Direct Training Contract 2028 (Reading)

Broadfield offers training contracts that give future solicitors early responsibility, substantial client exposure and structured professional development. Trainees become members of their teams from the outset, undertaking meaningful work and developing relationships with clients while gaining experience across different areas of legal practice.

The Training Contract

The Reading Direct Training Contract 2028 is a two-year programme leading to qualification as a solicitor through the SQE pathway.

Trainees complete four six-month seats across different teams and practice areas. The programme combines practical legal work with structured training and supervision, giving trainees the opportunity to develop a broad range of legal and commercial skills.

Broadfield will also offer client secondments to trainees who want to gain experience working as an in-house lawyer.

SQE Training

Broadfield trainees qualify through the SQE route. For candidates who have not yet completed their SQE examinations, Broadfield will sponsor a year-long LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) preparation course with the University of Law.

Broadfield recruits one year in advance so that future trainees can complete their SQE examinations before joining the firm and beginning their training contract.

Training and Development

The programme begins with a comprehensive induction. Trainees then receive department-specific structured training together with desk-side mentoring from supervisors.

Trainees work with different members of their teams and gain exposure to a range of practice areas and legal matters. The programme is designed to develop both technical legal skills and the practical skills required to work effectively with clients.

Seat Structure

Trainees undertake four six-month seats across a range of practice areas, including:

• Commercial Real Estate

• Litigation

• Energy

• Restructuring and Insolvency

• Private Real Estate

• Private Wealth

• Private Equity & Funds

• Family

• Planning, Infrastructure and Public Law

• Corporate

• Commercial

• Employment

• Trainees are based in their designated home office. However, Broadfield may require a trainee to complete a seat in another office where necessary to meet business needs and provide a broader training experience.

Client Exposure

Trainees take on meaningful work from the beginning of the programme and work alongside different members of their teams.

The training contract provides opportunities to develop client relationships and gain experience on substantive legal matters. Client secondments can also provide additional experience of working as an in-house lawyer.

Candidate Profile

Broadfield is looking for future trainees who are:

• Driven and motivated.

• Collaborative and comfortable working as part of a team.

• Intuitive and able to think on their feet.

• Excellent communicators.

• Commercially aware.

• Attentive to detail.

• Well organised.

These qualities are important to the role because trainees are expected to contribute to their teams, communicate effectively with colleagues and clients, and manage practical legal work from an early stage.

Eligibility

Candidates applying for a training contract starting in September 2028 must have completed, or be due to complete before September 2027, one of the following:

• LLB or equivalent law degree

• GDL or PGDL

• LPC or LLM

• SQE1

• SQE1 and SQE2

Strong academic performance at undergraduate and A-Level or equivalent is preferred, ideally at 2:1 level. Mitigating circumstances are considered, and applicants are not scored based on academic attainment.

Application Process

Applications for the September 2028 training contracts open on 1 September 2026 and close on 14 February 2027.

The first stage is an online application form containing essay-style questions about candidates' motivation for a career in law and their reasons for wanting to work at Broadfield.

Candidates can use AI tools to assist with research, structuring or proofreading their applications. However, applications that rely too heavily on AI are unlikely to score well because the assessment focuses on genuine personal experiences and authentic reflections.

Successful applicants will be invited to complete a pre-recorded video interview.

The final stage is an in-person assessment centre, held at the end of June at the office to which the candidate applied.

Key Dates

Applications open: 1 September 2026

Application deadline: 14 February 2027

Assessment centre: End of June 2027

Training contract start: September 2028

Reading Office

The Reading training contract is based at:

Aquis House

Blagrave Street

Reading

RG1 1PL