From our offices in the City of London, Leeds, Birmingham and Colchester, we house approximately 300 partners, solicitors and support staff in one ‘hub of expertise’, enabling us to create teams, collaborate with others and deliver high-quality, practical advice using up-to-date technology.

We are well regarded within both the public and private sectors and we have a strong foothold in the social housing arena. In order to provide excellent legal advice and market-leading solutions, we continually update our knowledge and expertise. This includes a comprehensive training and education programme for all of our staff, from senior partner through to support staff. Likewise we understand our clients’ thirst for knowledge and excellence, and to cater for this we provide a programme of regular webinars, briefings and eBulletins across a range of subjects.

We have specialised in providing legal advice to social housing providers of all kinds (registered and unregistered, for-profit and non-profit, local authorities, and private registered providers) since the early 1970s. Social Housing is in our DNA, with work in this area accounting for 70% of our business.

Our experience ranges from strategic advice to executive boards to dealing with routine legal work that is part of the management and development of the property estates of our clients. We are at the forefront of current issues impacting the social housing industry and work closely with key regulators, including the Regulator of Social Housing, Homes England, Financial Conduct Authority and Charity Commission.

We are recognised by the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners directories as one of the top two social housing sector law firms (the client testimonials below appear in those directories).

We advise clients on the full range of legal issues, including housing management, development (including property and sales), employment, corporate and finance. Our development, finance and securitisation, and housing management teams are some of the largest in the sector, with strength in depth to deal with the largest and most complex of transactions quickly.

Our clients

We are proud to represent many of the leading organisations in the fields in which we specialise and work with clients of all sizes across the G15, HALA (Housing Association Legal Alliance) and CHIC (Communities and Housing Investment Consortium), as well as many clients outside of these organisations.

Our people

The basis of our success and quality of service is the people that work at Devonshires. With outstanding people at all levels of contact, we are dedicated to providing you with efficient, ethical and effective solutions. Many of our lawyers have a dual background, experienced in providing private commercial advice and public authority expertise that makes them and Devonshires stand out from the crowd.

Our values

Devonshires is a leading practice providing high-quality, accessible and value-for-money services to domestic and international clients, including developers, local authorities, housing associations and financial services firms. We focus on building strong, long-lasting relationships in order to achieve outstanding results based on practical advice. The foundation of our success is our commitment to people. We ensure our staff have access to high-quality training, and foster ‘one to one’ connections between our solicitors and clients.

Sustainability

Devonshires Solicitors is committed to working with our clients, suppliers and employees in London and Leeds to promote and support sustainability across our business. The firm has won several awards in the City of London’s Clean City Awards Scheme. In the 2021 awards we were recognised in the following categories: Plastic Free City, Communication and Engagement, Air Quality and Climate Action and Resource and Circular Economy.

Devonshires is a niche law firm with national and some international clients, operating both in the UK and worldwide. Although long established, we are a forward looking, energetic legal services business which is focused on its clients. Over the past few years we have grown significantly and now have 280 staff.

We are well regarded within both the public and private sectors and we have a strong foothold in the social housing arena. We can therefore provide a fantastic training platform in a friendly and supportive, yet stimulating atmosphere in which to launch your legal career.

This year our one-week placement will take place the week commencing 22 July 2024. Places are available in our London, Birmingham and Leeds offices.

Our vacation scheme is open to applicants moving into their third year of undergraduate study and above.

For any queries related to Devonshires vacation scheme, please contact [email protected].

What to expect

The Devonshires vacation scheme enables you to spend one week within one of our specialist departments carrying out ‘real-life’ legal work and contributing to live cases. During the placement there will be ample opportunity to network with colleagues both inside and outside of your assigned team. You will also be paired up with a current trainee to find out more about Devonshires and our training contract provision. Throughout the week we offer a combination of activities including 'Lunch and Learns' and a variety of social events.

You will receive a topped-up Living Wage allowance for the week to assist with the cost of travel and other expenses.

How to apply

Applications for our 2024 vacation scheme will open on 1 April 2024 and close on 30 April 2024. A link to the application site will appear on this page when the window opens. If your application is shortlisted, you will then be invited to complete a short online assessment. Successful candidates who have secured a place on our vacation scheme will be contacted by a member of the HR team. Applicants are able to apply for both our vacations scheme and 2025 training contract as part of the same application.

