Gordons LLP

Overview

Gordons LLP is a full-service regional law firm headquartered in Leeds with a long-established reputation across Yorkshire. The firm is best known for sector-focused work for retailers, food & drink businesses, logistics and technology clients and for pioneering a legal apprenticeship scheme to improve social mobility into the profession. Gordons combines commercially-focused advice on disputes, corporate transactions, real estate and regulatory matters with a strong emphasis on relationships, training and internal wellbeing programmes.

• Headquarters: Leeds, Riverside West (Whitehall Road, LS1 4AW)
• Trainees: Typically 3-4 trainees per year
• Offices: 2
• Revenue: £22m (turnover, 2010)

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Corporate & M&A
• Banking & Finance
• Insolvency & Restructuring
• Commercial Contracts
• Intellectual Property
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Employment
• Real Estate
• Construction & Engineering
• Private Client & Wealth
• Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence
• Retail & Consumer
• Technology & Digital
• Pensions
• Transport & Logistics

Geographic Focus: Strong presence in Yorkshire (Leeds and Bradford) with a client base that extends nationally. The firm acts for regional and national businesses, including major retailers and large corporate clients, and delivers sector-specialist advice (retail, food & drink, manufacturing, logistics, technology) for clients across the UK.

Training Contract

Graduate training contracts comprise four six-month seats (a two-year training contract with four rotations). Seats are allocated across the firm’s departments and trainees are supervised and mentored in each seat, receiving hands-on exposure to complex commercial matters. The selection process for trainees includes interview(s) and an assessment day; the firm does not use psychometric testing or video interviews. Apprentices follow a five-year paid training route combining full-time work with part-time study (one day a week) through a university provider.

• Trainee Intake: Typically 3-4 trainees per year (historical intakes have varied; firm has appointed between 3–6 trainees in different years)
• Qualification Rate: 49% (proportion of Gordons’ solicitors who qualified at the firm)
• Academic Requirements: Apprenticeship applicants: predicted to obtain, or have gained, 3 or more A-Levels at grade ABB or above (minimum of 128 UCAS points) and have already achieved 5 GCSEs at grade 4 or above including English and Maths.)
• Application Deadline: 31 March 2027

Seat Options

• Real Estate
• Employment
• Family Law
• Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Insolvency & Restructuring
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Corporate & M&A
• Private Client & Wealth

Sponsorship

For the Gordons Law Apprenticeship the firm pays apprentices' salaries and funds course fees so apprentices qualify without student debt. Apprentices study with a university provider (BPP University is referenced for the solicitor qualification route in the apprenticeship materials).

Client Secondments

Client secondments are used; example: Eunice Ochieng joined Gordons on a six-month secondment from a client. The firm operates client secondments as part of its development opportunities (durations vary).

Mentorship

Trainees and apprentices receive close supervision from seat supervisors, mentoring from experienced lawyers, a buddy system and ongoing pastoral support. New starters are invited to social events (summer and Christmas parties) and encouraged to join internal working groups (wellbeing & inclusion, charity committee, social committee).

Apply on the Gordons LLP website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Gordons LLP Looks For

Key Competencies

• Relationship-building and client focus
• Commercial awareness
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Curiosity and engagement
• Resilience and strong work ethic
• Clear communication and presentation skills
• Authenticity and commitment to firm values

Evidence Signals

• Work experience in relevant sectors (retail, food & drink, technology)
• Practical examples of building/maintaining relationships
• Evidence of commercial awareness (e.g., commenting on recent sector developments like GSCOP or dynamic pricing)
• For apprenticeship applicants, strong A-level results and demonstrated determination to overcome challenges
• Presentations, assessment-day exercises and participation in client-relevant projects

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Apprentices: paid salary and firm-funded course fees (no student debt on completion)
• Study support for apprentices (one day per week with a university provider - BPP University referenced)
• Mentoring and buddy arrangements for trainees and apprentices
• Social events (summer and Christmas parties)
• Opportunities to join internal working groups (wellbeing & inclusion, charity committee, social committee)
• Access to internal wellbeing initiatives (meditation sessions, Brew Monday buddying, staff sessions, book club and informative emails)
• CPD and training opportunities (including in-house workshops such as GSCOP training)

Wellbeing

Dedicated Head of Wellness & Inclusion and a wellbeing & inclusion group run regular initiatives including meditation sessions, mental health-focused events, financial wellbeing sessions and partnerships with local charities; annual wellbeing & inclusion survey to shape activities.

Awards & Recognition

• Investors in People Newcomer Employer of the Year (Yorkshire & Humber regional, 2013)
• Highly commended at the National Apprenticeship Awards (2013)
• Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers of the Year (date referenced 2013)
• Top Employers for School and College Leavers – Best Training and Best Job Satisfaction (year cited 2013)
• Leeds Apprenticeship Awards – Ambassador of the Year (date referenced 2013)
• Law Society Excellence Awards – highly commended (Excellence in Community Investment, 2012)
• The Law Society – highly commended for Diversity & Inclusion (apprenticeship recognition, 2017 reference)
• Raising the Bar Awards – education award (date not specified)
• The Lawyer Management Awards – most effective diversity programme (date not specified)
• Claims Innovation Awards – shortlisted (Best use of technology, 2016)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Long-standing commitment to social mobility (launch of the pioneering apprenticeship scheme in 2011) and ambition to be regarded as a diversity and inclusion exemplar; partnerships and participation in regional D&I initiatives (Leeds Law Society D&I conference involvement).

• Gordons Law Apprenticeship (social mobility and diversity focus)
• Wellbeing & Inclusion group
• Women In Law initiatives and celebrations
• Annual wellbeing & inclusion survey
• Charity committee
• Social committee
• Head of Wellness & Inclusion role (created to drive W&I agenda)

Pro Bono

The firm runs charities training and produces charity-related materials; the firm has a charity committee and publishes pro bono/charity training resources (specific hours targets or partner organisations are not listed on the pages provided).

Innovation

Gordons invests in client-focused technology and sector-specific tools (notably The Legal Desk for Morrisons) and runs commercial training workshops (GSCOP) that combine legal and practical retail-sector knowledge. The firm publishes commentary on technology topics (generative AI, GDPR) and engages with legal-technology businesses and alternative legal services providers.

• The Legal Desk (web-based portal / automated case management tool developed for Morrisons)
• Shortlisted for Claims Innovation Awards (Best use of technology, 2016)
• Gordons presents sector workshops (e.g., GSCOP training) and publishes knowledge pieces on Generative AI and GDPR developments
• Advisory work for legal technology firms (eg. advising SYKE)

Quick Application Angles

• Emphasise relationship-building: reference the firm’s stated value that 'relationships' are central and give examples of where you’ve built trust with stakeholders or clients.
• If applying to the food & drink or retail teams, mention GSCOP awareness or recent supermarket/retail developments (Gordons runs GSCOP workshops and has settled a £5m GSCOP claim) to demonstrate sector fit.
• Apprenticeship applicants should meet the published academic threshold (3 A-levels ABB / 128 UCAS points) and explain how an alternative route into law fits their background — highlight resilience and social-mobility motivations.
• For technology or start-up work, reference the firm’s work on The Legal Desk and recent tech-sector deals (eg. advising SYKE or Spacegoods) and show commercial understanding of the tech client’s business model.
• Avoid generic applications — the firm values authenticity. Use specific examples tied to Gordons’ sectors (retail, food & drink, logistics, technology) and demonstrate how you have contributed in team settings.