Ellis Jones Solicitors

Overview

Ellis Jones Solicitors is a leading independent law firm focused on the South of England, with a network of offices across Dorset, Hampshire and a dedicated London presence. The firm combines broad full-service capability — covering private client, commercial litigation, banking & finance litigation, property and specialist sectors such as betting & gaming and sports — with a distinctly local, client-focused approach. The firm is commercially minded and outward-facing (describing itself as "professional with personality"), and has been repeatedly recognised in directory listings and awards including The Times Best Law Firms, Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners. Its distinguishing features are a strong regional platform supported by a London capability, a visible emphasis on people, wellbeing and community engagement, and recognised expertise in litigation, private wealth and betting/gambling disputes.

• Headquarters: Bournemouth, 302 Charminster Road
• Partners: 24
• Offices: 7

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Banking & Finance
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Real Estate
• Family Law
• Private Client & Wealth
• Employment
• Intellectual Property
• Corporate & M&A
• Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence
• Insolvency & Restructuring
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Healthcare & Life Sciences
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Sports Law
• Agriculture & Rural
• Commercial Contracts

Geographic Focus: Primarily a South of England regional firm with its core client base in Dorset and neighbouring counties, supported by a London office to service national and international matters. The firm's strategy is to combine strong local expertise across multiple Dorset towns with an outward-facing commercial capability through its Fleet Street office.

Training Contract

Two-year training contract (or qualifying work experience for SQE candidates) typically comprising experience in four different legal teams/seats. The programme is flexible to accommodate candidates who need time to count or wish to focus on specialist areas; trainees typically rotate across the firm's seven offices. Each seat provides on-the-job training supervised by a partner, informal feedback throughout the seat and a formal end-of-seat review, supplemented by external training (for example MBL) and firm-wide core skills sessions.

• Academic Requirements: For SQE route: a degree (or level 6 equivalent), passing both stages of the SQE assessments and 2 years' full-time (or part-time equivalent) qualifying work experience; SRA character and suitability clearance is required. The firm welcomes applications from law and non-law graduates and supports paralegals and internal candidates to qualify.
• Application Deadline: 2026-05-01

Seat Options

• Banking & Finance Litigation
• Betting, Gambling and Gaming
• Business Services
• Commercial Disputes
• Commercial Property
• Conveyancing - Residential Property
• Court of Protection
• Crime
• Dispute Resolution
• Disputed Wills, Inheritance & Trusts
• Employment Law Advice
• Family Law
• Fertility Law
• Healthcare
• Intellectual Property Law
• Insolvency
• LGBT+ Legal Advice
• Regulatory Law
• Sports Law
• Wills, Trusts and Probate
• Personal Injury Claims
• Property Disputes

Sponsorship

The firm's trainees development policy provides access to funding and study leave for those qualifying (both LPC and SQE routes are supported).

SQE Support

Ellis Jones supports candidates pursuing qualification via the SQE. The firm offers access to qualifying work experience, internal and firm-wide training (including negotiation, interviewing and advocacy), study leave and access to funding under its trainees development policy. The firm also supports paralegals qualifying via CILEX and staff qualifying alongside work.

Mentorship

Each trainee is supported by a training contract partner and is part of a mentoring group; the firm runs a formal mentoring scheme and pairs junior staff with senior staff for professional and pastoral support. There are regular Lunch & Learn sessions and an internal mentor programme for core skills.

Apply on the Ellis Jones Solicitors website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Ellis Jones Solicitors Looks For

Key Competencies

• Commercial awareness
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Initiative and resilience
• Attention to detail
• Client-service orientation
• Alignment with firm values (putting people first, responsibility, mutual trust)
• Adaptability and willingness to work across offices/departments

Evidence Signals

• Vacation scheme or legal placement experience at a law firm
• Relevant paralegal or legal work experience (including placements that can count towards qualifying work experience)
• Examples of commercial awareness (e.g., involvement in business/societies, internships)
• Transferable skills from part-time employment or extracurricular activities (leadership, teamwork)
• Presentations or advocacy experience (useful for interviews and assessment centres)
• Engagement with community or pro bono activities and support for local initiatives

