Legal Secretary
Sheffield
We are one of the leading firms of solicitors in Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and the East Midlands providing a full range of legal services to individuals and businesses.
For over 260 years, Sills & Betteridge has been a trusted legal partner across Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and the East Midlands. We blend heritage with innovation to support meaningful, modern careers.
More Than a Role — A Future
We invest in your growth. From trainees to senior professionals, we offer clear career paths, mentoring and structured training with a strong focus on internal promotion.
Our teams work closely across departments and locations, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.
We are committed to transparency and progress, setting clear diversity goals and benchmarking against the best in the sector.
Enjoy up to 38 days’ holiday (inclusive), long-term sick pay and access to Medicash, Aviva DigiCare+, and trained Mental Health First Aiders.
Winners of the Zylpha Innovation Award, we are embracing tech and sustainability to shape the future of legal services.
Our people are among the best in the profession – with accreditations across multiple disciplines, Legal 500 recognition and several current award titles. We are proud to be ranked in the UK Top 200 law firms and even prouder to be ranked No. 8 out of 11,358 UK law firms by nearly 5,000 client reviews on independent site Review Solicitors.
With a 4.9/5 Glassdoor score, our team’s satisfaction speaks for itself. We listen, adapt and continually raise the bar.
Whether you’re starting out or seeking a senior role, your journey begins here. Join a firm that values flexibility, wellbeing and inclusion.
At Sills & Betteridge, we believe in blending tradition with innovation. As one of the leading law firms in Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and the East Midlands, we have been trusted advisors to individuals and businesses for over 260 years — and we continue to evolve, proudly supporting our people in building fulfilling, forward-looking careers.
You’re More Than a Role – You’re Our Future. We don’t just hire legal talent — we nurture it. Whether you’re joining us as an trainee, legal executive, solicitor, or support professional, you’ll find clear career pathways, ongoing mentoring, and meaningful development programmes. Our commitment to internal promotion is real, and our structured training reflects that.
Our culture is built on collaboration, support, and mutual success. We’re proud of the way our teams work together across departments and offices, and we’re taking steps to share more of these stories.
We value difference and are taking strides to go beyond broad commitments. We're working towards more transparent diversity targets, and we’re aiming to benchmark ourselves against the best in the legal sector. A diverse, inclusive, and welcoming firm isn’t a goal — it’s a necessity.
With a starting benefit of 38 days’ holiday (inclusive), long-term sick pay, and access to a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, we support the moments that matter most to you. Your wellbeing is important to us — that’s why we provide access to Medicash, the Medicash EAP, and Aviva DigiCare+ to support your mental and physical health. We also have trained Mental Health First Aiders embedded across our teams, offering a compassionate and confidential point of contact whenever you need it.
We are proud recipients of the Zylpha Innovation Award, recognising our efforts in streamlining legal processes and embracing digital solutions. From our commitment to sustainability we are quietly but confidently shaping a more efficient, tech-forward future.
With an exceptional Glassdoor score of 4.9/5, our team’s satisfaction speaks volumes. We’re proud to foster an environment where people stay, thrive, and feel valued. We're listening closely to feedback and will continue benchmarking ourselves to keep raising the bar.
Whether you’re newly qualified or looking for your next senior move, your journey with Sills & Betteridge begins with a conversation. We’re investing in clearer values, more visible employee voices, and a culture that supports flexibility, wellbeing, and inclusion.
We’re proud of our heritage. We’re ambitious about our future. And we’d love you to be part of it.
Our training contracts immerse trainees in the working world of law from day one and they are given responsibility early on with their own caseload, where appropriate and an opportunity to carry out their own advocacy. We endeavour to build upon the skills and knowledge acquired during academic studies to develop our trainees into effective practising lawyers.
We take on trainee solicitors each year for a two-year training contract which commences in September. Sometimes there are opportunities for upcoming trainees to join us as Paralegals prior to their training contract.
Our two-year training contracts will provide trainees with hands-on experience in a variety of different areas of the law. The departments that trainees are likely to gain experience in include; Litigation, Corporate and Commercial, Commercial Property, Family and Mediation, Wills, Trusts and Probate, Personal Injury and Medical Negligence.
