Trowers & Hamlins

Undoubtedly though, Trowers & Hamlins’ biggest strength is its culture. One trainee paints a picture of what it’s like: “Everyone is really approachable and friendly. We all want to do well but there is no feeling of competing against each other. People genuinely want to help each other succeed, which is a great feeling to come into work knowing.” Rookies are said to always stay in touch with their “wonderful peers” and one LC insider tells us that “the more experienced trainees are always a message away to help with tasks”.

Moving up the ladder, “junior fee-earners are really helpful and impart wisdom”, and this trend continues when the rookies are asked about partner approachability: “My superiors are very approachable, some senior equity partners even make the effort to pop into my office and say hello and see how things are getting along. I am in contact with partners most of the time, and while the odd partner is a little recluse, most are very approachable and have a well-established open-door policy.” Another had this to say: “Everyone is very approachable. The partners are actually real people! They are very down to earth and have a good laugh.” Though be warned, while partners may be “supernaturally friendly and welcoming”, they are “not always available”, so pick your moment and approach wisely. Regardless, the insiders have praise even for the top level of command: “Senior partner, Sara Bailey, can often be seen wandering around the office to check in with people and is more than happy to stop for a chat.”

Trainees are equally enthusiastic about the “interesting and varied work” on offer at Trowers, as well as the “high level of responsibility” they’re given during their training contract — so much so that trainees are said to run their own files from day one! One recruit provides this anecdote, “On my second day I was asked to go to a client meeting on a really large project! Work has been complicated, interesting and evolving — not to say you do not get some administrative tasks (as those do just need to be done) but I would say the legal work far outweighs the administration. We are given real responsibility as well, I am working on several elements of several matters emailing senior associates and partners at other firms and senior figures within clients.”

Overall, the verdict seems to be that the quality of work on offer is top-draw, even if it does vary between departments. Another trainee summarises: “in smaller teams, I was assigned NQ-level work, while administrative tasks were handled by PAs and paralegals. In larger teams, administrative and repetitive tasks are unavoidable”.

The level of training received by newbies can also vary by seat with some supervisors said to “provide a more hands-on form of training than others”. But we’re told that the more formalised training sessions are always “of a very high standing”. As one trainee describes it, “The training I have received has been very structured and has been delivered by some brilliant Professional Support Lawyers who have clearly taken time to prepare and structure training sessions.” Another noted that the training is “much more comprehensive than most other firms and not just on legal knowledge and skills, which is bolstered by a semi-annual lecture by Professor Edwin Peel. Plenty of other training programmes for mindfulness, presentation skills etc”. Recruits are said to regularly work with partners on a range of matters and higher-ups routinely explain both the context of the tasks and provide feedback.

Why most of Trowers’ lawyers are so nice can be attributed to all sorts of factors, but the “unbeatable” work/life balance surely must play a significant part in morale. As one gleeful rookie explains, “there are very few days where I am in the office past 7pm and there is no sense of presenteeism — if you are done for the day you can just go. I have never felt like I am missing out on life, and everyone at the firm is lots of fun too”.

Naturally, the hours fluctuate between offices and departments. London lawyers usually work a bit longer (although they do tend to start later) than their regional counterparts, while one rookie tells us things have stepped up a gear since moving from real estate into corporate. But when you can sometimes be out the door “even at 5:30pm” — a time we were starting to think lawyers didn’t know as existing outside the office — the odd later stint can be easily tolerated. “It does depend on how busy the team is at a given point, but there is never an expectation to be logged on late if you have finished your work or to be available at any hour of the day”, one insider told Legal Cheek.

And regional rookies don’t just enjoy the shorter hours. “The combination of living in Exeter but working for first-rate clients both in London and in the South West on highly stimulating matters cannot be matched,” reports one South West recruit.

In fact, the only City envy that regional recruits seem to experience at Trowers is missing out on London pub culture: “People turn out for the big events like the Christmas party or summer party, but there isn’t really a firmwide culture of going to the pub after work (albeit I sense this happens more in London)” noted one provincial junior. That being said, the insiders we spoke to noted that there is a great emphasis on improving social events across the offices with five-a-side football teams and padel tournaments making the rounds. There is also a firmwide trainee social every six months as well as the usual teamwide socials which happen regularly.

Tech is said to have “improved a lot in recent years”, although it “could be better”. One spy reports on there being a “newly introduced innovation team” which trainees can now do a seat in. Overall, recruits recognise the progress which the firm is trying to make in this area “but it would be good to have updated basic software rather than whole new programmes/ AI.”

The offices are mostly “solid”, with the London hub reportedly upstaging neighbour Slaughter and May with its glass-fronted split-level reception. However, the firm’s Birmingham home “could do with an update”, and opinion seems divided on the Manchester offering — one rookie describes it as being “quite dated”, but another mentions it is “probably one of the best amongst our competitors”. Either these rookies are on different floors, or the standard is pretty low! With renovations and relocations rumoured to be around the corner, the London office could very well face some competition soon!

Until then, trainees get the opportunity to work from home two days a week and the policy is said to be generally flexible, with one recruit noting that “you can have informal discussions with your team about when is best to be in the office and when is best to be at home.” The firm also provides everything you could need for your home-office, with a monitor, keyboard, mouse, wrist supports, a footrest, chair, and laptop support all provided upon request.

Trowers’ freebies include a Vitality membership and gym subsidy. If you’re in London, there are also quarterly trainee-dos paid for by the firm, subsidised breakfasts at the office canteen and free tickets to the Royal Academy of Arts. Overall, trainees are underwhelmed by the relatively small number of perks on offer (especially outside of the City): “I think they could do more to make employees feel valued,” one mole notes. But the work/life balance is said to be a massive perk in itself!