Bates Wells - True Picture

Bates Wells Training Contract Review 2026

The Firm

‘As Daredevil, I get to save the world. As a lawyer…maybe I can fix it.’ These may be the words of Marvel’s favourite vigilante, but at Bates Wells, they certainly ring true. As the first UK law firm to achieve B Corp status, Bates Wells slots into a group of for-profit companies that meet particularly rigorous ethical and environmental standards in their work. Put simply, they do an awful lot of good for their respective communities, and it’s a big part of the draw for trainees at the firm. As one put it: “My time here has reminded me why I wanted to go into law – to make a real difference.” It translates to the firm’s practice area strength too, with top Chambers UK rankings nationwide in areas like charities, personal immigration and parliamentary & public affairs: electoral law.

“My time here has reminded me why I wanted to go into law – to make a real difference.”

Bates Wells’ trainee intake is relatively small compared to other city firms, with only six newcomers per cycle. Insiders appreciated the tight-knit cohort, noting that it “gives you more responsibility from day one.” Despite its sector focuses, Bates Wells also prides itself on being a full-service law firm, and those we spoke to felt they gained broad exposure, all through the lens of the firm’s “values-focused approach.”

The Seats

Bates Wells follows a 4x6 seat structure and newbies are asked to rank their top four preferences prior to starting. The current crop noted that while business needs are considered, “you’re more likely to get what you want as it’s a small cohort.” Our sources were happy with the array of seats on offer, telling us “there’s a real mix of practice areas. We have seven different departments to rotate around!” While it’s “not very common or advertised”, client secondments are few and far between, and it's unlikely to be an option. Where opportunities are available, arrangements are made via a discussion with eligible trainees in place of a formal application process.

Bates Wells’ charity and social enterprises department (CHASE), the firm’s largest, is a compulsory seat for trainees. Three newbies join the team per rotation and get to sample a wide range of work: “I worked with clients across the creative industries, including theatres and dance companies,” one trainee told us, “there’s a real diversity of work here.” Of course, as you might expect given the nature of work in the sector, a big part of the appeal is knowing “I’m making an impact by working in this department.” Sources told us that charity disputes work was “particularly interesting” as it sees the team step in when complaints are made against charities. Trainees also said that if you flag your interests early on, “the team does their best to shape your workload around what you enjoy.” The CHASE team has even made headlines for its work in the non-profit sector, including its role in the RSPCA’s campaign to strengthen animal welfare regulations in the UK. Typical tasks include filing accounts, reviewing governance documents and helping with Charity Commission applications, with chances to get involved in disputes, data privacy, trusts, regulatory matters and setting up new charities.

“You learn so many skills which are the bedrock for everything else that you do.”

As was a recurring theme, Bates Wells’ real estate department was one where “the friendliness of the team is known across the firm.” The department, which bags a top-tier Chambers UK ranking in London, offers “the most client contact,” with plenty of overlap with “lots of interesting charity work” such as dealing with churches and foundations. Trainees typically manage the core transactional work, alongside lots of research: “We often work with old buildings, so there might be different laws around easements on properties – it’s super interesting.” This translates to tasks such as drafting, researching and helping on high value transactions. We were told that “no one day is the same as the next. One day might be research-focused, the next might be a client meeting, and the next might be drafting.” The current cohort also praised the training in the department, describing it as “fantastic. You learn so many skills which are the bedrock for everything else that you do. You get the most responsibility here at a trainee level, and the team really consider your development.” Notable work from the team includes advising Woodland Savers in their recent investment round, helping them to co-manage local woodlands to boost nature recovery.

“…the bundle you give to counsel is used in court, so you get to see your work in action.” 

The dispute resolution practice at Bates Wells spans everything from commercial disputes to contentious probate, leading one interviewee to describe it as “the seat with the most variety”. Trainee tasks typically include bundling, giving instructions to counsel, helping with statements of cost and plenty of research. “It’s so fun,” one source told us, “the bundle you give to counsel is used in court, so you get to see your work in action.” Typical trainee tasks include taking notes in client meetings, bundling, and lots of research into updated legislation. Insiders praised the topical nature of the work, often referencing current affairs or headline news. For example, those we spoke to highlighted the department’s ‘know-how’ meetings, which are monthly presentations given by the two trainees to deliver any updates to the law, recent case studies, and judgements: “It’s a lot of responsibility”, one insider shared, “it really gives you a wider insight into disputes as a whole, and I got the chance to do a blog post on our findings.”

