Legal Cheek Careers

Four things we learnt at our Northern Powerhouse careers discussion

By The Careers Team on Mar 1 2017 11:48am

Reflections from Legal Cheek’s recent event in Newcastle with Bond Dickinson

There is top quality work outside London

Among the speakers at ‘Commercial Awareness Question Time: Northern Powerhouse Special’ was Bond Dickinson partner Kevin Bell, one of the leading rail lawyers in the UK. The Sunderland-born Durham graduate, who is still in his 30s, explained how his firm’s market-leading transport practice had allowed him to reach the top “whilst living essentially in my hometown”.

Bell is particularly excited about the opportunities for the next generation of lawyers that are already being created by the Northern Powerhouse, as he explained in a recent article for Legal Cheek.

The tech industry is a growth story nationally

One of the areas which Bell anticipates will develop at a fast pace is smart ticketing for Northern transport networks (effectively a ‘pay as you go’ system). It’s a good example of the tech industry spreading outside London.

There are growing opportunities here, as Bond Dickinson communications executive Dale Gorley explained, with the North East tech industry set to be worth in the region of £1.1 billion by 2020.

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Brexit will present opportunities

A side effect of Brexit is likely to be greater devolution to the regions, as the government looks towards greater decentralisation away from London. This trend is set to throw up opportunities for law firms and their clients with feet on the ground at local level. In the meantime, Bond Dickinson projects and procurement solicitor Emma Dewar expects to be kept busy dealing with her clients’ queries about changes to EU laws once Article 50 is activated.

Entrepreneurialism is one of the most valuable skills that young lawyers can possess

At a time of change for the country, the capacity to bring in business has never been more important. Bond Dickinson head of marketing Helen Myers believes that law students underestimate this skill. The partners of the future, however, soon realise the importance of relationships with potential clients.