Firm profile
Ashfords is a national provider of legal, professional and regulatory services. We combine legal expertise, commercial experience and our wider network to help our clients achieve their goals, providing value for time and value for money. Our commitment to excellence is reflected by the quality of our employees and partners, our client testimonials and industry awards. We are also delighted to have been voted a UK 300 employer by students and graduates in the UK for the eighth year running. We’re proud that our priorities go beyond business; through our employee-led, firm-wide Environmental, Social and Governance programme, we aim to focus our efforts and make a real difference.
Main areas of work
We have a clear understanding of our markets with an absolute focus on our clients. As a full service firm we cover a wide range of practice areas, including corporate, real estate, dispute resolution, construction and infrastructure, employment, intellectual property, trusts and estates, residential property, and family. We advise clients across a number of industries with a focus on technology, energy and waste, retail and the public sector. We service clients internationally through our ADVOC network of independent law firms, and work on a number of cross border transactions.
Training opportunities
You will experience different areas of law during your 24 month training contract, spending six months in four different departments. You have a choice of either a Bristol or South West based training contract; our South West trainees have the opportunity to work across our Exeter and Plymouth offices. Thanks to our open plan working culture, you will have the chance to learn from some of the best lawyers in their field, setting you up for success as a future Solicitor. We are proud to work with talented people who want to share their knowledge and experience — you will be encouraged to do likewise. Our trainees have hands-on experience, early responsibility and client involvement throughout their training contract. You will also play an integral role in ESG and business development initiatives, which provide exposure to our diverse client base. At Ashfords we recruit to retain and your long-term career with us is very important; we have a clear career model with structured development to support you at each stage. We are transparent about promotion criteria and you will have access to the development you need to help you to achieve your career ambitions.
Vacation scheme
We hold three summer schemes which take place in June, in both our Exeter and Bristol offices. To take part in a vacation scheme, students will need to have reached their penultimate year of their undergraduate law degree (or final year for non-law students) and be ready to start a training contract in two years’ time. There is no specific route to take to secure a training contract, we are just as likely to recruit you from a summer scheme as we would from an assessment centre!
Other benefits
Annual benefits include: 23 days’ paid leave, birthday day off, additional Ashfords Christmas day off, holiday purchase scheme, free in-house gym (Exeter office) and national gym discounts, pension, health cash plan, membership of The Junior Lawyers Division, cycle scheme, annual discretionary bonus scheme.
University law careers fairs 2025
Exeter, UoL Bristol, Cardiff
