TWM Solicitors is one of the largest legal practices in Surrey, and one of the South East’s leading law firms. We are a full service firm, undertaking the full spectrum of legal work for individuals, businesses and other organisations. The firm is the product of a significant merger in 2000, but proudly traces its origins back to the 1790s.

TWM Solicitors provides unrivalled coverage in Surrey, and Central and South West London. The firm’s hub office in Guildford houses the ever-growing business law and specialist lending practices, while from all locations the firm enjoys a pre-eminent reputation in real estate, private client and family law.

Clients come from a variety of sectors, drawn to the firm because of its location and expertise. Businesses that have given consent to be named as clients include Chelsea Technologies Group, Crown Golf, FESPA, Handelsbanken, Lloyds Bank plc, Miles Commercial, Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation, Shilton plc, Tindle Newspaper & Radio Group and the TVR Group of Companies. Private clients are medium, high and ultrahigh net worth individuals.

Our main areas of expertise are:

• Business law
• Commercial property
• Dispute resolution
• Employment law
• Family law
• Lending
• Private client
• Residential property

We offer two vacation schemes, which typically take place during July and September in our Guildford office. During this time, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside our teams of solicitors and contribute to real-life legal cases. 

You’ll also receive training and mentoring from experienced solicitors, including a variety of workshops covering topics across our various practice areas, and receive feedback and advice on your work and performance. Throughout your two-week placement at TWM, we’ll match you with a trainee buddy to help you settle in and answer any questions you may have.

How will I be assessed?

We’re looking for the next generation of partners and hope that this could be your first step on that path. After completing the vacation scheme, you’ll be considered for a place on the assessment day for our training contract programme where you’ll be given the opportunity to turn your vacation scheme into a training contract offer.

Who can apply?

The vacation scheme is open to undergraduates in the second year of study or above. We welcome applications from students who are passionate about pursuing a career in law whatever their background or experience.

Assessment days normally take place at the end of February/beginning of March. The summer vacation scheme usually takes place during the first two weeks of July, while the autumn programme runs during mid-September. Successful applicants are paid £451.77 per week.

Applications for our 2025 open 3 November 2025. Learn more about how to apply for our 2026 programme here.

Throughout your studies and practical experience, you’ll receive a salary, with all exam and course fees covered. For those who have completed the LPC, we offer a two year training contract with four six-month seats. We also offer a bespoke SQE training contract over two years nine months and all SQE trainees will benefit from our partnership with The College of Legal Practice to ensure the highest quality study support.

For both types of training contract, you will receive comprehensive training in contentious and non-contentious seats, working across multiple office locations, gaining broad exposure to different clients and cases. You’ll be paired with an experienced buddy for one-on-one support, learn from expert fee earners, and have the opportunity to experience cases from start to finish – immersing you in our ethos of personalised client service.

At TWM Solicitors, we’re committed to providing aspiring lawyers with an excellent foundation to develop their legal skills, gain valuable experience and qualify within a supportive and professional environment.

We welcome applications from candidates who have a strong academic background – either a law or non-law related degree with GDL of preferably 2:1 or higher unless there are exceptional circumstances) along with:

• previous relevant work experience that shows a genuine interest in law;
• excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• evidence of a pro-active approach to work;
• an ability to work as part of a team and to deadlines; and
• proficient working IT knowledge including the Microsoft Office suite.

We will select a shortlist of candidates who will be invited for an assessment day. The assessment day is designed so that we can get a good insight into your written and oral communication skills and assess your ability to work in a team – you will be asked to discuss a given subject with a group of people and present your ideas to us.

You will be presented with the following tasks:

• a critical reasoning test
• a written exercise
• a group discussion, including a presentation
• an interview

We understand that you will be nervous, and naturally you will be stronger in some exercises and weaker in others. What we will be looking for is a strong overall performance, a friendly but professional personality and someone who relates to others and uses their common sense throughout the tasks.

Could you be the next generation of partners at TWM Solicitors?

We recruit people who value, and want to contribute to, the provision of top-quality legal services; possess good interpersonal skills; balance legal knowledge with commercial awareness; and are committed to professionalism in all aspects of their work

Applications for our 2025 open 3 November 2025. Learn more about how to apply for our 2026 programme here.

We offer a Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) training contract which will be two years and nine months long and include the following:

September 2027 – office-based induction and introduction to the firm for three weeks, followed by full time SQE1 online preparation course, paid for by the firm. We would encourage you to study at least part of the time in one of our offices

January 2028 – SQE1 exam

January 2028 to January 2029 – two seats of qualifying work experience, each lasting six months. Where possible, we try to place you in your preferred seat, but we always make sure that your seats are a combination of contentious and non-contentious law

January 2029 to March 2029 – full-time SQE2 online preparation course, paid for by the firm. We would encourage you to study at least part of the time in one of our offices

April 2029  – SQE2 exam

May 2029 to May 2030 – two seats of qualifying work experience, each lasting six months

Learn more about how to apply for our 2027 programme here.

We are committed to fostering a welcoming and safe environment that celebrates diversity, ensuring equal opportunities for all employees.

We have programmes aimed at raising awareness and promoting inclusivity within the workplace and we have a thriving employee Information and Consultation Forum (ICF) that meets quarterly to discuss TWM’s financial performance, company policies and processes, and staff wellbeing.

As referred to in the 'SQE' section below, we pay for our trainee solicitors to undertake SQE1 and SQE2 preparation courses with our chosen provider and for exam fees.

• Employment
• Commercial property
• Residential property
• Lending
• Family
• Private client (wills, trusts, probate)
• Dispute resolution
• Wills, trusts & estate disputes (WTED)
• Business law

• Corporate & Commercial
• General Commercial
• General Practice

• Guildford
• Wimbledon
• Epsom
• Reigate
• Leatherhead

• Epsom
• Guildford
• Leatherhead
• Reigate
• Wimbledon