Trainees are supervised by an assigned Lawyer and have regular review meetings with the firm’s Training Partner, Simon Breeden.
We have an excellent and proactive training department within the firm, and trainees are invited to regular in-house training days organised by the firms HR department. Both Simon and the wider firm have an open-door policy and encourage discussion about your training contract.
We invest heavily in our trainees because your success is our success!
We are looking for proactive, well rounded individuals to join the firm. We want to know who you are as much as what you have achieved.
1st September 2025
Deadline for Training Contract applications.
15th September 2025
1st STAGE: Successful applicants will be sent a pre-assessment selection form containing value-based and situational questions.
5th October 2025
Deadline for survey responses.
W/C 24th November 2025
2nd STAGE: Successful candidates will be invited to attend our Trainee Assessment Day which will take place on either Monday 24th or Wednesday 26th November at our Head office in Aquis House, Lincoln. The assessment will consist of 3 different areas of Law and will involve case studies and tasks to complete. The assessment will last approximately 3 hours and will be followed with a networking lunch with current Trainee Solicitors/NQs.
W/C 8th December 2025
3rd STAGE: Successful candidates will be invited to attend a panel interview with Simon Breeden (Training Partner), a member of our HR/Recruitment team, and also a membership of our Senior Leadership Team.
W/C 15th December 2025
FINAL STAGE: Applicants are updated at the end of December on the status of their application and offers are made.
To apply for a 2027 Training Contract, please send your CV and a covering letter to recruitment@sillslegal.co.uk by the deadline of 1st September 2025. Remember to specify which branch you are applying for and include the specifics of your academic achievements.
We look forward to receiving your application.
Below you will find some of the questions we are frequently asked in relation to Trainee Solicitor Contracts. Our training contracts expose trainees to the working world and provide trainee solicitors with hands-on experience in a variety of different areas of the law.
We recruit a minimum of 2 trainee solicitors each year.
The deadline for applying for a Training Contract is 1st September 2025.
Our trainees are normally based in Lincoln however you may be expected to do a seat in anyone of our other offices excluding Northampton.
As a Firm we offer workplace schemes and more information about this can be found on the Work Experience page on our Website.
We welcome applications from students with degrees from all types of disciplines from a variety of Universities. We will also consider applications from SQE candidates as well as those following the traditional route to qualification.
We normally recruit 2 years in advance so we would expect to receive your Training Contract application before 1st September 2025, almost two years’ prior to the date you would start your Training Contract.
You would discuss your preferences with the Training Partner and a member of HR and we would try to accommodate your preferred options as best as we can.
We usually offer seats in Wills,Trusts & Probate, Claims, Commercial, Commercial Property, Commercial Litigation, Employment, Residential Property and Family. We do not usually offer seats in Crime. We would need to determine the business needs at that time.
This depends on the needs of the business. We try not to let anyone have less than three months in each area but some people stay for one full year in some of the seats.
No, but we would always inform you of your first seat before your Training Contract starts. Towards the middle of each seat you will have a meeting with the Training Partner who will discuss your preferences. A decision about your next seat will be made shortly after that meeting and communicated to you.
At this time we do not offer sponsorship for these fees.
We would consider a part-time Training Contract running alongside the LPC. You would need to ask the HR Department for further advice on this route.
Yes, the Firm does offer a salary sacrifice scheme whereby the Firm would pay for the LPC upfront and then deduct an amount from the employee’s gross salary each month to reclaim the fees from the employee. The benefit to the employee is the saving on Tax and NI contributions.
Yes. All of our employees are subject to the same recruitment process as external applicants and we welcome internal applications.
It would always be decided on an individual basis and whether we felt confident that you would have enough experience and knowledge to have time-to-count granted. We have in the past offered time-to-count to our Trainees up to a maximum of 6 months.
Again, this would be in consideration of the business needs at that time. If there was a position then this would certainly be an option. Again we welcome all applications to the Firm.
Yes, we fund the Professional Skills Courses.
We would always endeavour to retain trainees once they have qualified. However at that time the business need and performance would be considered and a decision made on this basis. We cannot guarantee that you will be kept on after your Training Contract.
