The Legal Cheek View
“Great salary and good quality work, but without the expectation that you stay in the office all hours” — that’s life at this South West giant in the words of one Michelmores’ mole. Training contracts are offered out of either Bristol or Exeter, with recruits then doing a secondment in the London office. Cheltenham and Devon make up the final two locations of the Michelmores spread.
The firm divides its work across a wide range of fields: family matters, real estate, finance & investment, and agriculture are the largest and most well-recognised. This is not to downplay the group’s growing presence in the manufacturing, energy, and IP fields, or their impressive litigation practice and full-service capabilities in both the individual and business spheres. And don’t be fooled by the firm’s provincial presence — high-quality national and international work is the norm, with the firm recently advising on the merger of fine wine merchant Goedhuis and Rothschild family’s Waddesdon wine. Overseas business makes up around 30% of the day-to-day.
Somewhat uniquely for a regional firm with big ambitions, Michelmores isn’t the product of a series of mergers. The firm was founded in Exeter by a chap called Michelmore in 1887 and, until a few years ago, it still had a member of the Michelmore family within its ranks. But it is far from a family affair, the firm has grown organically to its current size of 72 partners and around 200 additional fee earners. What’s promising from the past year is both the mix of inside promotions and outside hires. The firm has added a number of partners across its offices, poached from competitors like Trowers & Hamlins, Charles Russell Speechlys and Burges Salmon, whilst also promoting from within, raising the firm’s overall partner split to 50% female. This expansion has clearly paid off: the latest financials show a 4% increase in turnover, up from £41.5 million last year to an impressive £43.2 million this financial term.
Equally encouraging from the point of view of the ten trainees which the firm takes on each year is the firm’s retention rate, currently sitting at an impressive 88%. There’s no doubt that the comfortable salary has a part to play in this, trainees being awarded £36,500-£38,000, upped to £58,000 upon qualification in Bristol, and £72,000 in the City.
We hear that the training is pretty solid too. “Brilliant training and support from all colleagues at the firm including supervisors, HR contacts and the training principal” is the lowdown from one insider. Formal training sessions are supplemented by a “trainee bible”, produced by previous trainees in each seat to help smoothen the seat transition process. There’s also a “fairly robust onboarding process” and “almost daily knowledge sessions” hosted by different teams and groups across the firm so you can get an understanding of all areas of the firm. Rookies do report of “occasions where you are left to complete a task without a lot of guidance” but, generally, supervisors are “approachable and willing to take time to provide you with feedback and high quality learning experiences” — including letting trainees take the first crack at drafting some important docs! Particular praise is given to the availability of a client secondment, although it should be noted that preference is generally given to fresh associates over trainees.
Beyond praise for the training, rookies also have lots to say about the culture at Michelmores. “I have worked in three offices”, says one trainee, “and everyone has always been approachable and friendly. The open plan offices really help with that because the partner and senior team members are sat at the next desk”. Others speak of “an enormous support network”, where a buddy system works alongside dedicated principals and HR supporters to keep each junior happy and developing. “People are responsive and approachable meaning that you can get assistance when needed. The collaborative approach between teams means that you can benefit from a very broad range of expertise when new issues come up” added one happy trainee. In brief, “the people are what make Michelmores!” — what more could you want?
Maybe regular team, trainee and office socials alongside regular networking and charity events to go with this? From cycling clubs to property development groups, Michelmores’ social scene has something for everyone. In London, Thursday socials, pub quizzes and networking events like Michelmores Next Gen give the office a buzz whilst Exeter hosts an annual Michelmores charity 5km. This year, the office will be raising money for domestic abuse charity FearFree.
Partners and higher-ups are also rated “very approachable and willing to answer questions and take time to provide feedback or help when you’re stuck.” It’s not uncommon to be on a case alone with a partner or to find yourself chatting around the coffee machine with senior management. “The collaborative approach of the firm means that junior and senior staff interact frequently and as equals, rather than hierarchical” according to one smitten recruit.
One reason for this endless positivity must be the sociable hours. On average newbies work between 9 am and 6 pm, with one happy associate boasting that “working at the Exeter HQ/living in the South West means that in the summer months you are home in time to catch an evening surf or run/cycle along the quayside or coastal paths.” Sounds idyllic, and a far cry from the typical ‘no weekday plan’ hours in the City. Even in London, the work life balance is said to be “very good” especially compared to competitors, even if there is “slightly more of an expectation to work longer hours”. Facetime culture and weekend work are myths at Michelmores, as the firm is said to “pride itself on giving you access to quality work with a decent salary, while allowing you to retain a good work life balance”.
This said, associates do make a compelling case for staying in the office beyond working hours — especially in Bristol where the firm have just moved into a new completely refurbed abode. With over 11,000 sq feet of conference, collaboration and breakout space, cycle storage and shower facilities — all specifically tailored to the firm’s needs — we’re not surprised that “excellent” was the definitive summary from trainees there. The “very swanky” London office at 100 Liverpool Street also receives plaudits for beings a “great and modern great space to work”, helped by having “the buzz of Broadgate Circle on its doorstep” of course, whilst the Exeter HQ received this high praise: “Don’t think I have ever worked in an office so impressive. Very contemporary, comfortable and the layout has been designed to be conducive to productivity.” We suppose the gym, table tennis and subsidised canteen might have something to do with that.
Other working perks firmwide include large bonuses, an array of social events, inter-office travel, and the standard health and dental care. This is in addition to funding for the PGDL and SQE.
Another thing that had the latest recruits singing in praise was the quality of work undertaken by the firm. “I have been exposed to a huge variety of work in my first seat, which has kept the job interesting. I honestly don’t know where the time goes at Michelmores. It flies by. A sign that you enjoy your job!” noted one sage recruit. While the trainee “rite of passage” (mundane administrative work) does exist at Michelmores as elsewhere, we’re assured these tasks are few and far between, with the firm offering a “good balance of work and access to high profile exciting work for clients”. The agriculture team is touted for “encouraging its juniors to play an active role in case strategy management” which apparently leads to “a highly stimulating experience”.
Another recruit offered this personal experience: “The work is generally interesting and trainees are given plenty of responsibility from the off, as much as you want or can handle (within reason). You are client facing, attend meetings, mediations, hearings etc, and are given a broad range of proper client work to get stuck into, including drafting. As with any trainee role, there is a bit of admin involved — the usual tasks of bundle preparation, due diligence exercises and disclosure review, but they happen far less than you might expect.”
The firm’s basic tech is also on the up, with trainees citing the impressive array on offer for a mid-sized firm, with plans for future expansion and development. In terms of AI, we’re told Michelmores operates basic coding packages for various work streams, but relies upon third parties for more detailed scripts, such as disclosure review platforms. The firm’s “very active and engaged” IT and cyber security team is continually investing in tech and has several projects on the horizon so watch this space.
When out of the office, the support continues for the lucky intake, with the firm providing a “full kit to work from home, from monitor to mouse to keyboard and a proper desk chair”. Unlike many similar firms, flexible working is encouraged for both trainees and associates at Michelmores with office attendance being decided on a team-by-team basis.
Michelmores is also a Planet Mark member and the firm distills its environmentally responsible ethos into employees and clients alike!