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Mills & Reeve
A national UK law firm combining commercial and private client work with strengths in education, health, technology and agribusiness.
About Mills & Reeve
Mills & Reeve is a national law firm with offices in Birmingham, Cambridge, Leeds, London, Manchester, Norwich and Oxford. Its practice combines commercial advice with private wealth and family work, supported by specialist knowledge of education, health and care, insurance, technology, agriculture, charities and sport. Clients include businesses, universities, healthcare organisations, insurers, landowners and individuals. International matters are supported through relationships with independent law firms overseas. For prospective trainees, the firm offers a broad mix of clients and legal work, with practice strengths varying between offices. Its six-seat training programme allows trainees to explore several departments before deciding where they would like to qualify.
The two-year training contract comprises six four-month seats. Trainees can express preferences and may experience a seat in another UK office or a client secondment, subject to availability. Each trainee has a partner mentor, alongside day-to-day supervision, informal feedback and an end-of-seat review. Approximately 30 training contracts for 2029 entryare available across Birmingham, Cambridge, Leeds, London, Manchester and Norwich; Oxford does not currently offer trainee seats.
The firm sponsors PGDL and SQE study and provides maintenance grants. Published grants are £10,000 per course for London and £7,500 per course for regional offices. In autumn 2026, 26 of 29 qualifying trainees remained with the firm, a retention rate of approximately 90%, with retained trainees joining six UK offices.
Practice areas & rankings
Mills & Reeve has 57 ranked departments across the UK in Chambers UK 2026. Its East Anglia practice holds Band 1 rankings across areas including agriculture, corporate M&A, employment, information technology, intellectual property, litigation and real estate. Its education practice is also ranked Band 1 UK-wide. These rankings cover different geographical markets and should not all be treated as London rankings.
Ranked departmentsChambers UK
Explore the practice areas
Ranked Band 1 for Education: Institutions (Higher & Further Education), UK-wide, in Chambers UK 2026, the practice advises universities, colleges and specialist institutions. Its work spans governance, regulation, disputes, intellectual property, finance and student accommodation. The firm also advises on international collaborations and overseas campus projects.
The firm advises NHS organisations, independent healthcare providers, investors, national bodies and healthtech businesses. Work includes procurement, regulation, employment, patient-related litigation, corporate transactions and healthcare property projects. Its experience includes supporting Cambridge University Hospitals on the development of the £300 million Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital.
Mills & Reeve holds Band 1 rankings for Information Technology and Intellectual Property in East Anglia in Chambers UK 2026. Its technology practice supports businesses on IT and intellectual property issues, alongside the firm’s broader work with technology and life sciences clients.
Ranked Band 1 for Agriculture & Rural Affairs, East Anglia, in Chambers UK 2026, the firm advises landowners, farming families, agricultural investors and food businesses. Its wider food practice covers producers, processors, packaging businesses and hospitality operators. It also holds a Band 2 UK-wide ranking for Product Liability: Food.
Awards
Legal Advisors of the Year, PrivateHealthInvestor Awards 2025
Won for the firm's work advising private sector health and care clients.
The application process
Click on each stage to find out more.
Applications for the 2027 vacation scheme and 2029 training contracts opened on 1 September 2026 and close on 7 December 2026. Eligible applicants include penultimate- and final-year law students, final-year non-law students and graduates. The initial online form does not ask for work experience or long-answer responses.
This makes the subsequent assessment particularly important. Before applying, research the firm’s sectors, your preferred office and the six-seat programme so you can explain your motivation clearly. Check the accuracy of the information you submit and be ready to complete the assessment when it arrives.
Mills & Reeve: quick answers
How much does Mills & Reeve pay trainees?
Mills & Reeve pays first-year trainees £46,800, rising to £47,000 in the second year. Newly qualified solicitors at Mills & Reeve earn £84,000.
When is the Mills & Reeve vacation scheme deadline?
Mills & Reeve's vacation scheme applications close on 7 Dec 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 Mills & Reeve take on?
Mills & Reeve takes on around 30 trainees in each intake, so places are competitive and strong applications matter.
What tests does Mills & Reeve use in its applications?
All applicants who complete the form receive an online blended assessment within two weeks. It includes situational judgement, verbal reasoning and numerical reasoning, together with a short video interview. It explores motivation, thinking style, adaptability and creative problem-solving. The assessment is delivered through Amberjack. For preparation, practise interpreting written passages, working accurately with numerical information and judging responses to workplace scenarios. Read the instructions carefully and base your reasoning on the information provided. Firm-specific pass marks and individual question timings are not published.
What grades do you need to apply to Mills & Reeve?
To apply to Mills & Reeve 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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