Leathes Prior winners in five categories in the prestigious Legal 500 Future Lawyers survey
Leathes Prior is delighted to announce that the prestigious Legal 500 Future Lawyers survey has awarded the firm winner’s badges in five categories, including the coveted top spot for Social Life and Client Contact.
Incredibly, this marks the eighth consecutive year that we have been ranked in the top two firms in the UK for our Social Life. We’re excited to reclaim the No. 1 position in this category in 2024, making it six out of the last eight years that we've ranked first (and a not-too-disappointing second place in the other two)!
We place social life as an incredibly important part of our culture, which plays a vital role in the success of our firm. The survey comments that “Leathes Prior has a buzzing social life; ‘everyone is very close-knit, and, as a result, having plans with friends from work feels like having plans with friends”.
We have also been ranked first in the UK for the Client Contact category, which highlights our commitment to providing trainees with early and meaningful client exposure.
We’re also pleased to retain winner’s badges, ranking within the top 5 in the country, for each of Quality of Work, Vacation Scheme, and Job Satisfaction. These recognitions are a testament to our ongoing commitment to our trainees, and the recruitment of them.
The Legal 500 Future Lawyers survey gathers feedback from over 2,000 trainee solicitors across the UK, who anonymously share their experiences with their respective firms. The survey results, which include a mix of ratings and comments, help future candidates identify which firms offer the best fit for their training contracts.
Training Principal Sarah Appleton commented “I am incredibly proud of the training that we provide to our trainees here at Leathes Prior, and I am so pleased that has, once again, been recognised in this year’s Legal 500 Future Lawyers survey. I have always been confident that our trainees are first and foremost happy, and are receiving meaningful work and training, and I am delighted that this is (yet again) made official in the Legal 500 results. Being top of Social Life in the country for the sixth year in the last eight is especially meaningful as we very much embrace the positives of being a law firm which is more than just a workplace, and the benefits of that will be seen ultimately not just by our people, but by our clients. Our (my!) competitive nature did not enjoy being ‘only’ second last year, so it is great to have that crown back!”
The official verdict on Leathes Prior is: “For a ‘truly welcoming’ firm in Norwich, where trainee involvement and responsibility are far and above other firms, consider Leathes Prior.” For those ready to find out more on how to apply to join us, please head straight to our Careers page for more information.
Charity of the Month: Sue Lambert Trust
Leathes Prior is delighted to be supporting the Sue Lambert Trust as our Charity of the Month for February 2026. Sue Lambert Trust is a leading charity in Norfolk offering free therapeutic counselling and support services to survivors of sexual violence and abuse.
Supreme Court ruling set to impact NHS - Children injured by NHS can claim damages for lifetime lost earnings
In February 2026, the Supreme Court passed a ruling which is set to significantly increase the amount of damages the NHS may have to pay for claims brought in respect of children injured at birth, as a result of medical negligence.
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The Value of Planning Ahead: LPAs & Court of Protection
Putting LPAs in place allows you to choose trusted people to make decisions for you if you lose capacity in the future. This avoids the need for loved ones to make a costly and time-consuming deputyship application to the Court of Protection. With more people likely to experience conditions affecting capacity, more families may need to turn to the Court for support where no LPAs are in place.
Charity of the Month: Sue Lambert Trust
Leathes Prior is delighted to be supporting the Sue Lambert Trust as our Charity of the Month for February 2026. Sue Lambert Trust is a leading charity in Norfolk offering free therapeutic counselling and support services to survivors of sexual violence and abuse.
Supreme Court ruling set to impact NHS - Children injured by NHS can claim damages for lifetime lost earnings
In February 2026, the Supreme Court passed a ruling which is set to significantly increase the amount of damages the NHS may have to pay for claims brought in respect of children injured at birth, as a result of medical negligence.
The Value of Planning Ahead: LPAs & Court of Protection
Putting LPAs in place allows you to choose trusted people to make decisions for you if you lose capacity in the future. This avoids the need for loved ones to make a costly and time-consuming deputyship application to the Court of Protection. With more people likely to experience conditions affecting capacity, more families may need to turn to the Court for support where no LPAs are in place.
The case of the fake cases: another judgment on AI-hallucinations in litigation
The use of AI Large Language Models in litigation continues to generate headlines (and consternation from the judiciary). In 2025, it seemed that rarely a month went by without a new case on fake AI-generated case law. December was no exception, and the High Court has now issued a further warning regarding the use of AI by litigants.
Autumn Budget 2025: Agricultural Property Relief & Business Property Relief Changes
It was announced in the 2025 Budget that from 6 April 2026, changes will be made to agricultural property relief and business property relief. These changes bring APR and BPR in line with the nil-rate band rules, meaning unused allowances can be transferred to a surviving spouse or civil partner. This is a significant step towards making estate planning easier for families who own farms or businesses.
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The Employment Rights Act 2025 is expected to come into force tomorrow (18 December 2025)
After an extended period of back-and-forth amendments between Parliament and the House of Lords, on 16 December 2025, the ERB finally received approval from the House of Lords, with the formality of Royal Assent due to take place tomorrow (18 December 2025). Head of LP Employment, Dan Chapman, explains...
Charity of the Month: The Matthew Project
Leathes Prior is delighted to be supporting The Matthew Project as our Charity of the Month for December 2025. The Matthew Project supports young people and adults across Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex to overcome issues around drugs, alcohol, and mental health, empowering them to rebuild confidence and lead fulfilling lives.
Leathes Prior’s Milan Pandit appointed President of the Norfolk & Norwich Law Society
Leathes Prior Solicitors is proud to announce that Milan Pandit, Solicitor in our Corporate & Commercial Team, has been appointed President of the Norfolk & Norwich Law Society (NNLS) for 2025/26.
Commercial Lease Renewals: A guide for Landlords & Tenants
Commercial lease renewals are a topic that every commercial landlord and business that rents commercial premises should have at the forefront of their minds. It is essential for good succession planning, though it is often neglected until the expiry of an existing lease term is looming or once the existing term has come to an end and the tenant is holding over. In this article, our newly qualified solicitor, Maggie Berry explores the process that landlords and tenants can expect when navigating this complex area of law.
Our Guidance, Your Legacy: What is a Will, and why should I make one?
Not only is a Will one of the most important steps you can take to protect your loved ones and ensure your wishes are respected, but it also limits the likelihood of a claim/dispute following your death. To ensure your loved ones and the causes you care about benefit from your estate, a Will is essential to ensuring this happens. Find out more in this article.
Lease extensions: The essentials to getting started
Extending your lease can seem complex, but taking the right steps early can make the process much smoother. Jake Mowatt, Associate and Harry Smith, Trainee Solicitor in our Residential Property Team outlines the key essentials every leaseholder should understand prior to extending their lease.
Upcoming changes to bringing employment law claims: What these mean for you
The highly anticipated Employment Rights Bill (ERB) is set to increase the time limits in which employees can bring an employment tribunal claim. Gareth Stevens & Rose Woolterton explain what this means for employers & employees.
