Direct Training Contract 2028 (Southampton)

Broadfield offers a two-year solicitor training contract designed to provide trainees with early responsibility, client exposure and experience across a range of legal practice areas. Trainees become part of their teams from the outset and undertake meaningful legal work while developing their professional and client-facing skills.

The Southampton programme is based at Broadfield’s Southampton office at 4 Grosvenor Square, Southampton, SO15 2BE. Trainees are normally based at their designated home office, although a seat at another Broadfield office may be required to meet business needs and provide a broader training experience.

Training Structure

The training contract lasts two years and consists of four six-month seats in different teams. This structure allows trainees to experience several areas of legal practice and develop a broad understanding of the work carried out by the firm.

Available practice areas include:

Commercial Real Estate, Litigation, Energy, Restructuring and Insolvency, Private Real Estate, Private Wealth, Private Equity & Funds, Family, Planning, Infrastructure and Public Law, Corporate, Commercial, and Employment.

Trainees receive a comprehensive induction before beginning their training. Development continues through department-specific structured training and desk-side mentoring from supervisors. Trainees work with different members of their teams and gain exposure to a range of matters and practice areas.

Client secondments are also available, giving trainees the opportunity to experience legal work from an in-house perspective.

SQE Qualification Route

Broadfield trainees qualify through the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) route. Candidates who have not yet completed the SQE examinations can receive sponsorship for a year-long LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) preparation course at the University of Law.

Broadfield recruits trainees one year in advance, allowing future trainees to complete the required SQE examinations before beginning their training contract.

Who Can Apply?

Candidates applying for a September 2028 training contract 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 is preferred, ideally at 2:1 level. Mitigating circumstances are considered, and applicants are not scored solely on academic attainment.

Broadfield looks for candidates who are driven, collaborative and intuitive, with strong communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills. Commercial awareness, attention to detail and good organisational skills are also important.

Application Process

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

The recruitment process begins with an online application form containing essay-style questions about the candidate's motivation for a career in law and interest in working at Broadfield.

AI tools may be used to assist with research, structure or proofreading, but 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 are 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.