develop their skills, grow their confidence and explore a future career in law.

For summer 2027, we are offering four paid, four-week internships, with opportunities available in our:

• Liverpool office
• Manchester office
• Leeds office
• London office

Our internship programme is separate from our training contract recruitment process. If you're interested in both opportunities, you're welcome to apply for an internship and a training contract at the same time, allowing you to explore multiple routes into a career with Hill Dickinson.

The internship programme aims to connect diverse talent with opportunities. More information on eligibility criteria can be found on our website. 

Training contracts are available across our offices in Liverpool, Manchester, London, Leeds, Newcastle, and Birmingham, providing opportunities to develop your career in a location that suits you. 

As part of your application, you’ll be asked to express an interest in a particular seat within one of our three business groups: business services, health or marine.

This will determine the business group you’re allocated to and shape the teams and practice areas available to you during your training contract, so we encourage you to think about the sectors, clients and type of work that interests you most.

Throughout your training contract, you will be supported to develop every step of the way. During each six-month seat, you’ll meet twice with our dedicated trainee committee, made up of partners, legal directors and senior associates from across our business groups.

The committee plays an active role in your development, helping you reflect on your progress, identify opportunities for growth and make the most of your training contract. Whether you need guidance, feedback or general advice, you’ll have a network of experienced colleagues invested in your growth.  

Your development also extends beyond the work you do in your seats. Alongside your practical legal training, you’ll take part in our bespoke trainee development programme, designed to support your professional, personal and commercial growth. 

We’re proud to partner with BARBRI to support out future trainees through the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).

Our SQE programme is designed to give you the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to succeed in your assessment and prepare for life as a trainee solicitor at Hill Dickinson.

Before starting your training contract, you’ll complete both SQE1 and SQE2 through BARBRI’s market-leading preparation programme.

The course is primarily delivered online, providing flexibility and convenience, while also including face-to-face learning sessions with your fellow future trainees at Hill Dickinson offices. This gives you the opportunity to begin developing your professional network before joining the firm.

Once you've successfully completed SQE1 and SQE2, you'll undertake BARBRI's Prep for Practice programme, helping you develop the practical skills and professional confidence needed before starting your training contract.

If you've completed, or are currently studying, the LPC

• You'll qualify through the period of recognised training route.
• This means that, subject to any future changes in SRA requirements, you won't be required to complete the SQE in addition to the LPC.

If you’re interested in a career in law but want to gain practical experience from day one, an apprenticeship at Hill Dickinson could be the perfect place to start.

Our apprenticeships combine hands-on experience with structured learning, allowing you to build valuable skills in a professional environment while working towards a recognised qualification.

You’ll become part of a team, take on meaningful work and develop your knowledge alongside experienced colleagues, all while earning a salary and having your qualification fully funded.

An apprenticeship offers the opportunity to learn, earn and grow, providing a practical and rewarding route into a career in law.

Our paralegal apprenticeship is a two-year programme that combines practical experience with structured study, giving you the opportunity to begin your legal career straight from college or sixth form.

From day one, you’ll be part of a team, gaining hands-on experience while developing the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the legal profession. Throughout the programme, you’ll specialise in a particular practice area, carefully matched to your interested, strengths and career aspirations.

On successful completion of the programme, you’ll achieve a Level 4 Certificate of Higher Education in Law and Legal Practice, providing a strong foundation for your future career.

We value a diverse workforce and are committed to recruiting the best talent from across all backgrounds. Our values drive every decision we make for colleagues and the diverse communities we’re proud to work within. That’s why we ensure every step of the recruitment process is unbiased, with decisions based purely on merit and early stages of the process conducted on a name-blind basis. 

We also know that achievements don’t always look the same on paper, so we proudly use the REALrating contextual recruitment tool which accounts for the context in which your grades were achieved. That way, your talents and potential remain at the centre of the selection process.

We’re proud to partner with Aspiring Solicitors and Bright Network. These organisations share our commitment to advancing EDI and nurturing exceptional talent from all backgrounds.

We know that studying for the SQE is a significant commitment, that’s why we’ll cover:

• the full cost of your SQE preparation programme.
• SQE examination fees.
• an £11,000 maintenance grant to support you during your studies.

• Business services group:
• Banking
• Commercial dispute resolution
• Commercial
• TMT & IP
• Construction & engineering
• Corporate
• Education & ecclesiastical
• Employment
• Family
• Pensions
• Private client
• Real estate
• Real estate finance
• Real estate litigation
• Regulatory
• Restructuring
• Tax
• Financial services
• Health:
• Employment NHS
• Health litigation
• Health real estate
• Healthcare
• public law
• Healthcare commercial
• Primary care
• Marine:
• Cargo & logistics
• Commodities
• PI & regulatory
• Shipping
• Yachts

• Corporate & Commercial
• General Commercial
• Niche

• Birmingham
• Hong Kong
• Leeds
• Limassol
• Liverpool
• London
• Manchester
• Monaco
• Newcastle
• Piraeus
• Singapore

• Birmingham
• Leeds
• Liverpool
• London
• Manchester
• Newcastle

• Action Tutoring
• Aspiring Solicitors
• Bright Network
• Mindful Business Charter
• REALrating
• The Women in Law Pledge
• Working Families