Mark Small’s actions sparked outrage this summer

A solicitor has been rebuked by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for a series of social media posts, one of which boasted of a “great win” over the parents of a vulnerable child.

Mark Small — the director of public sector law firm Baker Small — made Legal Cheek headlines back in June after posting six ill-judged tweets that sparked outrage across the legal profession.

Using the Milton Keynes-based firm’s official Twitter account, Small trumpeted his latest legal victory, appearing to relish in the fact he had created a “storm” for the parents of a vulnerable child.

Initially standing by the posts, Small — again using the firm’s account — began posting images which appeared to mock those who had taken issue with his actions. The six offending tweets and accompanying Twitter account have since been deleted.

Diane Kay — who has an 11-year-old son with special educational needs (SEN) — wasted no time in reporting Small’s actions to the SRA. Publishing her letter of complaint online, Kay branded the tweets “inappropriate” and claimed they “showed a lack of sincerity to parents”.

Five months on and the SRA has today confirmed that disciplinary action has been taken against Small. Handing the solicitor a rebuke (a formal reprimand) for his social media outburst, the regulatory decision reveals that Small accepted “the content of the tweets was unprofessional and offensive”.

In mitigation the SRA noted that Small had published a written apology within 24 hours and subsequently made a donation to charity. The solicitor — who has kept a low profile on social media since the incident — was also ordered to pay costs of £600.

Legal Cheek reported earlier this summer that the solicitor’s social media rant had resulted in a number of lucrative clients parting ways with Baker Small. Within 48 hours of the tweets being published, both Norfolk County Council and Cambridge County Council ditched the firm.

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It’s not all work and no play

Eight law firms have been handed the top A* grade for social life in Legal Cheek’s exclusive survey of over 1,500 trainees and junior solicitors.

Now we know what you’re thinking. Solicitors and social life are not usually two things you hear in the same sentence — especially those earning their crust at the corporate coalface. But having questioned rookies from across nearly 60 top UK law firms, Legal Cheek has obtained a unique insight into how trainees and associates like to unwind after a hard day’s work.

As part of the in-depth survey, respondents were asked to rank their firm’s social life on a one to ten sliding scale, with one being “I once nodded to a colleague in the queue in Pret” right through to the top score of ten, defined as “We are out together every night, including Sundays.”

So let’s crack on and reveal why we awarded eight firms with an A* for social life. In no particular order, the firms are…

Baker & McKenzie

The international behemoth — which also scored top marks for its friendly trainees — appears to be a hive of social activity. After a long working week, the firm’s drinks trolley fires the starting pistol on the weekend for Bakers’ lawyers.

Despite the firm’s London office being just a stone’s throw from Fleet Street, insiders suggest that the hipster-filled bars of East London are the destination of choice for many a trainee. One even joked that the firm “must be close to arranging a permanent trainee secondment to Book Club in Shoreditch.”

Lawyers with a few more years post-qualification experience under their belts tend to hang around the Blackfriar Pub, with one commenting that the pub becomes “B&M HQ after 5:30pm on a Friday”. So students on the hunt for a training contract, you know where to go.

Read Baker & McKenzie’s full Legal Cheek survey scorecard here.

Bird & Bird

The lawyers over at City outfit Bird & Bird appear to be sports mad. You name it, they play it, with one lawyer revealing that there’s rugby, football (both men and women’s teams), cricket and softball evenings throughout the week.

If that wasn’t enough, the firm holds an annual football tournament which gets lawyers from all its offices around the world together for a weekend. Happily, for those who struggle with the beautiful game, “the football is optional and instead you get to mingle with international colleagues over a weekend of partying.”

One respondent described the firm as “very sociable with colleagues having lunch together most days and drinks on a Thursday and Friday night.”

Read Bird & Bird’s full Legal Cheek survey scorecard here.

Jones Day

The London office of US heavyweight Jones Day was a strong performer in the social life category. Located just around the corner from Inner Temple, lawyers — who pocket a generous £85,000 upon qualification — regularly have evening drinks together.

Legal Cheek understands the scene at the Tudor Street-based outfit is very lively, with partners, trainees and everyone else in between part of the fun. Away from the office, hierarchies are said to very much breakdown as close ties are forged amid the less formal setting. One firm insider confirmed that work socials are “always well-attended”.

Read Jones Day’s full Legal Cheek survey scorecard here.

Travers Smith

Travers lawyers had nothing but good things to say about their firm’s social life. One source said there are plenty of “ad hoc trips to the pub” while another revealed there is a “good mix of organised events” which include a plethora of sporting activities.

For those lawyers looking for something a little more highbrow, there are also regular trips to The Globe theatre and even a “fantastic choir”. One insider revealed plans to host a firm “camping trip”, plus there are rumours of a “Total Wipe Out” style competition in the pipeline. Now who wouldn’t want to see Sean from M&A tackle the big red balls…

Read Travers Smith’s full Legal Cheek survey scorecard here.

Shearman and Sterling

It certainly isn’t all work and no play for the lawyers based at the London office of this elite US giant. One source claimed that socialising over a couple of cocktails with colleagues was the norm, while another branded the firm’s social life “very good”.

With the firm’s plush office just a stone’s throw from Liverpool Street and Shoreditch, a plethora of swanky restaurants, cool rooftop bars and trendy pop-up eateries are all within easy walking distance.

One favourite haunt appears to be the Queen of Hoxton nightclub. Rumour has it if you nip down on a Friday evening, you’re likely to bump into a well dressed Shearman lawyer enjoying a spot of drum and bass in the club’s famous basement.

Read Shearman and Sterling’s full Legal Cheek survey scorecard here.

Taylor Wessing

The tech-focused international law firm scored top marks for its social life. Feedback from lawyers was very positive, with many describing Taylor Wessing’s drinks trolley as the perfect way to start the weekend.

As afternoon turns to evening many trainees and associates will continue to socialise together at one of the many trendy wine bars found in close proximity to the firm’s office.

A popular get-together spot is apparently the White Swan on Fetter Lane — right next door to DAC Beachcroft. Reports of inter-firm pub drinking games are yet to be confirmed.

Read Taylor Wessing’s full Legal Cheek survey scorecard here.

Burges Salmon

The Bristol-headquartered outfit has scored well across the board, and social life is no different. Bagging itself a Legal Cheek A*, many sources from within the firm trumpeted Burges Salmon’s excellent atmosphere, with one branding the office a “very sociable place” to work.

