Moore Barlow LLP

Overview

Moore Barlow is a South East‑focused, full‑service regional law firm with six UK offices and a Top‑100 UK law firm profile. The firm positions itself as a partner‑led, people‑first practice that blends city‑quality expertise (corporate, commercial, real estate, personal injury and private wealth) with a strong local presence across London, Surrey and Hampshire. It promotes a ‘career firm’ culture—partner involvement from day one, sector specialisms (rural/landed estates, charities & independent schools, serious injury, real estate), and a partner-led approach that emphasises relationship management and practical, tailored advice.

• Headquarters: Chandler's Ford, Gateway House
• Trainees: 8
• Offices: 6

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Agriculture & Rural
• Charities & Not-for-Profit
• Commercial Contracts
• Corporate & M&A
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Education
• Employment
• Intellectual Property
• Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence
• Private Client & Wealth
• Professional Negligence
• Real Estate
• Sports Law
• Technology & Digital
• Insurance & Reinsurance
• Insolvency & Restructuring
• Tax

Geographic Focus: Strong presence across London, Surrey and Hampshire with six UK offices; core client base in the South East but acting for national and international clients via its London City office and sector teams. The firm markets itself as offering city‑quality expertise locally across commercial, real estate, rural/landed estates, charities/independent schools, serious injury and private wealth work.

Training Contract

The firm runs a hands‑on, partner‑led training contract where trainees work alongside experienced lawyers and receive early responsibility on client matters. Trainee development is supported by a clear Career Development Framework, regular 4–6 weekly check‑ins, mentoring (mentor outside reporting line), on‑the‑job learning, access to a digital learning platform (MBL+), and options for internal mobility, secondments and work shadowing where appropriate. Specific seat rotation details (number and duration of seats) are not itemised on the available pages.

• Starting Salary: £30,000 (Year 1); £32,000 (Year 2)
• NQ Salary: £48,500
• Trainee Intake: 8
• Qualification Rate: 88% (latest trainee retention rate)
• Academic Requirements: No minimum A‑level requirement; no minimum degree requirement. The firm accepts non‑law graduates and supports alternative qualification routes (SQE, CILEx, apprenticeships). Uses RARE contextual recruitment tools in its trainee programme.
• Application Deadline: 2026-03-31

Sponsorship

Study sponsorship is offered for professional qualifications (LPC, PSC, SQE and CILEx). Funding may be full or partial, study leave is provided, and sponsorship is confirmed in a simple agreement. Repayment provisions apply if the colleague leaves soon after qualification. Study sponsorship normally becomes available after completion of probation (typically available after 12 months' continuous service).

SQE Support

Firm supports alternative qualification routes including SQE and CILEx; study sponsorship for SQE can be provided, with study leave and funding arrangements agreed in a sponsorship agreement. Support includes mentoring and learning resources while candidates complete professional routes.

International Opportunities

0% (no routine international secondments reported)

Client Secondments

0% (no routine client secondments reported)

Mentorship

All individuals sponsored to qualify (trainees, paralegals on SQE/CILEx routes) and newly qualified lawyers are paired with a mentor outside their reporting line for confidential practical support. Mentors meet early and maintain contact through the first year. Trainees are also supported by visible partners, team leaders and an Emerging Talent Manager.

Apply on the Moore Barlow LLP website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Moore Barlow LLP Looks For

Key Competencies

• Commercial awareness
• Can‑do and positive attitude
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Attention to detail
• Resilience
• Client focus and relationship skills
• Adaptability and willingness to learn

Evidence Signals

• Relevant work experience (paralegal, placements, vacation schemes, apprenticeships)
• Sector experience or demonstrable interest for sector teams (rural/landed estates, charities/independent schools, real estate, serious injury)
• Commercial internships, client‑facing experience or advisory placements
• Demonstrable commitment to inclusion or community/charity work
• For non‑traditional applicants: evidence of readiness to train by SQE/apprenticeship routes; contextual factors considered via RARE

