Girlings Solicitors

Overview

A long-established Kent law firm (founded 1881) offering a full-service legal practice for both businesses and individuals across the South East. The firm emphasises an approachable, collaborative style and specialist teams across business law (commercial property, corporate, employment, dispute resolution) and personal law (residential property, wills & estates, family). Girlings positions itself as a client-focused regional firm that invests in its people and holds Lexcel accreditation for practice management and client care.

• Headquarters: Canterbury
• Founded: 1881
• Offices: 3

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Real Estate
• Banking & Finance
• Corporate & M&A
• Employment
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Commercial Contracts
• Intellectual Property
• Family Law
• Private Client & Wealth
• Tax
• Charities & Not-for-Profit
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Insolvency & Restructuring
• Regulatory & Compliance

Geographic Focus: Primary focus across Kent with client work and recognised rankings covering the South East (Kent, Surrey and Sussex). The firm is regionally focused serving businesses and private clients across the South East of England.

Training Contract

• Application Deadline: 2026-03-31

Apply on the Girlings Solicitors website →

What Girlings Solicitors Looks For

Key Competencies

• Commercial awareness
• Client-focused interpersonal skills
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Practical, jargon-free communication
• Specialist technical knowledge relevant to the chosen practice area
• Resilience and reliability

Evidence Signals

• Local/regional experience or commitment to work in the South East (Kent focus)
• Commercial property or charity sector experience for relevant teams
• Demonstrable client service experience (work experience, paralegal roles, or pro bono)
• Examples of teamwork or advisory roles that show approachability and collaboration
• Sector-relevant technical qualifications or project experience

Benefits & Wellbeing

Awards & Recognition

• Lexcel accredited (Law Society legal practice quality mark for excellence in legal practice management and client care)
• Ranked: South East – Commercial property (Tier 3)
• Ranked: South East – Corporate and commercial (Tier 3)
• Ranked: South East – Employment (Tier 3)
• Ranked: South East – Personal tax, trusts and probate (Tier 3)
• Ranked: South East – Family (Tier 4)
• Listed / ranked across multiple practice areas including corporate finance, employment, real estate and others

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Innovation

Quick Application Angles

• Emphasise a commitment to the South East and local market knowledge (Kent, Surrey, Sussex) — reference how your experience would help local businesses or charity clients.
• Highlight client-facing experience and a practical, jargon-free advisory style to match the firm’s ‘approachable and collaborative’ ethos.
• If applying to commercial property or charity teams, outline specific transactional or governance experience and reference the firm’s specialist focus in these areas.
• Mention continuous professional development and willingness to learn — the firm emphasises investment in people and structured expertise.
• Reference the firm’s Lexcel accreditation when discussing quality, client-care focus or your commitment to structured, compliant practice.