Types of law firm
General practice, legal aid and advice centres
frenetic environment, then there are plenty of firms to choose from. Starting salaries are typically in the low to high £30,000s. For a profile of a solicitor at a UK City firm, see Joseph Sako of Bristows in the “Intellectual property” chapter, p184. National/regional firms Beyond London, the most active cities are Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, Liverpool, Cardiff, Newcastle and Nottingham. National firms have offices in several cities (and perhaps also Scotland), whereas a ‘regional’ firmmight limit itself to say, the north or the southwest, perhaps with an additional office in London. A regional firm could have just one office or several. Clients are mostly UK public and private companies, local and public authorities, and possibly also international businesses with UK interests. Generally, smaller firms are also likely to do private client work. Expect to spend your training contract in a single region, potentially visiting different offices. Salaries vary by location, with Birmingham, Manchester and Bristol faring relatively well (mid £20,000s to £30,000s) compared to, say, Wales or Kent (from around £16,500 to mid £20,000s). Regional trainees typically work more manageable hours than their City counterparts and there is a strong emphasis on gaining practical experience and client exposure. Available seat options will depend on the firm’s business model, so do your research. For a profile of a solicitor at a national/ regional firm, see Rachel Mathieson of Bates Wells in the “Employment” chapter, p170.
Law on the high street has diversified as a result of the Legal Services Act 2007. Tiny partnerships and sole practitioners have been joined by large franchises (eg, QualitySolicitors) and alternative business structures. There are also new challenges – technology is being utilised more and lawyers may need to work weekend shifts. Some firms now market their services at kiosks or pop-up stands in shopping centres. Your clients will be ordinary people with a house to buy, a spouse to divorce, an ex-employer to sue, a will to write or an injury to be compensated for. Some will be entrepreneurs needing advice on the next phase of their business plan. Tragically, it’s been a difficult decade for lawyers assisting publicly funded clients and opportunities for new trainees are fewer than ever. Legal aid has become unprofitable – so much so that many practitioners who remain in the field must bolster their income from privately paying clients due to government funding cuts. Even within law centres and other advice bureaux, priorities and clients must be selected carefully. This kind of work is for those committed to universal access to justice. Issues faced by clients may include disability or debt. For an example of a solicitor at a general practice firm, see Danielle Reece-Greenhalgh of Corker Binning in the “Crime” chapter, p166. And for an example of a solicitor working in the legal aid sector, see Susie Labinjoh of Hodge Jones & Allen in the “Human Rights” chapter, p178.
Reality check: In 2014 the minimum trainee salary was abolished and firms are entitled to pay trainees the National Minimum Wage. While many – particularly in the commercial sector – continue to pay their trainees well above that, some increasingly squeezed high street and criminal firms pay their trainees relatively low salaries.
150
THE LAWCAREERS.NET HANDBOOK
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online