About
About Cartridges Law
Cartridges Law is a different kind of legal service: client-centred, approachable, and dedicated to achieving the best outcome for you.
We offer a wide range of services, from Estate Planning, Residential Conveyancing and Commercial Property to advice on Divorce, Children and other Family matters, Housing and Civil Litigation. From the outset, over 50 years ago, the firm has had a commitment to the promotion of access to justice, and this continues to be an important part of our ethos.
Here for you when it matters
We are here for you when it matters. No call centres or delegating your case to unnamed staff – our small team of highly experienced legal professionals are experts in the work we undertake and personally oversee every case, striving to provide the best possible service to every client.
We are proud to hold the Law Society’s Lexcel Legal Practice Quality Mark, which recognises our commitment to exceptional legal practice and the highest standards of client care. We are assessed each year to ensure we are continuing to work to those standards of excellence which our clients can expect.
How we work
Whatever your matter involves, a dedicated member of the team will handle your case, advising you at every step of the way and keeping you informed throughout the process.
With Cartridges Law there are no hidden costs. Before any work begins, we will agree on the scope, responsible parties and fees involved, so you know exactly what to expect when you’ve instructed us.
Our Client Care Commitment
We are proud to hold the Law Society’s Lexcel Legal Practice Quality Mark, which recognises our commitment to exceptional legal practice and the highest standards of client care.
An Award-Winning Law Firm
We are proud to have been consistently recognised for excellence in the Devon and Somerset Law Society Awards (DASLS).
DASLS Award for Corporate Social Responsibility 2016
DASLS Employer of the Year 2020
DASLS Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year 2020 (Highly Commended)
Faye Newbery, Housing Team
DASLS Sustainability Award 2023
DASLS Support Team Member of the Year 2023
Mark Fairchild, Family Team
DASLS Lifetime Achievement Award 2024
Penny Scott, Partner
DASLS Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year 2024
Richard Westlake, Housing Team
DASLS Sustainability Award 2025
DASLS Leader of the Year 2025 (Highly Commended)
Nicky Mein, Partner
Our History
Cartridges Law was founded in 1973 by John & Maggie Cartridge with the aim of offering a different kind of legal service: more approachable and focused on access to justice for all.
At a time when most Exeter law firms were clustered in the city centre, John & Maggie chose to base the firm in the neighbourhood of St Thomas, in the east of the city to fill the gap they saw in local, accessible legal support. From its beginnings in St Thomas, Exeter, the firm quickly grew, building a reputation for trusted advice, strong client relationships, and a person-centered approach. Over the years, new partners took over the reins, including Penny Scott, who was instrumental along with the other partners in expanding the firm and moving the office to its current premises, and Nicky Mein, who later became Managing Partner and guided the firm through the Coronavirus pandemic and further growth.
Today, we employ over 30 people, led by Managing Partner Victoria Matthews alongside Nicky Mein and fellow partners Faye Newbery, Julie Farmer, Sabina Smith and Conall Ryan. More than 50 years on, we remain proud of our commitment to our clients, and our reputation for combining personal service with legal expertise.
Our Charity Partner: Baby Bank Exeter
We are proud to support Baby Bank Exeter, a local organisation with a simple but effective purpose – collecting donated new and pre-loved items for babies and children and distributing them free of charge to families in crisis across Exeter and wider Devon.
By donating time, raising funds and helping to raise awareness of Baby Bank Exeter, we hope to play a small part in giving more children in our community a better start in life.
We have a big Family Law team, and much of our work is with families going through difficult times. We see first-hand how hard things can be for parents, especially when there has been a crisis such as domestic abuse or homelessness. Baby Bank Exeter gives vital help to families who need it most, like those that we work with, and it is something that we are very proud to support.
We are delighted to partner with Cartridges Law. They are greatly recognised for their community involvement in our city, and we were very lucky to see this firsthand through our Christmas Appeal, year after year their motivation and enthusiasm to help is heartwarming. We look forward to working together to make an even greater impact on the lives of those families most vulnerable in our community.