For one trainee, Bates Wells’ immigration department was what made the firm stand out amongst the rest. They shared: “I’m interested in public law and niche areas like immigration and employment. They weren’t offered at other city firms so that really attracted me.” The immigration team at Bates Wells deals with a variety of work, meaning trainees can get involved in everything from entertainment visas and business visits to asylum cases and granting sponsorship licenses for charities. We were told it was one of the busier departments, and trainees can expect to carry out tasks like client management and preparing corporate bundles.

Trainee Life

Following a refurbishment which saw the firm close its doors for two months, trainees spoke highly of the office, describing it as “open plan with lots of plants – it’s not particularly fancy but really nice.” A “lovely roof garden” doesn’t hurt either, which has hosted many a social and is a popular lunch-time spot, giving trainees a prime view of the Thames during their breaks. The overall firm policy is for lawyers to be in the office two days a week, but the trainee expectation is higher, with the general rule being that trainees are required in four days a week (although there is not a separate formal policy and flexibility where it's needed). Our interviewees added that “you develop more by being around everyone – it helps you get your feet on the ground.”

“They are interested in you as a person, not just as a trainee.”

Insiders were quick to highlight that they “love” the culture at the firm, telling us that “everyone is so lovely, and the culture is really inclusive – they are interested in you as a person, not just as a trainee.” The firm’s various 'DIFs' (diversity and inclusion forums) seem to testify to this, such as ‘Reach and Rise’ – a racial equity network which “has a lot of partner involvement.” In fact, all but a few groups are headed by partners. Other groups include a neurodiversity group, ‘Unstoppable’, and ‘Queen Street Pride’ which is an LGBTQ+ network. While we were told “It can be hard to be an active member of numerous affinity groups due to time constraints, so it sometimes feels like you have to choose,” all the networks are “really good and we make an effort to be an inclusive firm.” It's also worth noting that few forums have a sole focus, and most will leave room to explore other areas, such as a focus on race and gender within the LGBTQI community.

The social side at Bates Wells is bolstered by regular firm-wide events, including summer and Christmas parties, but trainees also highlighted the value of smaller team socials: “We’re very much encouraged to build relationships outside of work,” one insider told us, adding that there’s a budget to fund team activities and that partners often join. Another trainee praised HR’s approach, explaining that “they make an effort not to create ‘forced fun’, so we can spend the budget however we want, depending on what we feel like doing.”

Trainees are allocated a department supervisor who organises regular check ins throughout the course of their seat: “Alongside this, we have a trainee principal and two deputy training principals. We are allocated one of the deputy training principals who we have monthly catch ups with,” one source explained, “it’s nice to have supervision which lasts throughout the training contract.” There’s plenty of IT and department specific training available to trainees, but it was the soft skills training that really stood out: “The skills no one really explains to you! They tell us how from the start, so it isn’t overwhelming.” These sessions cover the likes of “developing confidence, growth mindset, having productive conversations with your supervisor etc.”

Bates Wells emphasis on the impact and value of its work means that for certain charity clients, the firm operates at reduced rates. This inevitably means that the trainee salary is lower than other big city law firms. That said, trainees at the firm will have a real word impact for clients that are doing good for the world, and our interviewees recognised that their hours are significantly less than those offering a larger pay packet, telling us: “I don’t live to work, so I think we’re paid fairly for the work/life balance that we get.”

The qualification process was described to us as “formal” and kicks off with a formal meeting with the trainees to outline the process and indicate which departments are recruiting. Trainees generally submit one or two preferences, but we heard that they are free to submit more if they choose. In 2025, all departments required trainees to do a technical test followed by an interview. While some felt that “more transparency around qualifying would be helpful,” others appreciated the structure, saying that “the formal process is a fair one, as you feel like the relevant steps have been taken.” In 2025, the firm retained 3 of 6 qualifiers.

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