Launched in 2004, the LawCareers.Net Training & Recruitment Awards aim to recognise the best recruiters and trainers among law firms. The awards results are based on an extensive yearly survey of trainee and newly qualified solicitors. The survey respondents are asked to frankly assess their own experiences and score the firm they work at on a number of criteria related to the recruitment, training, work placement scheme and training principal. In 2007 we introduced the Commendation for Diversity, which is awarded to a firm that goes to great lengths to ensure that its workplace is representative of the community it serves. The Commendation for Diversity is aimed at ensuring that beacons of good diversity practice are visible and spur on the rest of the profession. Below you will find information about the firms that have excelled and taken home one of the coveted LCN awards.
2018
Central London was crackling with excitement on 17 May as representatives from over 60 top law firms convened at IET London: Savoy Place to find out who would be the winners of the prestigious LawCareers.Net Training & Recruitment Awards 2018.
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
Best Trainer – US Firm in the City
A brilliant level of client contact from an early stage and a nurturing environment where each supervisor looks out for your best interests.
Burges Salmon LLP
Best Work Placement Scheme – Regional Firm
The firm's culture particularly struck me; we were given trainee buddies and everyone was genuinely friendly. Now I have joined the firm, some of the connections I made on my vac scheme got in touch to welcome me. The work was high quality and I got a real flavour for how life would work here.
Farrer & Co LLP
Best Trainer – Medium City Firm
The work environment is brilliant, with a truly collegiate feel. It strikes the right balance between efficiency, hard work and support.
Forsters LLP
Best Recruiter – Medium City Firm
The recruitment process was excellently run. With friendly communication, and a high level of partner involvement, I was made to feel that the firm genuinely valued its trainees and was fully invested in the recruitment process.
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Best Work Placement Scheme – City Firm
The vacation scheme gave me a real insight into the work areas and environment of the firm, and I felt as if I was undertaking the same sort of work that I would be doing as a trainee.
Helix Law
Best Recruiter – Small Firm
The partners are directly involved in recruitment, which gives a clear point of contact and also establishes a good relationship from the very beginning of the recruitment process.
Herbert Smith Freehills LLP
Best Recruiter – Large City Firm
The main application question was not the typical "Why law?" or "Why a City firm?"; rather, it was aimed at understanding the applicant, their background, their achievements and what they were interested in, which provides scope for a broader range of answers and, ultimately, a more diverse intake.
Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors LLP
Best Trainer – Small Firm
I can't speak highly enough of the client interaction afforded to trainees at the firm. From almost my first week, I was meeting clients and being exposed to real-life legal issues. This has given my fellow trainees and me a practical, human approach to solving legal issues that you just can't get sitting at a computer all day.
Michelmores LLP
Best Recruiter – Medium Regional Firm
The firm demonstrated themselves to be very approachable, proactive in their approach to me as an individual, and flexible about integrating me into the recruitment process. The firm is alert and capable of responding 'out-of-the box' when they see the opportunity is right to do so.
Mills & Reeve LLP
Best Trainer – National/Large Regional Firm
The supervision is excellent. As a trainee you are treated equally to fellow fee-earners and receive meaningful and valuable work. I was given exposure to clients very early on in my first seat, alongside a brilliant support system.
Osborne Clarke LLP
Best Recruiter – National/Large Regional Firm
The recruitment process was fantastic. Everyone was very friendly and supportive, and I was made to feel at home. It was also very open, transparent and honest, so I felt that the side of the firm I was seeing was real and not just put on for the recruitment period.
Reed Smith
Commendation for diversity
This firm stood out for its commitment to both fostering a diverse and inclusive culture at the firm, but also for a passion to drive change within the profession. Backed up by impressive statistics and a range of initiatives that include a reverse-mentoring programme and agile working policy, as well as the launch of its inaugural Diversity Summit, this firm is determined to do more than just pay lip service to the importance of having a diverse workforce.
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Best Recruiter – US Firm in the City
I enjoyed the recruitment process at [this firm] the most out of all those I applied to. It was straightforward and transparent. The interviews with a partner and counsel were informal and conversational, focusing on commercial awareness and my CV.
Taylor Wessing
Best Trainer – Large City Firm
Excellent training, plenty of responsibility and trust, and great exposure to a variety of work and to clients at an early stage.
Thomson Snell & Passmore LLP
Best Trainer – Medium Regional Firm
I have conducted my own client meetings, as well as fee earners making a real effort to take me to their meetings where appropriate. I feel very valued and am always happy to come into work.
