Leathes Prior winners in nine categories in the prestigious Legal 500 Future Laywer Survey
We are thrilled to announce that the firm has placed once again in the Legal 500 Future Lawyer survey as No.1 in the UK for our Social Life; a ranking we have held in the survey for seven years out of the past nine years.
We are thrilled to announce that the firm has placed, once again, in the Legal 500 Future Lawyer survey as No.1 in the UK for our Social Life, a ranking we have held in the survey for seven out of the past nine years. This ongoing recognition showcases our continuous commitment to creating a social and welcoming culture. We are delighted to be recognised in the survey as a firm that “seems to offer the best of both worlds: a local firm with an outstanding reputation, and a family-feel firm-wide”’ with “supportive partners and early responsibility”.
Alongside this, the firm has won a further eight awards, most notably ranking in the top 10 out of 200 employers in six categories: Social Life, Job Satisfaction, Client Contact, Quality of Client Contact, Vacation Schemes, and Legal Technology. Our other awards include Quality of Work, Work-Life Balance, and Inclusiveness. These categories reflect an incredible commitment to the recruitment and retention of our talent with the firm and dedication to providing top-quality training to all our trainees.
Leathes Prior’s Training Principal, Sarah Appleton, said, “I am tremendously proud of the training and overall experience we provide to not only our talented Trainees, but our Solicitors firm-wide, and it is with great joy to see that this has been recognised by the Legal 500 Future Lawyers Survey once more. My priority is to always ensure that our trainees are happy and feel well supported within the firm as they rotate in their seats, and I am delighted that this is borne out in the results this year. It is also great to be applauded, once again, for the quality of our Vacation Scheme, overseen by my fellow Partner Alex Saunders; he and I are immensely proud that such an important scheme, designed deliberately as a two-way process for us to attract great candidates whilst also providing them with an opportunity to get to know us and undertake excellent real-life work experience, has the recognition it deserves”.
The Legal 500 Future Lawyers survey gathers feedback from over 2,000 trainee solicitors across the UK, who anonymously share their experiences about 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.
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.
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.
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Who is accountable for maternity safety? The case for a maternity commissioner following the birth trauma inquiry.
The safety of maternity services in England has been under intense scrutiny in recent years, now, a national campaign has been launched for the appointment of a dedicated Maternity Commissioner.
What is the difference between a share sale and an asset sale?
When running a business, company founders and shareholders will inevitably, at one stage or another, want to consider potential succession options, the most prominent being an exit by way of trade sale. Hugo Persad, Trainee Solicitor in our Corporate Team provides an overview of what the difference is between a share sale and an asset sale.
UK GDPR Update: What the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 Means for Organisations
While several updates under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 came into force on 5 February 2026, the next key development for organisations is still to come. From 19 June 2026, organisations will be legally required to implement a formal complaint handling process for data protection matters. This is a significant shift, placing greater emphasis on resolving issues internally before they escalate to the regulator.
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Selling a Probate Property: A Guide for Executors
Acting as an Executor can feel daunting, especially if there is a property which needs to be sold as part of the estate administration process. If you have been appointed as an Executor and you are unsure where to begin, here are some key things to consider.
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Leathes Prior's Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence Team Secure Settlement for Client
Kate Smith (Senior Associate) and Kimberley Nelson (Paralegal) were instructed in relation to a workplace personal injury claim, and successfully secured a five-figure settled for the client.
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New Restrictions to Charitable Giving: What You Need to Know
Changes to UK tax law regarding charitable giving took effect from 6 April 2026. Following legislative amendments in the Finance Act 2025-26, the generous tax exemptions associated with charitable gifts - specifically Inheritance Tax (IHT) exemptions - will be restricted to gifts to UK-registered charities. Ejike Ndaiji, Partner in our Wills, Trusts, & Probate and Charities Team explains...
Employment Rights Act 2026: The New Trade Union Right Of Access - Will it matter?
The Government has now published its response to the “Make Work Pay: Trade Union Right of Access” consultation which means we are now one step closer to properly understanding what these new access rights really will be.
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Spring Statement 2026 - An Overview
With the Government having restricted itself to one fiscal event a year in the form of the Autumn Budget, the Spring Statement is perhaps not the dramatic moment it used to be. It is more a chance for the Government to respond to events and economic forecasts than to set policy for the future.
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.
