O'Reilly Stewart Solicitors

Overview

O'Reilly Stewart Solicitors is a leading Belfast-based law firm with a strong regional reputation across Northern Ireland. The firm is best known for its market-leading Healthcare practice (Band 1), a robust disputes and litigation capability and a full-service offering covering commercial, employment, property, licensing and personal injury work. O'Reilly Stewart acts for individuals (notably patients and families in clinical negligence and inquest matters), local businesses and public-sector clients, and is actively involved in high-profile Northern Ireland healthcare inquiries and local regulatory matters.

• Headquarters: Belfast, 75-77 May Street
• Trainees: 7 (as of Oct 2024)
• Offices: 1

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Healthcare & Life Sciences
• Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence
• Employment
• Corporate & M&A
• Commercial Contracts
• Real Estate
• Private Client & Wealth
• Family Law
• Education
• Professional Negligence
• Construction & Engineering
• Regulatory & Compliance

Geographic Focus: Primary focus on Belfast and Northern Ireland. The firm acts for clients across Northern Ireland including individuals (patients and families), local businesses and public-sector bodies (Health and Social Care Trusts). It positions itself as a leading Northern Ireland practice for clinical negligence, licensing and local commercial work and engages with local public inquiries and regulatory reforms (e.g., Muckamore/Hospital inquiries and licensing reform discussions).

Training Contract

• Trainee Intake: 4 new trainees (intake reported Oct 2024); total trainee cohort reported as 7 (Oct 2024).
• Academic Requirements: Apprenticeship route: strong academic ability, good communication and problem-solving skills, attention to detail and motivation to combine university study with full-time work.)
• Application Deadline: 30 January 2026

Sponsorship

Law Degree Apprenticeship: university tuition funded (LLB Hons at Ulster University) and a competitive salary while studying; Accounting Degree Apprenticeship: BSc (Hons) fees funded and salary while studying. (Apprenticeship start dates and closing dates published for 2025 intakes.)

Mentorship

Apprentices and trainees are supported by experienced solicitors and named mentors; firm materials reference mentorship, 'support from experienced solicitors and professionals' and an environment where trainees progress from paralegal to trainee solicitor roles under director oversight.

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What O'Reilly Stewart Solicitors Looks For

Key Competencies

• commercial awareness
• communication skills
• problem-solving
• attention to detail
• teamwork
• resilience
• motivation and self-discipline (particularly for apprenticeship/study route)
• numeracy (accounting roles)
• empathy and client-care (healthcare/personal injury practice)

Evidence Signals

• relevant work experience, placements or summer jobs in legal environments
• participation in degree apprenticeship or similar earn-and-learn pathways
• demonstrable commitment to community or charity work (CSR involvement)
• academic performance and evidence of ability to balance study with work (for apprenticeships)
• practical experience with client-facing administrative/legal tasks (trial bundle prep, court shadowing)

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Law and Accounting Degree Apprenticeships: salary while studying and tuition funded
• Hybrid working available (role-specific; example: Family Law Solicitor role noted as hybrid)
• Lexcel-accredited practice (quality standard)
• Opportunities for early responsibility and progression from paralegal to trainee and NQ roles
• Active CSR and charity programme (employee fundraising and community events)

Wellbeing

Firm runs wellbeing and mindfulness activities in conjunction with charity partners; staff wellbeing initiatives include team events (walks, bake-offs, fundraising activities) and supportive internal culture references in trainee/apprentice features.

Awards & Recognition

• Chambers & Partners: Band 1 ranking for Healthcare (clinical negligence/healthcare team)
• Recognised in Chambers rankings for multiple practice areas (commercial team noted in 2025 communications)
• Chambers & Partners recognition (2019) for clinical negligence, licensing, litigation and education
• Lexcel accreditation

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

• Charity partnerships and fundraising: Dementia NI (charity partner 2024), Aware NI (charity partner 2023), NI Hospice (charity partner and fundraising activities), Southern Area Hospice Service Will Writing Week (2019)
• Sponsorship of Northern Ireland Women in Business Awards (sponsored Best in Professional Services category, 2017)
• Various staff-nominated charity fundraising and wellbeing events (annual)

Innovation

Quick Application Angles

• Lead with the firm’s Band 1 Healthcare strength: reference relevant case work (for example the firm’s large clinical negligence recoveries) and explain why you want to work in a team that handles complex patient/Trust litigation.
• If applying for apprenticeship or paralegal routes, highlight any practical experience (work placements, summer jobs, court shadowing) and demonstrate your ability to balance study and workplace responsibilities — the firm funds and supports Ulster University apprenticeships.
• For commercial or licensing roles, mention local regulatory awareness (e.g., recent NI liquor licensing review discussions) and any direct experience with hospitality or licensing applications (the firm handled a successful restaurant licence for Basilico).
• Emphasise client-care and empathy when applying to healthcare or personal injury teams — client testimonials repeatedly praise the firm’s communication, sensitivity and tenacity.
• Show community alignment: reference the firm’s charity partnerships (Dementia NI, Aware NI, NI Hospice) or local involvement to demonstrate cultural fit and commitment to regional causes.