Reeds Solicitors LLP

Overview

Reeds Solicitors LLP is an award-winning, national multi-disciplinary law firm with a particularly strong reputation in criminal defence, family law, Court of Protection and mental health work. The firm operates from 22 offices across England & Wales and is consistently ranked in top tiers by independent directories (Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners) and listed in The Times Best Law Firms (2023–2026). Reeds emphasises a client-centred, team-based approach (the Reeds Way), invests in internal training via the Reeds Academy and combines technical specialism (complex crime, white-collar, care proceedings) with broad regional coverage.

Headquarters: Oxford, 18 Kings Meadow, Ferry Hinksey Rd
Offices: 22

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

Criminal Law
Family Law
White Collar Crime
Fraud & Investigations
Public Law
Regulatory & Compliance
Private Client & Wealth
Dispute Resolution & Litigation
Immigration
Education

Geographic Focus: National coverage across England & Wales from a 22-office network. Strong regional hubs and recognised strength in the South East (Thames Valley/Oxford), South West (Bristol), North West (Manchester) and Wales (Cardiff). The firm’s strategy emphasises consistent service delivery across regional offices and growth through reputation in criminal defence, complex crime and Court of Protection work.

Training Contract

Reeds advertises a business-led training approach rather than fixed rotations: trainees are placed into a single department that aligns to business needs and the trainee's interests and generally remain in that department for their training rather than rotating through multiple unrelated seats. Training combines supervised, on-the-job case responsibility with formal training via the Reeds Academy and supervision from Training Partners and Supervising Solicitors. Recruitment is annual (applications advertised once a year, usually Q1 for September starts) and includes application forms, video interviews and an assessment day.

Qualification Rate: 91% (point of qualifying, 2017-2021); around 63% remain with Reeds long-term after qualifying.
Academic Requirements: Reeds welcomes candidates from all qualification backgrounds (LPC, SQE, CILEX) and does not limit recruitment to a single academic route.
Application Deadline: 20 April 2026

Seat Options

Criminal Defence / General Crime
Complex Crime
Private Crime
White Collar & Financial Crime
Family Law – Divorce, Finances & Child Arrangements
Family Law – Social Services / Care Proceedings
Court of Protection
Mental Health
Prison Law
Motoring Law
Regulatory Law
Pre-Charge Investigation
Licensing Law
Education (school/university work)
Immigration

Sponsorship

The firm will fund the cost of the professional skills course for LPC trainees or will fund the cost of SQE exams for trainees pursuing the SQE/CILEX route.

SQE Support

Reeds provides SQE support including funding for SQE exam costs (the firm states it will fund the cost of the exams for trainees undertaking the SQE route), time off to sit exams, and access to an independent SQE tutor plus group sessions and one-to-one support.

Mentorship

Each trainee is supported by a Trainee Principal (Tom Brymer) and an HR Manager (Lillie Debbage) plus a Training Partner and a Supervising Solicitor within their department. The firm describes close supervision, buddying and mentoring arrangements within departments, with named area Training Partners for Crime, Family, Court of Protection and Mental Health.

Apply on the Reeds Solicitors LLP website →

Programmes & Schemes

Work experience

Reeds receives a large number of work experience requests and states that, due to demand, it is currently unable to accept further requests. The firm previously offered work experience placements as an introduction to the firm and its departments (applicants were invited to enquire via the careers email address).

Apply →

Notable Matters

Fare-evasion and SJP representation and casework

The firm’s private prosecutions and defence expertise in rail fare-evasion matters has featured in commentary and case work responding to the SJP unlawful prosecutions controversy; the firm’s Fare Evasion team (headed by Nathan Seymour‑Hyde) has represented individuals facing private prosecutions and provided case advice and post-conviction assistance during the quashing process.

Criminal Law

Defence in Restraining Order and harassment matters (court representation)

Reeds' criminal teams regularly defend clients facing allegations that may give rise to restraining orders, providing representation from police station attendance through to Crown Court advocacy; the firm highlights specific work defending clients charged with harassment, stalking and related offences and securing favourable outcomes in prosecutions or variation/discharge applications.

Criminal Law

Court of Protection client representation and deputyship work

Reeds’ Court of Protection team provides health and welfare representation, deputyship advice and litigation friend work for vulnerable clients; trainees and solicitors in the team routinely prepare capacity evidence, attend hearings and produce welfare-focused case plans aimed at protecting clients’ best interests.

