Foot Anstey
Full-service commercial law firm focused on seven core sectors, including a dedicated medical negligence practice branded EnableLaw.
Firm overview
At a glance
A clear starting point for understanding the firm, its opportunities and the information students should check before applying.
Available routes
How can students join?
Student opportunities
Opportunities
Vacation schemes, training contracts, apprenticeships, insight programmes, work experience and other application routes.
United Kingdom - UWE Futures
Type: Internship
Location: United Kingdom: Bristol
- Programme dates: One-week 2026 placement; exact dates are not published.
- Duration: One week
- Places: Two UWE Futures participants were hosted in 2026.
- Status: variable
Published application and programme dates
- Programme: One-week 2026 placement; exact dates are not published.
- Who can apply: Eligible final-year UWE students from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds and low-income backgrounds.
- Application process: Selection is administered through the UWE Futures programme rather than a general Foot Anstey application.
- Progression: Graduate and business-professional applications.
United Kingdom - Legal Apprenticeship programme
Type: Apprenticeship
Location: United Kingdom
- Application timing: Applications reopen in autumn 2026; exact dates are not yet published.
- Programme dates: Next programme start date is not yet published.
- Duration: Five years
- Status: upcoming
Published application and programme dates
- Applications reopen in autumn 2026; exact dates are not yet published.
- Programme: Next programme start date is not yet published.
- Who can apply: School leavers, career changers and non-law graduates without a qualifying law degree.
- Eligibility: career changer: true non law graduate: true qualifying law degree excluded: true school leaver: true
- Application process: Application form Online assessment Video interview Assessment Day Offer
- Progression: Solicitor or CILEX qualification route.
- Funding: apprenticeship training: true
- Disability support: No detailed early-career adjustments procedure was found on the checked programme pages. Applicants should contact the Early Careers team about disability, neurodiversity or access arrangements.
United Kingdom - Training contract
Type: Training Contract
Location: United Kingdom: Bristol, Exeter, Southampton
- Application timing: The latest recruitment cycle is closed; the next application dates have not yet been published.
- Duration: 24 months
- Places: Typically 12–15 trainees annually.
- Status: unknown
Published application and programme dates
- The latest recruitment cycle is closed; the next application dates have not yet been published.
- Who can apply: Eligible law and non-law students, graduates and career changers.
- Eligibility: career changers: true graduates: true law and non law: true vacation scheme required: false
- Academic requirements: Applications are reviewed contextually and mitigating circumstances are considered.
- Application process: Choose one route for the intake year Application form Online assessment Four-question video interview Bristol Assessment Day Offer
- Assessments: Situational judgement Problem-solving Behavioural assessment Four video questions Case study One-hour partner and HR interview Group exercise
- Progression: Solicitor qualification and potential internal qualified role.
- Funding: PGDL where required, SQE course and examination costs, and a maintenance grant are funded. Amounts are not published. maintenance grant: true pgdl course fees: true sqe exam fees: true sqe preparation: true
- Right to work: No specific public Training Contract sponsorship policy was verified. published policy: false
- Disability support: No detailed early-career adjustments procedure was found on the checked programme pages. Applicants should contact the Early Careers team about disability, neurodiversity or access arrangements.
United Kingdom - Virtual work experience in law
Type: Virtual Experience
Location: United Kingdom
- Programme dates: December 2026; exact day TBC.
- Duration: One day
- Status: upcoming
Published application and programme dates
- Programme: December 2026; exact day TBC.
- Who can apply: Year 12 and Year 13 students curious about law.
- Application process: Apply when the Autumn 2026 window opens Attend the virtual day
- Progression: Future study and early-career applications.
United Kingdom - Achieve
Type: Vacation Scheme
Location: United Kingdom: Bristol
- Application timing: Applications reopen in autumn 2026; exact dates are not yet published.
- Programme dates: The Achieve scheme normally runs in April; the next exact dates are not yet published.
- Duration: Five days
- Status: upcoming
Published application and programme dates
- Applications reopen in autumn 2026; exact dates are not yet published.
- Programme: The Achieve scheme normally runs in April; the next exact dates are not yet published.
- Who can apply: Candidates from groups under-represented in the UK workforce.
- Eligibility: one application per intake year: true positive action: true
- Application process: Choose Aspire or Achieve as the single application for the intake year Application form Online assessment Four-question video interview Attend the five-day scheme Complete the final-day Assessment Day
- Assessments: Online assessment Video interview Case study One-hour partner and HR interview Group exercise
- Progression: Training Contract offer.
- Expenses: Travel and accommodation support available; exact amounts are not published.
- Travel support: Published support; amount not stated.
- Accommodation support: Published support; amount not stated.
- Right to work: Participants must already be eligible to work during the one-week programme. available for scheme: false
- Disability support: No detailed early-career adjustments procedure was found on the checked programme pages. Applicants should contact the Early Careers team about disability, neurodiversity or access arrangements.
United Kingdom - Aspire
Type: Vacation Scheme
Location: United Kingdom: Bristol
- Application timing: Applications reopen in autumn 2026; exact dates are not yet published.
