Stephens Scown

Overview

Stephens Scown is a South West–focused, employee-owned law firm with multiple UK offices and a reputation as a regional heavyweight. The firm emphasises purpose-led practice: it was the first large UK law firm to adopt employee ownership and gained B Corp™ Certification (December 2022), positioning itself as a purpose-driven, community-focused adviser for businesses, charities, landowners and individuals across Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset. Stephens Scown combines wide local sector expertise (rural, energy/renewables, charities, family, IP, corporate and property) with a London presence to service national matters, and promotes a collaborative, people-centred culture backed by formal staff profit-share and wellbeing programmes.

• Headquarters: Exeter
• Trainees: 23 (as of 2017)
• Offices: 5

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Agriculture & Rural
• Charities & Not-for-Profit
• Corporate & M&A
• Employment
• Energy & Natural Resources
• Intellectual Property
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Family Law
• Real Estate
• ESG & Sustainability
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Technology & Digital
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Commercial Contracts
• Infrastructure & Projects
• Public Law
• Private Client & Wealth

Geographic Focus: Strong South West footprint (Exeter, Truro, Taunton, Bournemouth) with a London office to handle wider UK and national matters. The firm is particularly active across Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset and positions itself as a regional adviser to local businesses, farms, charities and public-sector bodies while also supporting transactions and projects with national or sectoral significance (eg. renewable energy, employee ownership conversions, B Corp advisory).

Training Contract

Stephens Scown operates a two-year graduate trainee scheme (a two year graduate training contract is referenced across the site). Trainees rotate through multiple seats across practice areas to gain broad exposure; the firm emphasises partner-led supervision, practical responsibility early in seats, and a mentoring structure. Apprenticeship routes (including solicitor apprenticeships and Chartered Legal Executive routes) are also a major component of the firm’s training offer.

• Trainee Intake: 23 (as of 2017 cohort)

Seat Options

• Corporate & M&A
• Intellectual Property
• Employment
• Family Law
• Real Estate
• Energy & Natural Resources
• Charities & Not-for-Profit
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Commercial Contracts
• Data Protection & Privacy

Sponsorship

Funding for qualifications and study leave is provided; the firm explicitly states it funds apprentices’ course fees and supports apprentices with protected study time.

SQE Support

The firm supports solicitor-apprenticeship routes: solicitor apprenticeships include SQE training and assessments as part of the apprenticeship. More generally the firm funds qualifications and provides study leave for apprentices and trainees.

Mentorship

Formal mentoring programme; trainees and apprentices receive supervision from partners and line managers and access a wider training team and HR support. Site commentary notes partners spend time reviewing trainees’ work and supervisors meet regularly with apprentices and trainees.

Apply on the Stephens Scown website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Stephens Scown Looks For

Key Competencies

• Commercial awareness
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Strong interpersonal and written communication skills
• Resilience and adaptability
• Attention to detail
• Client service orientation
• Willingness to learn and take responsibility
• Purpose-driven mindset / alignment with firm values

Evidence Signals

• Relevant work experience or internships (legal or commercial)
• Apprenticeship or vocational study routes
• Demonstrable commercial or sector interest (eg. rural/energy/charity sector experience)
• Client-facing experience or customer-service roles
• Engagement in outreach or debating/public-speaking (e.g. college debating, Pathways to Law)
• Practical digital/marketing experience for non-fee-earning roles (e.g. digital marketing apprentices)

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Scownership profit share scheme (all employees receive same amount; previously varied between £3,000-£5,500 per person per year)
• We pay the Living Wage as set by the Living Wage Foundation
• Private medical insurance
• Group life assurance scheme
• Auto-enrolment pension scheme
• Performance-related bonus scheme
• Recruitment referral bonus
• Comprehensive wellbeing programme (free confidential helpline, money management and consumer rights support)
• Free counselling sessions
• Menopause support
• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays
• One day extra holiday on your birthday
• Enhanced flexible working and 'best of both worlds' hybrid working model
• Working from an alternative location, including overseas, for up to two weeks per 12 month period
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
• Enhanced sick pay
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Season ticket loans for public transport and parking
• Free annual flu vaccinations
• Eye-care vouchers
• Reduced fees for legal services
• Funding for qualifications
• Study leave
• Mentoring programme
• Three days volunteering leave each year
• Option to buy up to a week’s extra holiday
• Offices close early at Christmas
• Long Service Awards
• Paid time off to give blood

Wellbeing

Comprehensive wellbeing programme including a free confidential helpline, free counselling sessions, menopause support, and membership of the Mindful Employer Charter.

Awards & Recognition

• B Corp™ Certification (December 2022)
• Shortlisted – City AM Dragon Awards, Inclusive Workplace & Employee Wellbeing (2024)
• Shortlisted – LexisNexis Family Law Awards (4 categories) (2024)
• Ranked in the Top 100 Best Companies to Work For (multiple consecutive years)
• Sunday Times Best Places to Work (listed / referenced in 2024 coverage)
• Lex 100 trainee survey accolades (multiple medals; high trainee rankings)
• UK Law Firm of the Year title referenced from British Legal Awards (site references)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Committed to eliminating discrimination and promoting equality and diversity; employee ownership model and B Corp™ Certification underline long-term commitments to people, planet and community. The firm states it has embedded ED&I into strategy and governance and provides regular equality and diversity training to all staff.

• Unconscious bias training for partners
• Women in Law Group
• Inclusion of personal pronouns on email signatures
• Better gender balanced Board and partnership measures
• Trustees acting as custodians of the firm's 'One Firm' ethos
• Membership / alignment with Mindful Employer Charter
• Pathways to Law outreach and local access initiatives

Pro Bono

Pro bono and community focus supported by three days volunteering leave per year, regular community engagement, charity sector advisory work and an Impact Report (see Impact Report 2025). The firm emphasises giving time and money, local volunteering and partnership with charities and community groups.

Innovation

Stephens Scown publishes guidance on emerging legal-tech topics (for example generative AI) and integrates data protection, IP and technology advice into client services. The firm positions itself to help clients develop AI policies and manage IP/data risks, and apprentices and trainees engage with digital marketing, IP and data protection workstreams as part of practical training.

Quick Application Angles

• Highlight a genuine commitment to the South West: reference local sector knowledge (rural/landowner issues, renewables, charities) and your interest in working for a regionally focused, community-minded firm.
• Mention employee ownership and B Corp® alignment: explain how you would contribute to a people‑centred, purpose-driven culture (Scownership/profit-share, volunteering and sustainability initiatives).
• If applying via an apprenticeship route, emphasise practical experience and readiness to combine workplace learning with study (note the firm's strong, structured apprenticeship and protected study-time approach).
• For family or client-facing roles reference the Family team’s national recognition and recent awards shortlists and demonstrate calmness under pressure, client empathy and experience handling sensitive matters.
• If applying to energy/real estate roles, reference practical project experience (eg. solar/renewables, land leases or planning) or commercial awareness of grid/connection and long-term lease issues.