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Charles Russell Speechlys
An international firm connecting private wealth and business advice, with particular strengths in corporate transactions, real estate, family law and disputes.
About Charles Russell Speechlys
Charles Russell Speechlys combines private wealth expertise with a broad commercial practice. Its clients include entrepreneurs, family businesses, investors and privately owned companies, alongside institutions and established corporate businesses. The connection between clients’ personal assets and business interests is a distinctive feature: advice on an acquisition or investment may sit alongside succession planning, property ownership or family arrangements.
The firm offers UK training contracts in London, Guildford and Cheltenham. Its practice breadth allows trainees to explore transactional, contentious and private client work within the same programme, with available seats varying by office.
The two-year training contract comprises four six-month seats. Trainees submit preferences before each rotation, with allocations balancing their interests and business needs. Each seat includes a dedicated supervisor, ongoing feedback and formal mid-seat and end-of-seat reviews.
Development includes the Ignite programme, which covers professional and commercial skills, and Russell Up, through which trainees undertake innovation projects involving legal technology and process improvement. Client, international and responsible business secondments may be available.
The firm funds PGDL and SQE courses, SQE examinations and an SQE Plus programme through the University of Law. Maintenance grants are £10,000 per study year in London and £8,500 outside London or online. Candidates who have already started or completed the LPC can still be considered under the existing qualification route.
Practice areas & rankings
Charles Russell Speechlys has 37 ranked practice categories in Chambers UK 2027, including six Band 1 rankings. These cover London corporate M&A, real estate and a specialist intellectual property category, alongside family, litigation and real estate litigation in the South.
Ranked departmentsChambers UK
Explore the practice areas
Ranked Band 1 for Corporate/M&A: £10–100 million in London in Chambers UK 2027, the practice advises on acquisitions, private equity and equity capital markets transactions. Clients include founders, entrepreneurial management teams, family businesses and private equity-backed companies. This work illustrates the connection between the firm’s commercial practice and its private wealth client base.
Ranked Band 1 for Real Estate: £50–150 million in London in Chambers UK 2027, the practice advises across property investment, development, management and disposal. Related services include property tax, planning, finance and disputes. The breadth of the offering allows teams to address the different legal issues arising throughout an asset’s lifecycle.
Ranked Band 1 for Family/Matrimonial in the South in Chambers UK 2027, the family practice advises on divorce, financial settlements, children matters and international family issues. Its work also includes nuptial agreements and alternative dispute resolution. These matters can intersect with business ownership, trusts and assets held across jurisdictions.
Ranked Band 2 for Construction: Non-contentious in London in Chambers UK 2027, the practice complements the firm’s real estate and development work. It advises on the legal arrangements supporting construction projects, alongside a contentious offering for disputes arising during their delivery.
Awards
International Legal Team of the Year (large firm)STEP Private Client Awards 2025
Recognised for international private client expansion, including the opening of the Milan office and growth in Asia and Switzerland.
Best Talent ManagementThe Lawyer Awards 2025
Won for the Russell Up scheme, through which trainees and apprentices deliver innovation projects in areas such as AI and process improvement.
Most Innovative Firm of the YearLegal Technology Awards 2025
Recognised for firm-wide achievement in legal technology and innovation, alongside a separate win for Best Use Case in AI.
The application process
Click on each stage to find out more.
Apply through the online application portal for a placement scheme or direct training contract. Applications for the current cycle opened on 1 October 2026 and close at midday UK time on 15 January 2027. Direct training contract opportunities are advertised for 2029 starts in London, Guildford and Cheltenham. Recruitment is not rolling.
The application explores your motivation for becoming a solicitor, your interest in the firm and evidence of its values: Authentic, Collaborative, Committed and Forward Looking. Academic achievements are considered in context, with space to explain mitigating circumstances.
Explain what attracts you to the relationship between private wealth and commercial work. For example, consider how selling a family business might create questions about investment, succession or property ownership. Choose a specific aspect that interests you and explain why.
Use examples that show your contribution rather than describing only a team’s achievement. Explain the problem, your decisions and what changed because of your actions. Paid work, volunteering and university responsibilities can all demonstrate relevant skills.
Charles Russell Speechlys: quick answers
How much does Charles Russell Speechlys pay trainees?
Charles Russell Speechlys pays first-year trainees £52,000, rising to £55,000 in the second year. Newly qualified solicitors at Charles Russell Speechlys earn £93,000.
When are the Charles Russell Speechlys application deadlines?
Applications open 1 Oct 2026 · training contract and placement schemes close 15 Jan 2027 at midday · spring scheme Apr 2027 · summer scheme Jun 2027 Deadlines can change and popular schemes may close early, so check the live application deadlines tracker.
How many trainees does Charles Russell Speechlys take on?
Charles Russell Speechlys takes on around 25 trainees in each intake, so places are competitive and strong applications matter.
What grades do you need to apply to Charles Russell Speechlys?
To apply to Charles Russell Speechlys you will generally need a 2:1+ degree. At A-level, Charles Russell Speechlys asks for AAB. Requirements can flex where there are mitigating circumstances, so always check the firm's own criteria if your grades differ.
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