Vinson & Elkins RLLP
Best Training Principal (Small trainee intake) | Mark Beeley – Vinson & Elkins RLLP
Mark is an excellent training principal. They are very warm, friendly and approachable. They offer practical insights and help prepare you to be a good associate. They are not only helpful in respect of work issues, but also personal matters.
Withers LLP
Best Training Principal (Large trainee intake) | Ceri Vokes – Withers LLP
Ceri is very friendly and enthusiastic about the training programme at Withers. I know they are always available, and I can contact them if I have any issues or general queries about my training.
2017
LawCareers.Net Recruitment & Training Awards 2017
Last night saw the announcement of the winners of the 14th annual LawCareers.Net Training & Recruitment Awards. The awards set out to identify and laud those firms that give their trainees a flying start in the legal profession, by playing it straight during the recruitment process, and supporting and nurturing their burgeoning careers.
Matthew Broadbent, business development director of LCN, said: “The LCN awards are a real proving ground. With over 2,000 trainees and NQs surveyed, the awards paint a truly accurate picture of which firms do a great job in recruitment and training. All the nominees should be congratulated as the competition across every category is fierce.”
Baker McKenzie
Commendation for diversity
This firm has demonstrated a strong and consistent commitment to increasing diversity and to building an inclusive culture.
Bircham Dyson Bell LLP
Best Recruiter – Medium City Firm
The firm provided thoughtful recruitment and selection activities, which were different to those I had expected.
Burges Salmon LLP
Best Trainer – National/ Large Regional Firm
The atmosphere and culture at the firm is extremely open and straightforward - and the training you receive reflects that.
DWF LLP
Best Work Placement Scheme – Regional Firm
The vacation scheme was an extremely valuable insight into life at the firm.
Farrer & Co LLP
Best Work Placement Scheme – City Firm
I was really surprised by the genuine interest that people took in the vac scheme students.
Forbes Solicitors
Best Training Principal – Stuart Penswick
This person is an exceptional training principal and mentor, and is demonstrably committed, enthusiastic about and invested in the firm’s training programme and trainees. They are extremely approachable; if you have any type of query or difficulty, it will be taken seriously.
Hogan Lovells
Best Recruiter – Large City Firm
The recruitment team at the firm is exceptional – they are friendly, approachable and professional in their dealings with future joiners and trainees.
Kingsley Napley LLP
Best Trainer – Medium City Firm
I have found that my supervisors and senior staff are willing to take the time to answer questions and explain instructions clearly. I have been given client contact throughout my training, including having my own clients. While enjoying this responsibility, I also felt well supervised, rather than being thrown in at the deep end.
Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors LLP
Best Trainer – Small Firm
I cannot fault the experience that I have had. I have seen an increase in responsibilities, coupled with as much support as I need; every single staff member is approachable and willing to help. I have been given the opportunity to express how I would like my training contract to be shaped by having a choice of seats. I feel privileged to be able to say that I have trained with this firm.
Morrison & Foerster (UK) LLP
Best Trainer – US Firm in the City
I am genuinely astounded by the level of support that I have received. The client contact has been far more than I was expecting and the partners always insist on getting you involved where possible.
Osborne Clarke LLP
Best Recruiter – National/Large Regional Firm
The firm prides itself on its friendly and approachable culture and this is very much in evidence during the recruitment stage.
Taylor Wessing
Best Trainer – Large City Firm
The firm provides excellent training. All the partners and associates are on the same page in terms of ensuring that trainees are provided with a broad spectrum of work, which enables a holistic understanding of the particular seat. They also actively encourage learning and their doors are always open.
Thackray Williams LLP
Best Recruiter – Small Firm
It was the most personal recruitment process that I have been through, by far. The partners that interviewed me could not have been any more friendly or helpful.
Thomson Snell & Passmore LLP
Best Trainer – Medium Regional Firm
My supervision throughout all my seats so far has been excellent. I have always felt that my questions and concerns can be answered, and I was reassured from day one that there is no such thing as a 'silly' question. I feel that the work I do is appreciated and I am always made to feel valued as part of the team.
Vinson & Elkins RLLP
Best Recruiter – US Firm in the City
The recruitment process is geared towards creating a long-term fit, from both the firm's and the candidate's point of view.
Withers LLP
Best Training Principal – Ceri Vokes
This person is a natural teacher and inspiring mentor, as well as being incredibly committed and approachable. You can go to them with anything from technical questions or concerns about training, to creative ideas about different ways that trainees can get involved with business development.
