OSBORNE CLARKE LLP
LCN AWARD WINNER 2016 BEST RECRUITER – NATIONAL/LARGE REGIONAL FIRM
U nstuffy – not something that can be said of every firm, but certainly a description that applies to Osborne Clarke LLP (OC), which this year scooped the award for Best Recruiter (National/Large Regional Firm). Ben Martin, who has just qualified, says this was one of the many qualities that won him over: “All law firms make similar claims about quality of work and clients, so you take those as a given, but one of the things that attracted me to OC – aside from its excellent reputation – was its unstuffy culture. I met some trainees at the assessment centre and other events, and liked how relaxed and friendly everyone was – it definitely set the firm apart.” With 19 offices worldwide, the firm is at an exciting stage of growth, while the Bristol origins are still apparent in its warmth and culture. “I was attracted by the fact that the top national and international work is genuinely cross-office.” By getting out onto campus and meeting people like Ben, OC strives to debunk some of the myths around where to train and what a career in an international commercial legal practice looks like. Catherine Wolfenden, training principal, partner and head of the firm’s regulatory group, says: “One of the things we try hard to do is engage students in conversation about the legal market, the experience a trainee has at OC and the fact that a training contract is just the first step in hopefully a long career with OC. You see the lightbulbs switching on – especially for those who had been thinking only about US or magic circle firms. We talk about what that means in practice as a trainee, and why the different way that we work with our trainees encourages individuality and a long career in the law.” Catherine also emphasises the importance of having open discussions at this early stage: “We are very frank about what a graduate is signing up for. A career in the law is demanding and challenging; but with the right
2016
30
Best in Law 2016
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