Boyes Turner

Overview

Boyes Turner is a Reading-based full service commercial law firm with a strong regional profile across the Thames Valley and South East and a London hub for private client work. The firm is consistently recognised in independent directories and routinely advises multinational and US-owned businesses, technology companies and mid‑market corporates as well as high-net-worth individuals. Key sector strengths include property and development, employment, personal injury/clinical negligence, technology (TMT) and corporate work; the firm frequently acts for clients across the UK, EMEA and internationally. Boyes Turner combines a people‑focused culture and Lexcel/Investors in People commitments with market-facing sector teams that deliver transactional, advisory and disputes work.

• Headquarters: Reading, Abbots House, Abbey Street
• Trainees: 2-4 per year
• Offices: 2

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Corporate & M&A
• Technology & Digital
• Private Client & Wealth
• Insolvency & Restructuring
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Employment
• Real Estate
• Media & Entertainment
• Intellectual Property
• Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence
• Professional Negligence
• Education
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Family Law
• Construction & Engineering
• Commercial Contracts

Geographic Focus: Primary market focus is the Thames Valley and South East (Reading base) with a London hub for private client work. The firm regularly acts for multinational, US and European clients and provides UK/EMEA legal services to international groups; it positions itself as a regional firm with international reach serving clients across the UK, EMEA and in cross‑border transactions.

Training Contract

Training contracts run for two years comprising four six‑month seats (trainees complete four six-month seats). The firm assigns each trainee a Partner who acts as their training mentor for the whole two‑year period; a supervisor is allocated for each seat to provide day-to-day supervision and on-the-job training. Seat preferences are discussed before and during the contract and the firm seeks, wherever possible, to accommodate requests. The firm recruits small cohorts to ensure trainees receive proper training, supervision and meaningful responsibility.

• Starting Salary: £27,000 (Year 1); £31,000 (Year 2)
• Trainee Intake: 2-4 per year
• Academic Requirements: Minimum 2:1 degree (or equivalent). The firm makes no distinction between law and non-law degrees; applicants who believe they have extenuating circumstances may apply and provide supporting documentation. The firm typically recruits two years in advance.
• Application Deadline: 18 May 2026

Seat Options

• Corporate & M&A
• Commercial Contracts
• Technology & Digital (TMT)
• Real Estate (Commercial property / Development & House Building)
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Employment
• Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence
• Private Client & Wealth (Wills, Trusts and Probate)
• Court of Protection / Community Care
• Special Educational Needs (Education)
• Construction & Engineering
• Debt Recovery
• Professional Negligence

Sponsorship

For Level 7 solicitor apprenticeships the firm covers tuition/study costs (LLB and SQE) and pays an employment salary to apprentices.

SQE Support

For solicitor apprenticeships the firm covers study costs for the LLB (Hons) with BPP University and for SQE 1 and SQE 2; apprentices have a weekly study day and the firm states that all study costs for the apprenticeship route are covered.

Mentorship

Each trainee is assigned a Partner as a training mentor for the duration of the training contract and a seat supervisor is provided for day‑to‑day guidance; the firm emphasises mentor-led appraisal, annual and mid‑year appraisals and bespoke training. There is an in‑house learning & development specialist supporting career development.

Apply on the Boyes Turner website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Boyes Turner Looks For

Key Competencies

• Commercial awareness
• Client-focused approach
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Enthusiasm and a proactive attitude
• Attention to detail
• Resilience and adaptability
• Strong communication and organisational skills
• Academic attainment (minimum 2:1 degree or equivalent for training contract applicants)

Evidence Signals

• Work experience or vacation placements with the firm or other commercial legal experience
• Practical commercial experience (internships, paralegal work)
• Demonstrable commitment to community/charity activity
• Sector-specific experience for specialist teams (e.g., technology or property experience for TMT or Development & House Building roles)
• For apprenticeships: evidence of commitment to the apprenticeship route and ability to combine study with workplace duties

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Trainee salary: £27,000 (Year 1); £31,000 (Year 2)
• Life Assurance – firm funded cover of five times salary (up to age 70)
• Pension – Group Personal Pension Plan with employer matched contribution of 4% (salary sacrifice optional)
• Cash back medical plan (covers physiotherapy, dental check-ups, optical etc.)
• Medical insurance (role dependent)
• Virtual GP service (24/7)
• Employee Assistance Programme – free 24/7 helpline and 1:1 counselling
• Railcard – ability to buy a railcard paid for by the firm for work-related travel
• Season ticket loan – interest free travel loan
• Cycle to work scheme
• Ability to buy one week of holiday each year via salary exchange; eligible to purchase additional five days holiday (role dependent)
• Birthday day off
• Charity time – eight hours per year for volunteering
• Retail discount scheme
• Bring your dog to work policy (dog friendly zones and rules)
• Talent spotting referral reward scheme (payment on successful probation)
• Weekly wellbeing hour (pro rata for part‑time)
• Wellbeing cash back schemes (e.g., sports massage, acupuncture, dental)
• Firm covers study costs for solicitor apprenticeships (LLB with BPP and SQE study costs)

Wellbeing

Weekly wellbeing hour, Health and Wellbeing Champions across the firm (mental health trained), Medicash cash back scheme, Virtual GP, Employee Assistance Programme (24/7), wellbeing resources and regular newsletters.

Awards & Recognition

• Voted leading regional law firm to work for in the South East by the Best Company Survey (Sunday Times) – three years in a row (multiple references on firm pages)
• Lexcel accreditation
• Investors in People accreditation
• Named in Legal 500 and Chambers guides (multiple practice area rankings)
• Legal 500: Tier 1 for Clinical negligence (claimant), Commercial property (Thames Valley), Employment (Thames Valley), IT & telecoms (TMT), Personal injury (claimant)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The firm states its workforce is more than 50% female and is focused on increasing diversity and representation; a three‑year equality, diversity and inclusion strategy is driven by internal working parties and ED&I champions.

• ED&I champions (workplace events and internal working parties)
• Health and Wellbeing Champions
• Social Committee
• Charity & fundraising programme (Chemogiftbags, Daisy's Dream, many local/national charities)
• Founding, active member firm of the Professional Deputies Forum (Community Care)

Pro Bono

Firm encourages community and charity engagement; employees have eight hours per year for charity/volunteering and the firm runs regular fundraising activities (golf days, bake sales, marathons).

Innovation

Quick Application Angles

• Reference the firm’s stated values (Collaboration; Community; Trust; Excellence) and give concrete examples of how you demonstrate teamwork and client focus — applications that align to these values map directly to the firm’s culture.
• If applying to the tech or corporate teams, cite the firm’s tech transactions (for example the AND Digital £11m BGF investment or work for Sonos) to show commercial and sector awareness and explain how your experience would add value to those clients.
• For property and development roles, highlight local/regional experience and awareness of Thames Valley market issues (planning, utilities, sustainability). Mentioning the firm’s partnership with the Thames Valley Property Awards signals sector fit.
• Emphasise practical experience (vacation schemes, paralegal work, client contact) and readiness to take responsibility: Boyes Turner recruits small trainee cohorts (2–4 per year) so demonstrate examples where you added tangible value under supervision.
• Demonstrate commitment to firm culture (charity involvement, ED&I activity, wellbeing) — the firm places visible weight on community, staff wellbeing and diversity; cite any relevant networks or volunteering experience.