How are training contracts in specialist law firms better?
Rachel Buckley, director and training principal, The Family Law Company on how to demonstrate to trainees that your SME law firm is worth the contract.
Don’t think small, think big!
Choosing the right law firm on your route to becoming a qualified solicitor can feel daunting. Any wannabe trainee knows that the competition for a training contract can be intense.
While many see a seat in a major city or international firm as a golden ticket to a successful legal career they shouldn’t overlook smaller niche firms. The roll call of clients and office feng shui may be impressive but the opportunities might not be what they anticipated. When considering the right training contract, bigger may not always be better.
Smaller business does not mean smaller career aspirations
Businesses like The Family Law Company offer a truly hands-on approach. With fewer lawyers, trainees get to work on a myriad of live matters, with responsibility for work that’s valued by both the business and its clients. Typical tasks include dealing with new enquiries, setting up case files, taking client statements, representing clients in hearings – and sometimes dealing with very sensitive information. There are abundant opportunities for learning vital skills, often at a faster pace than at a larger firm.
A strong public service ethos
Training in a small firm means they get to meet people from all walks of life and experience first-hand how the law actually affects these individuals. Unlike our larger peers, clients can literally walk in from the street asking for help. We’re committed to having a strong legal aid team – while it may not be the most profitable practice area, it’s a vital service for the most vulnerable of our society. Smaller firms often tend to play vital roles in their communities supporting local initiatives or charities. For us, this means assisting with Citizen’s Advice free legal clinics, and providing training for our local refuge.
Support when you need it
Working for a niche or specialist law firm definitely has strong advantages when it comes to support. Here, with over 40 family law professionals across the business, there’s always someone on hand to answer trainees’ questions. Ours is an open-door policy meaning that even in unexpected and difficult situations there is always somebody available to assist in reaching a solution. This also applies to progression. Good law firms will have succession and business plans in place and will nurture their trainees so that they grow with the needs of the business. Many of our directors started in entry level positions before they progressed to the boardroom.
Finding a balance
This is a topic discussed at length by trainee solicitors, perhaps even more so since the pandemic has led to an increased workload and pressure. While it would be unrealistic to say that smaller firms offer nine-to-five every day, there’s generally a healthier approach to the working day. A strong team ethos means that colleagues look out for each other and everyone can be more open, whether this is one colleague prompting another to take a lunch break, knowing you can speak up if you can’t take on any more work or the managers shutting the office an hour early if it’s been a tough week.
In a post-pandemic world having the right personal balance between office and home is going to increase, and the locations of smaller firms will make them even more desirable. Leave our Plymouth office and within 15 minutes you could be enjoying a dip in the sea.
The time for trainee solicitors to consider smaller law firms as viable firms for a training contract has definitely arrived. We may not all have the glitz of The Split, but our opportunities for progression, variety, experience and flexibility certainly rival those of our peers.
