Thrings LLP

The Legal 500 Future Lawyers verdict on Thrings LLP

Thrings attracts trainees with its reputation as a friendly, values-driven regional firm. Several point to the “great culture from top down, [with] partners very approachable” and the firm’s “wealth of expertise and good quality clients.” Others highlight the “opportunities, areas of law available, [and] reputation,” while one trainee notes they joined as a paralegal and chose to stay on because of the strength of the practice and client base. For many, the firm’s “great values and a great reputation” locally were decisive. The training experience is described as supportive and hands-on. Trainees emphasise the “exposure and responsibility” they receive, coupled with the accessibility of senior lawyers. One reports that training here is “much less stressful, more inclusive of trainees, with more client contact and quality work”. Another adds that “no one gets to the point of feeling burnt out or overwhelmed like I have heard at other firms,” with the firm’s supportive environment seen as a real differentiator. The firm’s culture is consistently praised. Trainees say they “never feel nervous approaching someone senior to ask a question” and describe “kind people” and benefitting from “understanding, and assistance.” An open-door policy is widely valued, plus “having a good work-life balance” comes through as a defining feature of the experience. Not everything is perfect, however. The most common criticism is financial, with salaries said to be “lower than comparable firms in Bristol.” Others mention “poor IT and technology,” with outdated systems sometimes slowing work. Highlights of the training contract often involve significant exposure to the courts. Trainees recall “attending a hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice” and the Rolls Building in London, as well as “taking the lead from start to finish on various files.” Others single out the “friendly and welcoming” nature of colleagues across offices. More challenging moments include “quieter periods when there is less work available” and uncertainty around seat allocations. Hybrid working is seen as a strength: the policy is “very good and generally supervisors have been flexible,” with “two to three days a week” from home typically allowed. Pro bono, however, is described as limited, with several trainees noting they “have not come across any” opportunities. For those after a friendly, supportive culture with early responsibility and a healthy work-life balance, Thrings is a strong choice.

A day in the life of... Jessica Fry, trainee, Thrings

Departments to date: Commercial dispute resolution; Private property; Real estate

University: Cardiff University

Degree: Law LLB – First Class Honours

8.30am: Prep for the day. I always aim to get into the office at least half an hour before the ‘typical’ working day begins. I find this is the perfect time to plan priorities for the day and to catch up with the team before everyone’s day gets hectic! I also go through any emails that I have received since logging off the day before and familiarise myself with the files that could exchange, and those that are due to complete.

9.00am: Emails and enquiries. I spend the morning going through my priority list and actioning those that are most urgent. This consists of going through client emails and answering any queries they have on their property sale/purchase. I also spend this time drafting enquiries or replies to enquiries on sales/purchases I am assisting on. Once I finish drafting these, I go through what I have prepared with my supervisor and discuss any concerns/questions I have. These discussions are invaluable for my learning and growth as I take the feedback forward into the next time I do these tasks.

11.00am: Trainee meeting. Every two weeks all the trainees have a catch-up with the trainee principal and emerging talent advisor. This is a great opportunity to catch up with the trainees spread across the different offices to see how everyone is getting on in their current seat, and to update on what we have been up to both in and out of work. The trainees, along with the others in the Thrings Academy, also take on the role of organising the Christmas party for the firm, so this provides an opportunity to update on progress and plan next steps. These catch-ups are an invaluable part of a trainee’s calendar and help with both settling into the firm and developing relationships with fellow trainees.

11.30am: Catch-up and drafting. After the trainee meeting, I spend time going through any emails/calls that have come in during this time, discuss the action required with my supervisor and action accordingly. I also spend this time drafting a report on title for a clients’ purchase. This involves going through the searches, enquiries, title documents and correspondence for the purchase and detailing/summarising it into a report for the clients to read. I find consolidating the information and documents into a client-friendly format is a great drafting and learning opportunity.

1.00pm: Lunch break. Our Bath office is located in a beautiful central location, Queen Square, therefore my lunch break consists of taking a stroll through the scenic Bath streets to get some fresh air (and sometimes do a little bit of shopping!).

2.00pm: Drafting and meeting prep. After enjoying some fresh air and stretching my legs during my lunch break, I then immerse myself back into drafting the report on title that I started before lunch. This means I go back to the report with ‘fresh eyes’ and review what I have already written and fill in any remaining gaps. As I have a client meeting this afternoon, I then spend some time preparing for this meeting. This involves printing off the key documents for the meeting and making a note of the points we are going to discuss.

3.00pm: Client meeting. This afternoon my supervisor and I have a meeting with clients to discuss the updates on their sale and purchase and the enquiries that remain outstanding. This meeting consists of advising on different elements of their sale and purchase and answering the clients’ queries.

