Who Says Bigger is Better?

So you think you're a bit alternative? Prefer crime to commercial, want to work in the regions or just don't fancy the cut and thrust of a big City firm? Then read on, as we talk to three trainees from smaller firms about why it's not just size that counts!Training in a large commercial firm may be the ideal route for some, but there are so many law firms of different shapes, sizes and specialisms to choose from that it is important to consider all your options to find the one that will be the best fit for you.

With this in mind, LC.N decided it was high time it lifted the lid on the alternative firms out there, which make up a good proportion of the United Kingdom's practices. LC.N spoke to three trainees about their working lives and asked how they got to where they are today.

Laws of attraction

Sasha Barton, a trainee at Hodge Jones & Allen in London, knew that she wanted a training contract that allowed her to roll up her sleeves and get her hands dirty in the legal nitty-gritty: “I always knew I wanted to train with a firm that did work in civil liberties, and only a handful of firms practice this. I also knew, having spoken to friends of mine who had trained in different firms, that the training in smaller firms was far more hands on, which was the kind of training I wanted. Those training in big City firms tended to have far less responsibility."

For Kelly Donaldson, a first-year trainee at Sheffield outfit Ashton Morton Slack, a City giant was never an option: "I definitely knew I didn't want to work in a large corporate firm. I wanted to do commercial work and be in Sheffield, so I targeted my applications by location as well as by practice area and size."

The decision was made a little easier for Dominic Wisdom as he already had a foot in the door at Frances Lindsay in High Wycombe. After gaining experience in the firm during a summer placement, he was taken on as a paralegal with a view to starting a training contract after a trial period. Four months on, he is now training with the firm (note that Frances Lindsay is not offering any training contracts at present).

Finding your way

The City big-hitters have ample resources to catch students' eyes with snazzy advertising campaigns. As a result most law students can chant off the names of the major players long before they graduate. But what about the rest? Small firms don’t have quite so much cash to flash in this respect, which means more effort is required to track them down. This is where LC.N can help. The website's search function can filter out firms by size, practice area and locality - which is precisely how Kelly found her perfect partner: "I looked at the training contract deadline list on LC.N and used it to find the names of firms with approaching training contract deadlines. If they were suitable I then looked at their LC.N entry, Focus and website to establish whether I wanted to apply." She advises: "If you are concentrating on applying to smaller firms, it really pays to keep up your efforts throughout the year so as not to miss the deadlines. They tend to be scattered throughout the year, in contrast with larger firms, which focus on the 31 July deadline."

It's also useful to speak to people in the profession to find out about local firms and suss out their reputation. Says Sasha: "I was recommended a handful of firms by some friends practising civil liberties. Hodge Jones & Allen stood out as being a very well-regarded firm in its field and it has a variety of work that really interested me."

The daily grind

Smaller firms tend to take on fewer trainees, which can mean the chance to handle a wide range of work and sometimes the opportunity to run a caseload. Sasha describes some of the work she has been involved in: "During my personal injury seat I did a range of work assisting on my supervising partner's cases. I was engaged in early investigations, such as writing letters of claim, issuing claims and taking witness statements, all the way through to trials and settlements. The firm handles a number of high-profile cases, so when I was in crime I got to sit in on a murder trial at the Old Bailey, which was particularly interesting. I also went to a death in custody inquest, which - although it was very upsetting - really highlighted to me the elements of the system that need to be changed."

For Dominic, too, his typical daily tasks can be very varied: "I primarily support the partners and solicitors with their family cases. Day to day, I might be drafting letters and statements, reviewing client files, sitting in on counsel and client meetings or queuing in the Principal Registry of the Family Division. I went to court on my first day at work which I was really pleased with too. I also get the chance to do some excellent photocopying!"

Kelly particularly enjoys seeing cases through to their resolution: "I recently worked on a case for a restructuring business. Two very similar companies were merging in order to save costs and make their businesses more commercially viable. It was really interesting work and I got to see the case from start to finish which is great and really satisfying. I was also recently involved in Connect Yorkshire, a business mentoring scheme. The firm was allocated a business to advise and we had to help them prepare a presentation that they'd give to a forum of potential investors - a bit like Dragon's Den! It was a great experience and was a lot of fun as well."

