As one of the country’s most affluent regions, the West Midlands offers a thriving commercial, legal and industrial forefront for business. Being both culturally and technologically diverse, you have access to everything you could possibly need.

As the centre of commerce, Birmingham not only hosts some of the largest and most successful law firms outside of London, many of which continue to service FTSE 100 organisations and other large international, national and local businesses, but also offers excellent education institutions, access to The Arts, first-class dining, exhibition centres , and more recently was labelled the Shopping Capital of Europe since the grand opening of the Bullring.

The region also offers more rural retreats for an excellent quality of life such as Shakespeare’s home town of Stratford Upon Avon, Shropshire’s Industrial history, and the ancient city of Worcester all of which offer beautiful

countryside and an impressive collection of historical monuments. These surrounding areas also offer well established law firms for those who wish to cut the daily commute.

So if you are looking to specialise in some of the more niche practice areas with a leading city firm, or prefer a more relaxed approach to legal practice, the West Midlands has it all.

The Thames Valley region is a mix of commuter towns and royal grandeur and is a thriving commercial area, home to some of the country’s, and indeed the world’s, leading businesses. Ideally situated to access European and Global markets, it benefits from great road, rail and air links.

The Sillicon Valley has attracted a number of the leading commercial firms to the area, who in turn offer ambitious lawyers highly competitive salaries close to or on a par with those offered in the City of London due to the region’s close proximity to the Capital.

From the modern conurbation of Reading to the historical and cosmopolitan city of Oxford, the Thames Valley region has plenty to offer when looking for a work/life balance.

There are many attractions to working and living in the South East. Firms benefit greatly from their close proximity to London and attribute their success to attracting London clients by providing city quality advice at affordable charge out rates.

Main legal centres include Guildford, Tunbridge Wells, Crawley, Maidstone and Southampton with many firms receiving top-tier rankings across the board reflecting the diversity of businesses in the region. A number of the large commercial firms offer packages close to or on a par with those offered in London.

The region is rich in culture and can be all things to all people – so if you are looking for a quiet , slower pace

Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire come together to form the Northern Home Counties, which is home to an impressive list of large commercial practices in addition to being well served by local law firms who have close links to a great number of international and national clients covering all aspects of industry.

Offering a great selection of lifestyle options with its mix of historic villages and modern conurbations, the region has a great many attractions and is a worthy alternative to commuting and life in the capital.

With easy access to several major motorways, well-serviced rail links and congestion-fee-free travelling, the region gives you a wealth of work/life options. At the end of a busy week, you are a mere stone’s

East Anglia has been described as a fusion of the everyday and the extraordinary reflecting the best of historic and contemporary life. The region is legally well served, the three main centres being Cambridge, Norwich and Ipswich, which are home to some of the leading commercial law firms.

Due to the proliferation of biotechnology in the area, many firms boast of dedicated high tech business groups in addition to offering more traditional services such as agriculture and bloodstock.

The region has excellent transport links and is a relatively easy commute to London meaning many of the larger commercial practices view London firms as their main rivals.

Offering an excellent work/life balance, the region has an enviable legal scene, great cultural diversity and an impressive array of restaurants and theatres. So whether it is city living or a room with a view of the Norfolk Broads, East Anglia is the place to be!

This is a region that comprises a number of financially and culturally diverse counties such as Derbyshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, all of which have an enviable economic strength. Home to premium and household name law firms and well established practices, the East Midlands offers a full range of services to both the commercial and private clients, and on occasion boasts an international presence.

Nottingham still reigns as the dominant legal centre in the region and is home to some of the larger regional firms, many who also have offices in Derby, Leicester and Birmingham. Boasting a flourishing arts and music scene, Nottingham offers a diversity of city bars and restaurants with the waterfront development being a thriving addition to the nightlife. With its unrivalled amount of sports facilities, its proximity to the Derbyshire Dales and the Peak District, this region is ‘a dream come true’ to outdoor enthusiasts.

Elsewhere we find Derby, Leicester, Northampton and Lincoln who all have a substantial number of leading regional practices, and although entirely different cities and legal centres, still boast strong affiliations with their local clients including high net worth individuals and agricultural businesses. Such strong relationships offer a viable alternative to lawyers seeking a more rustic way of life.

Over recent years the legal market has seen many lawyers leave the London scene to escape the long working hours and stress of an unpredictable and demanding city. For most, the South West has been an obvious choice due to offering the combination of quality work with a quality lifestyle without drastically forfeiting salaries at the costs of a better living.