One lawyer revealed that “everyone is very friendly and willing to go out for a drink”, while another said “trainees often spend time in evenings and weekends together”. One associate evens recalls a time when a large number of the firm’s lawyers downed tools and descended on a local boozer to watch the Wimbledon men’s tennis final.

The firm also plays host to a number of charity events which lawyers are encouraged to get involved with.

Read Burges Salmon’s full Legal Cheek survey scorecard here.

Squire Patton Boggs

Last, but by no means least, Squire Patton Boggs. With offices in London, Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester, the solid corporate all-rounder received the top grade in Legal Cheek’s annual survey for social life.

“Generally there is lots going on” said one insider, but this “slightly depends on the department you’re based in.” Another source revealed “there is a large amount of social interaction between trainees at weekends”.

With “monthly pay day drinks” and “trainee lunches” there’s always an excuse to get together with colleagues to discuss the latest in law firm gossip commercial awareness.

Read Squire Patton Boggs’s full Legal Cheek survey scorecard here.

You can access all of our law firm profiles through the Legal Cheek Most List.

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Leapfrog appeal hangs in the balance as judges put significant roadblock in Article 50’s way

The High Court, in what has proven to be the most important, emotive and divisive legal affairs story of the year, has ruled that Article 50 CANNOT be triggered without a free vote in parliament.

BREAKING: the CLAIMANTS have WON the Brexit judicial review challenge

— Legal Cheek (@legalcheek) November 3, 2016

Addressing a packed courtroom 4 of the Royal Courts of Justice this morning, the Lord Chief Justice — sat between Sir Terence Etherton and Lord Justice Sales — said the court expresses no political views on the advantages and disadvantages of leaving the European Union but considered the question purely as a matter of law.

The court was swayed by the impressive advocacy delivered by Blackstone Chambers’ Lord Pannick QC, who represented the lead claimant, Gina Miller (video below), at the two-and-a-half day judicial review hearing.

Gina Miller and her legal team leaving the RCJ to applause, tells press 'this is about process, not politics' pic.twitter.com/0fcGXerTQY

— Legal Cheek (@legalcheek) November 3, 2016

Lord Thomas agreed with the claimant that the European Communities Act 1972 gives UK citizens certain rights and once Article 50 is triggered, the rights conferred by this statute will be lost. Parliament is sovereign and the crown cannot, by exercise of its prerogative powers, override rights laid down by parliament. As a result, Article 50’s invocation must be conditional on parliamentary approval.

Lots and lots of press outside the RCJ rn pic.twitter.com/RbfgI53got

— Legal Cheek (@legalcheek) November 3, 2016

Whether this line of reasoning is correct has proved incredibly divisive in the run up to today’s judgment. Just last month, our readers — when asked who they thought would win the Brexit High Court challenge — were split 50/50, an uncanny near re-run of the Brexit referendum itself.

Though we now have judicial authority on this, the Brexit legal challenge saga may not be over. The Supreme Court has said it will accept a leapfrog appeal and has reserved space on 7 and 8 December for a hearing before eleven justices.

However, the possible Supreme Court hearing hinges on whether or not an appeal is lodged. Though this result is expected to produce a significant bump in the road for the UK’s exit from the EU, Joshua Rozenberg QC has speculated the government may not want to risk losing the case twice and will accept the result instead.

UPDATE: 11:38am Thursday 3 November

A government spokesperson has reportedly said:

The country voted to leave the European Union in a referendum approved by act of parliament. And the government is determined to respect the result of the referendum. We will appeal this judgement [sic].

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Trainees at the US-headquartered outfit also handed fresh pay rises

International law firm K&L Gates has upped the pay packets of its junior lawyers to £71,000, Legal Cheek can reveal.

The firm — which offers around 10 London-based training contracts annually — has chucked an extra £3,000 at its newly qualified (NQ) cohort, equating to a boost of just over 4%.

According to Legal Cheek’s 2016/17 Most List, K&L Gates’ rookies are now earning the same as their counterparts at single-office City outfit Macfarlanes, and whole £1,000 more than those at Ashurst, DLA Piper and King & Wood Mallesons.

Further down the pecking order, trainees at the US-headquartered firm have also been awarded pay increases. Those in year one of their training contracts will now pocket £41,000, up from £37,500 — an increase of 9%. While those a year ahead have been handed a £2,000 (5%) increase, taking salaries up from £44,000 to £46,000.

Across the pond, K&L Gates has been a little more flash with its cash. Back in June — responding to pay increases adopted by New York titan Cravath, Swaine & Moore — the firm hiked new starter pay (look away now London associates) from an already impressive $160,000 (£130,000) to an eye watering $180,000 (£145,000) across a number of its US offices.

Away from the exciting world of lawyer pay, Legal Cheek’s latest law firm survey revealed a few interesting tit-bits about K&L Gates London office.

According to our research, lawyers at the firm often work long days, arriving at the office (on average) at 9:07am and not leaving till after 7:00pm. The firm — which, the survey shows, appears to offer little international travel — did score highly across a number of key areas, including quality of training, social life and peer support.

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Commercial Awareness Question Time comes to Ashurst

As Britain prepares to go forth into the world and forge new trade deals ahead of its exit from the European Union, Legal Cheek is teaming up with global law firm Ashurst to learn more about life as an international business lawyer.

Lawyers at the firm — which has 25 offices across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and the US — will share their experiences of living and working abroad and advising on cross-border deals and cases.

Attendees will be able to ask the panel any questions they like in the Question Time-style discussion. Afterwards there will be drinks and an opportunity to network with the firm’s lawyers and graduate recruitment team in Ashurst’s London office.

The event takes place on Thursday 17 November, with the discussion running from 6-7pm, and the drinks and networking between 7-8:30pm. Fifty free places are up for grabs.

Apply to attend here. You’ll be asked to submit a CV and two questions for the panel. The CVs of those offered places will be passed on to Ashurst’s graduate recruitment team.

Students of all levels are welcome, but places are limited.

The post Event: From Australia to London and everywhere in between — life as a global business lawyer appeared first on Legal Cheek.

LOL

Footage has emerged of lawyers at international giant Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) taking part in a spot of ‘laughter yoga’.

The short clip — which has appeared this morning on YouTube (embedded above) and been picked up in the legal blogosphere — shows lawyers at HSF’s Dubai office embracing the somewhat unusual class and having a good old chuckle session.

