Careers

SMW are recruiting for Full-Time Extradition and Crime Solicitor Role

The ideal candidate will:

• have 3-8 years Post Qualification Experience (PQE)
• be Duty Solicitor qualified
• have Extradition experience with a desire to litigate extradition cases as well as crime

They will be working in our Extradition Department (ranked Band 2 in Chambers and Partners 2024) headed by Katy Smart (ranked Band 1 in Chambers and Partners 2024).

Sonn Macmillan Walker has notable expertise in extradition proceedings related to a range of financial, regulatory and serious criminal charges. It handles sensitive cases involving vulnerable individuals as well as those that may be politically motivated. The team has deep experience in challenging European Arrest Warrants along with extradition requests emanating from countries around the globe. The firm takes on a significant amount of legal aid work as well as privately funded cases.

Please email ksmart@smw-law.co.uk with CV and covering letter to apply. 

Job Description

Sonn Macmillan Walker is looking for an enthusiastic newly qualified Solicitor to join our financial crime department.

Recognised by The Times as one of the Best Law Firms 2025 and ranked in Chambers & Partners and Legal 500, we are looking for a Solicitor with 1-2 years PQE that can work with minimal supervision.

Candidates will be able to demonstrate an interest and aptitude for financial crime, including fraud and money laundering offences, confiscation and civil recovery proceedings.

They should have a strong academic background, previous experience of working in a criminal defence firm, and good interpersonal skills. Police station accredited and duty status are essential.

The role will include:

• Running a caseload of private and publicly funded cases.
• Drafting and preparing pleadings, including applications and witness statements.
• Instructing, and working closely, with leading counsel.
• Assisting with other work as required.

This full-time role is for an immediate start at our Aldgate office.

Applications will be treated in the strictest of confidence.

How to Apply

To apply for this position please email dbloom@smw-law.co.uk with a CV (max 2 pages) and covering letter (max 2 pages), including salary expectations.

Do you want to qualify as a solicitor at SMW? 

We are currently recruiting for a paralegal to start in September 2025 in our financial crime department. The role will involve working under the supervision of David Bloom. 

This is a great opportunity for someone with at least some experience already. We have a great track record of training people. Just look at LinkedIn for the number of people who have started here and have stayed or gone to wonderful things! This is a happy place to work, with lots of opportunity to learn from experienced solicitors and socialise with your contemporaries. You will get back as much as you are willing to put in. 

Progression 

After approximately 12 months and depending on how much experience you have already, we would expect you to be willing to become a police station accredited representative and commit to an additional two years of employment intended to meet the requirement for your Qualifying Work Experience (QWE). Many of our paralegals and trainee solicitors choose to study for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) whilst working full part time. 

You will almost certainly need some prior legal experience for this role, preferably in the criminal justice system. You must be able to demonstrate the following: 

• A commitment to becoming a solicitor. 
• An interest and aptitude for financial crime, including fraud and money laundering offences, confiscation and civil recovery proceedings. 
• A good team player. 
• A good work ethic and willingness to learn. 
• Good oral and written communication skills. 

If this sounds like you, email your CV and a short cover letter to dcavaglieri@smw-law.co.uk 

As we experience a high volume of applications you will only hear from us if we are interested in meeting you. We appreciate your understanding. 

Interviews and assessment will be held in August 2025. 

Please still apply if you do have significant legal experience and particularly if you are already police station accredited. We will often have room to take on take on the right candidate with a view to offering them a training contact.