We offer ad hoc work placements throughout the year. Travel: Daniel Scognamiglio. Find out what pupillage is really like at different barristers' chambers. UK Edition . Vacation schemes: the Addleshaw Goddard guideIf you want to get your foot in the door at a firm, a vacation scheme is often your best shot youll get an insight into the day-to-day of a lawyer while learning what kind of firm and practice areas work best for you. We act for private clients in wills and inheritance planning, tax and trusts, to the administration of landed estates, residential, property and family law. Still Knights' strategy of taking on graduates as paralegal apprentices for a couple of years before doing a training contract is an explicit recognition of a practice that has been going on at cost-conscious firms for years. You might want to read up on Akin Gump Arnold & PorterBaker McKenzieCleary Gottlieb CooleyCovington & Burling Curtis Mallet-Prevost Davis Polk Debevoise & PlimptonDechert Dorsey & WhitneyFried FrankGibson Dunn GoodwinJones DayKirkland & Ellis Latham & WatkinsMayer Brown Morgan Lewis Morrison & FoersterOrrick Paul HastingsRopes & GrayShearman & Sterling Sidley AustinSkadden Sullivan & Cromwell Vinson & Elkins WeilWhite & Case Winston & Strawn. Residential Property: Mark Scott The firm is invested in contributing to the communities of Cornwall and Devon via its 'Love Where You Live' campaign. Barristers at Keating Chambers share their views on how to build your career in construction law and give advice on how to get into the field. This includes international and national corporate organisations, 20 local authorities, central government departments as well as devolved regional government, four major high street and corporate banks, leading supermarkets, and four of the top 10 house builders. Competition and regulatory work includes merger control, regulatory and court proceedings, issues arising from sector-specific regulation and utility procurement issues. Regional firms often foster ties with local law schools a few fee earners from Geldards, for example, help out on Cardiff University's LPC employment module so a stint studying nearby can be a great way to grease a few palms. Sponsored by RPC. The Blake Morgan training contract is made up of four six-month seats in various areas of the business giving a wide range of experience andopportunity. Corporate and finance work dominates these firms, as do international big-bucks business clients. Most of the expansion of the firm resulted from sustained growth within Oxford which led to the opening of a dedicated commercial department in Kidlington in 1984, a specialist matrimonial, crown and magistrates court department in Cambridge Terrace, Oxford and a commercial and litigation office in Reading in 1987. Our research is unmatched in accuracy, depth and quality. Graduates that have yet to undergo the GDL or LPC, will be offered the SQE as their route to qualification. We give our clients a single point of contact to manage their affairs; one who makes things happen in our specialist teams so that our clients get the advice that they need. The MarketWatch News Department was not involved in the creation of this content. Use The Beginners Guide to a Career in Law to get started, Find out about the various legal apprenticeships on offer and browse vacancies with The Law Apprenticeships Guide, Information on qualifying through the Solicitors Qualifying Exam, including preparation courses, study resources, QWE and more, Discover everything you need to know about developing your knowledge of the business world and its impact on the law, The latest news and updates on the actions being taken to improve diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, Discover advice to help you prepare for and ace your vacation scheme, training contract and pupillage applications, Your first-year guide to a career in law find out how to kickstart your legal career at this early stage, Your non-law guide to a career in law everything you need to know about converting to law. We strive to ensure that our shortlisting and interviewing panels are diverse. Bruce Potter chaired the firm's board, which comprised Elizabeth Carr (Managing Partner), Catharine Bray (Finance Director), Michael Prior (Commercial Director), and Michael Stace and Philip Jardine, both partners at the firm. Look at their websites to get an idea of which term to use. The merger created a firm with 23 partners. For more commercial awareness and legal newssign up for our newsletter. Usually these firms will be full-service, although some may have developed on the back of one or two particularly strong practice areas or via a reputation in certain industries. Sir Gerald was Lord Lieutenant of the County of Glamorgan from 1943 to 1952. It was formed in 2014 following a merger between the Cardiff-based Morgan Cole and the