Laughter yoga — which apparently helps improve “mindfulness and mental well-being” — was part of the firm’s Diwali (the Hindu festival of light) celebrations.

A spokesperson for HSF told Legal Cheek:

We are delighted to see that partners and staff enjoyed our Diwali party in Dubai. The day involved sampling delicious Indian cuisine, an informative session on the traditions and history of Diwali and an introduction to the practice of laughter yoga, which improves mindfulness and mental well-being. As a firm we celebrate diversity, including all religions and faiths, and this event was organised by our Diversity & Inclusion network

The post Video: Herbert Smith Freehills lawyers take ‘laughter yoga’ class appeared first on Legal Cheek.

“I get good reports from my cardiologist”

A top Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer lawyer has revealed how using a special treadmill desk has changed his life.

Alexander John Wilbraham (pictured top) — counsel at the magic circle giant’s Washington DC office — clocks up almost two miles every hour at what is now his primary office desk.

Having suffered from a blocked heart artery back in 2012, the arbitration specialist, keen to improve on his fitness, spent $1,500 (£1,200) on the piece of office-based exercise equipment.

Speaking to The National Law Journal (registration required), Wilbraham — who is a graduate of the University of Manchester — said:

It’s a little difficult to begin with. It’s a little like being at sea. There are slightly more inaccuracies in typing. Sometimes when I’m racking my brain over a paragraph, I will stop the machine. I can do most things except correct by hand, like type emails, attend conference calls.

Continuing, the 51-year-old — who qualified in the United Kingdom at Lawrence Graham (now known as Gowling WLG) — revealed:

I get good reports from my cardiologist.

Wearing a headset to take calls, the experienced lawyer has lost over 13kg in weight since he started using the contraption. So for all you City lawyers who like to indulge over the festive period, start placing your orders now.

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Could these start-ups be the banks of the future?

Addleshaw Goddard has become the latest corporate law firm to try and capitalise on the potentially lucrative fintech market, offering free legal support to its entrepreneurial stars.

Unveiling its new ‘AG Elevate scheme’ earlier today — which follows similar initiatives by Slaughter and May and Simmons & Simmons — the firm revealed that its top fintech lawyers will provide gratis tailored legal advice and mentoring, worth as much as £500,000. The so-called ‘northern giant’ — due to its strong presence in both Leeds and Manchester — will initially offer the service to 16 businesses over a 12-month period.

The new programme will target both newbies to the fintech scene and more established players. Both routes offer “mentoring services and free legal advice, together with access to Addleshaw’s training sessions and networking events”. The application process will be announced at the launch event next week, along with details on the criteria for selection.

Fiona Ghosh, who heads up the firm’s fintech group, said:

We want to be at the heart of helping firms we work with to be a success. Fintechs often come to market quickly and need nimble advisers that they can work collaboratively with, who are responsive, as well as people they can talk to, who can offer guidance and support, rather than just providers of hard edged legal advice.

Today’s news comes less than a month after a similar scheme was trumpeted by magic circle outfit Slaughter and May.

Leaping aboard the fintech bandwagon, the firm announced that it would initially offer free legal advice to 10 UK-based startups. Selected by a panel of experts, the young tech up-and-comers will — along with £30,000 of legal support — have access to model legal documentation and bespoke mentoring in areas such a pitching and presenting.

Back in May, international giant Simmons & Simmons became one of the first firms to embrace the new movement, launching its ‘S&S FinTech Fund’. Setting aside over £100,000 to help “exciting” new fintech businesses, Simmons unveiled its first batch of beneficiaries last month, which included Cuvva, a business specialising in “hourly car insurance on-demand”.

Keen to know more about this hot new area of law? You can re-watch Legal Cheek’s FinTech, AI and online justice event here.

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Case to be heard in “early December”

The government has in the last hour officially confirmed that it will appeal a High Court judgment handed down last week which stated that Article 50 cannot be triggered without a vote in parliament.

Addressing a packed House of Commons this afternoon, David Davis MP, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, revealed that the Supreme Court had accepted a leapfrog appeal (which jumps the Court of Appeal) from the government, and will hopefully hear the matter in “early December, with a decision shortly after”.

Flanked by a rather glum looking Jeremy Wright QC, Davis claimed that the government’s timetable for triggering Article 50 in March 2017 remained on track in spite of last week’s setback.

On Thursday, sitting in Court Room 4 of the Royal Courts of Justice, the Lord Chief Justice — alongside Sir Terence Etherton and Lord Justice Sales — explained that the government’s arguments were “contrary to fundamental constitutional principles of the sovereignty of parliament”. As a result, the top legal trio ruled that Article 50 invocation must be conditional on parliamentary approval — i.e. it must be put to a vote.

As Legal Cheek reported late last week, the High Court decision did not sit well with certain sections of the British press.

Several newspapers, including the Mail Online, sparked outrage amongst lawyers after appearing to personally attack the judges involved. Branding Lord Thomas and co as “enemies of the people”, the Mail Online went as far as describing Etherton — who was recently installed as Master of the Rolls — as an “openly gay ex-Olympic fencer”.

'Openly gay'? Is it still 1950? https://t.co/RNrF1Dx8Lg

— Paul Bernal (@PaulbernalUK) November 3, 2016

With rumours of a government appeal circulating within hours of the decision, it didn’t take long for the Mail — whose readership is notably pro-Brexit — to set its sights on the Supreme Court justices. In a series of follow up stories, it has since labelled Lady Hale a “radical feminist”, Lord Kerr as an “unashamed champion of the Human Rights Act” and Lord Reed as a “a Brussels man to his fingertips”.

Meanwhile, ex UKIP-leader and staunch Brexit supporter Nigel Farage revealed over the weekend plans to lead a 100,000-strong march to the Supreme Court on the day of the appeal hearing. Appearing on BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show (video below) on Sunday — alongside the lead claimant in the Brexit case Gina Miller — Farage claimed that any attempt to overturn the referendum decision would create “political anger the likes of which none of us in our lifetimes have ever witnessed”.

Despite being 1-0 to the claimants, several of them have pre-empted the government’s appeal and started a fresh round of fundraising to cover the next stage of the legal battle. One group, known as the “The People’s Challenge to Article 50”, has already raised a whopping £136,000 via legal crowdfunding platform CrowdJustice since the decision was handed down on Thursday morning.

