Which law firms are the best at trainee recruitment and development?

With the announcement of the nominations for the 13th annual LawCareers.Net Training & Recruitment Awards, I decided to take a look back over previous years to find out which firms have been the most consistently successful with their trainee recruitment process and training contract programmes.

The results of the LCN Awards are based on an annual survey of trainees and first-year newly qualified solicitors, so these awards genuinely tell you what the people at the firm think of it. Over the past 12 years we have heard from over 20,000 new lawyers – each offering their opinion on their firm’s recruitment, training, training principal and vacation scheme.

The table below shows the 11 most successful firms over the past 12 years:

Burges Salmon heads up the table with an amazing 11 award wins in the Best Recruiter - National/Large Regional Firm category. Frances Bennett, trainee recruitment adviser, says: “We are particularly proud of our wins at the LawCareers.Net Awards because we know it is based on the views of our trainees.” Frances emphasises the importance of providing an excellent candidate experience: “We review our recruitment process every year to ensure that we are recruiting the best people. What stays the same year on year is the candidate experience we try to deliver throughout our process. Our culture is highly collaborative and based on the close working relationships that exist across the firm. We try to get to know each individual and this process starts before our trainees join us. I think that makes a real difference on their first day.”

Andrew Burnette, a partner at Burges Salmon, believes that investment in the recruitment process from everyone at the firm is key: “We invest a great deal in the process and I don’t mean money. It never ceases to amaze me how much time and effort go into making sure that candidates have a good experience. All the people in the process are really dedicated to it and that’s because we’re truly interested in it. We’re recruiting our colleagues of the future, so we want to make sure we get the very best people.”

Melanie Brooking, graduate recruitment manager at Nabarro, which has been awarded the Best Recruiter – Large City Firm trophy for three years in a row, agrees with this outlook: “We believe the key to our success is the firm-wide involvement in our graduate recruitment process; everyone understands the value and importance of finding new talent and they love getting involved.”

Farrer & Co, which has amassed an impressive seven LCN Awards in the Best Recruiter and Best Trainer – Medium City Firm categories, focuses on attracting candidates who are the right ‘fit’ for the firm. Claire Roche, trainee recruitment officer, believes the following: “One of the secrets to our success is our ability to create cohesive trainee intake groups that fit within the culture of the firm, yet contribute as individuals so are not ‘cookie-cutters’ of one another. We know Farrers very well and can key into personalities that will ‘gel’ here. This goes beyond looking at a candidate’s application form and qualifications. It has been said that we get to know our applicants on a level that some recruiting teams do not and because of this know better who would suit the firm.”

Kirkland & Ellis has taken home either the Best Recruiter or Best Trainer - US Firm in the City award for the past five years. Emma Ridley, associate director attorney recruiting and development, explains that they also see the importance in recruiting the right people for the firm. “If our people are successful then so is the firm,” says Emma. “Therefore, we know that recruiting the right people from the start is crucial.  So our graduate recruiting process is absolutely a top priority for us and we really try and get to know the students as individuals. With the people we invite on to our vacation schemes, intelligence is a given. So we dig deeper, we really take the time to get to find out more about them both in a professional and social setting and make sure that we are as much of a match for them as they are for us.”

Nabarro takes a similar approach, ensuring that candidates gain a true insight into the firm. Melanie remarks that “placing the candidates in one department for the entire vacation scheme really allows them the opportunity to shine”. She goes on: “They develop new skills and can demonstrate their ability whilst getting involved in real work. It also gives them a realistic view of the culture at Nabarro. By the time they finish the scheme, they have a clear understanding of the type of work trainees do, the clients we work for, and what life is like at Nabarro.”

It is clear that recruiting a diverse workforce is essential for these firms.  Marie Scott, training principal at Nabarro, comments: “We like to hire a mixed bunch, people with different backgrounds and interests. If you just have clones in a firm, it makes for a very boring work environment. We also try to match our clients with our lawyers, because that relationship is all about personality and building a rapport. Fundamentally, we’re looking for people with some get-up-and-go.”

Danielle Owens, head of recruitment at Shoosmiths, which was awarded the Commendation for Diversity in 2015 and has won another five awards over the years, echoes this sentiment: “Innovation is one of our key competencies; if you want to create dynamic and innovative teams, you need a mix of people. You don’t get that if everyone comes from the same background and has had the same experiences. Clients also want to work with a firm that has an open culture, and if you can embody that, you will build relationships with a greater variety of clients.”

Sam Hope, graduate recruitment manager at Shoosmiths, adds: “There’s no one secret to being a successful graduate employer, but we owe our ongoing success to the people in our business. Everyone plays their part in our trainee solicitor programme because it’s integral to the ambitious growth strategy of the firm. Our trainee solicitors praise our open culture and learning environments, but it’s the high quality of work together with the support of their team which has bagged us the title of Best Trainer for three years in a row.”

If you are deciding which law firms to apply to for a training contract, take a look at past winners for a sure indicator of firms that continually strive to be the best.

The winners of the 2016 LCN Awards will be announced on the evening of 19 May. We will be tweeting the results live on the night using #LCNawards16, so be sure to follow @LawCareersNetUK.