Portsmouth-based Blake Lapthorn. Our firm is proud of their efforts and keen to support them in every way we can, including charity/office partnerships andmatching funds raised by teams and individuals. Clifford Chances suite of virtual work experience aims to boost access to the profession. As a full service law firm with offices across the UK and a wealth of expertise with over 100 partners and 700 staff, Blake Morgan uses its unique blend of technical expertise, broader experience and commercial realism to get the best results possible for its clients be they small businesses, corporates, individuals, families, government, or not-for-profits. About The Blake Johnson AllianceThe Blake Johnson Alliance was founded to change the way philanthropic institutions issue financial support to innovative companies and individuals. Expert commentators deliver thought leadership on key topics across the legal market. Retail & Leisure: Oliver Sowton Along with commercial work, a good number offer private client services to wealthier people. These 3 indicators could have the answer, AMC CEO slams Robinhood over alert wrongly claiming theater chain had filed for bankruptcy. Usually law firms only offer fixed-fee services for relatively straightforward pieces of work, but Riverview is taking the pioneering step of offering a broad range of fixed-fee services to businesses, right up to M&A work. To those for whom bigger is better (bigger deals, bigger money, bigger staff numbers), this is the place to be. Training in a magic circle firm is CV gold but not suited to everyone. This means existing firms can get non-legal staff in on the game and new businesses can be set up based on shared ownership between (non-legally-trained) managers and lawyers. Our education experts support you in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of your students and are experienced in advising on sensitive matters including child protection, safeguarding and health and safety. Sponsored by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP. It employs approximately 415 lawyers and 145 other fee-earners. Larger firms may take up to half a dozen or so trainees a year; the smallest will recruit on an occasional basis. Health & Social Care: Bruce Potter So what else does this flourishing city have to offer? Some firms look at applications on a rolling basis, so you should apply as soon as . We ask that you join with an open mind though, as most people find they love the practice area that they loathed during their LPC*. Our business solutions give you invaluable insights into the legal market and your position in it as well as the tools to attract new business, elevate your practice and promote your expertise. The firm provided legal solutions to individuals, businesses, not-for-profit and government clients. Blake'seducational history also includes an upper-secondary degree from Loyola Academy, which they obtained between 2010 and 2013. Chambers Student, the students companion to the legal profession, gives the truth about law firms and the Bar. Full-service medium-sized regional law firm with strong London presence. Training contracts at these chasing-pack firms are strongly flavored with corporate and finance deals and, again, international work. Whereas the world of insurance has been revolutionised by market forces to the point where you can't spend five minutes watching ITV without being assailed by price-comparing meerkats, legal service users remain unlikely to shop around: only 22% of consumers looked into different law providers in 2013 showing no increase from 2012. A recent survey by the (then) College of Law found that only 1% of students would opt for an ABS over a traditional law firm, and well over half feared that ABSs would drive down legal salaries and . And they introduce the kind of diversification to the law that other industries gained long ago. In anonymous interviews, trainees tell us the good, the bad, and everything in between about their firms. To apply for a training contract at Stephens Scrown, students will need to go through on online application process on the firm's website. For students ABSs represent more opportunities for training and careers in a more varied range of workplaces. The membership of this club traditionally extends to Allen & Overy,Clifford Chance,Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer,Linklaters, andSlaughter and May. Household-name businesses have been treading carefully when it comes to moving into legal services. Is a recession coming? Copyright (C) 2023 PR Newswire. The Chambers Student 2023 guide is live! Relationship driven client base working with everything from the FTSE 250 to private individuals. Family Law: Simon Burge By organising their training on a massive scale, these firms can offer seemingly unlimited office facilities, great perks, overseas postings and excellent formal