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Flexible and hybrid working policy; trust-based approach to office attendance
• Access to mentoring and formal mentoring scheme
• Regular Lunch & Learn training sessions and firm-wide training
• Paid study leave and access to funding for trainees and qualifying staff
• Legal placement students have access to staff benefits and a competitive placement salary
• £150 contribution towards a gym membership or sports club
• Free weekly fitness class (Blended HIIT/Barre/Pilates 'Barrelates' with BASE) available in-person or remotely
• Fortnightly fresh fruit delivered to offices
• Paid volunteer 'Wild Work Day' and other paid volunteer opportunities
• Wellbeing communications (Wellness Wednesday), mental health first aid training and external speaker sessions
• Opportunities for social events through the firm's social group and monthly Ellis Jones Day breakfast provided by local businesses

Wellbeing

Comprehensive wellbeing programme including a health & wellbeing group, mental health first aid training, education on menopause/IVF/baby loss awareness, partnerships with mental health charities (LawCare, Dorset Mind), weekly wellness newsletters, free fitness classes, paid volunteer days, 'Lunch & Learn' wellbeing sessions and access to pastoral mentoring.

Awards & Recognition

• Ranked in Chambers & Partners High Net Worth Guide (HNW listings) (2025 HNW listing referenced)
• Legal 500: Top Tier listings (Legal 500 recognition; Top Tier 2025 mentioned)
• Chambers rankings 2026 (listing referenced)
• LexisNexis Legal Awards: shortlisted/winner recognition including nominations in Wellbeing and Deal of the Year categories (2023–2024 coverage)
• Lexcel Legal Practice Quality Mark — strong reassessment feedback (date of recent assessment referenced)
• Times Best Law Firms 2020
• Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme – Bronze (2022) and Silver (2023)
• Southern Enterprise Awards – The Best Multi-Discipline Law Firm 2023 and Most Progressive Law Firm 2022
• Finalist/shortlist: Solent Deals Awards 2024 and Modern Law Awards shortlist (2024)
• Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) — Law Society accreditation
• Accreditations from specialist bodies including APIL, MASS, SFE and Cyber Essentials

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The firm’s manifesto is 'We put people first' and it commits to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion for staff, clients and communities. It monitors diversity data, delivers annual ED&I training, operates employee networks (Wellbeing, ESG, social), and participates in external recognition schemes (Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme). The firm aims to achieve gender balance, supports flexible working and emphasises inclusive policies across recruitment, retention and progression.

• Dedicated equity, diversity & inclusion group
• Annual Equality, Diversity & Inclusion training and workshops
• Diversity monitoring and people surveys (SRA Equality & Diversity survey provided)
• Health & Wellbeing group (education and support on mental health, menopause, IVF, baby loss awareness)
• Support for the LGBTQ+ community including a specialist LGBTQ+ legal team
• Support for disability awareness (training links with MIND and LawCare) and recognition by the Law Society for disability-related practices
• Social and community engagement programmes (education engagement, STEAM sponsorship, university legal placements)

Pro Bono

Regular community clinics (Will & LPA clinics at local care homes), free initial consultations for certain matters, volunteering and fundraising activities supporting local charities (e.g., Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Swanage Railway, Julia's House, Dorset Mind, Veterans with Dogs). The firm organises paid volunteer days and supports education outreach (careers fairs, mock interviews, university placements).

Innovation

Ellis Jones describes itself as entrepreneurial and focused on smarter ways of working; it actively encourages paper-free working, energy- and resource-saving 'shut down' policies, and continuous process improvement. The firm holds Cyber Essentials accreditation which demonstrates baseline investment in cyber security.

Quick Application Angles

• Tailor your cover letter and CV to the firm's core values: give at least one concrete example of how you 'put people first' or demonstrate 'mutual trust & support' as requested on the training pages.
• Showcase relevant practical experience (vacation scheme, legal placement, paralegal work) and link it directly to the firm's key teams — e.g. Banking & Finance Litigation (including gambling disputes), Dispute Resolution, Private Client & Wills/Trusts — and explain how you would add value to those teams.
• Demonstrate commercial awareness for mid-market transactions (mentioning mid-range M&A or cross-border sales such as the TranAm matter) and illustrate how your skills helped deliver practical outcomes.
• If applying via SQE, explain your study plan and how the firm's SQE-supporting culture (study leave, funding access and qualifying work experience) fits your pathway — highlight any SQE/CILEX progress you have already made.
• Reference community engagement or local links (e.g., Bournemouth/Dorset ties or engagement with local charities/education) to show fit with the firm's regional client base and 'Put People First' community focus.