2016
LawCareers.Net Recruitment & Training Awards 2016
Merchant Taylor’s Hall in the City of London was crackling with excitement as representatives from over 70 top law firms convened to find out who would be the winners of the prestigious LawCareers.Net Training & Recruitment Awards 2016.
Matthew Broadbent, business development director of LCN, said: “The LCN awards are a real proving ground. With over 2,000 trainees and NQs surveyed, the awards paint a really accurate picture of which firms do a great job in recruitment and training. All the nominees should be congratulated as the competition across every category is fierce.”
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
Best trainer - US firm in the City
We are a warm and open office, and although people are busy and getting on with the job at hand, it’s also non-stuffy and there is limited hierarchy.
Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP
Best recruiter - US firm in the City
The recruitment process was efficient, transparent and timely.
Baker McKenzie
Best recruiter - Large City firm
The size of the intake compared to the international nature of the work and firm is attractive – prospective trainees like that they can join a major firm, but be part of a relatively small and intimate cohort.
Bird & Bird
Best work placement scheme – City firm
The scheme is three weeks long, so getting involved in real work is a key draw. You become a part of the firm and get first-hand exposure to the relaxed culture and interesting people.
Farrer & Co LLP
Best trainer - Medium City firm
There’s lots of opportunity for client contact - certainly more than I'd expected - and senior staff are excellent at giving trainees opportunities to get involved in interesting and challenging work.
Forsters LLP
Best recruiter – Medium City firm
The quality of work is excellent and I have the opportunity to work for a mix of clients and alongside highly talented lawyers in a supportive environment.
Hogan Lovells
Commendation for diversity
This year, we are in a unique situation where two firms have been inseparable by our judging panel following much discussion and deliberation. The two firms have been selected to win the Diversity Commendation award this year have demonstrated impressive, consistent and innovative commitments to diversity and inclusion.
Mills & Co. Solicitors Limited
Best recruiter – Small firm
The recruitment process was very well managed and straightforward. Information was readily available both during and after my vacation scheme, and feedback was forthcoming very quickly after my interview.
Mills & Reeve LLP
Best work placement scheme – Regional firm
The mini-seat structure gives unparalleled exposure to a range of different work and teams. What shone through for me was how consistently friendly and approachable people at all levels of the firm were, across the board.
Osborne Clarke LLP
Best recruiter - National/large regional firm
The whole recruitment process felt natural, with the tasks assigned being relevant to the firm and with interviews testing your abilities but also acting as a forum for discussion. My experience of this process played a large part in why I chose to be a trainee at this firm.
Shoosmiths
Best trainer - National/large regional firm
High level of client contact and quality of work. The level of supervision is good and although you are given quite a lot of responsibility, you always have a support network behind you.
Simmons & Simmons LLP
Commendation for diversity
This year, we are in a unique situation where two firms have been inseparable by our judging panel following much discussion and deliberation. The two firms have been selected to win the Diversity Commendation award this year have demonstrated impressive, consistent and innovative commitments to diversity and inclusion.
Squire Patton Boggs (UK) LLP
Best training principal – Giles Chesher
Very approachable and always on hand to listen to trainee questions or concerns. This training principal has great enthusiasm for both the firm and the training contract process. The TP always attends trainee events and will regularly check-in with us to find out how we are getting on.
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Best training principal – Ben Perry
Ben has been involved in the trainee programme from the very start and his dedication to it is obvious. He is always approachable and takes the time to explain tasks and deals, as well as checking in on trainees to ensure they are happy.
Taylor Walton LLP
Best recruiter - Medium regional firm
Extremely down-to-earth approach to recruitment. Any interview process is inevitably daunting but I was made to feel at ease, which in turn meant I interviewed at my best.
Tees
Best trainer – Medium regional firm
My supervising partner is very enjoyable to work with and always has time for me. When I first start working on a matter, the background and area of law is fully explained in an informative but entertaining way.
Zyda Law
Best trainer – Small firm
I have learnt a lot through my time here, and been given exciting work to do. Great firm to train with and great opportunities on offer.
2015
Bevan Brittan LLP
Best work placement scheme – Regional firm
On the vac scheme I was given tasks that mirror some of those I have since completed as a trainee, so gained excellent insight into what life as a trainee would entail. Everyone at the firm, from trainees to partners, was friendly and keen to know how I was getting on and what I thought of the firm.
Bird & Bird
Best trainer – Large City firm
A fantastic training contract scheme. I feel that the firm helps us to develop all the necessary skills to be a lawyer, from time management to drafting workshops to client relations.
