Debenhams Ottaway Solicitors

Overview

Debenhams Ottaway is a long-established regional full-service law firm based in Hertfordshire with over 250 years of history and a team of 100+ legal experts and support staff. The firm combines strong private wealth credentials with a growing corporate, real estate and litigation capability that serves individuals, families, owner-managed and medium-sized businesses across Hertfordshire, London and the UK. It is a client-focused, people-first firm with a female-led senior team, a high client Net Promoter Score and multiple industry accreditations (Chambers, The Legal 500, Lexcel, ISO 9001 and Cyber Essentials Plus).

Headquarters: St Albans, Ivy House (107 St Peters Street)
Lawyers: 100+ (trusted legal experts and support staff)
Offices: 3

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

Private Client & Wealth
Real Estate
Corporate & M&A
Dispute Resolution & Litigation
Family Law
Employment
Charities & Not-for-Profit
Insolvency & Restructuring
Healthcare & Life Sciences
Tax
Commercial Contracts

Geographic Focus: Primary strength in Hertfordshire and the South East with offices in St Albans and Radlett and a serviced presence for clients in London and across the UK. The firm leverages Eurojuris and LawNet memberships for international introductions and cross-border work; its client base is largely local and regional (Hertfordshire and surrounding counties) while also advising UK-wide and international private wealth clients.

Training Contract

Trainees are recruited annually. The training programme provides high levels of supervision with each trainee assigned a supervisor, regular feedback and exposure to client work across multiple practice areas. Trainees rotate through a range of seats including dispute resolution, family, employment, corporate and commercial, property and private client; seat allocation and exact rotation timings are based on business needs to ensure high-quality training.

Academic Requirements: You do not have to have studied law to join us; however, you must have successfully completed the LPC at the start of the training contract.
Application Deadline: TBC

Seat Options

Dispute Resolution & Litigation
Family Law
Employment
Corporate & M&A
Real Estate
Private Client & Wealth

Mentorship

Each trainee is assigned a supervisor and receives regular feedback and support throughout the contract. The firm emphasises accessible supervision and a nurturing culture; trainees are encouraged to seek support across teams and from partners.

Apply on the Debenhams Ottaway Solicitors website →

Programmes & Schemes

Paralegal and Legal Assistant roles

Structured entry roles for those seeking an alternative route into law; positions include paralegal and legal assistant roles across departments and can lead to trainee opportunities. The firm highlights these roles as practical routes into a legal career and into the firm.

Careers events with the University of Hertfordshire

The firm runs careers outreach and events with the University of Hertfordshire (including support for the Hertfordshire Law Clinic) to support future talent and provide practical insight into legal careers.

Notable Matters

Purchase of a £10 million London building (commercial property transaction)

The commercial property team advised on the purchase of a £10 million building in London, acting for a buyer on the acquisition and associated commercial property work. The firm handled transaction management, liaised with other advisers and coordinated the process to completion.

Real Estate

Property sale of an industrial unit in Manchester (sub-£100k sale)

The firm acted on the sale of an industrial unit in Manchester for under £100,000, demonstrating its ability to handle a range of commercial property values and clients across the UK.

Real Estate

Investigation and prosecution support: fraud against an elderly client (2012)

Debenhams Ottaway worked with the police to investigate and support prosecution of two fraudsters who tricked an elderly man out of £750,000; the matter received national and local press coverage and the firm supported the criminal outcome for the vulnerable client.

Dispute Resolution & Litigation

Advising on a contested will with major UK charity beneficiaries

The firm's wills, trusts and probate team advised in a contested will matter where a number of major UK charities were beneficiaries, providing contentious probate advice and representation.

Private Client & Wealth

Administering an estate with over 20 charity beneficiaries

The private client team handled estate administration where there were more than 20 charity beneficiaries, managing distribution, probate procedures and communication with multiple charitable organisations.

Private Client & Wealth

What Debenhams Ottaway Solicitors Looks For

Key Competencies

Enthusiasm
Imagination
Drive to succeed
Commitment to client service
Commercial awareness
Creative/independent thinking
Teamwork
Client focus

Evidence Signals

Client-facing or paralegal/legal assistant experience
Examples of commercial awareness and problem solving
Experience of organising or participating in firm or community initiatives (e.g. events, fundraising)
Academic/professional progress towards the LPC (required at start of training contract)
Demonstrable commitment to client care and clear communication

Benefits & Wellbeing

25 days holiday plus buy and sell option
Health Cash Plan
Subsidised parking
Pension options
Employee Assistance Programme
Hybrid working (Hybrid Home Working options)
Death in Service cover (4x Annual Salary)
Firmwide Bonus Scheme
Health and Wellbeing week
Regular staff social events

Wellbeing

Employee Assistance Programme, annual Health and Wellbeing week with sessions (nutritionists, yoga and other activities), Menopause Workplace Pledge with policy and Menopause Champions, local wellbeing partnerships and internal wellbeing support.

Awards & Recognition

Chambers High Net Worth Guide (ranked) 2025/2026
Chambers UK Guide (ranked) 2026
Legal 500 - Top tier 2024
LawNet Awards Winner 2022 (Excellence in Customer Service)
LawNet Awards Finalist 2025-2026 (Law firm of the year)
biz4biz Awards 2025 Winner, Large Business of the Year
biz4biz Awards 2024 Winner, Best Legal Services Provider
National Business Women’s Awards 2024 Winner, Female Business Leader (Susan Glenholme)
Hertfordshire Law Society Awards 2022 Winner, Excellence in Client Service
Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme (WIQS) accredited
Lexcel Practice Management Accredited
ISO 9001 certified
Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) accredited
Cyber Essentials Plus

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Firm publishes an SRA Diversity Report and promotes flexible working, community volunteering and targeted charity partnerships; it has committed to supporting workplace menopause policies and accessible working arrangements.

Menopause Workplace Pledge (policy, training and Menopause Champions)
Partnership with the University of Hertfordshire (Hertfordshire Law Clinic volunteering)
Three-year staff-voted charity partnership (The OLLIE Foundation)
SRA Diversity Report (firm publishes diversity report)

Pro Bono

Regular volunteering at the Hertfordshire Law Clinic in partnership with the University of Hertfordshire, providing free legal support to people who may not otherwise access legal advice; pro bono activity is part of the firm's responsible business programme.

Innovation

The firm maintains quality and information-security accreditations (ISO 9001, Lexcel, Cyber Essentials Plus) that support secure and consistent service delivery. The website does not list specific legal-tech platforms or proprietary tools, but the accreditations indicate an organisational focus on systems, data security and managed processes.

Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation
ISO 9001 and Lexcel accreditations (practice management standards)

Quick Application Angles

Emphasise client care and commercial awareness in your application — the firm prioritises exceptional client service and works closely with SMEs, owner-managed businesses and private wealth clients.
Reference the firm’s Hertfordshire roots, community engagement (University of Hertfordshire, The OLLIE Foundation) or local networks to show cultural fit with their regional client base.
Highlight practical client-facing experience (paralegal, legal assistant, volunteering at law clinics) and concrete outcomes — trainees are given client contact and high supervision.
If you are a non-law graduate, make clear your LPC status/plan (the firm requires successful completion of the LPC at the start of the training contract).
Mention interest or experience in property, private wealth or family work if relevant — these are longstanding tier‑1 strengths for the firm and areas where trainees commonly rotate.