Grahame Pigney — who set up the page — said:

We will defend our position in the Supreme Court with the same vigour and commitment, and we are crowdfunding again to make sure we have the resources to best defend our case against the government.

The post Government confirms it WILL appeal to Supreme Court over Brexit ruling appeared first on Legal Cheek.

They won’t quite drop everything just to see you smile, but they’re certainly very nice

With their rapier-like commercial instincts and million pound earnings, corporate law firm partners aren’t a category of people known for their niceness.

But perhaps society has got it all wrong, because partners scored consistently highly for their approachability in the Legal Cheek Trainee and Junior Lawyer Survey. Of the nearly 60 firms surveyed, 16% received an A* grade for this category, 64% an A, 18% a B and just 2% a C.

The 1,500+ top UK law firm trainees and junior lawyers who responded to the survey were asked to rank their partner approachability on a 1-10 sliding scale, with one defined as ‘I have yet to come within 100 metres of one’ and ten as ‘They will drop everything — including a multi-client conference call — just to see me smile’. They were also encouraged to write comments, several of which we have included below.

In no particular order, the firms which bagged A*s are…

RPC

At RPC the open plan office and “mixed pods” mean that trainees can find themselves sitting alongside the firm’s managing partner. Little wonder, then, that the firm is among the top scoring for partner approachability.

The lack of physical walls sets the tone for a culture that is one of the least hierarchical in the City. Questions are said to be “positively encouraged”, with instruction coming from all angles. “Even if your supervisor isn’t around there are always people who can point you in the right direction,” reports another insider.

To top it all off, RPC’s bosses are so relaxed they even allow trainees to run an uncensored Twitter account that provides often disarmingly honest insights into life in the law.

RPC profile [Legal Cheek Most List]

Shearman & Sterling

OK, so there are doors at Shearman & Sterling — unlike RPC, the firm isn’t open plan — but they largely remain open.

“We’re always reminded that there’s an open door policy and I never hesitate to drop by if I have something to ask or say,” reports one London-based Shearman rookie.

Of course, many firms claim to have an “open door policy” while often in reality it can prove to be merely a token gesture. What marks Shearman & Sterling out from the crowd is the relative informality that pervades its corridors, with the firm’s young (and young at heart) partners tending towards the cool metropolitan type rather than the fusty solicitor caricature sometimes found elsewhere in London.

Shearman & Sterling profile [Legal Cheek Most List]

Baker & McKenzie

Fancy a natter about topics other than the state of the M&A market? Well, Baker & McKenzie chiefs are happy to oblige.

“You can approach partners here to discuss work issues, but also to talk about plans for the weekend or last night’s football match,” one trainee tells us. “It’s an office run by very down to earth and likable people in the main.”

But when the conversation moves on from Arsenal’s latest game to matters professional, fear not, the Bakers partners’ interest remains just as keen. “If you ask a question, they will answer it without making you feel silly,” another tipster tells us. Indeed, one insider was so enthused that they proclaimed: “My supervisor is wonderful — supportive, interested and inspiring!”

Baker & McKenzie profile [Legal Cheek Most List]

Trowers & Hamlins

Big enough to offer 23 training contracts annually and a high chance of doing an international secondment thanks to a large presence in the Middle East, but small enough to have a “really good and friendly work environment”.

Trowers also benefits from its strong regional UK presence, with the firm’s Manchester, Birmingham and Exeter offices said to be particularly “tight knit”.

The approachability of the firm’s partners has its roots in a culture that values work-life balance and quality of work for trainees to a greater extent than many rival firms. “Everyone is keen to help you,” one insider tells us.

Trowers & Hamlins profile [Legal Cheek Most List]

Osborne Clarke

A consistent high scorer in the Legal Cheek Trainee and Junior Lawyer Survey, Osborne Clarke is managing to maintain its laid back nature as it grows into a larger corporate player with an expanding international network.

For “incredibly busy and stressed lawyers”, the firm’s partners remain “extremely approachable”. One insider tells us: “I’ve never been made to feel that I can’t approach anyone if I have a question and, more often than not, people will always take five minutes out to talk through an issue, regardless of how busy they are.”

Another claims: “I can be honest with them and most importantly, make fun of them!”

Osborne Clarke profile [Legal Cheek Most List]

Fieldfisher

Another firm that’s big enough to offer plentiful opportunities but small enough to be nice, Fieldfisher benefits from a “really supportive environment from senior partner down to paralegal”.

The mix of northern affability (the firm has a sizeable Manchester office) and London charm seems to be another factor behind Fieldfisher’s friendliness.

Indeed, some trainees reckon that Legal Cheek’s sliding scale of partner approachability (with a ten defined as ‘They will drop everything — including a multi-client conference call — just to see me smile”) is met literally by some members of the firm.

“Absolutely, your option for a score of 10 is spot on,” says one rookie.

Fieldfisher profile [Legal Cheek Most List]

Travers Smith

Travers Smith has a system where trainees share a room with a partner and an associate in lots of little microcosms of law firm life.

The effect is that “any fear tends to dissipate fairly quickly”, as cohabitation quickly strips bosses of their mystique. “They’re all pretty human,” observes one trainee. Another adds that the set up “sets the tone of the culture at the top and allows it to filter down throughout the firm”.

Still, while Travers’ partners may be approachable, they’re also very hard-working (the £1.02 million profit per equity partner doesn’t generate itself). As such, the firm’s model relies on an ease and familiarity between its different generations. Partners are “normally very busy but will generally make time for you where possible”, reports another insider.

Travers Smith profile [Legal Cheek Most List]

Bristows

Did you really think famously lovely Bristows wouldn’t be in the mix for most approachable partners? These people are genuinely nice — they allow juniors to leave the office just after 6:30pm every day, which is pretty incredible for a London corporate law firm!

The Bristows head honchos are also smart, creating an organisation that is high in sophistication and maturity thanks to a policy of hiring older staff members, like masters and PhD grads, many of whom have a science background. Being approachable is easy when you don’t have clueless 22-year-olds knocking on your door.

Bristows profile [Legal Cheek Most List]

TLT

The high levels of responsibility that TLT encourages its trainees and junior lawyers to take on sets the tone for a firm that is decidedly light on hierarchies.

“Trainees are really valued and treated as part of the team,” one of them tells us. Another expresses a similar sentiment: “Partners and associates always have time to answer questions and take an interest in trainee development across the office.”