Blandy & Blandy LLP
Best trainer – Medium regional firm
From experiencing five different departments you will get a true flavour of what type of work we undertake and how much hands-on experience our trainees receive from a very early stage.
Bristows LLP
Best recruiter – Medium City firm
The interview was all about getting to know you and how you think, not about making you feel uncomfortable or putting you under pressure. There were no silly tactics.
Burges Salmon LLP
Best recruiter - National/large regional firm
I received more than one training contract but chose this firm because the quality of the recruitment process made me feel as though I would be valued as a trainee and NQ.
EMW Law LLP
Best recruiter - Medium regional firm
The friendliest and most welcoming people I came across out of all the firms I interviewed with.
Farrer & Co LLP
Best trainer - Medium City firm
I was put in front of clients having been at the firm for less than 72 hours. It is a friendly, collaborative and hardworking culture.
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP
Best trainer - US firm in the City
The associates, senior and junior, are always happy to hep and will always take the time to explain things There is very good client contact and the partners are appreciative of our hard work.
Russell-Cooke Solicitors
Best training principal - Jonathan Thornton
This individual is very easy to approach and is friendly in all his communications, while remaining professional. I would feel comfortable contacting him for guidance even after I finish my training contract.
Shoosmiths
Best trainer - National/large regional firm and Commendation for diversity
The training, support and responsibility you get from day one is fantastic. Secondment opportunities, direct client relationships and exposure to high-profile deals are all enhanced by the firm's policy of trying to ensure that there is only one trainee in each department, per office.
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Best recruiter - US firm in the City
The recruitment team was friendly and helpful, taking a really personal approach and making you feel important throughout the whole process.
Tim Johnson / Law
Best trainer – Small firm
There was excellent client contact from day one, including being given the opportunity to attend important meetings, tribunals and court, which really helped develop interpersonal skills and client relationships.
Travers Smith LLP
Best work placement scheme – City firm
The programme is really well thought through, with a great variety of work, social events and workshops. You have great exposure to partners, associates and trainees, and are made to feel really welcome, which is a credit to the firm as a whole.
Withers LLP
Best training principal - Suzanne Todd
Suzanne is brilliant at getting the job done, but also always makes time to support the trainees.
2014
LawCareers.Net Recruitment & Training Awards 2014
May 2014 saw the 11th annual awards presentation. LawCareers.Net publisher Matthew Broadbent commented:
"Wherever you are in the business cycle, it is crucial to nurture talent to guarantee the future of the organisation. The LC.N Awards is all about identifying which firms take the future of their trainees and their business seriously."
The 2014 winning firms are listed below. To find out more about each winning firm, please click on the firm name.
The full list of nominees can be seen here: LawCareers.Net Awards honour best in the business
Burges Salmon LLP
Best recruiter – National/large regional firm
There has never been a break in communication from the first invite to assessment centre through to my second seat: I have felt like a member of the team from the word go.
Charles Russell Speechlys
Best work placement scheme – City firm
The three week scheme with three 'seats' was excellent for providing a real insight to the firm. The quality of work we were given was good and representative of being a trainee.
EMW Law LLP
Best recruiter – Medium regional firm
The recruitment process is excellent - geared at getting to know the person and whether they are a right fit instead of trying to catch them out.
Farrer & Co LLP
Best trainer – Medium City firm
The client contact could not be better. From word go, as trainees, we were put in front of clients, both in and out of the workplace.
Hogan Lovells
Commendation for Diversity
The Commendation for Diveristy judges were impressed by how much access to the workplace and how many schemes the firm offered to future talent that demonstrated a genuine commitment to true breadth of opportunity.
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP
Best recruiter – US firm in the City
I accepted the offer of a training contract partly due to the very positive impression I received of the firm at interview.
Latham & Watkins
Best trainer – US firm in the City
The formal three and six month review system and informal feedback received almost daily is a real strength of the training contract.
Mills & Reeve LLP
Best work placement scheme – Regional firm
Best vacation scheme I did - four seats over two weeks so great exposure to people and different areas of work. I was immediately made to feel like an important member of the firm.
Pothecary Witham Weld
Best recruiter – Small firm
I really felt that the firm was taking that extra time and effort to make me feel comfortable and at ease from the outset of the recruitment process through to my first weeks at the firm.
Shoosmiths
Best trainer – National/large regional firm
My training contract far exceeded my expectations. I was given much more client contact than I anticipated and an excellent level of responsibility.
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Best training principal – Ben Perry
Ben understands and pre-empts many of the challenges that trainees face, and he has helped me to settle in to working life.