- Programme dates: The Aspire scheme normally runs in June; the next exact dates are not yet published.
- Duration: Five days
- Status: upcoming
Published application and programme dates
- Applications reopen in autumn 2026; exact dates are not yet published.
- Programme: The Aspire scheme normally runs in June; the next exact dates are not yet published.
- Who can apply: All eligible candidates.
- Eligibility: one application per intake year: true positive action: false
- Application process: Choose Aspire or Achieve as the single application for the intake year Application form Online assessment Four-question video interview Attend the five-day scheme Complete the final-day Assessment Day
- Assessments: Online assessment Video interview Case study One-hour partner and HR interview Group exercise
- Progression: Training Contract offer.
- Expenses: Travel and accommodation support available; exact amounts are not published.
- Travel support: Published support; amount not stated.
- Accommodation support: Published support; amount not stated.
- Right to work: Participants must already be eligible to work during the one-week programme. available for scheme: false
- Disability support: No detailed early-career adjustments procedure was found on the checked programme pages. Applicants should contact the Early Careers team about disability, neurodiversity or access arrangements.
United Kingdom - West of England Legal Early Careers Network work experience
Type: Work Experience
Location: United Kingdom: Bristol
- Application timing: Applications were handled through the West of England Legal Early Careers Network; the next cycle is not yet published.
- Programme dates: July 2026; exact date was not published by Foot Anstey.
- Duration: One office day within a wider programme
- Status: closed
Published application and programme dates
- Applications were handled through the West of England Legal Early Careers Network; the next cycle is not yet published.
- Programme: July 2026; exact date was not published by Foot Anstey.
- Who can apply: Year 10 students applying through WLECN.
- Application process: Apply through WLECN
- Progression: Future education choices.
United Kingdom support
UK Visa and Funding
UK qualification funding, maintenance support and published visa-sponsorship or right-to-work information for joining the firm in the United Kingdom.
UK visa sponsorship and right to work
Travel and accommodation support are published. The exact pay, travel and accommodation amounts are not published. Participants must already be eligible to work during the scheme; short-term sponsorship is not offered.
View official source for UK visa sponsorship and right to work (opens in new tab)
PGDL, SQE and maintenance funding
The qualification package is published but amounts are not.
View official source for PGDL, SQE and maintenance funding (opens in new tab)
Areas of work
Practice areas
The legal services and capabilities listed by the firm.
Developers
Islamic Finance
Medical Negligence
Branded 'EnableLaw'
Private Equity
Private Wealth
Retail & Consumer
Energy & Infrastructure
Charities
Offices
Locations
Office locations and the student opportunities available in each location where confirmed.
United Kingdom, Belfast
Office
View United Kingdom, Belfast official page (opens in new tab)
United Kingdom, Bristol
Headquarters
United Kingdom, Exeter
Office
United Kingdom, Guildford
Hub
View United Kingdom, Guildford official page (opens in new tab)
United Kingdom, London
Office
View United Kingdom, London official page (opens in new tab)
United Kingdom, Manchester
Office
View United Kingdom, Manchester official page (opens in new tab)
United Kingdom, Oxford
Hub
View United Kingdom, Oxford official page (opens in new tab)
United Kingdom, Plymouth
Office
View United Kingdom, Plymouth official page (opens in new tab)
United Kingdom, Southampton
Office
United Kingdom, Taunton
Hub
View United Kingdom, Taunton official page (opens in new tab)
United Kingdom, Truro
Hub
Career paths
Roles
Early-career routes, legal careers, knowledge and innovation roles, legal support and specialist leadership titles.
Legal Apprentice
Five-year Legal Apprenticeship programme
Trainee Solicitor
Two-year training contract, four seats, ~14/year
Access and inclusion
EDI
Recruitment adjustments, disability support, disability-specific programmes, mentoring, networks, partnerships and wider inclusion work.
Achieve
Reopens Autumn 2026.
Contextual Recruitment
Applicants below standard educational expectations may still apply.
View official source for Contextual Recruitment (opens in new tab)
UWE Futures
Partner-led future route.
Recruitment Reasonable Adjustments
Individual arrangements should be discussed with the Early Careers team.
View official source for Recruitment Reasonable Adjustments (opens in new tab)
Community and legal access
Pro bono
The firm’s published pro bono work, community projects, access-to-justice programmes and official partnerships.
Firm research
Firm highlights
Published awards, sectors, notable work, clients and other information that helps students understand the firm.
Official firm platforms
Links & Socials
Verified official websites, careers and application platforms, office directories and social-media accounts.
Official website
Official Foot Anstey resource.
Careers
Official Foot Anstey resource.
Early careers
Official Foot Anstey resource.
Training contracts
Official Foot Anstey resource.
Vacation schemes
Official Foot Anstey resource.
Apprenticeships
Official Foot Anstey resource.
Work experience
Official Foot Anstey resource.
Application guidance
Official Foot Anstey resource.
Diversity and inclusion
Official Foot Anstey resource.
Contact and offices
Official Foot Anstey resource.
Official Foot Anstey resource.
Official Foot Anstey resource.
YouTube
Official Foot Anstey resource.