Alternative business structure law firm ramps up recruitment by 37.5% while City players cut numbers
Magic circle and other City-based global law firms may have slashed trainee recruitment by as much as 30% since the financial crisis, but one regional alternative business structure appears to be bucking the trend by piling on junior jobs.
Sheffield-based Irwin Mitchell revealed yesterday that 55 wannabe lawyers will slide behind desks at the firm this September. That marks an impressive 37.5% growth on last year’s intake over last year’s cohort of 40 of its trainee slots.
Indeed, last year the firm — which three years ago bagged five ABS licences — boosted its target annual recruitment of trainees from 40 to 50. The latest batch of trainees will be spread across nine of the firm’s offices and will be allocated to all practice areas.
Earlier this year, Solicitors Regulation Authority figures revealed training contracts across England and Wales had dropped significantly. The depressing numbers showed only 5,097 openings were registered between 1 July 2013 and 30 June 2014, a fall of more than 200 on the previous year.
Previously:
Training contract numbers take another tumble [Legal Cheek]