The Legal Cheek View
If you’ve ever dreamed of using your law degree to change the world, Leigh Day might be your kind of outfit. Proudly branding itself as “lawyers against injustice”, this national powerhouse has built a reputation on backing the underdog, whether that’s exploited workers, injured patients, or entire communities harmed by corporates. While most large firms spend their time acting for big business and government bodies, Leigh Day has made a career of holding those same institutions to account.
Founded in 1987 by Sarah Leigh OBE and Martyn Day, the firm began as a small claimant-side practice. Nearly four decades later, it has grown into a 90-partner, 800-strong operation with 10 offices across the UK. Its mission remains the same — securing justice for individuals and communities who might otherwise go unheard. Unsurprisingly, this resonates strongly with socially conscious law students, and judging by the firm’s casework, the approach clearly delivers results.
The firm’s loyalty lies firmly with claimants, or “the people”, as Leigh Day lawyers often say. Its track record in landmark decisions speaks for itself. The firm has helped shape the law in areas such as equal pay, privacy, corporate accountability and government transparency, securing its place at the forefront of claimant-side litigation.
Few firms can match the variety, scale and impact of Leigh Day’s caseload. One of the most striking examples is the Dieselgate litigation. The firm represents hundreds of thousands of vehicle owners in one of the largest consumer actions in UK history, taking on manufacturers including Mercedes, Ford, Renault, Peugeot and Nissan over allegations that they used “cheat devices” to pass emissions tests. Billions of pounds are potentially at stake, along with the wider push for environmental and consumer accountability.
Other standout matters include the Porton Down litigation, where the firm represented veterans subjected to chemical experiments by the Ministry of Defence from the 1940s to the 1980s, and its representation of Iraqi civilians who alleged abuses by British forces during the Iraq War. Leigh Day has also acted for victims of the infected blood scandal. Beyond this, it has handled human rights claims in Kenya, spyware allegations against the Saudi government, supermarket equal pay class actions, and a steadily expanding portfolio of environmental and consumer-rights cases. Across all of these, the firm has recovered more than £1 billion in compensation for claimants, reflecting the scale and success of its mission to secure justice for ordinary people.
The firm offers paralegal roles across all locations with SQE study leave, a corporate discount for prep courses and clear progression into qualified roles — with over 50% of this year’s NQ roles going to paralegals. All paralegal positions count toward Qualifying Work Experience, and paralegals who are working independently towards qualification are eligible to apply for Leigh Day’s annual NQ recruitment round.
For those that would prefer to complete a rotational programme, Leigh Day currently recruits trainees exclusively from their internal paralegal pool to provide internal progression opportunities. The trainee experience mirrors the firm’s “purpose-driven ethos”, with the two-year programme offering seats across clinical negligence, employment and discrimination, human rights, international and group litigation, and personal injury. Training contracts are available in the firm’s London, Manchester and Leeds offices and paralegals can apply from day one.
Supervisors are known for being approachable and invested in trainee development, creating a collaborative and supportive environment. The work demands empathy, resilience and meticulous attention to detail. In exchange, trainees gain early responsibility, significant client contact and a clear view of how the law can be used to challenge powerful bodies. As one insider puts it, “You do get thrown in the deep end, but you are supported throughout, and it makes you a better lawyer.”
This is not a firm where you will be left working into the early hours, although the subject matter can be emotionally demanding. Junior lawyers report typical hours of 9am to 5:30pm, with one saying they had been told to go home if seen in the office after 6:30pm. However, as with any litigation-heavy practice, hearings and trial periods can require the occasional late night or weekend shift.
Leigh Day’s culture is described as open, friendly and genuinely un-hierarchical. Trainees consistently give peer support full marks, praising the “no stupid questions” mindset and the willingness of colleagues at every level, from paralegal to partner, to help. Supervisors also score highly for approachability, with many highlighting the firm’s “no-blame culture” and the consistent emphasis on learning. The social side is lively too, with some trainees saying they have “never met an unpleasant person at the firm” and often spend time with colleagues outside work.
Facilities are practical rather than flashy. The London HQ near the Barbican and the Manchester office anchor the UK presence, while the firm’s international casework frequently involves partners across Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The canteens, however, receive glowing reviews. Free breakfast and lunch are provided every day, and many give them a perfect rating, even if the dishes are occasionally described as “hit or miss”.
Perks beyond the canteen are modest. Some trainees note that pay could be higher, although many feel that this is balanced by manageable hours and a supportive culture. Legal tech is described as adequate, with a significant upgrade planned, including a new case management system.
Financially, Leigh Day performs strongly. Turnover is understood to be around £70 million, an impressive figure for a claimant firm, and many of its settlements, particularly in mass-tort and equal-pay matters, reach multimillion-pound levels.
Ultimately, the firm’s appeal lies in its mission. This is not the right place for those chasing City megadeals or the highest corporate salaries. It is suited to those who want their work to matter. The clients are real people, the stakes are human and the outcomes are often life-changing.
If you are motivated by injustice, more interested in courtrooms than boardrooms, and want to see tangible results from your legal work, Leigh Day could be the ideal home for your career. The motto captures it well: ‘lawyers for justice’. For those who share that calling, this firm might be the place for you.