training sessions. In 2022, the firm offered jobs to all five qualifiers, with two joining as NQs. Ranked Offices Provided by Blake Morgan UK - Head office Eastleigh New Kings Court, Tollgate, Chandler's Ford, Eastleigh, Hampshire, UK, SO53 3LG Web: www.blakemorgan.co.uk Tel: (023) 8090 8090 Fax: (023) 8090 8092 View ranked office UK Cardiff Blake also worked as a Business Adviser at bitroot. You can see why: conventionally structured firms with expertise going back years could stand to lose business to aggressive (and less experienced) new entrants. You might want to read up on Ashurst Bryan Cave Leighton PaisnerClyde & CoCMS Dentons Herbert Smith Freehills Hogan Lovells Norton Rose Fulbright Simmons & Simmons, Read more about the silver circle law firms. If you are absolutely certain that you want to specialise in a particular field especially if you have already worked in a relevant industry a niche firm is an excellent choice. Blake Morgan LLP 12-16 vacancies 40 trainees 100 partners 700 staff Full-service medium-sized regional law firm with strong London presence. It would be great to see a better focus on inter-team relationships., Promoting mental health and wellbeing was deemed a focus for the firm: Issues surrounding these areas are widely discussed within the firm, and the HR team has been really supportive particularly during the pandemic. However, sources did feel that more could be done to boost diversity at the firm, with this interviewee noting that the firm has a great female presence, but there is not much representation in terms of LGBTQ+ and racial and ethnic diversity. There is some diversity in terms of socio-economic backgrounds, with praise going to the firm for opening up a lot of apprenticeship opportunities.. Walter Morgan (18531901) was prominent in public life becoming an Alderman, Under-Sheriff and a Vice-Chairman of Glamorgan County Council. If you're lucky enough to snag Six Nations tickets, be sure to head down to Castle Street for a few pre-match pints of Brains bitter beside Cardiff Castle. Cardiff University, Swansea University and the University of South Wales are all certified GDL and LPC providers. Blake Morgan also advises over 100 schools, academies and universities on a wide range of legal issues. Sponsored by Trowers & Hamlins LLP. Blake Johnson has been named Philanthropist of the Year. We're not limited companies, which makes us more likely to survive.. Insurance and reinsurance is an integral part of commercial activity throughout the world. Blake Morgan strives to create and maintain a positive, non-discriminatory work environment. Or parliamentary law on the bank of the Thames? *subject to whether you undertake the traditional PoRT or SQE route. Clients included Oxford University, Amey plc, British Alcan, United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, The Police Federation, Equal Opportunities Commission and Xerox to name but a few. Its one that truly values its employees. This interviewee explained the set-up further and told us that all staff get a cut of the firms profits, from the secretaries to the partners. If you dont quite recognise yourself in the coveted and oh-so corporate London look, then heres the good news: there are many ways to be a lawyer and many places in which to practise. Trainees do four six-month seats in each of employment, family, personal injury, and wills and probate, taking on their own caseloads under very stringent supervision. One Co-operative Legal Service trainee enthused about the lack of snobbery in their working environment, adding that I even get a staff discount on my supermarket shop!. If you want to grow up fast as a lawyer and see how the law actually affects individuals and the community in which you practise, then a high-street firm may be the best option for you. After a few years as Walter Morgan & Rhys the firm's name was changed to Walter Morgan, Bruce & Nicholas following the arrival of Gerald Bruce who qualified in 1893 and Walter Nicholas who qualified in 1894. This structure appealed to our sources, with one explaining that it would enable me to spend more time developing my skills and knowledge within each seat and provide me with a better understanding of where I could see myself qualifying. First seats are allocated on business need, which interviewees were fine with: I enjoyed the fact that I was able to obtain exposure to an area of law which I may not have otherwise stated as a preference for seat rotations. Trainees can submit preferences for subsequent seats and the sources we spoke with had mostly been successful at getting them: It seems like a good process, one concluded, while another interviewee acknowledged that other trainees havent been as successful [at getting their preferences], but I got what I wanted. Stints in corporate and dispute resolution were deemed especially popular. Agricultural