TLT’s open plan offices ensure that approachability is also facilitated in a literal sense. Expect to be treated if not quite as equals by partners but pretty much as close to it as you will get in a law firm.

TLT profile [Legal Cheek Most List]

You can access all of our law firm profiles through the Legal Cheek Most List.

If you would like to purchase a report containing a full breakdown of Legal Cheek Trainee and Junior Lawyer Survey results for your firm, benchmarked against the other participating firms and a custom selected group of peer firms, please contact Legal Cheek Research for more details.

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“This is certainly a lower number of trainees than we’d hoped to retain”, says firm

National law behemoth DWF has revealed a disappointing autumn retention result of just 62%.

The firm — which has recently taken grand office space in London’s Walkie Talkie Building — confirmed that from a 47-strong trainee cohort, 29 were sticking around post-qualification.

Ten of the new associates are based in London, eight started life as a lawyer in Manchester, the firm’s Liverpool and Leeds offices gained three new recruits each, two are based in Newcastle, and the remaining three are split across the firm’s Birmingham, Glasgow and Edinburgh outposts.

DWF confirmed that its corporate and banking practice received the lion’s share of the newbie lawyers, with 12. Litigation gained nine, real estate were handed six, and the firm’s insurance team received two new associates.

Kate Hasluck, emerging talent manager at DWF, said:

This year many of our trainees were committed to securing roles in particular practice areas and unfortunately we weren’t able to accommodate all of these. This is certainly a lower number of trainees than we’d hoped to retain, but we remain as committed as ever to investing in our trainees and giving them valuable career opportunities including client secondments and international experience.

Having swallowed up firms including Buller Jeffries, Crutes, Biggart Baillie and Cobbetts, DWF — which offers around 50 training positions annually — has seen its lawyer ranks swell to more than 1,000. Unfortunately, this appears to have had a profound impact on retention performances at the firm.

This time last year DWF posted a retention figure of 74%, with 35 out of a training cohort of 47 staying put. The year before that the firm’s retention rate stood at a healthy 81%.

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And if he wins, it’s a bonanza for lawyers

In less than 24 hours Donald Trump could be the President of the United States. This may not be good news for a number of people, among them:

Muslims. In December 2015, the outspoken chairman and president, Trump Association, called for a ban on Muslims entering the US. Mexicans. As Trump put it:

When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending the best. They’re not sending you, they’re sending people that have lots of problems and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They bring crime. They’re rapists… And some, I assume, are good people.

Trump would like to build a wall between Mexico and the US.

Women. The Donald’s “locker room” banter is well-known. He also once said:

You know, it really doesn’t matter what the media write as long as you’ve got a young, and beautiful, piece of ass.

Hillary Clinton. Trump doesn’t like his opponent in the presidential race. To him, she is “crooked Hillary” — and, at the third Presidential Debate, “a nasty woman”.

The American media. Trump has made many promises to change America’s libel laws. He wants to make it easier (for people like him) to sue for libel “and win money”.

We could go on, and on, and on, but if he wins one group of American citizens is sure to profit from Trump.

Yes, lawyers. Consider:

Trump as President, seeking to implement a ban on Muslims entering the US. Lots of work for human rights and immigration lawyers, for and against.

Trump as President, building a wall between Mexico and the US. Plenty for project finance and construction lawyers to get their teeth into.

Trump as President, ensuring that whatever happens, he has “a young, and beautiful, piece of ass”. Hang on — he’s happily married. This was just a blast from the locker room. Nothing doing.

Trump as President, suing Hillary Clinton for the tort of being Hillary Clinton. New legal ground here; plenty to ponder.

Trump as President, changing America’s libel laws. Here the keen golfer will need to tackle the US Constitution and get rid of the First Amendment. This is no small undertaking and will require a Jarndyce v. Jarndyce level of legal work.

We say: here’s to democracy.

Trump says: Have I told you the one about Bill Clinton’s wife?

American citizens say: You’ll have to wait a bit longer.

*Er, President.

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Becca Naylor’s passion for human rights has led her to a dream job with Reed Smith

“It was too good an opportunity to pass by,” says Rebecca Naylor. “I’ve always had a passion for human rights. I couldn’t ignore the chance to work in the sector.”

Rebecca — or Becca, as she is known — is referring to a role that came her way while she was still a trainee with Reed Smith: being the firm’s pro bono manager for Europe, the Middle East and Asia (EMEA).

“The job was advertised internally, after my predecessor left in 2015,” says Becca. “I realised it was what I wanted to do.” Becca followed her passion, applied for the job, and got it — a result that both delighted her, and made for a tough second year as a Reed Smith trainee.

“I started as pro bono manager while I was still a trainee, meaning, in effect, that I had two jobs for a year,” she explains. “But I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I have no regrets, and love every minute of the job.”

Becca started as Reed Smith’s pro bono manager, EMEA, in March 2015, qualifying as a solicitor and becoming an associate a year later, in February 2016. Since then, she has continued to practise as a solicitor, but the bulk of her work is in managing the firm’s EMEA pro bono activities. “I’d say the split is 80% pro bono work, 20% legal work,” she says. “It’s just right for me — I maintain my skillset as a solicitor, but enjoy a huge variety of work in human rights and pro bono, which have always fascinated me.”

Brought up in Haslemere, Surrey, Becca attended Marlborough College and excelled in her A-levels, with four A grades in history, latin, maths and further maths. She graduated with an LLB from Cambridge University in 2012, but before embarking on the hard graft of a law degree decided to see the world. “I worked in my local Wetherspoons to save some money, then travelled to Bangladesh, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and the United States,” she says. The highlight was New Zealand: “It’s so beautiful — and so relaxed and welcoming,” says Becca.

Back in the UK, Becca completed the LPC with BPP Law School. Then came volunteer work that was to crystallise an interest in human rights that was first kindled when she was a teenager:

I worked for four months as a volunteer with Reprieve, the non-profit organisation that focuses on fighting the death penalty. I was inspired to work there by Nick Yarris, a former death row prisoner who gave a talk at Marlborough. He went on to write an incredible book about his experience of being on death row for a crime he didn’t commit, called Seven Days to Live.

