Taylor Walton LLP

Overview

Taylor Walton is a long-established regional, partner-led full-service law firm with offices in St Albans, Harpenden and Luton, serving individuals, charities, public bodies and corporate clients (including FTSE100/350 organisations). The firm promotes a 'grow our own' ethos (many partners trained at the firm), a high staff retention culture and emphasises early responsibility for junior lawyers. Its Private Client team is independently ranked at the top tier and the firm holds Lexcel and Law Society quality accreditations across key practices, which underpins a client-focused, compliance-driven offering.

• Headquarters: St Albans, Thornycroft House
• Lawyers: 160 (total staff)
• Partners: 30
• Offices: 3

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Private Client & Wealth
• Tax
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Real Estate
• Corporate & M&A
• Employment
• Intellectual Property
• Technology & Digital
• Family Law
• Charities & Not-for-Profit
• Commercial Contracts
• Data Protection & Privacy

Geographic Focus: Regional focus across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire with clients across the UK (including London and national clients). The firm supports local businesses, charities and high-net-worth individuals and also acts for national / FTSE100–350 clients; its strategy combines strong local market presence with the ability to handle higher-value and complex matters for clients beyond the region.

Training Contract

Two-year structured training contract. Trainees undertake up to four different practice-area seats across the firm's three offices (St Albans, Harpenden, Luton). Seats are supervised by Partners and experienced solicitors; trainees are given early responsibility and work on live matters under supervision. The firm runs a buddy scheme (each trainee paired with a second-year trainee or newly qualified solicitor) and dedicated Welcome Support Meetings with People & Talent during the first six months. Taylor Walton requires completion of a full two-year training contract as its qualifying route and does not accept alternative qualifying work experience.

• Academic Requirements: Minimum 2.1 degree required; non-law degrees are welcome. Candidates qualifying via SQE or LPC are accepted; non-law graduates must complete a law conversion before taking the SQE. Applicants must have passed the LPC, or passed both SQE 1 and 2, or taken SQE 2 (awaiting results) before starting a training contract.
• Application Deadline: 2026-06-30

Seat Options

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

Sponsorship

Part-sponsorship towards the cost of the SQE or LPC (part financial support). The firm also provides broader financial support for staff studying relevant qualifications and funds the Taylor Walton Scholarship (financial contribution to a University of Hertfordshire law student) and mentoring schemes.

SQE Support

Part-sponsorship towards the cost of the SQE or LPC; time off to study is offered in support of qualification.

Mentorship

Buddy programme pairing incoming trainees with second-year trainees or newly qualified solicitors; dedicated Welcome Support Meetings with People & Talent over first six months; ongoing supervisor arrangements and structured Development and Performance Reviews with career development conversations.

Apply on the Taylor Walton LLP website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Taylor Walton LLP Looks For

Key Competencies

• Strong academic record (minimum 2.1 degree)
• Commercial awareness
• Client-centric approach and interpersonal skills
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Commitment to professional development
• Resilience and willingness to take responsibility
• Practical focus and problem-solving ability

Evidence Signals

• Relevant work experience (conveyancing, paralegal roles, summer placements or apprenticeships)
• Engagement in local/professional networks and fundraising/CSR activity
• Demonstrable commercial awareness and examples of client-focused problem solving
• Academic results (2.1 undergraduate degree minimum)
• For apprenticeships: A-Levels or equivalent and demonstrated enthusiasm for the apprenticeship route

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Full induction and training programme
• Dedicated Welcome Support Meetings with People & Talent over first 6 months
• Individualised buddy support
• Competitive regional salary
• Fee earner discretionary incentivisation scheme
• 33 days paid holiday including Bank/Public Holidays
• Birthday Leave  an extra paid day for your birthday
• Free will writing
• Free conveyancing
• Supported fee earner networking events
• Discretionary leave
• Financial support towards the cost of studying relevant qualifications
• Life cover on joining paying x4 salary
• Employer contributory pension via salary exchange
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Hybrid working (minimum 3 days in the office)
• Employee assistance programme offering free counselling (mental health, bereavement, financial support)
• Thank you vouchers at Christmas
• Employee recruitment referral scheme (bonus)
• Annual flu vaccination voucher
• Paid volunteer time (half day annually for employees to volunteer with chosen charity)
• Active employee-led CSR and Charity Champions programme
• Numerous social events (Breakfast Club, quiz night, Christmas party, summer social, sports events)
• Employee-led interest clubs (book club, football)
• Ongoing professional training and access to online webinar resources
• Career development conversations and structured Development & Performance Reviews

Wellbeing

Employee assistance programme offering free counselling (mental health, bereavement and financial concerns); firm-supported wellbeing events (walks, sponsored challenges), plans to train Mental Health First Aiders, paid volunteer time and active CSR engagement to support wellbeing through community involvement.

