Payne Hicks Beach

Overview

Payne Hicks Beach is a long-established, specialist London law firm founded in 1770 that provides bespoke legal advice and litigation services to high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices and commercial clients. The firm is headquartered at 10 New Square, Lincoln's Inn and combines market-leading private client, family and contentious trusts expertise with a full-service offering covering property, corporate, immigration, employment and dispute resolution. Payne Hicks Beach is regularly ranked in leading legal directories for family, private wealth, immigration, reputation management and high-value residential property work and is instructed in high-profile and precedent-setting cases, including work in the Senior Courts.

• Headquarters: London, 10 New Square, Lincoln's Inn
• Founded: 1770
• Partners: 43
• Trainees: 5
• Offices: 1

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Private Client & Wealth
• Family Law
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Immigration
• Real Estate
• Corporate & M&A
• Employment
• Tax
• Charities & Not-for-Profit
• Agriculture & Rural
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Media & Entertainment
• Financial Services & Regulation
• Commercial Contracts
• Insolvency & Restructuring
• Fraud & Investigations
• White Collar Crime
• Education
• Regulatory & Compliance

Geographic Focus: Based in central London, the firm acts for domestic and international high-net-worth individuals, families and family offices and for commercial and institutional clients. Although the firm has a single office in London, its work is frequently cross-border and international in scope (including notable work for Scandinavian/private wealth clients) and it is routinely instructed by overseas family offices and advisers on cross-jurisdictional tax, trust, family and contentious matters.

Training Contract

Two-year training contract. Trainees usually complete four six-month seats drawn from the firm's six principal departments so they gain experience across the firm's core practices. Seats are allocated with the trainee's preferences taken into account where possible; there is normally only one trainee per department at any one time, and trainees receive increasing responsibility during each seat. Formal induction and a firm-wide training programme of lectures and seminars run throughout the two years; mid- and end-of-seat appraisals are conducted. Trainees must complete the Professional Skills Course (PSC) or the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) during their contract. The firm has an exclusive training relationship with BPP for postgraduate legal training.

• Starting Salary: £49,000 (first year trainee salary for 2023 intake)
• NQ Salary: £84,000
• Trainee Intake: 5
• Qualification Rate: 100%
• Academic Requirements: Minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree classification expected (upper second class degree is a minimum requirement unless there are exceptional circumstances). The firm recruits both law and non-law graduates and mature students. Minimum A-level requirement: AAB (as reported in supplementary data).
• Application Deadline: 2027-03-26

Seat Options

• Private Client & Wealth
• Family Law
• Corporate & M&A
• Employment
• Real Estate
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Immigration

Sponsorship

The firm pays fees for qualifying courses (PGDL/LPC/SQE) if incurred after selection and provides a maintenance grant (currently £7,000 per annum). These payments are not repayable provided examinations are passed at the first attempt, training is completed and the trainee remains with the firm for a period of at least two years post-qualification.

SQE Support

The firm runs a formal training programme and has an exclusive arrangement with BPP for the provision of legal training. Fees for the Postgraduate Diploma in Law, the Legal Practice Course, the Solicitors Qualifying Exam and the Professional Skills Course are paid if incurred after selection. Maintenance grant and course support are subject to the firm's conditions (see sponsorship).

International Opportunities

0% (Chances of secondment abroad reported as 0%)

Client Secondments

0% (Chances of client secondment reported as 0%)

Mentorship

Each trainee is appointed a mentor and is trained primarily under the supervision of senior members of the seat team. Partners, senior associates and other senior colleagues devote time to trainee development; formal mid- and end-seat appraisals and a structured lecture/seminar programme underpin development.