Bristol being the central legal hot spot has been labelled ‘The Green Capital', offering a fashionable and lucrative lifestyle with the benefits of fast city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside and coast.

This lively city is home to a number of leading law firms from major independents to nationals. Other major legal centres include Swindon, Cheltenham, Bath, Exeter and Plymouth, offering the attraction of living in an attractive rural or coastal location.

As the capital of South Wales, Cardiff is Europe's youngest Capital City, and although it has grown into one of the most vibrant Cities it has not lost its small town quality despite the cosmetic changes to its infrastructure.

It has quickly gained a reputation as one of the coolest cities in the UK which has been assisted with the Millennium Stadium opening in 2000, playing host to both national and international sporting occasions along with top concerts.

The centre of Cardiff is surprisingly compact and most of its sights and attractions are only a short walk from one another, the Museum, Civic Buildings and Castle can all be seen from the pedestrianised shopping areas which have modern shopping malls interspersed with beautifully kept Victorian Arcades.

The city is home to a number of leading law firms, both independent and national along with a collection of medium size and smaller firms. Whether you are a commercial lawyer from a City or major Regional firm or a lawyer with a general practice background, the most important thing that the firms are looking for is a commitment to South Wales.

The North East is home to some of the country’s leading commercial law firms who have built the foundations of their success on the thriving culture and industrial focus offered by this diverse region. Offering cutting edge development, excellent retail and leisure facilities, the North East is a stone’s throw from well deserved rural retreats within its countryside.

Newcastle is the central focal point for business and local government where it dominates the North East as the principal leader for legal and business centres north of Leeds. It is here in Newcastle that the Top 5 law firms in the North East reside. Outside of this legal hemisphere, the North East offers a cultural focus as well as flourishing technology, sports and leisure.

Let’s not forget the importance of the regional practices offering strong local expertise within the legal industry. As well as Northumberland and County Durham, you also have Cleveland and Redcar who home some of the Nation’s strongest Legal 500 specialists.

So whether you are looking for a City Centre bringing you a bustling hub for shopping and nightlife, or a pastoral lifestyle with a slower pace, the North East can offer all of this at an affordable cost.

Home to an abundance of Legal 500 law firms, the North West offers a thriving legal scene, cultural diversity, excellent universities and leading sporting teams, with Manchester and Liverpool headlining the legal press with their leading, national practices. In and around these cities we see an impressive collection of entrepreneurial and dynamic legal specialists servicing local businesses and the private community.

Through years of dedication and determination, Manchester has emerged as one of the key centres for commercial law outside of London where it hosts branches of Top 100 law firms and offers some of the most competitive financial rewards. Liverpool offers its own success and whilst undergoing immense investment and development, it has achieved the European City of Culture 2008 forging an enviable platform for a bright and prosperous future for any Legal specialist.

Whilst these major cities continue to dominate the North West, they are not the only cities to handle quality legal work. Chester, a beautiful city, boasts a strong commercial community with Legal 500 firms; Preston is a local focal point for mid and northern Lancashire business, while Carlisle is the commercial central for Cumbria. Surrounding areas such as Stockport, Warrington, North Wales and the Wirral boast expanding and well established legal practices.

If you are looking for a regional network that can offer you culture, The Arts, leading sporting events, excellent retail and leisure, and vast countryside then you need not look further than the North West.

With four major Legal Centres in the region including Leeds, Sheffield, York and East Yorkshire respectively, Yorkshire brings a highly competitive legal market place both in commercial law and litigation specialists.

Leeds, one of the top legal centres has a sophisticated and highly competitive presence within the market place and though a modest city in terms of size, it boasts 6 principal law firms, most of which offer national if not international presence. With PLC Clients, household names and large contracts with sizeable companies, these market leaders boast a most sought after foundation for ambitious lawyers. With an economy worth over £65 billion, a leading workforce of lawyers only rivalled by London, and a total of 260,000 businesses, Leeds would be an ideal choice for any legal career.

Sheffield offers its own network of legal market leaders, many highly rated by the Legal 500 with workforces in the 1000’s. Boasting both commercial practices together with niche specialists in areas such as Occupational Disease, the South Yorkshire region brings a high profile angle to the industry due to heavy investment, compact cities and a unique level of accessible countryside and outdoor activities.

York, renowned for its beauty and exceptional architecture has also developed a strong service economy. Home to many legal 500 specialists, we find a range of blue chip, scientific and technological businesses directly related to the university’s research facilities.

Finally, Hull, the central focal point of East Yorkshire, is highly recognised for its household corporations, and coastal industries all closely connected to a strong local economy together with a client focused attitude offering local expertise.