matters are big here, as is work related to mines and the energy sector. Interested in a future career as a lawyer? Every candidate is individually screen by a member of the graduate recruitment team. These legal businesses can also seek outside investment. For when it matters. Find your favourite flavour at Freshfields, where you can fill two years with six different seats plus a secondment and get some of the best training in town. With WFWs guaranteed international secondments, trainees can jet off to locations around the world while getting to grips with the firms sector-specific focus. Total Staff: 700+, CONTACTS: Please follow us at @BM_Careers on Twitter and Instagram for updates and application information. We are the definitive mark of excellence across the legal industry. Blake Morgan's education history includes a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in International Political Economy from Georgetown University, which they obtained between 2013 and 2017. Some regional firms are even more discerning than their London counterparts in that applicants may have to demonstrate a long-term commitment to living in the area. Applications should be made here on our website. Niche firms have also sprouted in areas of the country with high demand for a particular service. Better understand how to retain key clients, differentiate your law firm and improve your reputation and ranking. The introduction of ABSs is a blow to this traditional system as it allows non-lawyers to invest and become partners in law firms. Research Schedule for the Chambers USA 2024 Guide is now live. All rights reserved. At the time of the merger with Morgan Bruce, Cole & Cole was the pre-eminent firm in the Thames Valley with 35 partners and a staff of over 200. Employment: Joanne Davies Holland & Barrett, Cornish Metals, and Venture Property Development Company are clients; the group recently advised Westcountry Land and Homes on securing a significant portion of land in Cornwall for residential development. The decision will then be made as to who we will be making formal training contract offers to, to join us at Blake Morgan. Philanthropist and Entrepreneur, Blake Johnson, Founder of The Blake Johnson Alliance, Named Philanthropist of the Year by Los Angeles Business Journal 2023 Nonprofit & Corporate Citizenship Awards, May 01, 2023 (PRNewswire via COMTEX) -- During the first 87 years of its existence the firm was centred in Pontypridd, but in 1963 a decision was taken to establish an office in Cardiff. In 2015, he established the Blake Johnson Alliance with the mission of taking a creative approach towards the advancement of Los Angeles-based youth. Publishing: Simon Stokes Riverview Law is a case in point. It has attracted a wide pool of barristers with its policy of paying them within 24 hours of taking on a case, and makes savings by employing a minimum of supposedly more costly solicitors, supplemented by freelancers that work from home at busy times. The ten biggest law firm recruiters in the City of London firms (including the magic circle) offer roughly 720 traineeships between them each year, representing approximately 12.5% of all new training contracts registered with the SRA. Across the South West, Chambers UKgives kudos to the firm for its corporate work with small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) and owner-managed businesses, as well as for its work in areas such as employment, IP, construction, and real estate. Trainee secondments and career moves into the dynamic Asian market. It takes less than ten minutes to set up your company page. Knights' managing partner has gone as far as to say the traditional training contract is 'dead' although a quick browse through this website will suggest that reports of its demise have been greatly exaggerated. Partnerships: Andrew Miscampbell And while it is very unlikely to replace the traditional university-route into the legal profession it remains and interesting alternate route for ambitious young individuals. Corporate & Commercial: Robert Cherry & Alison Patten-Hall Stephens Scown eschews the standard four-seat training contract model and instead offers its trainees three seats of eight months each. This website uses cookies:see our policy and settings here. Relationship driven client base working with everything from the FTSE 250 to private individuals. Many of you will agree that there is more to life than the Big Smoke. Planning: Anita Kassean It is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA number 613716). In this area of legal practice, clients generally fall into two categories: the rich or famous and the media. Prices are reasonable compared to many English institutions, plus Cardiff and USW offer useful work placement programmes in local firms, chambers and government departments. Our trainees have a wide support network from the graduate