Battens Solicitors

Overview

Battens Solicitors is a long-established, full-service regional law firm focused on the South West. The firm emphasises pragmatic, straight-talking advice across personal, business and specialist legal services and combines a 300-year heritage with a growth and expansion strategy under a modern leadership team. Battens is known locally for its wide multi‑office footprint across Somerset, Dorset and Bath, Lexcel accreditation and Legal 500-ranked specialist teams (notably media & entertainment and agricultural/rural work), and for integrating community and social-responsibility activity into its business model.

• Headquarters: Yeovil, Maltravers House, Petters Way
• Lawyers: 160+
• Offices: 8

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Agriculture & Rural
• Real Estate
• Corporate & M&A
• Media & Entertainment
• Employment
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Family Law
• Private Client & Wealth
• Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence
• Intellectual Property
• Environment & Planning
• Tax

Geographic Focus: Primary market focus is the South West of England (Somerset, Dorset and Bath) with a multi‑office presence across those counties. The firm positions itself as a leading regional provider for both local private clients and businesses, combining specialist capabilities (e.g. agricultural/rural, media & entertainment, IP) with general commercial and real estate work. No international office network is described.

Training Contract

Standard training contract length is 24 months; the firm may reduce this to 18 months for trainees with suitable prior experience and can offer part‑time extended training where required. The programme operates on a rotation basis across contentious and non‑contentious departments, with seat allocations considered according to trainee preferences but not guaranteed. Trainees receive on‑the‑job responsibility appropriate to their experience with supervisors overseeing increasing levels of responsibility; regular reviews and appraisals are held at the end of each placement.

• Qualification Rate: High trainee retention rate
• Academic Requirements: Completed LPC; Law Degree (2:1 minimum).
• Application Deadline: TBC

Seat Options

• Agriculture
• Commercial Property
• Residential Property
• Company Commercial
• Media & Entertainment, IP
• Employment
• Dispute Resolution
• Property Dispute Resolution
• Family
• Private Client

International Opportunities

Trainees may be required to travel between the firm's regional offices and 'there may also be some travel to London.' No international secondments are referenced.

Mentorship

Trainees are supervised in each seat by fee earners/supervisors; they receive regular reviews and appraisals at the end of placements. Testimonials describe accessible directors and supportive teams, indicating informal buddy and supervisor support alongside structured appraisal meetings.

Apply on the Battens Solicitors website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Battens Solicitors Looks For

Key Competencies

• Excellent communication skills
• Pragmatic, organised approach to work
• Attention to detail
• Commitment and commercial awareness
• Ambition and dynamism
• Teamwork and interpersonal skills
• Interest in community and local South West engagement

Evidence Signals

• Completed LPC and a 2:1 law degree (academic requirement)
• Demonstrable client-facing experience or involvement in presentations and community projects
• Local or regional connections to the South West
• Evidence of commercial awareness and business development interest
• Experience (or demonstrable interest) in practice areas offered as seats (e.g. conveyancing, private client, agriculture, media/IP)

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Life assurance from the first day of employment
• Group pension scheme or salary sacrifice scheme with a 4% employer contribution
• Income protection
• Critical illness cover (for senior staff positions)
• Holiday: up to 25 days per year, increasing to 30 days with length of service
• An extra day's holiday on your birthday
• A range of discounted legal services provided by Battens, including free conveyancing
• Generous staff recruitment bonus scheme
• Access to mental health services including therapy sessions
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Continuing professional development with access to a range of courses (law and non-law)
• Flexible and hybrid working
• Support for staff wellbeing and mental health training

Wellbeing

Mental Health Advocates in every office, access to therapy sessions, employee assistance programme, regular social events, fundraising activities for the Battens Charitable Trust, encouragement of sport/exercise and a pragmatic approach to staff wellbeing.

Awards & Recognition

• Legal 500-ranked firm
• Lexcel accreditation (Law Society)
• Somerset Business Award 2024 – Investing in Somerset
• Dorset Chamber Award nominee / Best Place to Work (finalist)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Battens Solicitors is an Equal Opportunities Employer and states a commitment to ensuring colleagues are treated with dignity and respect and to fostering an inclusive culture.

• Inclusivity and Diversity programme (dedicated web page)
• Mental Health Advocates in every office
• Equal Opportunities Employer commitment
• Battens Charitable Trust
• Green Committee (sustainability team)

Pro Bono

The firm maintains legal aid support (Family Department opened approximately 280 legal aid files and c.170 non-legal aid files in 2023). The Battens Charitable Trust (founded 1985) has donated approximately £500,000 over recent decades and supports local charities, schools, foodbanks, hospitals, hospices and other community organisations.

Innovation

The firm is pursuing operational efficiencies by moving towards paper‑light working, encouraging digital alternatives to printing and embedding environmental and sustainability initiatives. Lexcel accreditation indicates formalised quality and information management processes. No named legal‑tech platforms or trainee-facing tech programmes are referenced.

• Paper‑light transition and digital working practices
• Green Committee to support sustainable working practices

Quick Application Angles

• Emphasise South West connections and local community involvement (mention fundraising or volunteering, and willingness to travel between offices) — the firm values regional links.
• If applying for a seat in Media & Entertainment highlight any practical creative/production experience or IP exposure — Battens is one of the few regional firms offering this specialist work.
• Reference commercial awareness and examples of business development or networking (the firm encourages trainees to present to schools, attend networking events and help with BD).
• Mention commitment to wellbeing and teamwork — highlight examples where you worked in supportive teams, since Battens stresses a collaborative, approachable culture.
• For agriculture/rural roles, demonstrate knowledge or experience of farming/rural issues (the firm acts for generations of farming families and values sector familiarity).