Ashfords is a national provider of legal, professional and regulatory services.

We work with many different kinds of clients – business owners, public sector, large corporates, private individuals and not for profit organisations – to help them make the most of their opportunities, whilst effectively managing risk. 

We provide legal advice that is not just technically sound, but is rooted in a wider appreciation of the real world in which we all exist. A world that is constantly changing, frequently surprising and invariably hard to navigate.

Whilst we recognise that no two clients’ legal issues are the same, we aim always to provide straightforward, timely advice, delivered in clear and simple language.

Above all, we believe that every client should expect and receive value for time and value for money. Which means working with lawyers who make your life easier, share your values and are good to work with. Lawyers who deliver advice grounded in your world.

Our commitment to excellence is reflected by the quality of our staff and partners, our client testimonials and industry awards. We are also delighted to have been voted a Guardian UK 300 employer by students and graduates in the UK for the sixth year running. 

Our three divisions – corporate and commercial, real estate and infrastructure, and private client – cover a wide range of practice areas, including corporate, real estate, dispute resolution, construction and infrastructure, employment, intellectual property, trusts and estates, residential property, family and equity release.

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.

We’re looking for exceptional candidates who will be an asset to our firm, but we also know that we need to impress the best candidates.

To see if we’re right for each other, you can attend our summer scheme, which provides a real insight into life with Ashfords.

During a week-long placement at either our Exeter or Bristol office, you will have the opportunity to meet our people and get a taste of some challenging yet rewarding trainee work, across three different departments. During the week, you will have the opportunity to secure a 2026 training contract with the firm by participating in an assessment centre. To round things off, on the Friday you will participate in a range of workshops, activities and a networking lunch.

During your training contract you will have the opportunity to experience four areas of law, spending six months immersing yourself in the work of each of those four departments.

Our trainees experience real work and are very much part of the team – you go to meetings and to court, meet clients and understand the cases you are working on. We believe there’s no better way to learn and it provides an excellent start to your legal career. Thanks to our collaborative approach to everything that we do, you will have the chance to learn from some of the best lawyers in their field.

Our trainees also play an integral role in business development and marketing, so you can expect to get involved in a variety of events across the firm, which include networking opportunities with our diverse client base.

We have embraced the transition to the SQE as an opportunity to capitalise on inclusivity and access into a career in law. With this in mind, you will have the option to undertake one of three different pathways before you join the firm for your two year training contract, depending on your undergraduate degree. All of the below courses will be delivered through The University of Law:

LLM with SQE1 and 2

Graduate apprenticeship (block release)

Masters in Law with SQE1 followed by SQE2 preparation course and exam

Ashfords is committed to maintaining an equal, diverse and inclusive workplace. This is reflected in our actions of treating our people and candidates fairly and of managing our relationships with our clients, prospective clients, suppliers and our communities in a way that complies with all legal and professional standards and in a way that makes us proud. The firm is committed to promoting an open, progressive and inclusive environment. We believe in treating people equally and we do not discriminate against anyone on the basis of characteristics which are irrelevant to the work they or we are doing. We will only judge people by what they do, not by who they are. We will take positive action to remove barriers and unconscious bias which prevent people from achieving their goals or achieving their potential.

We will no longer be providing sponsorship to undertake the LPC but we will fully support the cost of completing one of the firm's preferred SQE preparation courses and the SQE exams. 

• Commercial litigation
• Intellectual property
• Technology & media
• Employment
• Trusts & probate
• Family
• Commercial property
• Property litigation
• Planning
• Commercial
• Projects & infrastructure
• Restructuring & insolvency
• Financial regulation
• Construction
• Business risk & regulation

• Corporate & Commercial
• General Commercial
• General Practice

• Exeter
• Bristol
• London
• Plymouth

• Legal Apprenticeships
• Mindful Business Charter
• Rare Recruitment