Key dates

Applications open: 1 April 2024

Applications close: 30 April 2024

Online assessment: *13 May 2024 – 24 May 2024

Vacation scheme: 22 July 2024 – 26 July 2024

Training contract final interviews: *W/C 30 September 2024 – 7 October 2024

*dates subject to change

Training contract process

Applicants are able to apply for both our vacation scheme and 2025 training contract as part of the same application. Our vacation scheme is an integral part of our training conract recruitment process. Candidates who attend the scheme and are applying for a training position will undergo various assessments as part of the vacation scheme in place of the trainee recruitment assessment centre.

Before you start

From the moment you are offered a training contract with us you will be in regular contact with the HR manager. We will also invite you to any firm socials that are organised in this time. This is a great way to meet our current trainees and ask them about their experience, as well as other future colleagues.

Induction

Your first week at Devonshires will be spent on our trainee induction programme; this will give you an introduction to us and how we work. The purpose of this week is to make the start of your training contract and your start with Devonshires as smooth as possible.

You will meet a number of key people who will give presentations, talks, together with training sessions on our IT systems and other processes you will need to know. You will also spend some time during this week meeting your team and shadowing a current trainee, as well as having the opportunity to socialise with the trainees in a more informal setting.

Seat rotations

You will undertake four six-month seats across our range of practice areas. Your first seat is allocated for you by the HR manager and training principal and for your three remaining seats you will have some input in areas you are interested in. When making decisions about seats we take into consideration your preferences along with the firm’s needs and SRA requirements. You will need to complete a litigation seat and property seat as part of your training contract.

Support

We have a supportive and encouraging culture that focuses on training and developing our employees to be the best they can be. Throughout your career with us you will be provided with a strong and well-balanced support network.

Buddy – a first or second year trainee solicitor will help you through your first few weeks. They will be there to answer those questions you dare not ask anyone else.

Training supervisor – for each six-month seat, you will be allocated a trainee supervisor who will delegate you work, monitor your progress and give you timely and constructive feedback. You will have a mid-seat review as well as a formal appraisal meeting at the end of your seat.

HR manager – working closely with you, the training principal, your training supervisors and your buddy, the HR manager will ensure you are well supported and encouraged throughout your time with us.

Training principal – Chris Drabble, partner, will act as your mentor throughout your training contract and will take a keen interest in your development. The training principal and HR manager will liaise with your training supervisor in organising the seat rotations.

Mentor – you will be allocated a mentor at the start of your training contract who will provide informal support and offer opportunities for you to learn from someone with a greater or different understanding of the firm, and provide you with an objective and alternative source of information.

Training

By working closely with your trainee supervisor in each seat you will receive on-the-job training; this will include – where possible – client contact and early responsibility, which will assist you in developing the necessary skills to become a well-rounded lawyer. As well as completing the necessary training on the Professional Skills course, which we will fund via an external provider, you will attend training sessions organised by the teams and firm during each seat.

Qualification

During the qualification process we will make you aware of our current NQ vacancies across the teams and discuss these with you and the process of applying.

At Devonshires, we are committed to providing equal opportunities in employment and to providing a workplace that fosters the development of our people, is free from discrimination, harassment, and bullying, and where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

Objectives

Our EDI objectives stem from our core values regarding our people, our clients and our community.

Our clients – to add value to our relationships, we seek to better understand our clients’ cultures and aspirations through collaboration and our diverse staff.

Our people – to be a successful organisation we strive to encourage diversity, provide an inclusive environment where people want to work, and ensure that they are treated fairly.

Our community – fostering partnerships with socially minded organisations to help the disadvantaged and champion causes that we are passionate about.

Leadership

Our EDI programme is led by senior partners within our firm who meet regularly throughout the year to plan how we can better promote EDI and keep track as to whether we are meeting our objectives.

Whilst our senior partners, supported by our compliance and HR teams, drive diversity within the firm, we require everyone’s commitment and co-operation to ensure it continues to be successful.

https://www.devonshires.com/diversity/

We do not offer sponsorship for the GDL, LPC or SQE.

• Banking
• Governance & corporate
• Construction
• Employment
• Housing management & property litigation
• Litigation & dispute resolution
• Real estate & projects
• Securitisation
• Clinical negligence

• Niche
• Corporate & Commercial

• London
• Leeds
• Colchester
• Birmingham

• Pathways to Law
• Sutton Trust