Apply on the Payne Hicks Beach website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Payne Hicks Beach Looks For

Key Competencies

• Strong academic record (minimum 2:1 degree)
• Commercial awareness
• Client service and client contact skills
• Attention to detail
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Discretion and confidentiality
• Empathy and emotional intelligence (particularly for family work)
• Resilience and ability to handle pressured/high-value matters
• Technical legal ability and eagerness to learn

Evidence Signals

• Relevant client-facing or paralegal experience (private client/family exposure)
• Pro bono or volunteering work (especially supporting vulnerable people)
• Experience or interest in trusts, tax, family law or immigration for high-net-worth clients
• Participation in mooting, negotiation or advocacy activities
• Strong written English and demonstrable attention to presentation and detail
• Membership of or participation in networks that demonstrate commitment to inclusion, community or sector-specific interests

Benefits & Wellbeing

• First year trainee salary: £49,000 (2023 intake)
• Second year trainee salary: £52,000 (2023 intake)
• Newly qualified salary: £84,000
• PGDL / course fees paid (PGDL/LPC/SQE paid if incurred after selection)
• SQE grant / maintenance grant: £7,000 per annum (currently)
• Private medical insurance (WPA / BUPA options referenced)
• Permanent health insurance
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Life assurance (4x salary referenced in some roles)
• Contributory Group Personal Pension Scheme (auto-enrolment)
• Dental cover (Unum Dental)
• Health screening (BUPA and Bluecrest health assessments)
• Medicash Cashplan
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Introduction bonus scheme
• Interest-free season ticket loan (after three months)
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Holiday Purchase scheme
• Wellbeing programme and gym membership (Gymflex)
• Staff social and sporting activities (cricket, tennis, sailing, wine tasting, quiz nights)
• Holiday entitlement: 25 days

Wellbeing

Firm-wide wellbeing programme, Employee Assistance Programme, health screening, BUPA/WPA options and the Mental Health & Family Breakdown initiative (peer-reviewed resources and dedicated webpage). The firm highlights wellbeing and has staff nominated for wellbeing awards.

Awards & Recognition

• Chambers High Net Worth: Leading Firm (multiple years)
• The Legal 500 UK: Leading Firm (multiple years)
• Chambers UK: Leading Firm (multiple years)
• Chambers HNW Awards 2024: Family Law Team of the Year (Winner)
• Chambers HNW Awards 2025: Shortlisted Contentious Trusts & Estates Team of the Year
• LexisNexis Family Law Awards: multiple shortlists (2024, 2026)
• Spear's Awards: Private Client Innovation shortlist
• Eprivateclient: Top Tier Family Law Firm / Top Tier Law Firm (multiple years)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The Firm is committed to providing equal opportunities in employment and all applicants will receive equal treatment regardless of race, colour, ethnic or national origin, gender, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief. The Firm ensures that everyone is equally valued, respected, and treated with dignity and fairness. The firm is a partner of LeGal BesT.

• Diversity and Inclusion Policy (published)
• Equality & Diversity Statement (July 2023)
• Diversity Survey Results 2025
• Partner of LeGal BesT (LGBTQ+ inclusion network)
• Mental Health & Family Breakdown initiative (resources for vulnerable clients and practitioners)
• Long‑standing corporate partnership with Coram's Fields (community and mentoring work)

Pro Bono

The firm undertakes pro bono work (for example Re S — inherent jurisdiction/transgender surgery case provided pro bono) and maintains community and volunteering links (Coram's Fields). The firm also publishes free resources for supporting vulnerable clients (Mental Health & Family Breakdown initiative).

Innovation

Quick Application Angles

• Demonstrate a clear, specific interest in private client/family work — reference the firm's high-profile family cases (for example Potanina v Potanin) and explain how your skills map to high-net-worth, sensitive matters.
• Show awareness of the firm's training model (small intake, partner-led seats across Private Client, Family, Corporate/Employment, Property, Dispute Resolution and Immigration) and explain why a close-supervision environment suits you.
• Highlight commitment to wellbeing and working with vulnerable clients — reference the Mental Health & Family Breakdown initiative and give an example of when you have shown empathy or supported someone under pressure.
• If you have relevant client-facing experience (paralegal, internships, pro bono), set out specific examples of tasks and responsibilities that demonstrate responsibility, accuracy and client care.
• Emphasise academic rigour (minimum 2:1) and any trust/tax/family-related study or practical experience; mention the firm's BPP arrangement and support for qualifying costs if relevant to your planning.