Ashfords is a valued legal partner to a wide range of corporate, public sector and private clients across the UK and internationally, counted on by clients to get the right result – whether that’s delivering commercial objectives, protecting family assets, making investments or solving disputes. With four UK offices and an international network, we are able to draw on legal expertise in over 70 countries worldwide.

At Ashfords, we believe that our difference lies in our people. The way we work together with our clients, share and support each other’s ambitions and celebrate our successes. We have a genuine team approach at Ashfords because we know that when talented people work together, we achieve more for our clients and each other. We also recognise that each of our career journeys is unique. So we look for ambitious people and we in return will be ambitious for you, giving you the support you need to develop your career, your way. Importantly, with the space and flexibility for your life outside work too. Our goal? To help you realise your full potential as part of a forward-thinking team and business. That’s what sets us apart.

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 either our Exeter or Bristol summer scheme, which provides a real insight into life with Ashfords.

We have carefully designed our summer scheme to ensure that you will gain exposure to a variety of practice areas, whilst also having the opportunity to meet our people from across the business, experience our unique culture and develop your understanding our of approach to client service.

You will spend lots of time with our current trainees, understanding their work and what it is like to be a trainee with us. During the week, you will have the opportunity to secure a training contract with the firm by participating in an assessment centre.

We offer training contracts based in our South West or Bristol offices and you can expect to spend six months in four different seats. 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

For each seat you will have a dedicated supervisor, who will provide you with regular feedback and will lead a review meeting with you twice during each seat to monitor your development.

You will have a HR point of contact, Isabella Gartside, early careers advisor, who will be supporting you all throughout your training alongside our training principal, Laura Reeve.

We believe that each trainee’s experience is unique to them so it’s important that we get to know you as an individual. Once per seat, Laura will meet with you for an informal catch up and you will have one-to-one discussions with Isabella about your future seat move preferences so that we can help you to optimise your training contract experience.

At Ashfords, we want opportunity to be open to all and 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 a choice of two different pathways before you join the firm for your two year training contract, depending on your undergraduate degree.

Each of the below courses will be delivered through The College of Legal Practice:

• SQE1 and 2 Preparation Courses
• GDL + SQE1 and 2 Preparation Courses

To support you throughout your studies we also offer up to £8,000 (law graduate) or £12,000 (non-law graduate) in maintenance grants.

We believe in creating access to career opportunities, so we’re really proud to offer apprenticeships at Ashfords, with many of our former apprentices continuing to progress their careers with us.

We want to keep investing in motivated people who demonstrate the potential to be a real future asset to our business. We’re looking for an apprentice to show enthusiasm, solution-focused thinking and a great work ethic; our apprenticeship programmes can help with the rest.

We recognise that university is still the preferred path for some people, and it can be a really exciting next step following school or college. However, if you don’t feel university is for you or you’re looking for a more hands-on, practical learning experience, our apprenticeship programmes offer a fantastic alternative way of kick-starting a successful career.

You will have the benefit of studying towards a recognised qualification, whilst developing the inviable skills and knowledge that come with working in a professional environment, alongside individuals who are experts in their field.

Responsible business

We are passionate about having a positive impact on our communities and the wider environment within which we live and work. Through our employee-led, firm-wide environmental, social and governance programme, we aim to focus our efforts and make a real difference. Our team represents a diverse blend of backgrounds, personal circumstances, and personalities, which contribute to the diversity and creativity of the solutions we provide. We see this as a crucial strength that allows us to serve our clients better and cultivate a supportive and enjoyable work environment. By combining unique life experiences, diverse perspectives, and varied thinking and approaches, we all grow and deliver greater value to our clients and one another.

Diversity and inclusion

Our team represents a diverse blend of backgrounds, personal circumstances, and personalities, which contribute to the diversity and creativity of the solutions we provide.

We see this as a crucial strength that allows us to serve our clients better and cultivate a supportive and enjoyable work environment. By combining unique life experiences, diverse perspectives, and varied thinking and approaches, we all grow and deliver greater value to our clients and one another.

For Ashfords, building an inclusive workplace comes from championing equality, diversity and inclusion. It means:

• Living our values so that we seek out, respect and welcome difference.
• Being curious and open to new approaches.
• Each of us looking always at how we can improve the accessibility and inclusivity of what we do and how we do it.
• Reviewing and creating new practices that enable everyone working at Ashfords to be comfortable and to flourish.
• Ensuring we can all be successful whatever our background, personal circumstances or personality.

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, in addition to the maintenance grants.

• Commercial disputes
• Commercial & IP
• Employment
• Trusts & estates
• Family
• Real estate
• Property disputes
• Planning
• Construction
• Residential & rural property
• Corporate
• Banking & finance

• Corporate & Commercial
• General Commercial
• General Practice

• Exeter
• Bristol
• London
• Plymouth

• Bristol
• Exeter

• Bristol Future Talent Partnership
• Legal Apprenticeships
• Mindful Business Charter
• Pathways to Law
• Rare Recruitment
• Social Mobility Business Partnership
• Sutton Trust