Hay & Kilner Training Contract Profile

Hay & Kilner is a full-service regional firm based in Newcastle with a clear emphasis on serving the North East while acting for some national clients. The firm's core strengths span a wide range of commercial and private client work: Agriculture & Rural, Charities, Banking & Finance, Care Homes / Health & Social Care, Commercial Contracts, Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Commercial Property, Construction & Engineering, Corporate (including M&A and reorganisations), Data Protection, Education, Employment & HR, Intellectual Property, Restructuring & Insolvency, Professional Negligence and Private Client (wills, trusts, succession and probate).

Trainees at Hay & Kilner will get exposure to sector-led teams where cross-discipline work is common. For example, a care homes client can generate work across property, employment, regulatory and corporate teams, offering trainees varied tasks and client contact. The firm promotes a partner-led model, so trainees routinely work alongside partners on commercial matters and are introduced to clients early. Hay & Kilner also highlights use of technology to streamline contract negotiation and due diligence, meaning trainees can expect practical experience of legal tech tools alongside substantive legal training. For candidates seeking a mix of commercial and private client work with a North East focus, the firm offers a practical route to building broad technical skills and sector knowledge.

Hay & Kilner's recent public-facing matters illustrate its community focus and internal culture. The firm's partnership with the Social Mobility Foundation included a 'Creating Connections' insight event, skills sessions, mentoring by nine staff members and a dedicated week of work experience for SMF students - demonstrating sustained outreach and practical engagement with talent pipelines in the North East. That programme offers trainees chances to take part in outreach and mentoring activities.

Internally and externally the firm has been consolidating an equity agenda: the firm reports a 77% female workforce, 56% female partner representation and a predominantly female management board. These figures underpin recent award shortlists for Employer of the Year and Most Inspiring Employer, highlighting an organisational commitment to inclusive leadership.

On transactional work, the commercial property team advised Community Transport on the letting of new premises in Gateshead, completing the deal in under a month. The transaction involved an associate and a trainee solicitor, reflecting the partner-led but hands-on approach trainees can expect on live client matters.

Hay & Kilner's recruitment and training pathway is structured and partner-led. After application screening, selected candidates attend an assessment centre in April featuring a written exercise and a group collaboration task, and the chance to meet the Recruitment Committee and current trainees. Successful candidates are invited to a week-long vacation scheme in June, working with partners across departments and socialising with teams to gain practical insight. The firm does not offer stand-alone vacation schemes and prefers applicants to complete the scheme before offers are made.

Offers lead to two years' qualifying work experience (a training contract) typically commencing the September two years after the vacation scheme, subject to business need. The training contract comprises four six-month seats across contentious and non-contentious practices. Trainees begin with a 'Hay & Kilner Bootcamp' induction week covering client care, time recording, interviewing, advocacy and firm systems, and receive partner-led supervision throughout seat rotations. The firm encourages early client exposure and real casework responsibilities, and notes many senior colleagues - including the managing partner and members of the recruitment committee - trained at the firm.

Hay & Kilner welcomes law and non-law graduates (non-law candidates should undertake a law conversion) and prefers candidates who have completed an SQE Masters before starting their contract, though LPC and existing SQE qualifications will be considered. The firm will cover successful candidates' SQE exam costs and contribute towards SQE Masters fees, reducing financial barriers to qualification.

Hay & Kilner projects a people-first, partner-led culture that blends commercial pragmatism with a supportive internal environment. Operating for nearly 80 years in the North East, the firm emphasises plain-speaking client relationships and accessible service. Staff describe a partner-led approach where partners provide direct coaching and supervision; that model gives trainees regular access to senior lawyers while retaining a collegial atmosphere.

The firm's core values are supportive, dynamic and exceptional, and these are reflected in flexible working (a broadly 60/40 hybrid model noted by the firm), wellbeing initiatives and a visible Corporate Social Responsibility Committee. Leadership examples include partners active in external networks and internal committees - signposting opportunities for trainees to get involved in professional associations, CSR and local legal community events. For aspirant solicitors who value client contact, regional engagement and mentorship from partners, Hay & Kilner's environment offers practical exposure alongside a collaborative day-to-day culture.

Hay & Kilner seeks applicants who fit a people-first, partner-led and client-focused model: commercially minded, approachable and responsive individuals with strong technical grounding. Academic achievement is important (the firm normally expects a 2.1 or above, with mitigation considered), and non-law graduates should complete a conversion course. The firm prefers candidates committed to working in the North East and ideally those who have completed or intend to complete an SQE Masters before starting their training contract. Evidence of commercial awareness, teamwork in group settings, clear written advocacy and engagement with community or CSR initiatives will strengthen an application.

Tailor your application to Hay & Kilner's regional and sector focus: show knowledge of North East sectors such as care homes, construction, agriculture and education and explain why a partner-led firm suits your development. For the assessment centre, practise written exercises under time pressure and group tasks that demonstrate collaboration, clear reasoning and leadership without dominating. In your vacation scheme, seek varied seat exposure and ask to assist with client-facing tasks to secure substantive examples for interviews. Use resources such as YourLegalLadder, The Law Society, LawCareers.Net, Chambers Student and Legal Cheek to research the firm, prepare commercial awareness updates and manage deadlines (Hay & Kilner's current closing date is 28 February 2026).

Hay & Kilner publishes an Equality and Diversity policy and monitors EDI data annually, with a summary of findings presented each year. The firm reports strong gender representation - 77% female workforce and 56% female partners - and a predominantly female management board. Practical measures include accessible premises, reasonable adjustments, provision of translators and British Sign Language interpreters and mandatory EDI and sexual harassment training. The firm has introduced enhanced family leave policies, a baby-loss policy, menopause awareness training for managers and is developing neurodiversity and allyship programmes. Corporate Social Responsibility activity, led by a CSR Committee, includes sustained outreach such as the Social Mobility Foundation partnership where trainees participate in mentoring and work experience; there is no separate published pro bono record in the source data, but community engagement features prominently in the firm's stated commitments.