Senior Backend PHP Developer (Contract) at Legal 500, London, £400–£500 per day

Role information

• Day Rate Contract £400–£500 per day
• Outside IR35
• London - 4 days per week in office (Fleet Street)
• 3 months contract (potential for monthly rolling thereafter)
• Start date - from 27th April 2026

Legal 500 is an data-driven, AI-optimised research platform which benchmarks, informs and connects providers and users of legal services in over 100 countries worldwide. We are looking for an experienced Backend PHP Developer to join on a 3‑month contract.

This role is ideal for someone comfortable reading and working within an existing codebase and improving it pragmatically to support our existing WordPress CMS whilst we continue building a new platform to replace it.

What you’ll be doing

• Working hands-on with an established PHP codebase
• Developing and maintaining MySQL databases
• Supporting and extending WordPress-based functionality
• Effectively reading, understanding and navigating legacy code
• Using Claude to help interpret and analyse the existing codebase where helpful
• Collaborating closely with the team in-office, seated next to our Chief Architect

What we're looking for

• Strong commercial experience with PHP
• Solid understanding of MySQL
• Practical experience working with WordPress
• Confidence picking up and improving an existing codebase
• Comfortable working autonomously in a lean team

Interview process

• Single-stage, face-to-face interview (this interview may be remote depending on timing)