Wilkin Chapman Rollits

Overview

Wilkin Chapman Rollits is a leading regional full-service law firm serving Lincolnshire and Yorkshire with national capability. The firm traces its combined roots back to 1841 and describes itself as the largest law firm in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, operating from six regional offices and ranked in the Lawyer UK 200. It offers sector-specialist teams (notably agriculture, charities, real estate, dispute resolution, insolvency and education) and numerous practice areas ranked in Legal 500 and Chambers, positioning the firm as a technically strong, client-focused regional adviser with broad capability.

• Headquarters: Grimsby, Cartergate House, 26 Chantry Lane
• Founded: 1841
• Lawyers: 400 (partners and staff)
• Offices: 6

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Agriculture & Rural
• Charities & Not-for-Profit
• Corporate & M&A
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Education
• Employment
• Insolvency & Restructuring
• Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence
• Private Client & Wealth
• Real Estate
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Tax
• Public Law

Geographic Focus: Strong regional focus across Lincolnshire and Yorkshire with six offices (Grimsby, Lincoln, Hull, Beverley, Louth and York) and a stated national capability (place in the Lawyer UK 200). The firm serves local and regional public-sector bodies, agriculture and landed estates, charities and not-for-profit organisations, and national commercial clients from these hubs.

Training Contract

Two-year training contract split into four six-month seats. Placements will include at least one non-contentious seat. Trainees may spend part of their training across different offices to gain varied client and matter exposure. The firm advertises a flexible approach to seat allocation to fit business needs and trainee preferences and complements seat training with internal sessions and supervised fee-earning responsibility.

• Application Deadline: 31 January 2027

Seat Options

• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Corporate & M&A
• Real Estate
• Recoveries
• Family Law
• Wills, Estates & Tax Planning
• Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence
• Regulatory & Compliance

Sponsorship

Funding of professional qualification study up to a maximum contribution of £13,500 for eligible new trainees.

SQE Support

Where new trainees are offered a placement to commence LPC/SQE study with the firm, Wilkin Chapman Rollits will fund course fees to a maximum contribution of £13,500 (this funding does not apply to existing training contracts or where studying has commenced before receiving the trainee offer).

Mentorship

Trainees receive planning, coaching and mentoring from partners and supervisors; the firm references supervisors, internal training, and buddy arrangements (the apprenticeship pages describe a supervisor and dedicated buddy model) and operates an employee forum and wellbeing ambassadors to support pastoral needs.

Apply on the Wilkin Chapman Rollits website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Wilkin Chapman Rollits Looks For

Key Competencies

• Attention to detail
• Clear communication
• Commercial awareness
• Teamwork
• Genuine interest in building a long-term career at the firm
• Resilience and adaptability
• Client-focused mindset

Evidence Signals

• Relevant work experience (including the firm’s own work experience placements)
• Demonstrable teamwork (sports teams, group projects, part-time jobs)
• Positions of responsibility
• Commercially-aware examples and sector interest (especially agriculture, charities or education)
• Examples of attention to detail (error-free application materials)
• Engagement with local community/charity work

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Private medical insurance
• 24-hour advice line
• Health cash plan
• Reputable pension scheme
• Additional holiday entitlement
• Payment for professional subscriptions
• Discounted legal fees
• Flexible/agile working
• Annual salary reviews
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Promotion opportunities
• Personal development plans
• Funding for professional qualification study (up to £13,500 for eligible new trainees)
• Support for apprentices (all course and training fees paid)

Wellbeing

Monthly wellbeing programme, fully trained wellbeing ambassadors, employee forum, monthly recognition scheme, and regular social and charity events to support mental health and employee engagement.

Awards & Recognition

• Lex 100 recognition and multiple Lex 100 awards (2014) including top 10 for work/life balance and friendliness and top 15 for 'confident of being kept on'
• Lexcel accreditation (first achieved 1999)
• Conveyancing Quality Scheme accreditation (since 2012)
• Cyber Essentials Certified Plus
• Disability Confident Employer (Level 2)
• Employer Recognition Scheme Gold award from the MOD (Armed Forces Covenant)
• Chambers Student: ranked among the UK’s top 10 firms for trainee solicitor experience and 'Elite' for trainee satisfaction and supervision (Chambers Student 2026)
• Legal 500: multiple practice rankings and tiers (Legal 500 2026 listings)
• The Lawyer UK 200: ranked 117 (2025, pre-merger Wilkin Chapman LLP)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Committed to being Net Zero by 2050 and has a published carbon reduction plan following UK Government PPN006 guidance; Disability Confident Level 2 employer and holder of the MOD Employer Recognition Scheme Gold award.

• Level 2 Disability Confident Employer accreditation
• Employer Recognition Scheme Gold award (Armed Forces Covenant)
• Monthly wellbeing programme and wellbeing ambassadors
• Employee forum and monthly recognition scheme
• Support and sponsorship for local charities and Lincolnshire Rural Support Network
• Encouragement of staff to take governor and trustee roles in local community organisations

Pro Bono

Longstanding pro bono support for local voluntary, third sector and community organisations; the firm offers free legal advice where possible, supports employees to act as governors and trustees and makes regular financial and practical contributions to local charities.

Innovation

The firm focuses on robust cyber security (Cyber Essentials Certified Plus), has adopted digital-first working practices (paper reduction, electronic workflows) and applies technology to specialist services such as Adaptive HR for Education (an AI-enabled HR/Employment support platform). Trainees and staff are exposed to these systems as part of operational processes; the firm emphasises investing in tools and processes that improve information security and efficiency.

• Cyber Essentials Certified Plus cybersecurity accreditation
• Adaptive HR for Education (an integrated AI management system powering education HR support)
• Digital-first approach (reduced paper use, electronic payments and communications)
• Internal document production services (Document Production Services/DPS)

Quick Application Angles

• Reference the firm’s regional specialisms (agriculture/drainage/charities) and recent sector work — show practical sector knowledge rather than generic commercial awareness.
• Highlight tangible examples of teamwork and client service; the firm values approachable, team-oriented trainees with demonstrable attention to detail.
• Mention the firm’s training support (funding of professional study up to £13,500) and Chambers Student trainee rankings to show you understand their training priorities and desire long-term progression.
• If applying for charity or education roles, reference the firm’s charity/incorporation or academy conversion work and Charity Bank connections to show sector fit.
• Use examples from your own region/community experience (local projects, governance, or volunteer roles) to demonstrate cultural fit with a community-rooted regional firm.