We are a premier legal practice delivering specialist expertise to an impressive portfolio of regional, national and international clients.

An entrepreneurial firm with history and tradition, we are on an exciting journey to become our clients’ most trusted advisor, enabling them to achieve their ambitions. How we do it is just as important as what we do. Our values of collaboration over convention, championing aspiration, being refreshingly human, embracing entrepreneurial spirit and delivering integrated thinking guide the way we act, every day, from the way we operate as a business to how we treat our colleagues and clients.

We like to think that our approach to business and developing client relationships makes us distinctly different to traditional law firms – and also attractive. As does our desire to ensure our lawyers and trainees operate in an environment where everything is tailored towards delivering specialist and forward-thinking advice to our clients.

Our vacation schemes take place in our Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth and Southampton offices. During the week you will be aligned to one team and given a true insight into both the firm and the role of a trainee solicitor. This is your opportunity to be involved in real client work and interactions, working with senior lawyers in your team. There will also be time for you to network with existing trainees and other solicitors within different teams to find out more about the firm and what differentiates us.  We want you to truly experience what it's like to work at Foot Anstey and to end your week with us with a real insight into the culture of the firm, how we can develop your potential and what we can offer you as a trainee solicitor.

At the end of the week you will take part in an assessment day with a view to securing a training contract. These are designed to see you at your best, not to trip you up and we focus on assessing your potential of becoming a successful solicitor with us.

We welcome applications from law and non-law students who have a strong academic background, exceptional communication skills, and the vision to be part of our future.

Our training programme is designed to help you reach your full potential. You will undertake six, four-month seats so you experience a greater number of practice areas.

One of our significant differentiators is the closeness with which you work with senior lawyers and partners. We believe being directly in the middle of good quality work will accelerate your learning and help you to develop into an exceptional advisory lawyer.

As one of our trainees, you will be exposed to situations to develop your legal and commercial expertise, in an environment that is friendly and supportive. This may be through your day to day work with your team and supervisor, on secondment with a client or as part of our award winning virtual trainee programme which sees each trainee aligned to national and international clients to work with their in-house legal teams throughout their training contract.

Any trainees joining the firm from 2024 onwards who have not already completed the LPC will need to complete the SQE.

Creating a diverse and inclusive workplace is essential to delivering our strategy, and we were delighted to be awarded the National Equality Standard in 2018 and to successfully renew this in 2021 when we achieved the highest score for a law firm. That’s why this is right at the heart of our priorities. This goes beyond our policies – it’s something we consider across everything we do, from the make-up of our client teams, encouraging staff to reach their potential, through to our leadership.

‘Powering your ambition’ is the statement that summarises what we stand for as a firm. It means that we aim to support our clients and our people to achieve their goals, regardless of background, gender, race, beliefs, sexuality or other non-work related factors. We champion aspiration and encourage it in everyone that works with us.  

Sponsorship available for PGDL/SQE and living expenses.

• Commercial
• Corporate
• Commercial property
• Planning & environmental
• Energy
• Islamic finance
• Banking
• Projects infrastructure & construction
• Commercial litigation
• Property litigation
• Legacy & trust litigation
• Succession & tax
• Employment
• Family
• Restructuring & insolvency

• Corporate & Commercial
• General Practice
• General Commercial

• Bristol
• Exeter
• London
• Plymouth
• Southampton
• Taunton
• Truro
• a 'hub' in Oxford

• Pathways to Law
• Rare Recruitment
• Stonewall