recruitment team, who willbe withyou from the day you submit your application to the end of your firstyear as a newly qualified solicitor, to your seat supervisor, assigned mentor, regional training partner, training principaland the other trainees. Cardiff sits pretty as Wales' legal, financial and commercial hub. I created the Blake Johnson Alliance to give children, like me, who lacked the financial means, access and the opportunity to realize their potential," says Blake Johnson, the founder of the Blake Johnson Alliance. Matthew Davies, a partner at high-street firm Wilsons Solicitors, thinks that the traditional law firm model is financially safer and more secure: The thing about solicitor-owned legal practices is that we simply cannot take the same risks as ABSs because it's our finances that are on the line. How are ABSs different from conventional law firms? Cole & Cole was formed in Oxford in 1945 by two brothers, Raymond Buxton Cole and Maurice Buxton Cole and quickly spread throughout Oxfordshire partly by the opening of new offices and partly by merger. When the bell for qualification tolls, trainees go to their team leader (as will someone in graduate recruitment) to let them know what they have in mind for an NQ destination. Search Simply more thorough Unrivalled Our research is unmatched in accuracy, depth and quality. Resourcing advisor Lauren Banks offers her insight into the recruitment process at Blake Morgan, including the most common way candidates let themselves down in applications, the key skills aspiring lawyers need and how non-legal work experience can improve an application. There are lots of sub-teams, a trainee commented, covering areas like construction, commercial litigation, and inheritance/trusts disputes. At the beginning of the interview, you will be given a hypothetical legal question, and asked to present your legal considerations to the panel. Trainees told us that the department is split into three main sub-teams: trade marks and filings, data protection, and IT, but trainees work across these sections. Pensions: Ron Burgess Construction: Richard Wade Ive got to the stage where Im dealing with and advising the clients every day, as well as going out on site visits and attending court.. In 2015, they were a Growth Intern at Sigmastocks. There were some clear highlights for sources: You get to hear about a lot of different and interesting companies in the context of a technical area of law. As you might expect from its location, Stephens Scown is especially recognised for its agriculture and rural affairs know-how. Morgan Bruce grew by a series of five mergers from its initial opening in 1836. Salaries are lower outside London, in some cases significantly so, but so is the cost of living. Although our first-year trainee seats are often selected through business need, during your second year we will endeavour to give you the seats of your choosing, includingsecondments to some of our biggest clients. Occasionally youll do longer hours, but its not expected, a source explained, with one of their fellow trainees agreeing: I dont ever feel like Im overworked, and if you ever need to leave early to do something, its all relaxed. Our survey results showed that trainee respondents had worked an average of 41 hours in the preceding week.As for social events, trainees had a giggle over Friday drinks, quizzes and the odd meal or two; still, some did feel that the social scene, like many firms, had not been fully restored since the worst of the pandemic. The student's guide to careers in the law. We believe business and community are inextricably linked and we aim to play an active role locally and regionally, focusing our energy, enthusiasm and funding in the areas where we can have most impact. Exeter Science Park, Olsam, UCL and Newable are all represented here. Welsh cakes buttery and sugar-dusted are a fruity delight not to be missed. To give you just two examples, Eversheds Sutherlandhas nine branches in England and Wales, plus many overseas; DLA Piperhas six in England and nearly 100 overseas. Read more about regional law firms National and multi-site firms. I also didnt want to be the only trainee in a firm! With around 19trainees in total, sources had plenty of company. Corporate tax involves involves advising clients on the tax risks associated with acquiring, selling or restructuring assets. Some of the multi-site firms allow trainees to stay in one office, whereas others expect them to move around. Private Client: Helen Bunker International giantDentons continued its growth and combined with firms in Honduras, Zimbabwe, South Korea and Australia. Famous for: Devon & Cornwall location; three-seat structure, UK partners/solicitors/trainees: 60/25/22, First-year trainee salary: 29,000 [all locations], Second-year trainee salary: 31,000 [all locations], Seat options: family; real