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Trainee salary: £30,000 (Year 1); £32,000 (Year 2)
• NQ salary: £48,500
• 28 days annual leave (rising to 30 after five years); firm also closes for three days between Christmas and New Year (must be reserved from allowance)
• 35‑hour working week for most roles
• Fee‑earners annual chargeable hours target: 1,200 (aiming for ~5.5 billable hours/day)
• Life assurance: 4x salary (up to age 75) paid by the firm
• Pension automatic enrolment: 8% total (5% employer, 3% employee via salary sacrifice) with options to increase
• Group income protection: 50% of salary after 26 weeks' illness (subject to scheme rules) payable to age 65
• Employee Assistance Programme (Unum Help@Hand and SquareHealth) 24/7
• Private medical insurance with AXA after probation (firm pays individual cover) and cashback on optical/dental
• Study sponsorship for LPC/PSC/SQE/CILEx (normally after probation), study leave and fees (full or partial) with repayment terms
• Professional membership fees paid where applicable
• Season ticket loan (interest‑free)
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Green Vehicle Scheme (EV leasing through salary sacrifice)
• MooreBenefits portal (retail, travel and leisure discounts)
• Eye tests paid and up to £50 towards VDU glasses
• Annual bonus scheme up to 10% (when profit targets met) plus team/quarterly/legal team bonuses
• Moore Rewards recognition scheme, spot awards and length of service awards
• Paid volunteering time
• Enhanced family‑friendly policies (maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental leave beyond statutory minimums)
• Sabbatical options
• Wellbeing initiatives including flu clinics, exercise classes, wellbeing committee, women's wellness champions and Mindful Business Charter membership
• Paid compassionate leave and clear return‑to‑work support

Wellbeing

Comprehensive wellbeing provision: Employee Assistance Programme (Unum Help@Hand and SquareHealth), private medical insurance with AXA (including mental health support), Mental Health First Aiders across the firm, wellbeing action plans for longer‑term conditions, a firm Wellbeing Committee, membership of the Mindful Business Charter, and internal awareness campaigns (menopause, neurodiversity, financial wellbeing).

Awards & Recognition

• Times Top 100 Best Law Firms to Work For (listed on careers pages)
• Lexcel accreditation (Law Society)
• Chambers & Partners recognition across multiple practice areas (listed on firm pages, 2024–2026 mentions)
• Legal 500 rankings across many practice areas (multiple Tier 1 and Tier 2 listings, 2023–2026)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Published annual gender and ethnicity pay gap reports; signatory to the Mindful Business Charter; committed to widening access through contextual recruitment, mentoring, insight days and internships for first‑generation and lower socio‑economic background students; support for alternative qualification routes (SQE, CILEx and apprenticeships).

• Firmwide Diversity & Inclusion Committee with senior sponsorship
• Pride Committee and annual Pride events
• Wellbeing Committee and women's wellness champions
• Networks and working groups shaped by colleagues
• RARE contextual recruitment tools used in trainee recruitment
• Be The Ladder Foundation partnership (socio‑economic mobility)
• Partnerships / links with external organisations including Stonewall and MindOut
• Mindful Business Charter signatory

Pro Bono

Close, ongoing engagement with numerous charities (Aspire, Child Brain Injury Trust, Encephalitis International, Enham Trust, Headway, Limbless Association, Rainbow Trust, RoadPeace, SEABIF, Mary Seacole Trust, Cauda Equina Champions Charity and others). The firm offers paid volunteering time, charity partnerships, and participates in charity legal panels (e.g., Cauda Equina Champions Charity legal advice panel). No formal firm‑wide pro bono hours target published on the available pages.

Innovation

The firm adopts digital learning (MBL+) for continuous development and publishes thought leadership on AI, data protection and technology regulation. Trainees and lawyers engage with technology topics through curated learning, seminars and client work in the commercial & technology team; the firm integrates technology awareness into commercial and regulatory advice for clients. Specific proprietary legal‑tech tools are not named on the available pages.

• MBL+ (digital learning platform for on‑demand technical and people development)
• MooreBenefits portal (employee discounts platform)
• Regular firm insights and client briefings on AI, data protection and emerging technology regulation (firm publishes commentary on AI, Data (Use and Access) Act and similar topics)

Quick Application Angles

• Emphasise fit with the firm’s values (exact wording where possible): Human first; Stronger together; Lead the way; Make it happen. Give concrete examples of how you’ve demonstrated these values.
• Showcase sector relevance: if applying to Rural/landed estates, Charities/Independent Schools, Serious Injury or Commercial Property teams, reference sector experience (e.g. farm/estate work, school governance, personal‑injury rehabilitation knowledge or commercial property transactions) and any client outcomes.
• Reference the firm’s people‑first culture and training ethos: mention interest in hands‑on, partner‑led training, and how you would benefit from/ contribute to a mentor‑led environment and MBL+ learning.
• Highlight commitment to inclusion and contextual recruitment: if applicable, reference mentoring, outreach or socio‑economic mobility activities (Be The Ladder) and how those experiences shaped your approach.
• Use concrete evidence of team working and resilience: the firm rates highly for peer support and partner approachability—include examples where you worked collaboratively under pressure and how you engaged senior stakeholders to achieve outcomes.