4.00pm: End of day consolidation. After the client meeting, I spend time writing an attendance note for the client meeting; summarising what was discussed and the next steps that have been agreed. Once I have wrapped up urgent matters from this afternoon, I update my to-do list with tasks that I have completed through the day and those that remain outstanding.

5.00pm: Networking. Although this time marks the end of the working day, today I have a social with Bath Young Professionals at a local event space for an after-work drink and catch up. Trainees have so many opportunities to attend networking events across the different offices – for example, a drink and activity with the team, junior lawyer events, a social with fellow trainees, etc. These are great to get involved with as it provides an opportunity to network and build connections with colleagues and other like-minded professionals.

About the firm

The firm: Thrings is dedicated to providing growth and success to its clients, contacts and colleagues, with a focus on providing exceptional legal service and fostering long-term relationships with its increasingly broad client base.
From its offices in London, Bristol, Swindon, Bath, Romsey and the Wye Valley, Thrings’ diverse teams of experts act for clients across a range of sectors, from agriculture and development of land to business growth, banking and finance, as well as through a comprehensive array of private client services.

The clients: The National Farmers Union (NFU); Lovehoney; GS Yuasa; HSBC; Sothebys International Realty (UK Franchise); Boost & Co (now Growth Lending); The Government of Romania; Queensberry Promotions Limited and Queensberry Commercial Limited; NatWest Bank; Newland Homes; Truespeed Communications Limited; Chartered Institute of Management Accountants Santander UK plc; Royal Bank of Scotland.

The deals: Negotiating the legal aspects of one of the UK’s most significant environmental mitigation schemes, spanning four local planning authorities in Norfolk which will help new development in the area reach nutrient neutrality; acting for property developer Baylis Estates on the sale of land in Wiltshire to technology giant Siemens for the development of a brand new £100m digital engineering and R&D facility; representing Fridays Ltd, one of the country’s largest free-range egg producers, in the Court of Appeal to secure a nationally significant judgment in seeking business rates exemptions; acting for charity Avon Needs Trees in securing multimillion-pound funding and the corresponding land purchase to create the South West’s largest new woodland; acting for a national agricultural group in connection with a £50m refinancing involving a number of high-street banks; advising the National Farmers Union (NFU) and its members on the legal aspects around compulsory purchases of land in relation to the delivery of the HS2 rail line.

Senior partner: Jonathan Payne

Managing partner: Simon Holdsworth

Other offices: Bath, Bristol, Swindon, Ross-on-Wye, Lydney, Romsey and London.

Who we are: Thrings is based in the South West and is a major player along the M4 corridor and surrounding area. We are a vibrant law firm with a diverse client base, offering excellent structured career prospects to ambitious trainees. We operate from offices in Bristol, Bath, Swindon, Wye Valley, London and Romsey.

What we do: Thrings is a trusted legal adviser offering specialist advice to clients across a variety of disciplines, ranging from start-ups and entrepreneurs to household names, forging lasting relationships that have spanned decades.

We have specialists who support in areas such as agriculture, banking and finance, development of land, business growth and private client, with a growing presence of clients operating internationally.

What we’re looking for: We’re seeking talented graduates to join us in 2026 and beyond.  We typically look for candidates who have a 2(1) degree as a minimum who have already completed (or are imminently completing) their LPC or SQE. We haven’t yet transitioned trainee recruitment solely to the SQE route but expect this will happen in a few years. Someone who has an eagerness to learn, will throw themselves in to a challenge and put our clients and colleagues at the heart of what they do will fit in well at Thrings.

What you’ll do: With our dedicated Thrings Academy initiative designed to support the growth of skills outside of those trained within your team, you can expect professional development that will equip you for a long and varied career at Thrings.

We feel it’s important to develop your skills from the get-go and a supported training contract will mean you will get the opportunity to experience at least three different legal disciplines. Our trainees agree – it’s one of the reasons our trainees really rate the opportunity at Thrings.

Outside of everything legal, you’ll be involved in supporting our social calendar, alongside getting the opportunity to go along to networking events to represent the firm. All in all, a training contract at Thrings teaches you more than just the legal skills you need to succeed.

Perks: We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, including life insurance, private medical insurance, health checks, discounted shopping at a number of retailers, gym discounts, season ticket loans, cycle to work schemes, 25 days of annual leave plus Christmas closedown days, and a day off for your birthday!

There are a number of organised social events across our offices that run throughout the year, with everyone from partners to juniors encouraged to join.

Joining Thrings is more than just joining a law firm – it’s joining our mission to help develop the better you.

Seat options

The seats typically available include: corporate; real estate; family; commercial disputes; property litigation; succession and tax.

Tips from the recruiter

1. Personalise your application – make it clear that you’re keen to work for the firm; generic applications don’t stand out.
2. Be yourself – don’t tell us what you think we want to hear, we want to know you.
3. Really research us, and tell us why you want to be a trainee with us – the authenticity shines through.

Diversity and inclusion