Commercial Solicitor (NQ – 5 Years PQE)
Thames Valley (Reading)
Build your commercial law career with a team that is growing, ambitious and genuinely supportive.
At HCR Law, we're looking for a talented Commercial Solicitor to join our Thames Valley team in Reading. This is an exciting opportunity for a newly qualified solicitor through to someone with around five years' PQE who wants to work closely with experienced commercial lawyer Lizzie Judd, Legal Director in our Commercial Team based in Thames Valley.
You'll become part of a collaborative team that advises a broad range of businesses, from established manufacturers and retailers through to growing entrepreneurial organisations. No two clients are the same, which means no two days are either.
Why this opportunity stands out
This role offers the chance to develop a strong foundation in high-quality commercial law while enjoying the flexibility to shape your future specialism.
You will advise clients on a wide range of commercial matters, building trusted relationships and helping businesses navigate their legal and commercial challenges. At the same time, if you have a particular interest in an emerging or specialist area such as data protection, competition law, consumer law, AI and technology, or another niche within commercial law, you'll have the freedom and support to develop that expertise as part of our growing practice.
This is an excellent role for someone who enjoys variety, wants direct client exposure from an early stage and is interested in helping to shape the future direction of a growing commercial team.
What you'll be doing
Advising businesses on a broad range of commercial contracts and day-to-day business matters
Supporting clients across a variety of sectors including manufacturing, retail and other growth industries
Building and maintaining strong client relationships
Working closely with colleagues across the wider firm to deliver practical, commercial solutions
Developing expertise in specialist areas of commercial law that align with your interests and our clients' needs
Contributing to business development and the continued growth of the Thames Valley commercial team
What we're looking for
We're interested in hearing from candidates who are:
Newly qualified up to 5 years' PQE
Experienced in commercial law or have undertaken a commercial seat during their training contract
Commercially minded and able to provide practical, solution-focused advice
Keen to be part of a collaborative and growing team
Interested in developing a long-term career in the Thames Valley market
Most importantly, we're looking for someone who is enthusiastic, ambitious and excited by the prospect of helping to build something for the future.
Why HCR?
As a Top 50 UK law firm, HCR combines the quality of work and client base you would expect from a national practice with the culture, accessibility and support of a regional firm. Our Thames Valley office has built a strong reputation within the local business community and continues to grow, with collaboration, client service and people development at the heart of everything we do.
This is a chance to join a team where your ideas will be welcomed, your development will be supported and your future specialism can be shaped around your interests and ambitions.
If you're looking for a role that offers quality work, genuine career development and the opportunity to help grow a successful commercial practice in the Thames Valley, we'd love to hear from you.
Benefits of working with us:
- Private Medical Insurance
- Sight tests / Glasses discounts
- Scottish Widows Pension Scheme
- 28 days annual leave (plus public holidays)
- International secondments for 0-5 PQE
- Happy People / Perks at Work benefits portal
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Life Assurance
- 1/3 gym membership contribution
- Flu vaccinations
Is HCR the smart move for you?
HCR suits people who love a challenge and want to work in an environment where careers thrive on the back of hard work and personal merit. Our people enjoy feeling part of something bigger than themselves, and whilst our clients drive our development, it is our people who bring their energy, enthusiasm, and entrepreneurial mindsets together to solve problems and help our clients succeed.
Why HCR people love their jobs
Our people tell us they enjoy working on good quality, interesting matters from a wide variety of our clients, because they get the experience they want to develop their careers. We will give you responsibility early, the mandate to make things happen and we’ll back your good ideas. Our “Passion for People” lives and breathes every day throughout the firm as our peoples’ energy and sense of fun create a warm environment in which to thrive.
What career progression will HCR offer you?
HCR’s growth constantly creates opportunities for people who want to go places and make a difference, your career plan can become part of our growth plan. At HCR you can expect to work with friendly, energetic, ambitious people, who love getting stuck into a client problem, and enjoy celebrating a good outcome. Our people value the sense of community provided by the individual personality of each office and the collegiate approach across all our service and sector teams.
What does HCR believe, achieve and stand for?
As a Times Best Law firm, among the UK Top 50, we provide the full range of services that you would expect to organisations, business leaders and individuals. However, in our mission to give everyone the opportunity to experience a different kind of legal service we take an entrepreneurial approach. We’re flexible and responsive to the needs of our clients, delivering the best outcomes for them. We have more than 1000 lawyers and support staff, including more than 180 partners, and have been awarded the Law Society’s Lexcel quality mark in recognition of our compliance and client care standards.
With 13 offices in England and Wales our well-established presence stretches from west to east, ensuring clients can access a full-service legal offering no matter where they’re located. We’ve expanded significantly across all our regions, and are well-respected as a regional firm with a strong London and international presence.
With solid connections in the communities we work in, and a track record of delivering legal advice to businesses and individuals throughout the areas we base ourselves in, our clients continue to value our approach to providing legal advice, in the way they need, when they need it.
As HCR is an equal opportunities employer, we don’t just accept differences, we celebrate them. We want to attract a diverse and ambitious workforce that reflects all backgrounds and skills to create a workplace that is supportive and inclusive, recognises and nurtures talent, and which works together to achieve the best outcome for our clients. We are privileged to be an armed forces-friendly organisation.
We also want you to achieve your absolute best during the recruitment process. Please let us know of any changes we can make at any point that will help support your application. If this opportunity sounds of interest to you, please make an application and submit your CV.
A note for recruitment agencies – The HCR Resourcing Team is responsible for recruitment across the firm, and where possible will use direct hiring methods. We do work with a Preferred Supplier List, and where appropriate, we will release vacancies to those agencies who we deem most appropriate to support us. Only those agencies will be invited to submit candidates via our recruitment portal. Any speculative or unsolicited CVs sent to any employee or Partner of HCR will not be considered an introduction, and no fees will be applicable. Furthermore, we retain the right to pursue these candidates without query of ownership