Public Law

What Reeds Solicitors LLP Looks For

Key Competencies

Genuine interest in law and the firm
Commercial awareness
Teamwork and collaboration
Resilience and ability to manage pressure
Attention to detail
Empathy, patience, honesty and loyalty
Client-focus and practical advocacy
Willingness to develop and engage in business development

Evidence Signals

Relevant work experience, volunteering or pro bono demonstrating sustained interest in law
Examples showing commitment to a specific area of law (e.g., criminal, family, Court of Protection)
Client-facing experience or advocacy (mooting, panel accreditation, duty work)
Clear research into Reeds (reference to The Reeds Way, regional office work, specific teams)
Use of STAR examples to evidence teamwork, resilience and problem-solving

Benefits & Wellbeing

Private medical health care with option to upgrade (optical and dental add-ons available)
Discounted gym membership via private medical insurance
Employee assistance programme (access to physical, mental and emotional health advice, webinars, online counselling & mini health checks)
Cycle to Work scheme including e-bikes
Fresh fruit baskets weekly in offices
Flexible working schemes: compressed 4 day weeks, 9 day fortnights, TOIL (time off in lieu)
Ability to earn up to 30 days holiday with years of service (standard starter entitlement is 21 days plus bank holidays)
Additional paid celebration day (e.g., birthday/anniversary)
Ability to buy up to 5 days additional holiday and sell surplus holiday
Discretionary additional holiday days at Christmas (up to 2 days)
Discretionary bonus scheme for exceptional performance
Transparent annual review process covering whole contribution (not solely billing)
Generous out-of-hours call out fee per case (for duty/Police Station roles)
Support for professional qualification costs (LPC professional skills course or SQE exam fees)

Wellbeing

An employee assistance programme (EAP) with counselling and wellbeing resources, webinars and mini health checks; emphasis on safeguarding staff wellbeing in The Reeds Way; regular wellbeing communications and workplace initiatives such as weekly fruit baskets.

Awards & Recognition

Legal 500 – Top Tier / Tier 1 regional rankings (maintained Top Tier in 2026 editions for key crime practices)
Chambers & Partners regional rankings across multiple departments (2026)
The Times Best Law Firms 2023-2026
Zylpha Innovations Awards – Commitment to Technology Award (2024)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Reeds states a firm-wide commitment to 'embrace equality, diversity, and inclusion throughout our organisation' and to treat everyone fairly across the business; the firm also highlights membership/participation in professional accreditation schemes (Law Society Children Panel) for family practitioners.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion brochure (published by the firm)
The Reeds Way (explicit commitment to embrace equality, diversity and inclusion across the organisation)
Law Society Children Panel membership for multiple lawyers (accessibility and panel accreditation for family/children work)

Innovation

Reeds has invested in legal technology to streamline court bundling and document preparation. In July 2024 the firm adopted Zylpha’s Solo Online Bundle and integrated it with its Bedrock Case Management System to provide OCR, redaction, automatic pagination and indexing, PDF editing and enhanced security — an initiative which won the Commitment to Technology Award at the Zylpha Innovations Awards. The firm presents technology adoption as a foundation for operational efficiency and consistent service across its regional office network.

Zylpha Solo Online Bundle integrated with Bedrock Case Management System
Bedrock Case Management System (operated by Rock Management Services)
Integration work with software developers to embed court bundling, OCR and redaction into daily workflows

Quick Application Angles

Tailor your application to a specific area at Reeds (e.g., Court of Protection, Mental Health, Complex Crime) — the firm explicitly values applicants who indicate a particular area of interest rather than a generic application.
Reference The Reeds Way and the firm’s client-centred culture (examples of teamwork, respect and the Reeds Service Pledge) to show cultural fit — the firm emphasises values such as patience, honesty, loyalty and empathy.
If applying for criminal/traffic roles, mention any police-station/duty experience or motoring case exposure (Reeds highlights strong motoring and fare-evasion expertise and operates duty rotas).
Demonstrate an interest in the firm’s innovation agenda (e.g., Zylpha/Bedrock integration) or in efficient casework processes — Reeds has been awarded for its commitment to technology.
Show evidence of practical advocacy or client contact (panel accreditation, volunteering, client-facing roles) and prepare concise STAR examples for interview questions on teamwork and resilience.