Blandy & Blandy Solicitors

Overview

Blandy & Blandy is a long-established Thames Valley law firm (tracing its roots to 1733) with offices in Reading, Henley-on-Thames, Wokingham and a London presence by appointment. The firm positions itself as a full-service regional practice serving private clients, charities and businesses nationally while retaining a strong local focus across the South East and Thames Valley. It is consistently ranked as a top tier firm in the UK legal guides and emphasises client care, practical advice and value for money alongside significant charity and community work (including administering substantial legacy income for major charities).

• Headquarters: Reading (1 Friar Street)
• Founded: 1733
• Lawyers: 65+ (specialist solicitors and advisers)
• Trainees: Up to 6 per intake
• Offices: 4

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Charities & Not-for-Profit
• Education
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Employment
• Family Law
• Real Estate
• Corporate & M&A
• Environment & Planning
• Insolvency & Restructuring
• Intellectual Property
• Private Client & Wealth
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Commercial Contracts
• Tax

Geographic Focus: Primary strength in the Thames Valley and South East (Reading and surrounding towns) with work for clients nationally. The firm maintains international capability through long-standing membership of a global Law Firm Network (members across 50+ jurisdictions) to support cross-border instructions and referrals.

Training Contract

Trainees typically form part of a group (up to six trainees). The training contract runs for two years and usually comprises up to four seats, each typically lasting six months. Trainees work in an open plan environment with an assigned supervisor (partner or associate) and head of department; progress is reviewed through regular 1:1s, informal reviews and a formal appraisal every six months. Trainees complete the compulsory Professional Skills Course (PSC) alongside electives.

• Trainee Intake: Up to 6 per intake
• Academic Requirements: Minimum: 2:1 (hons) degree. Candidates should have completed (or expect to complete) the LPC or SQE1 and SQE2. The firm asks for demonstrable and relevant work experience, good communication and IT skills and applicants who embody the firm's values of excellence, integrity and approachability.
• Application Deadline: 2026-04-30

Seat Options

• Commercial Property
• Corporate & Commercial
• Dispute Resolution
• Employment
• Family
• Planning & Environmental
• Residential Property
• Wills, Probate, Tax & Trusts

Mentorship

Each trainee is allocated an assigned supervisor (a partner or associate) and has regular contact with the head of department; development is monitored via ongoing 1:1s, informal reviews and a formal appraisal every six months. Trainees also work closely with existing trainees and other team members, receiving day-to-day support and exposure to client work.

Apply on the Blandy & Blandy Solicitors website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Blandy & Blandy Solicitors Looks For

Key Competencies

• Strong academic background (minimum 2:1 honours degree)
• Completion (or expectation of completion) of LPC or SQE1 and SQE2
• Relevant work experience and demonstrable commercial awareness
• Good communication and IT skills
• Enthusiasm, hard work, attention to client care and ability to embody the firm's values (Excellence, Integrity, Approachability)
• Teamwork and adaptability

Evidence Signals

• Relevant legal work experience (vacation schemes, paralegal roles or work experience placements)
• Applications demonstrating long‑term interest in a career at a regional/Thames Valley firm and a desire to train at Blandy & Blandy
• Community, charity or voluntary activity (given the firm's charity focus)
• Experience or interest aligned with the firm's key practice areas (private client/estates, charities, commercial property, dispute resolution)

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Competitive salary
• Discretionary annual bonus scheme
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (offices closed during Christmas and New Year)
• Contributory salary sacrifice pension scheme
• Life assurance (4 x salary)
• Private medical insurance and/or healthcare cash plan scheme
• Support for continuing professional development (CPD)
• Recruitment bonus scheme
• Annual volunteering day
• Interest free season ticket loan
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Breakout areas and a prayer and meditation room
• Regular social events, annual summer outing and Christmas party
• Long service awards (after five years)
• Centrally located offices with excellent transport links

Wellbeing

Healthcare cash plan / private medical insurance options, breakout areas, a prayer and meditation room, annual volunteering day and regular social events; the firm highlights long service recognition and a supportive, family-like culture.

Awards & Recognition

• Law Society Lexcel quality mark (held since 2003; re-accredited 2025)
• Top tier rankings in Chambers UK Guide and Chambers High Net Worth (HNW) Guide (various departments)
• Top tier rankings in The Legal 500 (multiple practice areas) — news item 03 October 2025
• Winner - 'Best Probate Law Firm - London/South East', UK Probate Research Awards 2019
• Special recognition from Cancer Research UK for administering significant donations (award/recognition reported 2024)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The firm states it is an equal opportunities employer and invited all colleagues to participate in a voluntary diversity survey (Summer 2025); it is committed to understanding and minimising environmental impact and is a partner of Ethical Reading.

• Published Diversity Data (colleague survey conducted Summer 2025; results summarised in a downloadable PDF)
• Equal opportunities employer policy and commitment to reasonable adjustments
• Partner of Ethical Reading
• Members/participants in local community organisations (Henley Business Partnership, Wokingham Positive Difference)
• Firm-adopted charities (Alexander Devine Children's Hospice Service, Thames Valley Air Ambulance) and other local charity partnerships

Pro Bono

The firm has a strong community focus: donated over £120,000 to local charities in the past decade, supports adopted charities (Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service, Thames Valley Air Ambulance) and has long-standing fundraising work with Cancer Research UK (helping to administer c.£10.14m in donations and facilitating more than £2.15m via the Free Will Service). The firm runs an annual volunteering day and colleagues act as trustees/governors and participate in fundraising and community events.

Innovation

Quick Application Angles

• Emphasise Thames Valley roots and community/charity experience — reference the firm’s long history (since 1733) and its recent legacy work with Cancer Research UK when contextualising your local commitment.
• For trainees, highlight hands-on experience and readiness to work across practice areas named as seats (Commercial Property, Corporate & Commercial, Dispute Resolution, Employment, Family, Planning & Environmental, Residential Property, Wills/Probate/Tax & Trusts) and link any prior experience to those departments.
• Demonstrate commercial awareness on regional real estate and planning issues — mention local development experience (e.g., South Wokingham development) or recent articles on commercial property and leases published by the firm.
• If applying to Charity/Contentious Probate teams, reference experience or interest in legacy/charity work and the firm’s role administering major legacy donations for charities (Cancer Research UK).
• Show client-care examples and teamwork stories that illustrate approachability and integrity — the firm repeatedly highlights client satisfaction metrics and a personalised service model.