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Ashfords
A full-service UK firm with South West roots, combining commercial, real estate and private wealth expertise.
About Ashfords
Ashfords is a full-service UK law firm with offices in Bristol, Exeter, London and Plymouth, advising businesses, public bodies and private clients. The firm emerged from the division of Bevan Ashford in 2004 and has developed a practice combining commercial services, real estate and private wealth work. Its clients range from founders and growing businesses to established companies, local authorities, housing providers and individuals. Construction, corporate transactions, technology and property disputes are prominent strengths, alongside specialist work in areas such as charities and equestrian sport. Although its office network is UK-based, Ashfords supports international matters through relationships with lawyers in more than 70 countries. Its trainee programme is based in Bristol and the South West, providing access to both commercial and private client work.
Ashfords recruits approximately 15 trainees annually for a two-year training contract comprising four six-month seats. Candidates apply for either Bristol or the South West programme, with South West trainees able to work across Exeter and Plymouth. Seats in other offices, including London, may be available. Each trainee has a dedicated supervisor who provides regular feedback and conducts mid-seat and end-of-seat reviews. Trainees also discuss future seat preferences with the Early Careers team and meet the training principal during each rotation. The programme emphasises practical experience, early responsibility and client involvement, with opportunities to contribute to business development and wider firm initiatives. Client secondments have been reported, including placements with the Post Office and technology businesses, although they are not guaranteed.
Future trainees complete their preparation through the College of Legal Practice using fully remote courses. Law graduates follow SQE1 and SQE2 preparation courses over 40 weeks, with course and examination fees funded and an £8,000 maintenance grant, divided into £4,000 per course. The non-law pathway adds a law conversion course, extending the programme to 60 weeks and providing £12,000 in total maintenance support across the three courses. These arrangements allow candidates to complete their academic preparation before beginning their two years of qualifying work experience
Practice areas & rankings
In Chambers UK 2026, Ashfords has 21 ranked departments, including seven Band 1 rankings. Five are in South West categories: Construction, Corporate/M&A: £5 million and above, Information Technology, Real Estate Litigation and Social Housing. Its two UK-wide Band 1 rankings are Charities: Legacy Disputes and Sport: Horse Racing & Equestrian. The wider rankings cover commercial, property, private client and public sector practices.
Ashfords won Law Firm of the Year (National) at the Bristol Legal Awards 2025. Organised by Bristol Law Society, the award recognised the firm’s legal services and engagement with the community, including its work to widen access to legal careers.
Ranked departmentsChambers UK
Explore the practice areas
Ashfords is ranked Band 1 for Construction, South West, in Chambers UK 2026. The team advises contractors, utilities businesses, housing groups and local authorities on construction projects and disputes. Its work spans energy infrastructure, residential development, regeneration and social infrastructure, combining contract drafting and negotiation with litigation, adjudication and arbitration. Chambers highlights its advice to Torridge District Council on contracts for the Appledore Clean Maritime Innovation Centre. The practice connects the firm’s property and public sector work with its experience in energy and infrastructure.
Ashfords holds a Band 1 ranking for Corporate/M&A: £5 million and above, South West, in Chambers UK 2026. Its corporate practice advises on acquisitions, disposals, private equity, venture and growth capital, reorganisations and joint ventures. Clients include founder-led businesses, established companies and investors, with particular activity in technology, healthcare, life sciences and energy. The team’s work extends beyond completing transactions to advising on corporate structures and governance, allowing it to support businesses as they raise investment, expand and prepare for an eventual sale.
Ashfords is ranked Band 1 for Information Technology, South West, in Chambers UK 2026. The practice advises technology suppliers and businesses implementing digital systems on commercial arrangements involving software, hardware, maintenance, cloud services and payment processing. Its wider technology offering connects these contracts with investment, acquisitions, intellectual property and regulatory advice. The firm works with growing technology businesses, investment funds and organisations undergoing digital transformation, including clients expanding internationally or entering the UK market.
Ashfords is ranked Band 1 for Real Estate Litigation, South West, in Chambers UK 2026. The practice handles commercial and residential landlord-and-tenant disputes, development-related issues, service charges, agricultural land disputes and property-related professional negligence claims. Its clients include developers, housing providers, retailers, pension funds and local authorities. The breadth of this work means the team deals with both the commercial consequences of property disputes and questions involving ownership, occupation and the management of land.
Ashfords holds a Band 1 ranking for Social Housing, South West, in Chambers UK 2026. The practice advises housing providers and local authorities on development, property transactions and housing management. Its work includes acquisitions, commercial leases, shared ownership arrangements and contentious matters involving tenancies, disrepair and antisocial behaviour. This combines the firm’s real estate capabilities with its public sector experience, supporting clients involved in delivering and managing affordable housing.
The application process
Click on each stage to find out more.
Candidates complete an online application for either a summer scheme or a standalone assessment centre, choosing the location where they intend to train. The form asks for qualifications, work experience and written answers explaining relevant skills and experience. Applicants should submit only one application. Applications for 2029 training contracts open on 1 November 2026 and close on 31 March 2027; Ashfords states that applicants will not receive a response until after the deadline. Written answers should explain what the applicant personally contributed, the challenges they encountered and what they learned. Research should support a clear explanation of interest in Ashfords and the chosen office. The firm’s published application advice encourages candidates to understand its culture, show their personality and explain their motivation convincingly. Applicants should use straightforward language and specific examples rather than trying to sound technical or guessing what the firm wants to hear.
How to answer why youAshfords: quick answers
How much does Ashfords pay trainees?
Ashfords pays first-year trainees £42,000, rising to £44,750 in the second year. Newly qualified solicitors at Ashfords earn £65,000.
When is the Ashfords vacation scheme deadline?
Ashfords's vacation scheme applications close on 31 Mar for the 2026/27 cycle. Deadlines can change and popular schemes may close early, so check the live application deadlines tracker.
How many trainees does Ashfords take on?
Ashfords takes on around 15 trainees in each intake, so places are competitive and strong applications matter.
What tests does Ashfords use in its applications?
Shortlisted applicants complete a critical-thinking exercise. Ashfords considers the result alongside the written application when deciding who progresses. Its 2025 graduate brochure identifies the assessment as the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking test, while the current recruitment webpage uses the broader description of a critical-thinking exercise. Preparation should focus on evaluating arguments, identifying assumptions and distinguishing what a passage establishes from what merely seems plausible. Candidates should practise explaining why an answer follows from the evidence and review mistakes carefully. The assessment invitation should be checked for the applicable format, timing and completion instructions.
What grades do you need to apply to Ashfords?
To apply to Ashfords you will generally need a 2:1+ degree. Requirements can flex where there are mitigating circumstances, so always check the firm's own criteria if your grades differ.
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