Wrigleys Solicitors LLP

Overview

Wrigleys Solicitors LLP is a specialist northern law firm founded in 1996 that focuses on private client, charities and trust law and related niche areas including agriculture, pensions, education and ecclesiastical law. The firm positions itself as a regional market leader in these niches, operating a non-corporate, client-focused model with deep technical expertise and strong directory recognition in agriculture, charities and private client matters. Wrigleys is headquartered in Leeds with additional offices in Sheffield and Newcastle and emphasises long-term client relationships, sector specialism and an ethos of staff development and collegiality.

• Headquarters: Leeds, 3rd Floor, 3 Wellington Place
• Founded: 1996
• Partners: 38
• Trainees: Around 1-3 per year (typically c.3)
• Offices: 3

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Agriculture & Rural
• Charities & Not-for-Profit
• Education
• Pensions
• Real Estate
• Employment
• Private Client & Wealth
• Tax
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Public Law
• Energy & Natural Resources
• Environment & Planning
• ESG & Sustainability
• Regulatory & Compliance

Geographic Focus: Regional focus across Yorkshire and the North of England (Leeds and Sheffield headquarters, Newcastle presence by appointment) with specialist advisory work undertaken nationally for charities, social economy organisations and education bodies (England and Wales). The firm serves landed estates and rural clients across the North and advises charity and education clients across England and Wales.

Training Contract

Typical training route is a two‑year training contract (Period of Recognised Training under transitional LPC arrangements) or two years of Qualifying Work Experience for SQE candidates. Trainees normally undertake three or four seats drawn from the firm's specialist departments; the small intake allows Wrigleys to tailor seat allocation to the trainee's interests and to give early responsibility and client contact. The firm can provide contentious practice skills through secondment to another firm.

• Trainee Intake: Around 1-3 training contracts offered per year (the firm historically offered c.3 per year).
• Qualification Rate: Excellent retention rates on qualification; the firm states it aims to retain all of its trainees on qualification.
• Academic Requirements: The firm prefers a 1st class or 2:1 degree (gained or predicted) but will consider strong applicants with a 2:2. A‑level grades of A and B (or equivalents) are preferred but not essential. Wrigleys looks at applications holistically and will consider mitigating circumstances with supporting evidence.
• Application Deadline: 2026-07-31

Seat Options

• Property
• Private client, trusts, probate and tax planning
• Pensions
• Charities (including employment, company and commercial, social enterprise)
• Court of Protection

Sponsorship

Wrigleys will fund the SQE preparatory course and SQE exams for SQE candidates (terms to be agreed). The firm does not provide funding for the GDL or LPC. For legal apprenticeship routes the firm will discuss funding on application.

SQE Support

For SQE candidates Wrigleys requires completion of up to two years' QWE with the firm and expects attendance at an SQE preparatory course (a one‑year full‑time Master's course at a provider of the firm's choice). Wrigleys will pay the cost of the SQE preparatory course and the cost of the SQE exams, subject to agreeing detailed terms with the candidate.

Client Secondments

The firm offers client secondments as part of development: example recorded is a trainee seconded to Youth Futures Foundation to gain insight into a charity client's operations. No percentage of trainees published.

Mentorship

Trainees are supported by seat supervisors and a named training principal; the training principal manages seat choices and development. There is an active trainee cohort that organises regular socials, a Team Wrigleys group coordinates firm fundraising and volunteering, and trainees contribute to internal training and meetings.

Apply on the Wrigleys Solicitors LLP website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Wrigleys Solicitors LLP Looks For

Key Competencies

• Genuine interest in the firm's specialist areas (charities, private client, agriculture, pensions, education)
• Commercial awareness and sector curiosity
• Teamwork and collegiality
• Strong academic record (1st/2:1 preferred but 2:2 considered if overall application strong)
• Communication skills and client focus
• Resilience and adaptability
• Commitment to regional practice (preference for candidates wanting to work in the North of England)

Evidence Signals

• Relevant work experience or placements in charity, education, agricultural or private client contexts
• Volunteer, governance or trustee experience (useful for charity work)
• Demonstrable interest in sector topics (e.g. students' unions, landed estates, rural diversification, pensions)
• Complete academic record including GCSEs and A‑levels (the firm asks for full academic details and considers mitigating circumstances)
• Participation in pro bono/volunteering or firm fundraising (Team Wrigleys) and practical experience via work experience placements

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Agile / hybrid working (hybrid roles advertised in vacancies)
• Competitive trainee and NQ salaries (specific figures not published)
• Funding for SQE preparatory course and SQE exams for SQE candidates (subject to terms)
• Support for apprenticeships and professional development (examples: Level 3 apprenticeship, Level 4 Diploma in Events Management)
• Reimbursement of travel expenses for work experience placements
• Lunch provided during work experience placements
• Wellbeing and mental health resources and awareness days
• Internal staff networks and firm fundraising/volunteering via Team Wrigleys
• Opportunities for client secondments and internal progression

Wellbeing

Wrigleys runs mental health and wellness awareness days, provides wellbeing resources and promotes a culture that values staff wellbeing. Team Wrigleys coordinates fundraising and volunteering initiatives which contribute to staff engagement and community support.

Awards & Recognition

• Legal 500: Tier 1 rankings in Yorkshire for Agriculture & estates, Charities & not-for-profit and Personal tax, trusts and probate (directory recognition cited on firm pages; 2025/2026 references on site)
• Chambers and Partners: recommended rankings and testimonials in Agriculture / HNW and Charities (citations on practice pages, 2025/2026 references on site)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Wrigleys completed the SRA's 2025 Diversity Questionnaire (results published as the firm's Diversity Profile) and will complete the SRA questionnaire again in Summer 2027. The firm states it is committed to creating an inclusive working environment and welcomes applications from all backgrounds.

• Diversity Profile (based on the SRA 2025 Diversity Questionnaire)
• Inclusive recruitment commitments (the firm 'welcomes applications from candidates of all ethnicities, religions, disabilities, sexual orientation, social backgrounds & gender identities')
• Team Wrigleys (staff fundraising and volunteering group)

Innovation

Wrigleys encourages staff to innovate within its niche practice areas and to develop new services in emerging areas (the firm’s culture and strategy endorse innovation), but specific legal‑tech tools or programmes are not named on the public site.

Quick Application Angles

• Demonstrate genuine sector interest: reference one of Wrigleys' niche areas (e.g. charity governance, students' unions, agricultural diversification or SUSS pensions) and link that to a concrete example from your experience or reading of their recent articles.
• Show regional fit and commitment: stress why training and working in Leeds/Sheffield (or northern practice) matters to you and reference the firm's regional strengths and long‑term client relationships.
• Highlight collegiate working and client responsibility: cite the firm’s small trainee intake and give examples where you’ve worked in collaborative teams, taken early responsibility, or delivered client‑facing work.
• If applying via SQE, mention your readiness for the SQE pathway and that you understand Wrigleys offers funding for the SQE preparatory course and exams (this signals commercial awareness of their training support).
• Evidence attention to detail in applications: include full academic details (GCSEs, A‑levels, degree classification) and explain any mitigating circumstances as requested on their application guidance.