Gosschalks LLP

Overview

Gosschalks is an entrepreneurial, commercially focused law firm based in a purpose-built office in Queens Gardens, Hull, with a national client base across the UK. The firm is particularly known for its long-standing specialist work for the licensed leisure & retail sector (pubs, clubs, supermarkets and national chains), substantial commercial property and wayleave/utility compensation expertise, and hands-on partner-led service that positions it as a cost-effective alternative to big-city firms. Distinctive features include a dedicated on-site deeds storage and scanning facility, a developed licensing/software offering for managing licensed estates, and a culture that emphasises long-term client relationships and practical, commercial solutions.

• Headquarters: Queens Gardens, Hull, East Yorkshire, HU1 3DZ
• Founded: 1911
• Offices: 1

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Real Estate
• Corporate & M&A
• Employment
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Construction & Engineering
• Agriculture & Rural
• Energy & Natural Resources
• Insolvency & Restructuring
• Hospitality & Leisure
• Retail & Consumer
• Private Client & Wealth
• Family Law
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Technology & Digital

Geographic Focus: Based in Hull with coverage across the UK. The firm positions itself as a national adviser from a regional base, serving large PLCs and national chains as well as local clients. Core commercial strength is UK-wide work in licensed leisure & retail, large estate/property management, wayleave and electricity/pylon compensation work, and sector-focused transactional and disputes work for supermarket/retail and leisure clients.

Training Contract

The firm operates a Graduate Training Programme / recognised period of training with seat rotations across practice areas. Trainees undertake multiple seats during their training contract (the site references first- and second-year trainee blogs and mentions a trainee being in a third seat), work on real client matters from day one and are supervised by partners at every stage. Training is described as a two-year period of recognised training (first and second year) with partner involvement and hands-on responsibility.

• Qualification Rate: Twenty-six of the current lawyers joined the firm as trainee solicitors; sixteen of those went on to become partners (historical conversion figures rather than a single-year percentage).
• Academic Requirements: Applicants must have achieved at least three A to C grades at A-Level or equivalent and have achieved or be predicted at least a 2:1 in their degree. Exceptional circumstances may be considered for applicants whose grades do not meet the criteria.
• Application Deadline: 2026-07-31

Seat Options

• Commercial Property & Development
• Estate Management
• Employment
• Litigation
• Construction
• Agriculture & Renewables
• Insolvency & Corporate Recovery
• Company & Corporate
• Licensed Leisure & Retail
• Licensing
• Conveyancing
• Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning
• Family

Mentorship

Partners supervise lawyers and trainees at every stage; trainees are supported by departmental supervisors and firm-wide training support. The careers pages identify named HR contacts (Head of HR Emma Moore) and provide mentorship-style support from partners and senior associates; trainees are integrated into teams and have access to the firm's Wellbeing Programme and internal networks.

Apply on the Gosschalks LLP website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Gosschalks LLP Looks For

Key Competencies

• Commercial awareness
• Client-facing skills and relationship-building
• Attention to detail and accuracy under pressure
• Excellent organisational and communication skills
• Collaborative mindset and teamwork
• Proactivity and problem-solving
• Entrepreneurial spirit
• Resilience and willingness to take responsibility

Evidence Signals

• Relevant commercial or sector experience (retail, licensed leisure, property, utilities)
• Client-facing work experience or pro bono/community engagement
• Demonstrable commercial awareness and examples of adding value to businesses
• Strong academic record (predicted/achieved 2:1) and A-Level grades (three A-C)
• Experience in property/conveyancing or licensing for candidates applying to those teams
• Participation in student outreach, mooting, or mediation where applying to family/mediation teams

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Health cash plan membership (cashback for dental check-ups, fillings, physiotherapy, eye tests, glasses, etc.)
• Virtual GP service
• Company perks scheme
• Active Wellbeing Programme (community volunteering days, sporting events, departmental competitions)
• Birthday off
• Purpose-built on-site deeds storage and rapid scanning service (operational benefit for fee-earners)
• Flexible working capabilities supported by industry-leading technology
• Support and training for personal and professional development

Wellbeing

Wellbeing Programme run by members of the firm and supported by senior management; includes community volunteering days, sporting and social activities, virtual GP access and health cash plan support.

Awards & Recognition

• The Legal 500 - recognised for leading expertise in Contentious Probate (2025)
• Ranked practice coverage: 20 ranked departments and 4 ranked lawyers in national directory listings

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Gosschalks is an equal opportunities employer and maintains an Environmental and Sustainability Policy reviewed annually. The firm is a registered user of the Law Society Legal Sector Alliance core principles and has participated in the Business in the Community Environment Index initiative.

• Wellbeing Programme
• Green Committee (environment & sustainability)
• In-house charity activity with The Smile Foundation
• Community volunteering days
• Charity-linked fee donation offers (e.g., 'Team Arctic' will-writing donation)

Pro Bono

Active in-house charitable activity (The Smile Foundation), community volunteering and charitable fee donation initiatives (e.g. Team Arctic donation of 10% of fees for a promotional will-writing offer). The site describes an engaged pro-social approach but does not publish firm-wide pro bono hour targets.

Innovation

The firm highlights investment in technology (on-site secure deeds storage and scanning, a bespoke software application for licensed estate management) and has a named CTO/Head of Development, signalling a formal approach to legal-tech and operations. The firm states it adopted digital transformation in the 2000s and promotes industry-leading technology to support flexible working; trainees and fee-earners interact with these systems as part of day-to-day practice.

• Purpose-built on-site deeds storage and rapid scanning capability
• Specialist licensed-estate management software application for managing large licensed estates
• Dedicated CTO & Head of Development role

Quick Application Angles

• Emphasise commercial, client‑facing experience and relationship-building: reference the firm's long-term national clients (e.g., major pub/retail chains and Cineworld) and give concrete examples of where you added commercial value.
• Show sector knowledge for licensed leisure/retail and property: candidates with experience or insight into licensing, estate management, wayleaves or retail-property issues should highlight specific examples or learning.
• Demonstrate entrepreneurial mindset and practicality: use examples that show you problem-solved, took responsibility and delivered pragmatic outcomes — these map directly to the firm’s stated culture and mission.
• Reference the firm's values in application essays or interviews (use the exact phrasing): cite lines such as 'Every client is our most important client' or 'We do the right thing, even when no one is looking' to show cultural fit.
• If applying for trainee or property roles, mention familiarity with wayleave/easement or conveyancing practicalities and, where possible, evidence of client-centred project work (e.g., placements, pro bono clinics or sector research).