Scott Bailey Solicitors

Overview

Scott Bailey is a long-established, Hampshire-based regional law firm focused on serving individuals and SMEs across the New Forest, Solent and South Coast. The firm combines a generalist full-service offering for both private clients (wills, trusts, probate, family, conveyancing) and businesses (corporate & commercial, commercial property, litigation, employment and sector-specific work such as marine, veterinary and healthcare). The firm emphasises hands-on client work and a people-centred culture, and has been recognised locally for training and business excellence.

Headquarters: Lymington, 63 High Street
Lawyers: 52
Partners: 7
Trainees: 1 (anticipated Sep 2027)
Offices: 2

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

Corporate & M&A
Real Estate
Dispute Resolution & Litigation
Employment
Intellectual Property
Regulatory & Compliance
Insolvency & Restructuring
Private Client & Wealth
Family Law
Healthcare & Life Sciences
Technology & Digital
Hospitality & Leisure
Retail & Consumer
Commercial Contracts
Shipping & Maritime

Geographic Focus: Primary strength is Hampshire and the South Coast (New Forest, Solent region). The firm operates from two local offices (Lymington and Lyndhurst) and focuses on serving local private clients and owner-managed SMEs across the region, including sector-focused support for marine, veterinary, healthcare, manufacturing and defence businesses.

Training Contract

Training placements provide regular seat rotations of approximately 4–5 months in each department. The training experience is two years in practice for those who qualify via the traditional training contract route (example trainee Emily Drew started placement Oct 2022 and qualified Sep 2024). Trainees are supervised and mentored by the firm's Training Principal (Sarah Unsworth) who meets regularly to review training records and consolidate learning. The firm emphasises hands-on responsibility and exposure to client-facing work across Family, Litigation, Private Client, Commercial and Property departments.

Trainee Intake: 1 (anticipated for Sep 2027)
Academic Requirements: To be eligible for the training contract applicants must have successfully completed SQE1 and SQE2 prior to starting. The firm accepts both traditional training contract and solicitor apprenticeship routes.

Seat Options

Family Law
Dispute Resolution & Litigation
Private Client & Wealth
Corporate & M&A
Real Estate

Mentorship

Trainees are supported by a named Training Principal (Sarah Unsworth) who meets regularly to review training records and progress. The firm provides structured inductions, twice-yearly reviews, tailored development plans and ongoing pastoral support. Apprenticeship and internal progression routes are also supported.

Apply on the Scott Bailey Solicitors website →

Programmes & Schemes

Solicitor Apprenticeship

The firm supports solicitor apprenticeships (graduate apprenticeship route). Apprentices rotate across departments while completing their qualification; the firm has recently supported law graduates into apprenticeship training and currently employs a graduate solicitor apprentice in the Lymington office.

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Local Work Experience

Scott Bailey offers work experience placements for local students to gain exposure to legal practice and local firm operations.

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Notable Matters

Advising on sale and purchase transactions for SME businesses (pubs, dental practices, marinas, engineering businesses, domiciliary care providers)

The firm regularly advises buyers and sellers of SME businesses across multiple sectors — supporting clients from heads of terms through to completion, handling due diligence, drafting and negotiating sale agreements and structuring transactions to suit client objectives. Examples referenced in firm commentary include pubs, dental practices, marinas, engineering businesses and domiciliary care providers.

Corporate & M&A

Marine sector transactions and yacht/pleasure craft matters

Scott Bailey acts for yacht owners, brokers and marine businesses on sale/purchase, yacht brokerage agreements, registration with the UK Ship Register, mooring licences and marine finance matters. The team combines maritime knowledge with local coastal expertise to support both private owners and marine businesses.

Shipping & Maritime

Conveyancing and complex property work including unusual property transactions

The firm handles residential and commercial property transactions, including complex or unusual matters (examples cited include transfers involving an aeroplane hangar, a castle, a school and a golf course). Services include sales, purchases, remortgages, first registrations and commercial leases.

Real Estate

Private client and probate matters (wills, trusts and estate administration)

The Wills, Trusts and Probate team provides ongoing estate planning and probate administration for individuals and families, acting on wills, powers of attorney, trust work and probate matters with a personal, compassionate approach.

Private Client & Wealth

Commercial and contractual advice for SME technology and healthcare businesses

The firm advises SMEs on commercial contracts, SaaS/licensing and regulatory issues in sector-focused teams (technology, commercial healthcare and veterinary), providing fixed-fee and transparent pricing models for sector clients.

Commercial Contracts

What Scott Bailey Solicitors Looks For

Key Competencies

Client-focused communication
Commercial awareness
Attention to detail
Organisation and time-management
Teamwork and collaboration
Empathy and emotional intelligence (particularly for private client/family work)
Resilience and a strong work ethic
Willingness to take responsibility and manage files

Evidence Signals

Previous experience in a law firm or relevant department (Private Client, Litigation, Conveyancing)
Practical experience producing documents (audio typing/digital dictation) and familiarity with case management systems
Sector experience for specialist teams (marine, veterinary, healthcare, property)
Participation in community or local industry groups (e.g., marine or local business networks)
Demonstrable client care and empathy in people-facing roles

Benefits & Wellbeing

34 days' holiday including bank holidays (role-dependent; senior roles listed as 26 days plus bank holidays)
An extra day off for your birthday
Free New Forest Parking Clock
Health Cash Plan / Health cash plan scheme
Group life cover / Life Insurance Scheme
Staff discount platform
Excellent / award-winning training and development
Open and friendly culture
Flexible and hybrid working available (role-dependent)
Excellent development opportunities and support for professional qualifications
Social committee activities and wellbeing events

Wellbeing

Wellness Weeks, step-count competitions, lunchtime walks, yoga in the garden, social events, sports teams (cricket, netball, golf), Respect at Work workshops, supportive culture and pastoral support; resident office dogs and an office garden are also part of the wellbeing offer.

Awards & Recognition

New Forest Business of the Year 2023
Brockenhurst College Award for Training and Development 2023
Financial & Professional Services Company of the Year — Hampshire Business Awards 2025
Training & Development Award 2023 (New Forest Business Partnership)
Shortlisted — South Coast Property Awards 2024 (Property Law Firm of the Year category)
Finalists in the 2025 Hampshire Business Awards (Best Place to Work; SME Business of the Year; Financial & Professional Services Company of the Year)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The firm highlights investment in people, local community support and flexible working to support carers and part-time workers. It promotes internal progression and training (apprenticeships, SQE, CILEx routes).

Respect at Work workshops (yearly)
Women in Business group
Social committee and community sponsorship activities
Apprenticeship and local student work-experience programmes
Transparent progression pathway from legal assistant to partner with twice-yearly reviews and tailored development plans

Innovation

The firm provides 24-hour access to webinars and technical/personal development sessions and uses online learning and regular internal training to upskill staff. There is an emphasis on practical training, remote-access learning and transparent processes, but no named bespoke legal-tech platforms are referenced.

Quick Application Angles

Highlight your interest in and knowledge of the South Coast/New Forest region and explain why you want to work for a community-focused regional firm that serves local SMEs and private clients.
For corporate or marine roles, reference any sector experience (yachting/marine, veterinary or healthcare) and practical commercial work — the firm values direct sector knowledge.
Emphasise client care, empathy and examples of handling sensitive private-client matters (wills, probate, family) — the firm stresses a personal, compassionate approach.
Mention eagerness for hands-on responsibility and give examples where you managed files or client contact early in your experience; reference the firm’s Training Principal and the firm’s award for training & development to show alignment.