Ashfords

The Bristol office sees a lot of technology related work through its doors –– whether that’s advising app developers on data security or helping a Silicon Valley company with venture capital investment. Those in Plymouth, meanwhile, have been involved in some exciting coastal real estate developments recently, including the restoration of the historic Fort Bovisand and helping open Cornwall’s first coastal aparthotel.

Trainees are generally positive about the breadth of the work they are given with one offering this buoyant review: “Given lots of exposure on a variety of matters. Opportunities to run matters and be involved in high value deals.” We’re told this does vary by department with some seats said to have “more opportunities and supervision” whilst others were burdened with more “lackey tasks” but the general trend seems to be than rookies are entrusted with higher-level work the further they progress: “As much client contact as I could ask for, with an ability to take on your own caseloads/files under supervision. I’ve got a lot out of the firm trusting me and encouraging me to go into situations I might initially have been unsure of” said one TC vet. The firm also offers a high level of exposure to its trainees with our sources telling us they’ve been given the ability to manage their own matters early on in their training contract.

The training on offer at Ashfords receives equally positive reviews with our insiders informing us they receive “lots of department based training and a good level of induction training”. Another trainee gave this insight: “I’ve really been able to make the training contract my own, by asking for supervision, explanation and the type of work I want. The partners are very accessible and make a lot of time available to help with your progression should you want it, this has been in multiple departments and appears indicative of the firm.” Training can be seat dependent with the structure said to vary between departments but supervisors always “tend to ask what you would like to have a go at doing”.

In the words of one happy camper: “The training I have received so far is great. I have been encouraged to get stuck in at the deep end and have definitely been given the opportunity to demonstrate my capability which, in turn, has afforded me more autonomy in the role as I have developed. I am now able to effectively manage caseloads in addition to supporting with ad-hoc tasks but feel comfortable that I can reach out to my supervisor or any of the fee earners in the team to get supervision whenever I need it. In addition to the day-to-day stuff, if you want to get involved in some training, all you have to do is ask; whether it is in the form of a webinar or in-person. For example, I wanted to attend a training session put on by a chambers in Birmingham and my supervisor helped arrange for the barristers leading the training to come to our Bristol office to put on a training session for the whole team.”

Partner approachability is a real stand-out feature and a “ hallmark of the firm”, according to one. All the trainees we spoke with praised the firm’s “no hierarchy approach” which is supported through the open-plan office spaces: “I have never felt uncomfortable or nervous approaching a more senior member of the team. We all sit on the same bank of desks, there are no offices, we all chat and are friendly with one other. It’s very much a ‘no such thing as a stupid question’ approach.” What’s more, this attitude extends pretty far up the food chain with one insider telling LC: “I sit right next to a HOD and I can ask him anything, from big to small.”

Unsurprisingly, this general ethos of camaraderie also extends to juniors and trainees. Our insiders rated their peers as “very supportive and uplifting” adding that “everyone is happy to help, even if it’s a ‘silly’ question.” Others add that they have “really great relationships in and out of work” with their fellow trainees: “We are genuine friends as well as supportive colleagues which is really refreshing,” one newcomer gushed.

Lawyers at Ashfords are “always having office socials for various things e.g., Wimbledon, the Euros, a breakfast social just to catch up, there is something going on at least once a month,” sources told LC. There’s also two team days a year, an office Christmas party, a firmwide summer party, football and netball teams, charity walks and events as well as external clubs such as the Devon and Somerset Junior Lawyers group to join. What’s more, the firm has its own social networking group ‘XYBC’ which organises events for rookies to meet with local professionals and develop their networks, so there’s lots to do over at Ashfords (even if those in Exeter have to travel quite a way from their out of town office to do it!)

Another had this to say on the social life at Ashfords: “It is thriving! I am an introvert and have very little availability outside of work but am still included by my team when things are being arranged I might be interested in. I also haven’t experienced any cliquey behaviours arising from the regular groups which is really nice. For more formal events, plenty of notice is given so you can arrange childcare etc. Often first thing in the morning the kitchens will be filled with lawyers and non-lawyers alike catching up and supporting each other.”

