Leathes Prior

Overview

Founded in Norwich in 1876, Leathes Prior is a long-established full-service law firm focused on serving clients across Norfolk, Suffolk and wider East Anglia. The firm combines deep local sector expertise (notably agriculture, landed estates, charities and technology) with broad transactional, litigation and regulatory capability, emphasising relationships, responsiveness and a collaborative cross-team approach. Leathes Prior operates multiple Norwich offices alongside a dedicated Ipswich office (home to its Regulatory & Criminal Defence team) and promotes a people-focused culture and visible community engagement.

• Headquarters: Norwich, 74 The Close (in the grounds of Norwich Cathedral / Tombland area)
• Founded: 1876
• Offices: 5

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Agriculture & Rural
• Charities & Not-for-Profit
• Technology & Digital
• Corporate & M&A
• Real Estate
• Employment
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Family Law
• Private Client & Wealth
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence
• Media & Entertainment
• Sports Law

Geographic Focus: Strong regional focus on East Anglia (Norfolk and Suffolk) with primary offices in Norwich and Ipswich. The firm positions itself as a leading East Anglia full-service firm serving landed estates, farming and rural businesses, local and regional companies, charities and private clients, while also acting for clients across the UK.

Training Contract

The firm offers a training contract that emphasises early responsibility and client contact. Trainees experience a programme of eight seat rotations (across practice areas within the full-service firm), receive regular reviews with their supervisor and the training principal, and are paired with a qualified lawyer 'buddy'. Additional firm-wide support is provided by the People & Culture team and the training function. The standard approach is to begin the training contract after completing academic stages, though exceptions are considered on a case-by-case basis.

• Academic Requirements: The firm seeks strong academic candidates but states it will not filter solely on grades; it is open to non-traditional paths and encourages early applications from students.
• Application Deadline: 26 November 2025

SQE Support

All future trainee solicitors are offered financial support for SQE preparation in the form of either (or both) an interest-free loan and/or a contribution payment towards their SQE course fees. The firm does not prescribe a preferred SQE course provider.

Mentorship

Formal review meetings with a supervisor and the training principal, pairing with a qualified lawyer 'buddy' for day-to-day support, and after qualification lawyers are paired with a mentor to support progression to Associate, Senior Associate and Partner levels.

Apply on the Leathes Prior website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Leathes Prior Looks For

Key Competencies

• Commercial awareness
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Client focus and good communication
• Resilience and willingness to take early responsibility
• Connection to the local community / commitment to regional practice

Evidence Signals

• Vacation scheme attendance or prior legal work experience
• Proactive engagement with local legal and community activities (e.g. Norfolk legal networks)
• Demonstrable teamwork (student societies, sports or group projects)
• Clear examples of commercial thinking or applied legal problem-solving
• STEP or vocational qualifications and relevant technical distinctions for private client roles

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Firm-wide bonus scheme: all employees paid 10% of salary in each of the first two financial years since inception
• Interest-free loan for future trainee solicitors
• Contribution payment towards SQE course fees for future trainee solicitors
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
• Flexible working options from day one
• Subsidised parking close to city-centre offices
• Discounted local travel passes for commuters
• Healthcare funding (health checks, dental, optical, physio); private medical insurance for senior roles
• Funded on-site flu clinics
• Paid volunteering: up to one paid volunteering day (up to seven hours) per financial year
• Option every five years to choose an extra week of holiday or a bonus payment
• Welcome well-behaved dogs in the office
• Corporate discounts with local businesses
• Support for relocation and commuting costs for new joiners
• Plant for your desk

Wellbeing

Wellbeing Committee, trained Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAs), mental health support options, Pilates and wellbeing initiatives, firm social activities (events, race outings, quiz nights) and support from People & Culture.

Awards & Recognition

• Legal 500 Future Lawyers award-winners in multiple 'Future Lawyers' categories (including national top spots for 'Vacation Schemes' & 'Social Life') — 2022
• Norfolk & Norwich Law Society 'Law Firm of the Year' — 2025 (awarded by Baroness Chakrabarti)
• NNLS Law Firm of the Year — 2025

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

• Diversity & Inclusion Statement (published)
• Wellbeing Committee
• Charities of the Month initiative
• Corporate Volunteering (one paid day per year)
• Sports & Social Committee
• LP Book Club
• Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAs)

Pro Bono

The firm runs a Charities of the Month programme and supports corporate volunteering (employees may take up to one paid volunteering day per financial year).

Innovation

Quick Application Angles

• Emphasise local and sector expertise in East Anglia (agriculture/landed estates, charities and regional businesses) — reference the firm's long heritage in Norfolk and recent farm transactions (£4.5m purchase / £3.9m sale).
• If applying to Corporate or Sports teams, mention the Lincoln City stadium naming-rights work and Complete Strategy sale to Flint Global to show commercial awareness of the firm’s recent instructions.
• Highlight willingness to take early responsibility and give concrete examples of client-facing work, team leadership or practical outcomes — LP stresses trainees have early client contact and real-matter responsibility.
• Demonstrate cultural fit by referencing community engagement (Charities of the Month, local sponsorships) and the firm's socially active environment (Sports & Social Committee, Legal 500 'Social Life' awards).
• If seeking training funding, ask about the firm’s interest-free loan and contribution to SQE course fees and explain how you would balance study with hands-on training.