Taylor Wessing
Best trainer – Large City firm
Very good at giving you responsibility from day one. You can clearly see how much trust the partners and associates put in you.
Thomson Snell & Passmore LLP
Best trainer – Medium Regional firm
My supervision has been fantastic. Being a trainee supervisor is seen as a privilege at the firm so trainees feel that they are in with excellent fee earners.
Travers Smith LLP
Best recruiter – Medium City firm
One of the most straight forward and efficient recruitment processes out there. No unnecessary assessment days and partners do all of the recruiting so that you can rest assured that they actually want you.
Withers LLP
Best training principal – Suzanne Todd
Incredibly professional at the same time as being compassionate and approachable. I love her no-nonsense style and the seamless way she gets things done. She is obviously very well suited to being a TP.
2013
LawCareers.Net Recruitment & Training Awards 2013
May 2013 saw the LawCareers.Net Training & Recruitment Awards (TARAs) celebrate their 10th year. As ever, the TARAs honoured the firms and individuals who offered their recruits the best possible start to their legal careers. Over 2,200 trainees and newly-qualified solicitors responded to our survey assessing firms on their recruitment process, the training they offer and the quality of their work placement schemes. Respondents were also asked to put forward their training principal for the Best Training Principal award. The Law Lecturer of the Year trophy was awarded to David Hodgkinson of the University of Derby.
We prepared exclusive award winner profiles of some winners for publication in LawCareers.Net Best in Law: Making good candidates excellent. These profiles can be read below.
Atherton Godfrey LLP
Best recruiter – Small firm
Excellent recruitment process. The firm's website provided all the information I needed to ascertain the type of work the firm did and also how I should apply.
Baker McKenzie
Best trainer – Large City firm
There is an open-door policy and people are very welcoming, friendly and approachable.
Burges Salmon LLP
Best recruiter – National/large regional firm
The attention to detail and regular contact of the recruitment team was what set this firm apart from the rest during the recruitment process.
EMW Law LLP
Best trainer – Medium regional firm
Lots of client contact and responsibility, while always knowing that you have the safety blanket of your supervisor there or another fee earner to ask questions of.
Farrer & Co LLP
Best trainer – Medium City firm
The training in each seat has been immaculate. I have felt like every supervisor has had a real desire for me to learn and grow in confidence.
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP
Best trainer – US firm in the City
The time given to you as a trainee and as an NQ from senior associates and partners is quite amazing.
Macfarlanes LLP
Best training principal – John Hornby
A fantastic training principal. John Hornby dedicates so much time, energy and thought to the training experience at the firm, all the way from application to NQ appointments, and does the utmost for each and every trainee at the firm.
Nockolds
Best recruiter – Medium regional firm
I feel this was a great process as the firm really got to get a good sense of you as a candidate and you got a good sense of the firm.
Penningtons Manches LLP
Best recruiter – Medium City firm
Excellent contact after recruitment, invitations to internal training events and trainee evenings - felt very much part of the firm before joining.
Reed Smith
Commendation for Diversity
What really made Reed Smith stand out was the breadth of its diversity initiatives: from ethnicity and gender, to disabilities, mental health, sexual orientation and religion, the firm had schemes, programmes and projects to attract and support an impressively wide range of diverse applicants and employees.
Shoosmiths
Best trainer – National/large regional firm
The firm is incredibly friendly and welcoming, and the work has been challenging, interesting and varied.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP
Best recruiter – US firm in the City
Both personnel and the systems in place allow candidates to appreciate exactly the nature of the work, the workers and the workload.
Tees
Best work placement scheme – Regional firm
I was given access to a broad range of work areas, had direct involvement with client files and was introduced to clients in meetings.
2012
LawCareers.Net Recruitment & Training Awards 2012
The ninth annual LawCareers.Net Training and Recruitment Awards took place in May 2012. The awards, which recognised the best recruiters and trainers among law firms, were based on a large survey of over 2,300 trainee and newly qualified solicitors. 2012 saw the introduction of two new LC.N awards; the Best Training Principal award and the Law Lecturer of the Year award.
We prepared exclusive award winner profiles of some winners for publication in LawCareers.Net Best in Law: Making good candidates excellent. These profiles can be read below.
Baker McKenzie
Best trainer – Large City firm and Commendation for Diversity
My supervisors have been excellent, They really spent a lot of time ensuring that I had access to interesting and varied work, and without exception took the time to go through work.
