Stevens & Bolton LLP is a leading independent UK law firm with a team of 280 people, including 90 lawyers, all under one roof in Guildford. Working with leading clients across the UK and internationally, we advise businesses and individuals on a wide range of legal matters. Combining technical excellence with personal service, we build long-term relationships and provide clear, practical advice that helps our clients achieve their ambitions.

"Let's make it happen" is our promise to clients, colleagues and our community. It means providing clear, practical legal advice that helps clients move forward. It means creating a proactive and supportive culture where people can do their best work and build rewarding careers. And it means making a positive impact through our responsible business activities, supporting our people, our community and the environment.

For aspiring lawyers, that means working on high-quality matters from day one. You'll work closely with experienced colleagues, take on real responsibility early in your career and gain exposure to a broad range of clients and sectors. Our size means you'll be known as an individual, while our full-service offering gives you the opportunity to experience the breadth and variety of commercial legal practice.

Our culture is ambitious, collaborative and supportive. We believe the best results come from working together, sharing knowledge and giving people the confidence to grow. Alongside structured training and career development, you'll have opportunities to get involved in responsible business initiatives, diversity and inclusion networks, wellbeing activities, sports teams and social events, helping you build connections across the firm as your career develops.

To find out what it is like to work at Stevens & Bolton LLP read the firm's Meet the Lawyer profile.

We offer a single vacation scheme each Easter, lasting up to four days, for individuals interested in applying for a training contract commencing in 2029.

As a vacation student you will have the opportunity to get involved in the work of the department you are sitting in, together with arranged project work across several departments.

During the week, you'll hear about the diverse work we undertake and meet colleagues from across the business, providing a genuine taste of our unique culture and the qualities that make our firm different. We also hope you will have some fun along the way!

Applications should be made by completing our online application form which is available from our website from 1 December to 31 January.

Our trainees have genuine responsibility and experience of dealing with clients – and are made to feel part of the team from day one. Trainee seats will be available in most of the key business areas we specialise in, namely M&A and other corporate work, banking/finance, commercial, tax, real estate, IP, dispute resolution and employment. We do our best to maximise your ability to experience as many of those areas as possible and currently operate a four six-month seat rotation.

We offer the opportunity for a rewarding, long-term career fuelled by continuing professional and personal development. We are dedicated to encouraging this development, delivered in a variety of ways to give our trainees the best chance to become rounded, assured and respected professionals.

One key initiative is our foundation training scheme which we have designed specifically for trainees. Led by lawyers from across the firm, the scheme aims to equip trainees with the basics in our key practice areas. Training in technical and business skills and early exposure to stimulating work with a variety of clients is instrumental in providing a solid foundation. In addition, the value to be gained from a unique combination of factors – supervision when you need it, support from colleagues and the opportunity to embrace early responsibility as soon as you are ready – creates a compelling proposition at the outset of your career.

We offer a very competitive salary of £40,000 and a comprehensive benefits package.

At Stevens & Bolton, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved beyond your day-to-day work. We host regular departmental social events and firmwide gatherings, alongside a variety of client and networking events, including sporting activities. We also organise trainee dinners for both current and future trainees, helping you build connections across the firm.

Unless a future trainee has already commenced the LPC, we will require all future trainees to pass SQE1, SQE2 and SQE Plus before commencing their period of recognised / qualifying work experience with us. We will sponsor any future trainees to study the preparation courses to pass these exams. 

At Stevens & Bolton we are committed to building a supportive culture, where everyone feels included and able to achieve their full potential. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workplace helps us attract and develop talented people, better understand the needs of our clients, and make more informed decisions as a business.

As a core pillar of our Responsible Business strategy, diversity and inclusion shapes how we recruit, develop and support our people. Through our D&I Forum, volunteer-led action groups, learning programmes and external initiatives, we work to create a more inclusive environment within the firm while helping to improve access to the legal profession and supporting positive change in the wider community.

For further information about our D&I initatives please visit our website.

We pay the fees for the PGDL and SQE at the level set by The University of Law, and a maintenance grant of £7,000 for each academic year of study. Any future trainees who are yet to take their PGDL, or SQE are required to attend The University of Law.

• Corporate
• Corporate tax
• Commercial & IT
• Commercial real estate
• Property litigation
• Construction
• Finance restructuring & insolvency
• Tax & trusts
• Private wealth disputes
• Family
• Employment
• Pensions & immigration
• Commercial litigation
• Intellectual property

• Corporate & Commercial
• General Commercial
• General Practice

• Guildford

• Guildford

• University of Surrey Law School Business Start-Up Clinic

• Dandi Legal
• InterLaw Diversity Forum
• Mindful Business Charter
• REALrating