Although everybody is incredibly busy, the long hours culture so prevalent at City firms is mercifully absent at Ashfords. “The firm has a real culture of leaving on time, with juniors regularly being asked ‘why are you still here?’ if they stay beyond 5:30pm. It is likely you will have some longer hours as a trainee to effectively get on top of your workload, meet an urgent deadline or allow yourself some more time to learn something, however this is rare and does not go unnoticed” noted one trainee. What’s more, others we spoke to even said that leaving late is often more a choice rather than a rule: “Ashfords are very respectful of your own time, sometimes you stay late but you very rarely have to –– more often it’s a matter of being completely absorbed in a task then realising its 6 o’clock and the vast majority of people have left!” Cancelling plans, weekend work and presenteeism are unheard of here, though there are still some departmental discrepancies –– litigation is said to be unpredictable whilst residential property is “pretty good with average working hours”. All in all though, it seems that wherever you end up, it’s a pretty good gig at Ashfords.

South West working hours also means South West pay, with trainees in the Bristol and Exeter offices netting £35,000 and £32,000 in the first year respectively. Year two figures sit at £37,000 and £34,000, rising to £60,000 and £57,000 on qualification –– not quite City rates but not too shabby either.

The Exeter office continues to impress after a refurb a couple of years back. It’s well kitted out with good break-out areas, on-site parking, a gym and changing facilities: “Just lacking a canteen to be a 10/10” according to one. Rookies also appreciate the open plan space, as one adds: “One key benefit of our office arrangement is that people of all levels sit together (i.e., partners do not have their own private office space), meaning that trainees can sit with partners and learn directly through observation.” The “very pleasant” hub in Bristol comes equipped with “very well looked after live plants, including some enormous ones, which really add to the experience.” There’s also some great views of the river and a “nice client space downstairs”. The London office is said to be a fairly standard commercial office but “could do with a little more colour”. One thing trainees across the firm unanimously rate is Ashfords’ open door policy on dogs –– so don’t be surprised to see some wagging tails and paws on your first day in the office!

Trainees are “encouraged to be in the office as much as possible” though there’s no hard-and-fast rule on this. As one describes, “in some teams, you are expected to come in as it makes it easier to learn from peers/seniors but even if there is an expectation, no one minds if you wfh for a day. In other teams, you get “anchor days” which effectively mean that you are expected to be in for 2-3 days a week, the rest is up to you.” A common gripe is that rookies are expected to purchase their own tech when working from home, though judging by the reviews on Ashford’s in–house set-up, we think recruits should be careful what they wish for: “no real tech solutions” and “no legal tech / AI capabilities” were commonplace complaints. Others were more optimistic about the “new systems being put in place”, even if they did feel that “the firm could be doing more to embrace AI”.

Chances of getting a client secondment are slim but possible –– one trainee reports having completed a three month secondment to the Post Office whilst others have enjoyed spells at tech firms in London.

In terms of perks, a cycle-to-work scheme; a membership for the ‘Calm’ app, as well as money back for some medical and dental treatments; “good” pension contributions; a “pretty good” maternity package and “good” holiday allowance makes up what we think is a fairly good package. Trainees also get to take their birthday off and at least one feels the best perk is Ashfords’ holiday purchase scheme which allows its employees “to buy up to 5 days extra holiday for the following year”.

On the firm’s efforts to protect mother nature, one rookie reports joining in on some office beach cleans in support of one of the firm’s dedicated charities, the Ocean Conservation Trust. There’s also litter picking sessions, a new recycling system in place and the firmwide summer party has been made waste free.

Overall, the quality of work, range of seats, genuinely supportive environment and generous work/life balance make Ashfords a serious catch for anyone looking for well-rounded training.