Preston Redman Solicitors

Overview

Preston Redman is a long-established, full-service regional law firm based in Bournemouth, recognised as one of the leading law firms in Dorset and serving clients across Bournemouth, Poole, Dorset, the UK and overseas. The firm combines a heritage dating back to 1876 with a focus on traditional client service, personal attention and technical expertise across corporate, property, dispute and private client work. It positions itself as a practical, approachable adviser for individuals, owner-managed businesses, developers, landlords and local institutions, emphasising continuity of client relationships and promoting from within.

• Headquarters: Bournemouth, Hinton House, Hinton Road
• Founded: 1876
• Lawyers: 44
• Partners: 13
• Trainees: 3 (up to three trainee solicitors or graduate apprentice solicitors recruited each year)
• Offices: 1

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Agriculture & Rural
• Corporate & M&A
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Employment
• Environment & Planning
• Intellectual Property
• Insolvency & Restructuring
• Real Estate
• Tax
• Family Law
• Private Client & Wealth
• Criminal Law
• Construction & Engineering
• Banking & Finance
• Professional Negligence
• Regulatory & Compliance

Geographic Focus: Primary focus is local and regional: Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset clients, with work instructed throughout the UK and occasional overseas matters. The firm's strategy emphasises strong local market knowledge combined with capability to handle matters involving other UK jurisdictions and international elements (notarial work, document legalisation for overseas use).

Training Contract

Two-year training programme. Trainees typically undertake four seats across four departments: Company commercial; Property (residential and commercial); Private Client; and Litigation (civil and commercial litigation, employment and family law). The programme is overseen by the training principal (Tim Flower) and trainee partners (Daniel Gardner and William Buchanan). Trainees usually work under the supervision of a partner in each department and are given opportunities to work with colleagues across experience levels.

• Trainee Intake: 3 (we recruit up to three trainee solicitors or graduate apprentice solicitors each year)
• Application Deadline: 2026-08-31

Seat Options

• Corporate & M&A
• Real Estate
• Private Client & Wealth
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation (including Employment and Family Law)

Sponsorship

At present the firm is unable to offer funding for either an apprenticeship course or SQE preparation programme.

SQE Support

The firm states that at present it is unable to offer funding for either an apprenticeship course or SQE preparation programme.

Mentorship

The training programme is overseen by a training principal (Tim Flower) and trainee partners (Daniel Gardner and William Buchanan). Trainees are supervised by a partner in each seat and supported by colleagues across the firm. The firm emphasises mentoring, supervisor support and ongoing pastoral support.

Apply on the Preston Redman Solicitors website →

Notable Matters

What Preston Redman Solicitors Looks For

Key Competencies

• Client service and empathy
• Attention to detail
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Enthusiasm and loyalty
• Commercial awareness (for business-facing roles)
• Adaptability to hybrid working and new technology
• Resilience and commitment to progression

Evidence Signals

• Prior legal experience (paralegal or legal secretary roles) — the firm has a strong track record of promoting from secretarial/paralegal roles into training contracts
• Work or volunteering demonstrating client care and interpersonal skills
• Relevant commercial or property experience for corporate/real estate roles
• SQE/LPC study in progress or completed (the firm accepts multiple routes to qualification)
• Local connections or experience of the Bournemouth/Dorset market

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Free onsite car parking
• Dedicated staff room
• Nespresso coffee/tea facilities provided by firm
• Filtered water machines in every building
• Well-stocked fruit bowl in staff room and every kitchen
• Summer BBQ paid for by the firm
• Christmas party paid for by the firm
• Ad hoc social events, team building and volunteer afternoons
• Social committee organising events; Friday drinks on the Landing Arms
• Free breakfast every Friday (independent family-run bakery)
• Ice cream van weekly in July & August
• Coffee break every morning in staff room
• Death in service for staff employed over two years (twice annual salary)
• On-site defibrillator (registered on national network and public access)
• Flu vaccine paid for all staff
• AXA Employee Assistance Programme (free counselling service)
• Four Mental Health First Aiders and emergency first aid classes
• Running club (Wednesday after work)
• Full eyesight test and £49 voucher towards prescription glasses (Specsavers)
• Sponsorships and charitable activity (Parkstone Yacht Club, Royal Motor Yacht Club, Chalke Valley History Festival, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra junior sponsorship, Macmillan Caring locally, YMCA Big Sleep, Dorset Opera, Wimborne Football Club, Turing Trust donation)
• Additional discretionary holiday between Christmas & New Year
• Recruitment 'bounty' paid to staff for successful introductions
• Long service awards from 10 years and long service annual leave entitlement increases (up to a maximum of 25 days)
• Discounted legal fees and free will for employees
• Interactive company intranet and internal communications
• Starting holiday entitlement 22 days / 25 days
• Day off on your birthday (if it falls on a working day)
• Option to have dual monitors
• Hybrid working model
• Management & leadership courses and career development support
• Professional membership & subscription fees paid
• Support for professional training and time off for study/exam leave where applicable
• Pension scheme and pension surgeries
• Commuter club membership with Morebus
• Short walk to Bournemouth beach and town centre
• Lunch hour of 1 hour and 15 minutes between 12.45-14.00

Wellbeing

AXA Employee Assistance Programme (free counselling), four Mental Health First Aiders, on-site defibrillator, firm-paid flu vaccine, running club, emergency first aid classes, eyesight test and voucher, and regular wellbeing-focused initiatives.

Awards & Recognition

• Law Society accreditation: Family Law Advanced
• Law Society accreditation: Criminal Litigation
• Law Society accreditation: Conveyancing Quality

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The firm is committed to promoting equality and diversity in all internal and professional dealings and operates as an equal opportunities employer.

• Equality and diversity policy (contact David Albans for policy or internal diversity report)
• Equal opportunities employer (welcome applications regardless of race, religion, disability, age, ethnic background or sexual orientation)
• Mental health first aider training for partners and administration (Mental Health First Aid England certificate)
• Charitable and community engagement (Turing Trust donation, YMCA Big Sleep, Macmillan sponsorship and other local sponsorships)

Pro Bono

The firm engages in charitable and community activities (notable examples: Turing Trust computer donation, YMCA Bournemouth Big Sleep fundraising team, Macmillan Caring locally White Christmas dip) and encourages community involvement; no formal pro bono hours target or scheme was published on the available pages.

Innovation

The firm states it is focused on introducing modern technology and methods to complement traditional values and has invested in systems to support hybrid working and flexible working practices.

Quick Application Angles

• Emphasise commitment to client service and long-term relationships — reference the firm's heritage ('since 1876') and its focus on building strong, positive client relationships.
• If you have paralegal or legal secretary experience, highlight it: the firm explicitly promotes from within and often offers traineeships to internal candidates.
• Demonstrate willingness to rotate across practice areas and cite the firm’s four-seat training structure (Company commercial; Property; Private Client; Litigation) as the reason you want broad-based seat experience.
• Show awareness of the firm's hybrid working model and collaborative culture — mention how you work effectively in both office and remote settings and your experience with teamwork and client communication.
• If applying for property, commercial or insolvency roles, reference the firm's reported cases (e.g., Raymere Ltd v Belle Vue Gardens Ltd or its insolvency/ wrongful trading defence experience) to show sector interest and commercial awareness.