A positive environment

It is sometimes suggested that smaller firms offer a friendlier working environment to that of the large corporate firms. Kelly enthuses: "I really like the close working environment. It made it easy to get to know people and it definitely made me feel that I'm able to ask questions - there's no pressure on always having to know the right answer either which also put me at ease."

Dominic enjoys the daily interaction he gets with clients: "Existing and new clients come in every day here, which means there is always something new to learn and work to be done. What's particularly interesting is the diversity of clients we have - sometimes we'll be dealing with a dispute over the assets of a high-net-worth client, whereas at other times we can have clients sat round a table at a collaborative meeting who want to come to a resolution avoiding the traditional route through the courts."

Sasha also highlights client contact as a big plus of working at her firm: "It's hard to pick one thing I like in particular, but it is very rewarding being able to take on clients and to see every step of their case. It isn't necessarily the big cases that are the most satisfying either - sometimes the most enjoyable part can be taking initial instructions when you can find out what the problem is and advise that the person can pursue a claim."

And while smaller firms inevitably offer a very different training experience from large City practices, that doesn't mean compromising on quality of work or opportunities. Dominic sees definite benefits to training at a smaller practice: "Training in a smaller firm can actually work to your advantage. There is direct supervision on hand here and a brilliant support network. Plus I am the only trainee, which I think can make a big difference - because when any suitable work comes in, it goes straight to me rather than being shared between a group of us."

For Sasha, too, involvement is a key advantage of her training: "I get quite a lot of responsibility here. With some partners I was able to open a client's case in my name, and although everything I did was checked by my supervisor, on a day-to-day level I was able to operate each step of the claim. It's a safe way of getting a lot of responsibility because I always have my work checked, but am able to become very involved in the case at the same time."

Physically, smaller firms also provide a more intimate working environment. Says Kelly: "My office is open plan, which is great as there is a really friendly atmosphere. Everyone made it really easy to settle in, which has made me feel very comfortable here". Sasha's office has a different set-up, but the overall effect is equally positive: "At Hodge Jones & Allen each trainee shares an office with a partner. There's a very good dynamic between the trainees and there is a really friendly atmosphere within each department, which is very welcoming as a trainee."

Dominic thinks that belonging to a small practice encourages a sense of ownership among those in the firm: "There's a really good atmosphere here - both on a personal and a professional level. I think that because the firm is small, we treat it less as just another job and more as if it is our own business project. If the firm does well, it's easy to see why: because it is as a direct result of our efforts, which is really satisfying."

On top of the sense of community that thrives within smaller firms, there can be the chance to become involved in the wider community too. Kelly's practice works with a charity called Friends of Charlton Brook: "As part of the firm's involvement with the charity, I went with some other trainees to help cut branches back and help clear the brook to generally make it a nicer place. It was lots of fun and a nice opportunity to get to know trainees in mine and other local firms."

The wider legal community in Dominic's locality is also close-knit: "There is definitely a sense of community among other firms in the area. Although I haven't been here for long, I already know some local lawyers - we even had our Christmas dinner with another firm."

Survival of the fittest

As 2009 trudges on, the memories of Christmas are fading fast. With a tough year ahead expected, no one is immune to the impact of the credit crunch and smaller and medium-sized firms have been affected in much the same way as practices across the board. "The economic downturn has definitely had a noticeable effect," confirms Sasha. "We lost our property department." Kelly has also noticed the effect of the downturn - "but only in the same way that it has for law firms across the board. Property and corporate have slowed down, but litigation has been busier, so it's affected the business in different ways".

Dominic agrees: "It [the economic downturn] has undoubtedly had an impact on similar firms in the area. I haven't been here all that long but I've already seen local firms close, which is pretty scary. The firms that suffered were reliant on the property market or tried to cover a lot of practice areas. We are a niche family firm so the economic crisis has had less of an effect on us compared with other firms."

If the shoe fits

Our trainees have shown that when it comes to choosing the firm of your dreams, there is no 'right way'. Whether you are the alternative kind or more suited to the thrills of life with the City slickers, the key is to find the firm that fits.

But tracking down that elusive firm is no walk in the park: it takes in-depth research, and lots of it! With LC.N's help, this doesn't have to be as painful as it sounds, though. Our training contract search function will narrow down a list of firms specific to your requirements - the perfect starting point for conducting your own, more detailed research. Good hunting!