Boodle Hatfield

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Real Estate
• Private Client & Wealth
• Tax
• Corporate & M&A
• Investment Funds
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Family Law
• Charities & Not-for-Profit
• Private Equity & Venture Capital
• Immigration
• Employment

Geographic Focus: UK (London & Oxford) with an increasing focus on international / cross-border work; clients across the world

Training Contract

Trainees spend six months in up to four of the firm's main areas (Property, Corporate, Private Client & Tax, Litigation and Family). Much training is 'on the job' with external Professional Skills Course provision; trainees have formal appraisals every three months and are matched with primary and a

• Application Deadline: 2026-06-14

Mentorship

Trainees have both a primary and secondary supervisor, share an office with their supervisor where possible, and are matched with a 'buddy' from the year above to help settle in. Partners, associates and senior solicitors provide day-to-day guidance and regular feedback.

Apply on the Boodle Hatfield website →

Notable Matters

What Boodle Hatfield Looks For

Key Competencies

• commitment
• enthusiasm
• flexibility
• the ability to work as part of a team
• technical excellence
• agile minds
• can engage with people
• have a sense of humour
• good fit

Evidence Signals

• examples of client contact and responsibility from previous roles or placements
• demonstrable teamwork and collaborative experience
• commercial awareness and an ability to give pragmatic advice
• attendance at open days / engagement with the firm’s events and case studies
• interest in and engagement with ESG / community activity

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

We are fully committed to creating a working environment in which all people can excel. We are well known in the market for having an open, friendly and supportive culture that enables our people to thrive - being themselves at work.

• Diversity & Inclusion programme / Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (listed as a core ESG area)
• LGBTQIA Corporate Champion of the Year (2024) recognition
• Modern Slavery Policy with mandatory training for all partners and staff
• Environment and Sustainability Committee
• Membership and engagement with Better Bankside Business Improvement District
• Charitable Support & Community Engagement focused on the Southwark local community
• Annual benchmarking of salaries and compliance with the London Living Wage

Pro Bono

We have a long history of charitable support and community engagement. It is imperative to the firm that we give back to our local communities, principally Southwark, as positively as possible.

Innovation

Quick Application Angles

• Stress examples of direct client contact, responsibility and outcome — trainees at Boodle Hatfield are given early client-facing work and run parts of matters.
• Demonstrate cultural fit: show you work well in a small/collegiate, friendly environment and can collaborate across teams (a sense of humour is explicitly valued).
• Focus your application on their core sectors (Private Wealth, Property, Corporate, Litigation, Family) and any relevant niche (philanthropy, enfranchisement, art law) rather than a generic firm-wide approach.
• Show willingness to learn on the job and give examples of learning from responsibility; reference the firm’s emphasis on 'on the job' training and tailored Professional Skills Course support.
• Mention any engagement with ESG, community or pro bono activities — the firm emphasises charitable support, sustainability and local community involvement.