Burges Salmon LLP
Best recruiter – National/large regional firm
Excellent communication throughout the process, very quick responses to all queries, no complaints at all. The recruitment team and HR department are extremely hardworking and efficient.
Farrer & Co LLP
Best trainer – Medium City firm
The recruitment team put a staggering amount of effort into ensuring all seat preferences are catered for - spending weeks carefully orchestrating each of the seat changes to make sure everybody is content. They genuinely care about each individual trainee!
Ince & Co LLP
Best work placement scheme – City firm
They gave me real work to do, for which I needed to liaise with solicitors and partners on the cases. It was a real week of being a trainee and showed me the exact type of thing I would be doing as a trainee.
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP
Best trainer – US firm in the City
The quality of work is brilliant - there's always enough good work to be shared around the trainees. There is very little mundane work.
Osborne Clarke LLP
Best work placement scheme – Regional firm
The fee earners went the extra mile to make me feel welcome and genuinely wanted to know about me. They took me for lunches even if they weren’t scheduled to.
RPC
Best recruiter – Medium City firm
I found that the firm's recruitment process brought the best out of me, gave me an excellent impression of the firm (which hasn't changed, so wasn't a misrepresentation of the culture here) and I felt informed throughout.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP
Best recruiter – US firm in the City
Really good at communicating and answering questions, but perhaps most importantly is pretty fast at responding to applicants once they've had an interview.
Thomson Snell & Passmore LLP
Best trainer – Medium regional firm
I am always thanked for the work I do and I have always feel appreciated. This positive attitude of the fee-earners and secretaries in the firm ensures that trainees are more positive, willing and dedicated.
VWV (Veale Wasbrough Vizards)
Best training principal - Tabitha Cave
Tabitha Cave is an exceptional lawyer who displays talents across numerous sectors. She is approachable, friendly and takes an active interest in all trainees.
2011
LawCareers.Net Training & Recruitment Awards 2011
June 2011 saw the eighth annual LawCareers.Net Training and Recruitment Awards. Once again we conducted a huge survey with a fantastic response rate. Nearly 2,500 trainees and newly-qualified solicitors responded with their thoughts on the training and recruitment experience, and on how they felt their firms had performed. Based on these replies we selected the winners of our awards.
We prepared exclusive award winner profiles of some winners for publication in the LawCareers.Net Best in Law magazine. These profiles can be read here.
Allen & Overy LLP
Best recruiter - Large City firm
I was struck by how enthusiastic, open-minded and genuine everyone seemed to be, and how willing the partners were to talk to people they may never see again.
Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP
Best trainer - US firm in the City
The quality of work and the responsibility given to trainees from the start of the training contract is superb; I immediately felt part of the team and had worked with most of the lawyers from NQs to the managing partner within the first year.
Baker McKenzie
Best trainer - Large City firm
We’re a firm that allows people to play to their strengths and appreciates the fact that different people have different skills to bring to the table.
Burges Salmon LLP
Best recruiter - National/large regional firm
Candidates should come here because we have fantastic work, fantastic lawyers, and they can fit into our collaborative culture and help strengthen the team.
DLA Piper UK LLP
Commendation for Diversity
We’re a massively broad firm in terms of geography, practice areas and clients, whom we can't service to the best of our ability unless we have a diverse workforce. So that has to be central to recruitment.
Farrer & Co LLP
Best recruiter - Medium City firm
Trainees are not made to feel like just 'the trainees'; they’re regarded as a vital part of the firm and are consulted on matters you wouldn’t imagine they would be.
Goodman Derrick LLP
Best trainer - Medium City firm
Most trainees sit with a partner who is there to provide support and supervision. Monthly trainee meetings provide an excellent opportunity to hear about the experiences of other trainees and also to raise any problems or queries. There are also regular appraisals and frequent training sessions.
Gowling WLG (UK) LLP
Best trainer - National/large regional firm
People who come to Wragge having worked in other firms and organisations are surprised to find that our culture is genuinely different – people here really do think this is a great place to work.
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP
Best recruiter - US firm in the City
With a small group of trainees, you are likely to be the only trainee on a deal - perhaps even the only trainee in a department. As a result, the level of work that you are going to get will be head and shoulders above that of friends or colleagues in other City firms.
Mills & Reeve LLP
Best work placement scheme - Regional firm
The scheme is basically a training contract condensed into two weeks. Everyone will get four training contract-style 'seats', so that they experience four completely different areas of law.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP
Best work placement scheme - City firm
I think [the scheme] mirrors what they would be doing on a training contract and shows them what they would be doing if they were to join us.