Inspired by Yarris, Becca went to “just about every talk going” by Clive Stafford Smith, the human rights lawyer who founded Reprieve in 1999 (a year after the death penalty was officially abolished in the UK). While at Reprieve, Becca’s volunteer work was in the Abuses in Counter Terrorism team, assisting clients in Guantanamo Bay, people in torture and rendition cases, and drone strike victims. She then added to this experience by working for British civil liberties and human rights campaign group Liberty.

“This was a three-month role,” says Becca, “lasting from September 2014 to December 2014. I worked in the Advice and Information team providing free legal advice to the public.”

February 2014 saw Becca start as a trainee with Reed Smith. To fast forward to today, she now manages pro bono work across 12 EMEA offices, reporting to Michael Skrein, the firm’s EMEA pro bono partner. “I love the work,” says Becca, continuing:

There are always so many different things going on, whether we’re working with charities who’d like us to get involved with what they do, or existing pro bono clients, or giving talks and presentations or getting involved on the ground. No one day is ever the same.

Becca’s work at Reed Smith has focused on death penalty cases and an FGM awareness project, as well as refugee work in Greece. “I spent three weeks as part of a Reed Smith team on Lesbos, counselling and supporting refugees,” she says. “We were also providing free legal advice and supporting local lawyers.”

Becca says the experience was “amazing – we were in the camp each day from 9am to 5pm, working under direct sunlight in 36C degree heat. It was tough but rewarding.” And more recently, she’s been helping set up a domestic violence advice centre in Bethnal Green. “It’s great to do things closer to home, in the local community,” says Becca.

Whether it’s human rights in Bethnal Green, Greece, or somewhere else entirely, you get the feeling that Becca Naylor will be involved — and that’s just the way she likes it.

This week is National Pro Bono Week. Find out more about what’s going on here.

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Futuristic system has already been put to work on “a number of multi-billion dollar transactions”

National law firm Pinsent Masons has become the latest corporate outfit to embrace the weird and wonderful world of artificial intelligence (AI), all be it with a Brexit-themed twist.

In these uncertain times for the economy, the top legal minds over at Pinsent Masons have been quietly building a giant robot software system which can help its clients “identify risks” that the United Kingdom’s impending EU exit could pose to their businesses interests.

The system, called TermFrame, can “extract, review and analyse key contract risks, and provide actionable risk reports”, for the firm’s lawyers and clients. The new AI kit — which has taken years to develop — has already been used on a number of “multi-billion dollar transactions”, according to the firm.

Clare Francis, a partner in the commercial team at Pinsent Masons who has led on the development of the new system said:

In the uncertain world of Brexit, our clients have asked us how best to manage the risk posed by that continuing uncertainty through their contracts and we wanted to develop a truly comprehensive response. By leveraging the firm’s various technologies we can build certainty, efficiency and consistency into an overall solution. That enables clients to guard against risks but also consider what competitive advantage can be gained through astute contracting. The result is an altogether better outcome for the client.

Pinsent Masons is now rubbing shoulders with a number of other top firms who have embraced AI software in one form or another.

Back in September, magic circle giant Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer revealed it was joining both Clifford Chance and DLA Piper in signing up to an AI system known as Kiara. Meanhwile — just two weeks before Freshfields’ announcement — uber-traditional law firm Slaughter and May confirmed it had punted for a self-learning software package called Luminance. This followed Linklaters‘ decision earlier this summer to team up with a computer called RAVN, which, according to the firm can undertake a number of automated tasks.

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But it won’t backdate lawyer pay packets

International law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has finally got round to thawing a post-EU referendum pay freeze it had imposed on all its London-based lawyers.

The firm — which notched up a healthy profit per equity partner (PEP) of £683,000 — fired an email off to UK staff back in July, saying that due to “political and financial uncertainty” it would have to “defer” salary reviews for a period of four months.

Today — true to its word — the firm revealed it had restarted salary reviews which took effect on 1 November. But in what could be seen as controversial move by the BLP big-wigs, it has chosen not to backdate pay to July, when it first implemented the freeze.

Northern powerhouse Addleshaw Goddard and City outfit Gowling WLG — who have both since lifted pay freezes they had implemented back in August — confirmed, at the time, that all salary increases would be backdated. But it would appear BLP’s cohort have had no such luck, and will miss out on four months’ worth of pay increases.

The firm — which was the first to implement pay review suspensions in the wake of a shock referendum result — confirmed that salary reviews would now revert back to normal, taking place each July.

The only other large firms to suspend summer pay increases are Trowers & Hamlins and Bond Dickinson.

Speaking back in September a spokesperson for Trowers told Legal Cheek that it would be conducting salary reviews “this year”. Meanwhile, Bond Dickinson’s managing partner Jonathan Blair, commenting on the firm’s decision to freeze lawyer remuneration, said the firm would “revisit this again in November”.

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‘Equivalent Means’ shaking up legal profession

A radical new route to solicitor qualification that allows paralegals to bypass the training contract stage is gaining traction.

According to Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) figures that have been seen exclusively by Legal Cheek, 105 Legal Practice Course (LPC) graduates have successfully applied for ‘Equivalent Means’ since it was launched in summer 2014.

The system — which has been nicknamed ‘The Paralegal Shortcut’ — enables paralegals to keep a record of their work across three different seats and then present it to the SRA. Provided they meet the equivalent criteria for a training contract, they then become solicitors.

SRA director of education and training Julie Brannan expressed her pleasure at the growing popularity of Equivalent Means, while also telling of her hopes to make the principle of empowering paralegals behind it more mainstream, telling us:

I am very pleased to see the numbers of equivalent means applications continuing to grow steadily. However, pulling the evidence together to make an application can be daunting. I hope that being more flexible about legal work experience but requiring all intending solicitors to take the same, rigorous assessment, as we have proposed in our SQE consultation, would encourage even more, talented people to qualify as solicitors.

The first ever graduate to qualify via Equivalent Means, Shaun Lawler, has previously spoken of the heavy burden that the route places on paralegals to keep track of their development while also emphasising the importance of “having a supportive supervisor”.

But the progress of Lawler, who is now a solicitor at respected City practice Shakespeare Martineau, and the 100+ others like him, illustrate the do-ability of the short-cut.

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Is it as glamorous as it sounds? We spoke to Hardwicke barrister Frederico Singarajah to find out

Meeting with Frederico Singarajah at his chambers during a warm autumn afternoon — which already seems a distant memory as November ushers in winter — it was impossible not to comment on the unseasonal heat.