Awards & Recognition

• Chambers and Partners: Private Client - Top Tier (2025)
• Legal 500: Tier 1 – Private client; Tier 1 – Personal tax, trusts and probate (South East) (2025)
• Lawcareers.net award  Medium Regional Law Firm  Best Trainer (date referenced on site)
• Gold for Apprentice Employer of the Year (Hertfordshire SME Business Awards, 2025)
• Silver for Employer of the Year (Hertfordshire SME Business Awards, 2025)
• Community Engagement Award (Hertfordshire Law Society Annual Dinner and Awards, 2025)
• Gold for Business Innovation and Silver for Service Excellence (Hertfordshire SME Business Awards, 2024)
• Law Firm of the Year (Hertfordshire Law Society Dinner & Awards, year referenced on site)
• Shortlisted  British Family Law Awards (Family Law Team of the Year; Family Law Firm of the Year - Regional) (2024)
• Lexcel reaccreditation (Law Society quality mark)  achieved with zero non-compliances (year referenced on site)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The firm states it is an equal opportunities employer, monitors engagement via staff surveys, runs equality awareness training, supports flexible and hybrid working and offers development support for career progression. It contributes financially to a University of Hertfordshire scholarship and participates in the Law School mentoring scheme.

• Equality, Inclusion & Diversity programme (firm-wide)
• Employee-led Charity Champions (firm-wide fundraising and volunteering)
• TW Community (internal social and community engagement programme)
• Taylor Walton Apprenticeships (Solicitor, CILEx, Conveyancer, Paralegal)
• Taylor Walton Scholarship and Mentoring in association with the University of Hertfordshire
• Participation in the University of Hertfordshire Law School mentoring scheme
• Paid Volunteer Time (half day annually per employee)
• Regular equality awareness training for all staff
• Longstanding volunteering/pro bono contribution by partners (e.g., Olive McCarthys Citizens Advice pro bono family law clinics)

Pro Bono

Regular volunteer and pro bono activity: partner-led monthly Citizens Advice family law clinics (example: Olive McCarthys 22+ years of free family law advice), free legal advice provided to Entrepreneurs Challenge winners, half-day paid volunteer time for employees each year, and firm fundraising raising over 28,000 for local causes over the last five years (figures quoted on CSR page).

Innovation

Taylor Walton describes an active programme of technology investment aimed at reducing printing/paper use (a reported 35.7% reduction) and improving operational efficiency. The firm pairs technical investment with sustainability measures (tree-planting initiative, energy-efficient lighting) and strategic development resource to support practice modernisation. Trainees and junior staff are exposed to firm systems during induction and through supervised live work, but no named legal-tech platforms are published on the site.

• Technology upgrades across the firm (investment over past 18 months to reduce printing and paper usage)
• Sustainability initiative linked to technology (paper use reduced by 35.7%)
• Investment in energy-efficient lighting and exploration of electric vehicle charging points
• Strategic Development function (Strategic Development Partner role)

Quick Application Angles

• Highlight regional market fit and local relationships  emphasise experience or interest in Hertfordshire/Bedfordshire clients and local networks (Chambers/Legal 500 recognition in private client work is a clear firm strength).
• If applying for private client roles, reference the firms Top Tier Chambers ranking and specific experience with probate, overseas estate issues or IHT planning to show direct relevance.
• For commercial or property roles, cite the firms partner-led approach and examples of early responsibility (mention that trainees commonly sit with Partners and get direct client contact) to argue you can hit the ground running.
• If you have practical workplace experience (paralegal, summer placement, or apprenticeship), describe specific tasks you performed (drafting, client contact, case-file management) and link them to Taylor Waltons hands-on training and buddy support model.