Gordons LLP

Overview

Gordons is a Yorkshire-based, full-service commercial law firm known for sector-focused work in retail, food & drink, technology and property. The firm emphasises long-term client relationships, practical advice and a people-first culture and is distinctive for its pioneering legal apprenticeship programme and sector training offerings (notably GSCOP training). Gordons operates from core northern offices and positions itself as a proactive, relationship-led mid-market commercial practice that also develops sector-specific products and technology solutions for clients.

• Headquarters: Leeds, Riverside West, Whitehall Road (LS1 4AW)
• Offices: 2
• Revenue: £22m (record turnover announced c.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
• Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence
• Private Client & Wealth
• Retail & Consumer
• Technology & Digital
• Transport & Logistics
• Pensions
• Tax

Geographic Focus: Primarily UK-focused with a strong base in Yorkshire (Leeds and Bradford). The firm serves national clients (retail and food & drink chains, technology clients and suppliers) and supports multinational/scale-up clients via cross-jurisdictional advice; it also works with international partners on matters for clients operating outside the UK.

Training Contract

Training contracts comprise four six-month seats (each seat) across different departments/specialisms. Seats are designed to give exposure to a range of commercial and private client work in a full-service firm environment, with close supervision and mentoring throughout. Trainees undertake formal and informal training, are encouraged to join firm working groups and social activities, and are supported by supervisors and trainee networks.

• Trainee Intake: Typically 3-4 trainees per year (the firm historically has varied intake sizes: examples include 4 trainees in 2019 and six in earlier years).
• Qualification Rate: 49% (proportion of Gordons of solicitors that qualified at the firm; cited in trainee blog)
• Academic Requirements: Law apprentices: targeted at school leavers who have recently completed A levels.
• Application Deadline: 2026-04-30

Seat Options

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

Sponsorship

For the law apprenticeship Gordons pays apprentices' salaries and funds their course fees so apprentices qualify without accruing student debt. The firm pays fees for apprenticeship study (apprentices study with providers such as BPP University).

SQE Support

Apprenticeship route: study is delivered through BPP University one day a week as part of the law apprenticeship programme.)

Mentorship

Trainees and apprentices are supervised closely in each seat, assigned supervisors and have access to buddy systems and trainee networks. The firm encourages involvement in cross-firm working groups (wellbeing & inclusion, charity and social committees) and offers regular firm events to build networks and provide pastoral support.

Apply on the Gordons LLP website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Gordons LLP Looks For

Key Competencies

• Relationship-building
• Commercial awareness
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Curiosity and intellectual engagement
• Resilience and determination
• Authenticity and communication skills
• Client focus and pragmatism

Evidence Signals

• Relevant work experience or a thoughtful work experience week for apprenticeship applicants
• Demonstrable commercial interest in the firm's sectors (retail, food & drink, technology)
• Evidence of teamwork and extracurricular leadership (participation in committees or working groups)
• For apprentices: A-level achievement and motivation to pursue a vocational route
• Genuine examples of relationship-building and client-facing exposure

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Gordons pays apprentices' salaries and funds their course fees (no student debt for apprentices).
• Involvement in firm social events (summer and Christmas parties) and trainee/apprentice social groups.
• Access to wellbeing & inclusion initiatives (meditation sessions, Brew Monday buddying, book club, staff sessions on financial and mental wellbeing).
• Opportunity to join working groups (wellbeing & inclusion, charity committee, social committee) and take early responsibility.
• Career development and mentoring: close supervision in seats, assigned supervisors and buddy systems.
• Client-facing training opportunities and sector-specific workshops (e.g., GSCOP workshops).

Wellbeing

Dedicated Head of Wellness and Inclusion and an active Wellbeing & Inclusion group. Initiatives include guided meditation and yoga sessions, Brew Monday buddying, staff sessions on financial wellbeing and men's mental health, partnership sessions with local charities (IDAS), an annual wellbeing & inclusion survey, informative emails on religious festivals and inclusive events such as 'Wander the World'.

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 - (listed 2013)
• Best Training and Best Job Satisfaction at Top Employers for School and College Leavers Awards - 2013 (ranked second employer overall for school and college leavers)
• Ambassador of the Year at the Leeds Apprenticeship Awards - (year reported in content)
• Highly commended in The Law Society Excellence Awards (Excellence in Community Investment / Diversity & Inclusion) - 2012 and 2017 commendation
• Named 'Best Skills Development' at The School Leaver Awards - 2020
• Shortlisted for 'Best use of technology' at the Claims Innovation Awards - 2016

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Longstanding commitment to social mobility through the pioneering law apprenticeship; firm ambition to be regarded as a diversity and inclusion exemplar in the legal sector; Law Society recognition and commendations for the apprenticeship and diversity/inclusion activity.

• Wellbeing & Inclusion group
• Head of Wellness and Inclusion role
• Law apprenticeship (designed to tackle social mobility)
• Annual wellbeing & inclusion survey
• Women In Law initiatives (celebrating women solicitors)
• Support for parents and flexibility initiatives
• Partnerships with external organisations for inclusion events (e.g., IDAS)

Innovation

Gordons operates a market-facing technology and innovation approach: developing client-facing platforms (The Legal Desk), running sector training products (GSCOP workshops) and advising tech and alternative legal services businesses. The firm highlights specialist technology lawyers who publish thought leadership on AI, GDPR and digital regulation and act for start-ups and scale-ups (including advice on funding rounds and strategic partnerships). Trainees and fee-earners engage with technology/innovation matters through the Technology & Digital team and by supporting product and workshop delivery.

• The Legal Desk (web-based automated case management system developed for Morrisons)
• Technology & Digital practice serving emerging companies and global tech clients
• GSCOP training workshops (sector-specific training product)
• Advisory work for legal tech and alternative legal service providers (e.g., advising SYKE)

Quick Application Angles

• Demonstrate sector knowledge of retail or food & drink (mention GSCOP awareness or recent GSCOP case work) to show you understand Gordons' sector specialisms.
• Highlight genuine relationship-building examples — the firm prizes trusted, pragmatic advisers more than technical showmanship.
• If applying as an apprentice, stress your resilience, A-level results and examples of overcoming challenges; reference the apprenticeship's social mobility ethos.
• For technology/scale-up roles reference Gordons' tech work (advising SYKE; The Legal Desk; tech sector clients) and any practical experience with startups, commercial contracts or funding rounds.
• Mention involvement or interest in wellbeing & inclusion activities and teamwork: Gordons values colleagues who contribute to firm culture through working groups and committees.