estate; dispute resolution/civil litigation; planning; corporate; intellectual property, information technology and data protection; employment; private client. Keep up to date with our free weekly newsletter, Residential property (incl. Smaller regional firms tend to focus on the needs of regional clients and would therefore suit anyone who wants to become an integral part of their local business community. Since 2011, this government backing has helped to produce, protect or assist an estimated 10,000 jobs. Businesses will be keen to know how these revisions will affect their trade, creating a fruitful source of private sector advisory work in the years ahead. Over 30 years of rankings and insights. During its long history the firm acquired a tradition (which continues today) of its partners combining public service with a private practice covering diverse areas of the law, including industrial estate development, charities, workmen's compensation, litigation and company and commercial work, as well as more conventional areas assisting 'the man on the street'. While the Law Society recommends a minimum salary of 22,541 in London and 19,992 outside, we know of several small-town firms which pay lower than this. The first ABS licence was granted by the SRA in spring 2012 and so far over 200 have been handed out. Sir Gerald Bruce (as he became) was a well-known figure in South Wales over decades and included in his many achievements chairmanship of Wales and Monmouthshire Industrial Estates Ltd, an organisation which contributed significantly to the economic recovery of Wales following the depression of the thirties. Between 2017 and 2018, they attended Uppsala University for a Master Programme in Entrepreneurship. We do not currently offer financial support towards the GDL. On this note, the department advises on issues tied to the likes of artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, and facial recognition technology. We conduct over 220,000 interviews and surveys annually. Check out the firm's graduate recruitment page. These firms attract students who want to do bigger-ticket work outside London a sometimes unwelcome consequence of which is doing London levels of work for a lower salary. Outsourcing: Simon McCann Ensure your law firm is seen by the right audience. The ads are designed to counter public scepticism of a new breed of law firm: the Alternative Business Structure (ABS). Theres a perception that working outside London means a chummier atmosphere and more time for the gym/pub/family, but do bear in mind that the biggest and most ambitious regional players will expect hours that arent so dissimilar to firms with an EC postcode. For those who dont mind taking home a slightly more modest payslip in exchange for better hours, these firms are a great choice. Read ourTrue Picturereviews of over 120 top law firms. Our people are keen to give something back to the local communities where they work and live. PR Newswire. However, we mostly use the application form as a platform to learn more about you as an individual; why you've chosen a career in law, your hobbies and interests outside of work and why you feel you would be a great fit for Blake Morgan, and Blake Morgan the right fit for you. Our rankings can't be bought or influenced externally. Financial Services: Kathryn Shimmin IT: Simon Stokes Professional Regulatory: Bradley Albuery In 2003, the firm moved into its new 24,000sqft (2,200m2) offices in Swansea the first private sector investment in the development at SA1 Swansea Waterfront. The work on offer is mostly commercial, although some private client experience may be available. Introducing the best small firms in Texas recognized for their strengths in dispute resolution, corporate/commercial, labor & employment and intellectual property matters. Our vision is to be the firm of choice for our clients and our people. #LoveWhereYouLive. In addition, the Welsh Assembly is eager to cement the city's rep as a globally-recognised business hub, partly by naming the city the UKs only 'Enterprise Zone' dedicated to financial and professional services. Traditional structures stereotypically see cloistered lawyers climb up and up a lock-step system, becoming managing partners without ever having to develop real commercial acumen. Commercial property lawyers work on a wide range of transactions including offices, retail developments and infrastructure projects. You might want to read up on Arnold & PorterFarrer & Co Fox WilliamsHarbottle & Lewis Hodge Jones & AllenKingsley Napley Leigh DayMaples Teesdale Morgan Sports LawNorthridge Law SimkinsThomas CooperVinson & ElkinsWigginWinckworth Sherwood. Social Mobility: the view from BristowsSocial mobility: its a term that is often bandied around the D&I sections of firm prospectuses, but what can actually be done to remedy social restrictions to a career in law?