Thomson Snell & Passmore LLP
Best trainer - Medium regional firm
The training at the firm is excellent. You are given as much responsibility as you feel comfortable with and this really gives you the chance to develop your skills.
2010
LawCareers.Net Recruitment & Training Awards 2010
Burges Salmon LLP
Best recruiter - National/large regional firm
I think the investment that we make in our staff and the business as a whole stands out.
CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP
Best recruiter - Large City firm
We are deliberately quite open with candidates – we want them to find out about us, and about the firm, because in a sense if they do join us, it is better that they are well informed.
Farrer & Co LLP
Best trainer - Medium City firm
What we pride ourselves on, more than anything, is trying to make the trainees feel as though they are part of the firm from the moment they walk in through the door.
Mills & Reeve LLP
Best work placement scheme - Regional firm
Although we do put on talks and run social events, for the bulk of the time being a placement student here is essentially what you could expect to be doing if you were to get a training contract.
Reed Smith
Best trainer - Large City firm
Our objective is to help our trainees to become the best lawyers they can be.
Robert Meaton and Co Solicitors
Best recruiter - Small firm
There’s always support – you can work alongside colleagues or be as independent as you’d like.
Shoosmiths
Commendation for Diversity
We do a lot to promote diversity. What we can do, we will do – we're very proactive.
Tees
Best trainer - Medium regional firm
We give trainees as much responsibility as we assess that they can handle and, when we’re comfortable that they’re capable, they will be seeing clients.
Travers Smith LLP
Best recruiter - Medium City firm
I can honestly say that I've never got up in the morning and thought ‘Oh God, I've got to go to work’.
Womble Bond Dickinson
Best trainer - National/large regional firm
Our trainees are working with partners who are leaders in their field; they're learning from the best people.
2009
LawCareers.Net Recruitment & Training Awards 2009
Ashurst LLP
Best recruiter - Large City firm
I was looking for a large City firm with international prospects and with a high profile and impressive client base.
Burges Salmon LLP
Best recruiter - National/large regional firm
The seat rotation is one of our selling points and one that trainees consistently say is a key reason why they choose to work at Burges Salmon.
Government Legal
Best recruiter & trainer - In-house/public sector
The work our trainees do is all real work, alongside qualified lawyers on the major projects of a department.
Hogan Lovells
Best trainer - US firm in the City (Hogan Hartson) and Commendation for Diversity (Lovells)
Mills & Reeve LLP
Best work placement scheme - Regional firm
irst and foremost, our vacation scheme gives students the opportunity both to discover whether a career in the law is for them and to show us what they can do.
2008
LawCareers.Net Recruitment & Training Awards 2008
Allen & Overy LLP
Best trainer - Large City firm
While we have lots of excellent formal training in place, I think it is the day-to-day training that trainees receive from everyone around them that sets us apart.
Blandy & Blandy LLP
Best trainer - Medium regional firm
On the one hand, every partner knows the names and faces of every trainee, and that translates into really hands-on experience; on the other, we have a wide range of highly rated departments, which means that the work the firm takes on is top notch as well.
Burges Salmon LLP
Best recruiter - National/large regional firm
We've got bright lawyers and it's a very friendly firm and a nice environment to work in. Candidates see that straight away.
Covington & Burling LLP
Best recruiter - US firm in the City
The single most important thing we do is make sure we hire the right people... We also want them to be certain that we are right for them. It's really only by meeting us that people can be certain of the firm's culture.
Farrer & Co LLP
Best recruiter - Medium City firm
It's about supporting our lawyers, at all levels, in becoming the best solicitors they can be.
Mills & Reeve LLP
Best work placement scheme - Regional firm
We have a very diverse practice and we simply try to show students as much of it as we can so that they can form a proper impression.
Palmers
Best trainer - Small firm
We're a broad-based practice, so can offer training not just in traditional high street work, but also corporate, insolvency, employment and other areas.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP
Best trainer - US firm in the City
It's fantastic to sit with some of the City's pre-eminent solicitors talking about what they've been working on, the problems or disputes and how they've got round them. It's good to see what you're aspiring to.
Travers Smith LLP
Best trainer - Medium City firm
You can learn a lot sitting with someone who's right at the top. It's the best way to learn.
Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP
Commendation for Diversity
One of Weil's key attributes is that we're never keen to rest on our laurels.
2007
LawCareers.Net Recruitment & Training Awards 2007
Ashurst LLP
Best recruiter - Large City firm
"It's good to feel you're learning quickly and making a contribution, and the partners go out of their way to make you feel part of the team."
