Your Training Contract at Ashfords
We believe our Trainees are the future of Ashfords and we take the individual development of each Trainee very seriously.
We look for a number of qualities in our Trainee Solicitors, including enthusiasm, excellent communication skills and commercial acumen.
Our Trainees generally have at least a 2:1 degree or equivalent (law or non-law), although we will consider candidates with lower degrees in exceptional circumstances.
We recruit Trainee Solicitors two years in advance. Typically, this means that law students apply to us in their penultimate year at University, and non-law students apply in their final year at University.
We also welcome applications from Trainees who graduated some time ago.
Training Contracts are carried out in our Bristol, Exeter, Taunton, Tiverton and Plymouth offices. As a Trainee with Ashfords, you may spend your Training Contract in more than one office, subject to your personal circumstances.
The Training Contract is divided into four six-month seats. To give you a well-balanced Training Contract, you will spend time in at least three of our four core areas - Corporate/Commercial, Property, Private Client and Litigation.
As an Ashfords Trainee, you will expected to work hard and to play an active role in client work. You will also contribute in other ways to the continuing success of the firm, such as
- Marketing and social events;
- Helping with our Vac Scheme; and
- Liaising with local schools.
Ashfords Trainees also have active social lives - please see our Sports and Social pages.
What has been your Training Contract highlight?
"My highlight was going to the Administrative Court in Cardiff with my supervisor during my Planning seat. Our clients were applying for permission to judicially review a decision by a Council to give planning permission to a supermarket. It was my first time attending Court in my Training Contract, and it was great experience. I had worked on the file for a while and was able to help answer some of our barrister's questions during the hearing. Our barrister was excellent and put all the arguments across very well - but we weren't sure which way the decision was going to go right up until the last minute, so it was great when the judge decided in our clients' favour."
Becky Wharton, Trainee Solicitor
What has been your most memorable moment of the Training Contract so far?
"Although completely terrifying, I attended a hearing at Exeter where the applicant was also represented. It was the first time I had delivered opposing arguments which didn't involve a role play! I had a really good chat with the opposing solicitor before the hearing and we strolled back through Southernhay after as though we were best friends. Inside the court room however the lines were clearly drawn. It was a bit of a eureka moment and although I would never consider myself to be a natural advocate I realised that actually it comes down to planning and professionalism and that it's rarely personal."
Helen Mouser, Trainee Solicitor