We would always communicate your progress with you during your contract. Most trainee's know months before but at the very latest we would tell you 3 months before your Training Contract was due to come to an end.
Yes, the Firm does have people employed under this scheme and we do find it to be an excellent route for progression. We like to encourage alternative routes to qualification and also offer Solicitor and Paralegal Apprenticeships as well as supporting the SQE route, CILEX and traditional Training Contracts.
There are many benefits to this route. Please see our CILEX page for more information and links.
If you would love a career in the law but feel that University is not the right path for you then a Legal Apprenticeship may be a suitable alternative.
Here at Sills & Betteridge we recognise that people are individuals and the traditional route to becoming a solicitor does not suit everyone. Does that mean that the door to qualification is closed? Certainly not! We feel passionate about offering alternative routes to university and are proud to offer Paralegal/ Solicitor Apprenticeships to aspiring individuals. Please see the BPP Law School Factsheet downloads on the left of this page.
Our apprenticeships are designed to help springboard you into a successful legal career by providing you with a mixture of studying and learning within the workplace so that you can earn while you learn. We believe that our apprentices are a very important part of our talent strategy and some of our most successful fee earners joined us through a working and learning route.
Dedicated and conscientious learners;
⦁ Confidence and adaptability;
⦁ 3 completed A Levels or equivalent studies at grade C and above;
⦁ Team players with a strong sense of social responsibility; and
⦁ A passion for law.
Initially you will sign up to complete our two-year paralegal apprenticeship by the end of which you have a Level 4 Certificate of Higher Education in Legal Services. This is equivalent to the first year of a law undergraduate degree. The paralegal apprenticeship offers an introduction to the fundamentals of legal practice and provides a combination of learning and working within one of our legal teams, to build the knowledge and skills required to work within a law firm.
Once the two-year paralegal apprenticeship has been completed, apprentices who would like to continue their learning may have the opportunity to join the Level 7 solicitor apprenticeship. This takes four years to complete and involves the completion of a (Hons) degree in legal practice and will lead to qualifying as a solicitor six years after leaving school. This route includes the fees for the SQE and SQE preparation courses provided by BPP Law School.
We have an open-door culture at Sills and in addition to a dedicated supervisor and Apprenticeship Partner you will have a tutor and skills coach at BPP, to ensure that you have all the support you need at work and with your studies. We offer a competitive salary (paying at a minimum the UK National Living wage.)
Yes!
In the first instance, internal employees should speak to Simon Breeden, Training Principle, and their supervisor/Head of Department.
Queries can be made to the HR Department to find out more about our Apprenticeship programme.
You'll need to apply through the following link: https://www.bpprecruitment.co.uk/Search/Job?id=131528&asid=1
Please note that external applications sent to the Firm directly will not be considered at this time. We are only currently recruiting apprentices internally.
Find out more information about BPP here.
Remember- you are applying to a professional organisation for a highly sought-after opportunity.
Make sure that you:
• have done your homework on the firm;
• know our culture and values; and
• have checked and checked your application again! Maybe get a parent or tutor to look through it for you.
In addition, we're not just looking for your academic achievements, we're looking for a future partner so show us who you are and what you can bring to the firm and your future clients. We want to know who you are as much as what you have achieved.
Find out more about life as a trainee solicitor here and read our news pages for more information about what it's like to work with us. You can also follow us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram.
"We have a passion for developing our own talent from within the firm. Our apprenticeship programme is a big part of that. The work that we do is important but we have an open and friendly environment throughout our offices which enables our apprentices to get stuck in to their work whilst having access to all the support and guidance that they need.
We want our apprentices to be keen, ambitious and enjoy working as part of a team. We are looking for individuals who can bring something different to our firm. We are not just looking at academic achievement but at the person behind the grades who can bring something special to the firm and have a long and successful career with us."
We are delighted to offer aspiring professionals an exclusive opportunity to explore various practice areas within our esteemed Law Firm. Whether you are an A Level student with a budding interest in law, or a degree-level candidate seeking valuable industry experience, our programme is designed to provide you with a rich and immersive learning experience by developing your skills and expanding your knowledge in a supportive and dynamic environment.