Baker McKenzie
Best trainer - Large City firm
"We try to encourage trainees to go to an overseas office which offers exposure to an area of business that they are particularly interested in and potentially want to qualify into."
Burges Salmon LLP
Best recruiter - National/large regional firm
"You've got to make sure that your recruitment process is fit for purpose because it is the future of the firm. We have an excellent record of trainees progressing through to partnership."
Jones Day
Best recruiter - Medium City firm
"We're looking for people who will help to develop the practice."
Mills & Reeve LLP
Best work placement scheme - Regional firm
"There was a lot of interaction and a very good relationship with the people you were working for."
RPC
Best work placement scheme - City firm
"We place emphasis on people who are not just good lawyers, but those with relationship skills. We realise it can be daunting - but we're seeing a lot of competent people coming through."
Shearman & Sterling (London) LLP
Best recruiter - US firm in the City
"We're never going to be set in our ways. We are a growing business, an expanding business, and we need to attract the right people to support that."
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP
Best trainer - US firm in the City
"Culturally, trainees aren’t put in a separate category - they are junior lawyers, with responsibility from day one."
Stevens & Bolton LLP
Best recruiter - Medium regional firm
"I really like that the firm gives you the autonomy to deal with clients. You're always supervised but you’re able to get on with your own thing as well. The firm trusts you, which is nice."
2006
LawCareers.Net Recruitment & Training Awards 2006
Ashurst LLP
Best recruiter - Large City firm
"You know whether people are nice and feel whether they will fit into the firm. We want personalities - people who will enrich the lives of those already here."
Baker McKenzie
Best trainer - Large City firm
"This is going to sound like a cliché, but aside from the high quality of work, I genuinely think we are friendlier and less hierarchical than many of our competitors."
Burges Salmon LLP
Best recruiter - National/large regional frm
"A quarter of our partners and a third of our associates trained with us and have moved up through the ranks."
Gowling WLG (UK) LLP
Best trainer - National/large regional firm
"We want to make sure that all our trainees have responsibility. We don't want them to be in competition with one another. By limiting our intake we can ensure that all our trainees have access to great-quality work."
Knights Solicitors LLP
Best recruiter - Medium regional firm
"Our philosophy definitely is about overall career development and progression for the trainee."
2005
LawCareers.Net Recruitment & Training Awards 2005
Baker McKenzie
Best trainer - Large City firm
"I was clear that I wanted to work in an international environment and that Baker & McKenzie would provide that."
Covington & Burling LLP
Best trainer - Medium City firm
"Our philosophy is we want to challenge [trainees] but not overwhelm them. We want to give them opportunities to develop their skills with appropriate projects and at the same time provide the support that they need to really accomplish that."
Mills & Reeve LLP
Best vacation scheme
"The main thing that we're looking for is people who can work well within a team and be confident enough to ask the right sort of questions, make the right sort of noises, without being overconfident. It's a sort of sensible confidence."
RPC
Best recruiter - Medium City firm
"The whole object of our recruitment is to recruit future partners - so we have to make sure we get the right people here and now."
Stevens & Bolton LLP
Best recruiter - Medium regional firm
"We're keen to nurture people's careers and allow them to progress. Taking on the very best in trainees is the start of this."
Taylor Wessing
Best recruiter - Large City firm
"I had always thought that partners would be quite remote... but they're a very approachable lot and always have time to answer your questions."
2004
LawCareers.Net Recruitment & Training Awards 2004
Ashurst LLP
Best recruiter - Large City firm
"We believe that when you give a person responsibility, their progress is much more pronounced. We show faith in our trainees and they rise to the challenge."
Baker McKenzie
Best trainer - Large City firm
"Jet-setting and pay cheques aside, the quality of both the training and pastoral care is second to none."
Burges Salmon LLP
Best recruiter - National/Large regional firm
"You've got the quality of clients without the London hours... Here you can really get to know people, and work together with other trainees as there is a 100% retention rate. As a trainee you do feel valued and an integral part of the firm."
Gowling WLG (UK) LLP
Best trainer - National/large regional firm
"I wanted to go somewhere where there was emphasis on life outside of work and where you were not expected to turn into some kind of lawyer clone."
Maples Teesdale LLP
Best trainer - Small firm
"The quality of work is better than any trainee or solicitor will get in the City, while the level of expertise is second to none."
Stevens & Bolton LLP
Best trainer - Medium regional firm
"Everyone's got an open-door policy and you can stick your head round for help. You get to see the top-level people in action."
