The south-west has always been acknowledged as a desirable place to live but over the past few years it has also become recognised as a serious place to work. The benefit for candidates is that they no longer have to compromise their career to achieve lifestyle enhancement.

The region’s capital, Bristol, is acknowledged as a major commercial centre and has benefited from investment and redevelopment on a significant scale. This has resulted in economic growth, leading to a rapidly expanding legal market. Firms such as Burges Salmon, Beachcroft Wansbroughs and TLT have capitalised on this growth and now boast exceptional work that will rival any UK city. Bristol is not an insular market and attains work on a national and international basis. Fundamentally, the attraction of Bristol is commercial but it is also a city boasting universal appeal, which makes a winning combination for lawyers who want a life.


Further north, the Cotswolds offer a different type of attraction. In addition to the typical commercial services, firms in the area are also noted for the quality and calibre of their private client work, focusing on wealthy landowners, large estates and high net-worth clients. As a region, it offers everything from quaint and picturesque villages and towns to the Regency elegance of Cheltenham, and boasts cultural diversity such as numerous literary and music festivals, and racing’s famous Gold Cup. With breathtaking countryside easily accessible and a charm that is quintessentially English, this region offers wonderful rewards for family life.


Further south, Exeter has over recent years become a major centre for legal services and this expansion is supported by the recent decisions of firms like Michelmores and Ashfords to move away from their more traditional city premises to purpose-built out-of-town sites. Particular growth areas include commercial property, planning/environmental and private finance initiative work, and the city has already attracted lawyers from other parts of the region and country.


While salaries are not as high as those in Bristol, there is more than enough to compensate solicitors in terms of work quality and lifestyle rewards – and with its proximity to the coast, what more could you ask for?


There are numerous other towns and cities that make up this eclectic part of the country.


The region boasts a solid track record in luring lawyers away from the City and other parts, but as a result of such fierce and continuing growth, this has led to an even greater demand for lawyers in all practice areas.



Alison Perks and Marianne Flint are co-founders and directors of eNL