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.


Changes to qualifying period: Time to rethink probation periods?
From 1 January 2027, the qualifying period is reducing from two years to six months. But the reality is that the new law will apply to all employees who have already accumulated at least six months of continuous employment by this date. This means that now is the right time for employers to be reviewing their employment contracts and rethinking strategies on probationary periods.



Proposals for reform of cohabitation rights on the death of a cohabitating partner
Georgia Sartin, a Solicitor in our Property and Contentious Probate Team explores the government’s recent open consultation ‘a fairer end to relationships’ published on 5 June 2026, , in respect of the proposals for reform for cohabitants in the intestacy framework and 1975 Act claims.











%20cropped.jpg)

.jpg)









.jpg)

%20website.jpg)

.jpg)




%20cropped.jpg)

-3.jpg)


.jpg)