With the rest of the capital struggling with the humid temperatures, Singarajah seemed in his element. He’d just got back from São Paulo and was heading off to New York later on in the week. The heat didn’t bother him; he’s used to it.

A specialist in international arbitrations and commercial litigation at Hardwicke, Singarajah has made “countless” trips abroad since he was called to the bar seven years ago.

Singarajah was himself born in Brazil, moving to the United Kingdom aged 14. He has used his innate understanding of the Latin American market and his solid Portuguese and Spanish language skills to build an impressive international law practice. He has just been instructed on an arbitration involving parties in Thailand and Ghana worth US $110 million — the highest value case he has dealt with so far.

Given the multi-jurisdictional nature of his job, it’s unsurprising Singarajah spends lots of his time travelling. Speaking to Legal Cheek Careers, Singarajah tells us he feels “very privileged” to have the opportunity to visit so many different countries. That said, life on the road as an international lawyer can be “a hard slog”. He explains:

It’s not really as glamorous as it sounds; it’s a lot of working out of suitcases, in hotel rooms and on planes. When you go to these amazing places you’re not there to sightsee and have fun.

Two years ago, Singarajah visited Tokyo for a conference and booked off two days to explore the city. His sightseeing hopes were blighted when a new arbitration came in, meaning he had to spend those two days in his hotel room preparing for trial. “I would have rather been in chambers where I had all my stuff; it wasn’t ideal conditions,” he comments.

Singarajah now spends most of his time dealing with complex international arbitrations instead of conducting litigation, and in that sense his experience of the bar has not been typical.

Neither has his journey into the profession. Born into a family of keen scientists, Singarajah defied the odds and studied a politics and sociology degree at the University of Southampton.

Though he enjoyed his undergraduate studies, Singarajah found himself questioning what sort of career he could build for himself off the back of his degree. He didn’t fancy becoming a politician or a sociologist, so headed to Bournemouth University to study what’s now called the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL).

Fresh-faced law graduate Singarajah later studied the Legal Practice Course (LPC) at the University of Westminster (where he now lectures part-time), before finding a training contract at a small firm called Maxwell Alves.

Then things moved on very quickly. Under regulatory rules in place at the time, he became a solicitor-advocate within six months of qualification and — six months after that — a barrister.

Making the switch from solicitor to barrister just months after qualifying is no doubt an unusual move, but Singarajah’s reasons for doing so are plenty.

As a new associate, Singarajah’s big dream was to capitalise on Brazil’s booming economy and build trade relations between the UK and Latin America. His boss wasn’t convinced by his future plans, so he felt he had to go at it alone. Continuing, he recalls:

I did some research and couldn’t find any barristers developing Brazil, so I thought I’d give it a whirl. I knew that if worse came to worst, I could go back to being a solicitor, but I had to at least try.

Many law students agonise over the solicitor/barrister distinction and which route to go down. Singarajah has done both, and makes this useful comparison:

Being a solicitor is like playing football: you’re a team player and you and the firm work together as one. As a barrister, you’re a boxer: you might get a beating from time to time but the glory is all yours.

Singarajah thinks his personality leans much more towards a career at the bar. When asked if he has any regrets about making the change, he replies: “Not a single one.”

More regrettable, Singarajah explains, is the current lack of diversity of the bar, which despite some improvements still lags behind the solicitors’ profession. “There is,” he says, “a problem with the sort of people coming to the bar. I think it’s more representative of a wider demographic of society than it used to be, but it’s somewhat selective still.”

A non-Oxbridge-educated, non-white barrister himself, we asked Singarajah whether he has any advice for aspiring advocates who come from non-traditional backgrounds. His response:

Amazing barristers come in all forms. The thing that will make you succeed at the bar is resilience and determination, and your success depends on how much your personal circumstances allow you to keep going and keep trying. I wouldn’t discourage anyone from giving the bar a go, but I would give them a transparent appraisal of the difficulties they’re likely to encounter, because selection is very tough these days.

The post International law: an insight into life on the road appeared first on Legal Cheek.

Sites creators claim they were “wrongfully persecuted” by media law giant

An aggrieved IT firm has created a rather childish clone of Carter-Ruck’s website called ‘Farter-Fuck’.

According to the webpage, ‘Farter-fuck.co.uk’ is the brainchild of a company called ‘Hutton IT’, which claim it was “wrongfully persecuted” by the media firm’s lawyers.

Helpfully the site — which is still live — redirects presumably baffled Carter-Ruck clients to the firm’s genuine website after a few seconds.

First spotted by legal blog Roll on Friday, the site’s sweary URL appears to be based on a joke once made by current affairs magazine Private Eye.

Having apparently received a complaint from the London-based libel specialist, the publication — all too familiar with legal threats — cheekily responded, referring to the firm as “Farter-Fuck”.

Legal Cheek has contacted Farter-Fuck Carter-Ruck for comment.

The post ‘Farter-F*ck’: Carter-Ruck gains crude copycat website after IT firm fallout appeared first on Legal Cheek.

The President elect is likely to keep lawyers busy

As news of Brexit broke earlier this summer, corporate law firms across the City battened down the hatches and formed what the legal press dubbed “Brexit bunkers”.

Inside these bunkers (which sadly, for many, turned out to be just spare conference rooms) were some of the country’s top legal minds, busily reassuring clients — on dedicated Brexit hotlines — that everything would be ok.

But now Donald Trump is in power, could international firms be setting up, dare we say it, ‘Trump teams’? And more importantly, what kinds of lawyers will they consist of? Examining some of The Donald’s more bold proposals, Legal Cheek has come up with a few recommendations:

1. The Wall

DT wants to build a wall along the US’s southern border so construction law experts will be getting into gear.

2. And make Mexico pay for it

Er… over to you finance lawyers.

3. Equality laws

The Donald has a history in this area. Human rights lawyers, assemble!

4. Legalise cannabis

Trump said he will allow states to decide. With a whole new (potentially very lucrative) industry on the horizon, swathes of different commercial specialists and regulatory experts may be required.

5. Space

DT says no more government money on space exploration, let the private sector take over. Does anyone know a good space lawyer?

6. Closing mosques

The President elect said he was open to the idea of closing mosques because “bad things” were happening inside some of them. Looks like we might need a few more human rights lawyers.

7. Environmental Protection Agency

“Get rid of it in almost every form” Trump said. Does that mean we will or won’t need environmental law specialists?