Our Work Experience programme is thoughtfully structured to offer participants a comprehensive understanding of the legal profession. We provide tailored placements for both A Level students and those at degree level, ensuring that you gain valuable insights and practice skills relevant to your stage of education and career aspirations.
Our Work Experience programme is open to both undergraduates (A Level or equivalent) or students pursuing graduate degrees in law or related fields. We welcome applications from individuals with a genuine passion for law, strong academic records and excellent communication skills.
With a total of 25 placements available each year, we aim to accommodate a wide range of talented individuals who are passionate about pursuing a career in law. We are proud to offer placements in not only our Head Office in Lincoln but also at the following branch locations: Boston, Sleaford, Gainsborough, Scunthorpe, Grimsby, Skegness, Spilsby, Doncaster, Thorne, Howden, Wath upon Dearne, Bawtry, Nottingham and Northampton.
To facilitate a seamless application process, we have two placement application windows each year:
This structure ensures flexibility for prospective candidates to align their availability with our programme timelines.
Please note that we offer 3-day placements for each candidate. These days must be consecutive.
To apply, please complete the online application form on our website. Along with your application, please submit a current CV, a compelling cover letter expressing your interest in our Firm and specifying your desired practice areas and any relevant academic transcripts or references. Please also state which of our offices you wish to attend for your placement.
At Sills & Betteridge LLP, we strive to ensure a fair and transparent application shortlisting process. Our dedicated team meticulously review each candidate’s qualifications, skills, and alignment with our values. We assess each applicant’s potential to contribute positively to our work environment and their genuine interest in the legal field. By employing a thorough and unbiased evaluation process, we aim to provide equal opportunities to all qualified candidates.
To learn more about our Work Experience programme and apply, please contact us at workexperienceapplications@sillslegal.co.uk.
PLEASE NOTE: If you do not hear from us within 3 months of submitting your application then unfortunately you have not been successful in obtaining a placement at this time. Due to large volumes of requests, we are unable to acknowledge each and every work experience application. We would like to take this opportunity however to thank you for your interest in the Firm.
Working at Sills & Betteridge is great because you feel really supported and valued. They encourage a good work-life balance with flexible working arrangements, which is a big plus. There are plenty of opportunities for training and development, so you can keep growing in your career.
I am proud to tell people who I work for. From the front door reception to partners, everyone has been friendly and supportive from the first day to date. Full induction, equipment provided. Flexibility for working from home and hours together with IT assistance, access to medical benefits and travel expenses to attend the offices. There are of course standards and targets to be met but Supervisors and colleagues are supportive and helpful always. Experienced members of staff share knowledge and are supportive. It is clear to see the standards and nature filter down. The rate of pay is very good . A variety of on-line and internal on-going training available. I would recommend the firm to anyone considering employment.
Working at Sills has been an incredible experience for several reasons. First and foremost, the abundance of growth opportunities is truly remarkable. Whether you’re just starting out or have been with the company for years, there’s always room to advance and learn.
The Firm offer a wide range of legal services. It large enough to deliver progression opportunities in every Department. Senior lawyers are talented and supportive of new talent coming through. There are also opportunities to gain formal qualifications alongside employment, such as Solicitor Apprenticeship. Firm is flexible to WFH/part time working arrangements where possible. There are several branches which can provide options to work in several locations.
Don't want to miss out on exciting job opportunities? Sign up for our job alerts and be the first to know when new positions that align with your skills and interests open up.
Copyright © 2025 Sills & Betteridge LLP |
Sills & Betteridge, Acclaimed Family Law, Bell & Buxton, Bridge Sanderson Munro, Campions Solicitors, Sills Mediation and Moving Forward Lincolnshire are trading names of Sills & Betteridge LLP. Sills & Betteridge LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales (Registered Number OC339586) and is licensed and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA Number 499219). The term "partner" is used to refer to a senior individual at Sills & Betteridge LLP. A list of members' names is available for inspection at the registered office: Aquis House, 18 - 28 Clasketgate, Lincoln, LN2 1JN.