8. Target and kill the relatives of terrorists

This is going to be boom time for human rights lawyers!

9. Trade deals

Trump wants to renegotiate trade deals with the whole world. International trade lawyers will be in high demand.

10. Tax dodgers

Despite his own alleged tax issues, Trump is likely to take a hard line against evaders and avoiders. So firms better start strengthening their tax teams sharpish.

The post From Brexit bunkers to tactical ‘Trump teams’ — what kind of lawyers will firms need? appeared first on Legal Cheek.

Who will come out on top in the ultimate food face-off?

For the life of a corporate lawyer slaving away for hours on end over complex trade deals, a nice meal can be the difference between a bad day and a good day at the office.

Luckily for aspiring lawyers, eight law firm canteens have been rated outstanding in Legal Cheek’s study of over 1,500 trainees and junior solicitors.

Participants in our exclusive survey of lawyers at nearly 60 of the country’s top corporate outfits were asked to rate their firm’s canteen on a 1-10 sliding scale, one defined as ‘Not even Oliver Twist would ask for more’ and ten ‘That third Michelin star is overdue’.

In no particular order, the firms which received A* grades are…

Watson Farley & Williams

Watson Farley & Williams is not only home to some of the country’s leading finance solicitors, it also has its own French chef. Yes, really.

If Phillipe — who is apparently famed through legal London — wasn’t enough to keep lawyers’ rumbling tummies at bay, the firm now offers its lawyers coffee made on-site by barristas. We’re already sold.

Though one commenter, an anonymous trainee or solicitor at the firm, did point out the price of food has gone up recently, this doesn’t seem to have deterred its lawyers from dishing out impressive survey scores. Dinner at Watson Farley & Williams next week anyone?

Watson Farley & Williams profile [Legal Cheek Most List]

Linklaters

There are few more prestigious places to begin a legal career than at magic circle giant Linklaters, and it seems its canteen isn’t all too shabby either.

Our survey respondents praised the firm for its “generally delicious” food offerings, which apparently run close to 24/7. One commenter told us there’s a “great range” of food and that it’s “easy to stay healthy” (unhealthy lawyers bill fewer hours, remember).

The main on-site dining area is a subsidised restaurant called Silks, which in particular received rave reviews from the respondents. One described Silks as the highlight of their training contract, another simply said “absolutely amazing”.

Though there were a few minor complaints — “very bizarre price scales” and “almost too much choice”, for example — overall the canteen received a firm thumbs up from Links’ lawyers.

Linklaters profile [Legal Cheek Most List]

Gowling WLG

The canteen at this newly named firm — the product of a merger between Wragge Lawrence Graham and Gowlings — is about as fancy as it gets.

Though trainee said the pricing is “completely random” and another that the food’s “a bit hit and miss”, ultimately the international giant’s eatery scored very highly.

And it’s easy to see why so many respondents scored the firm’s canteen well above the average when you read the types of food available. A far cry from just the standard offerings of sandwiches and salads, one commenter told us you can purchase “tuna steaks” and “freshly made salsas.” In fact, there’s sometimes even a BBQ outside on the law firm’s patio. Sounds great.

Gowling WLG profile [Legal Cheek Most List]

Reed Smith

“Great fresh hot and cold food at good prices”, “subsidised” and “generally very good” are just some of the praiseworthy comments directed at Reed Smith’s canteen.

Located high up in the Broadgate Tower, Reed Smith has also been lauded for its “healthy options” and “excellent vegetarian offerings”.

Though one lawyer said the portions were a bit small for his or her liking, this doesn’t seem to have dampened too many spirits. Overall, the international firm scored very well for its canteen.

Reed Smith profile [Legal Cheek Most List]

Burges Salmon

It’s not just London-based law firms keeping their solicitors and trainees well fed. Over in Bristol, Burges Salmon lawyers have been singing the praises of on-site restaurant Glassworks.

According to the firm’s website, the restaurant “serves a range of very reasonably priced hot and cold food throughout the day”, something its lawyers seem to appreciate. Here are just a few of the comments respondents from Burges Salmon shared with us about the firm’s culinary delights: “genuinely excellent food every day”; “cheap, filling and generally of good quality”; “there is always a fantastic range”.

Food options include sandwiches, salads, jacket potatoes, soups and “good cakes”. There are even themed days. When can we come for dinner?

Burges Salmon profile [Legal Cheek Most List]

Allen & Overy

Magic in name, magic in nature, Allen & Overy offers its lawyers some of the best food in the City.

As if a gym and an on-site doctor wasn’t enough, the international giant also boasts a restaurant and bar called Lavanda.

On the firm’s website, trainees gush about the reasonably priced, “high-quality” staff canteen, and that has been very much reflected in our survey. Scoring a perfect A*, most respondents rated Allen & Overy an eight or above for its food. Maybe that third Michelin star really is overdue.

Allen & Overy profile [Legal Cheek Most List]

Taylor Wessing

Also marked highly is international law firm Taylor Wessing.

Almost all the trainees and lawyers surveyed scored the canteen an eight out of ten or more, in large part — it seems from the comments — thanks to the delightful views across the City the Taylor Wessing dining experience has to offer. One rookie gushed that “the terrace is perfect in the summer!”

As for the food itself, one respondent told Legal Cheek it is delicious, cheap, varied and that it’s always possible to find a healthy option. High praise indeed.

Taylor Wessing profile [Legal Cheek Most List]

Mishcon de Reya

Also impressing with its food is Mishcon de Reya.

To enter the firm’s brand new London office, you pass through a kind of avant garde cocktail bar, where clients can apparently grab themselves sushi and martinis while they wait.

As for the on-site canteen, one respondent said the firm is “so creative and often makes things to order, which is pretty special.” Oh and, by the way, the coffee is served via an iPad.

Mishcon de Reya profile [Legal Cheek Most List]

The rest

Overall, the standard of food among the firms surveyed by Legal Cheek was very mixed.

Looking beyond the eight above which secured A*s, 13 got an A-grade, 21 received a B, eight a C and six a D.

You can access all of our law firm profiles through the Legal Cheek Most List.

If you would like to purchase a report containing a full breakdown of Legal Cheek Trainee and Junior Lawyer Survey results for your firm, benchmarked against the other participating firms and a custom selected group of peer firms, please contact Legal Cheek Research for more details.

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