Name and background

Hi I’m Nic. I’m a partner in the employment team. I run the team in Bristol and my main roles are to generate new work. To coach and train and to conduct some of the more complex and difficult cases, particularly in a trial context.

Why I chose Clarke Willmott

I chose to go to Clarke Willmott because amongst the law firms of that size it had a reputation of a coming force, an eclectic mix in terms of the lawyers that were working there, with good quality work across the departments. I was particularly attracted by the differing personalities that I met there was no stereotypical image of perhaps a stuffy law firm and I felt that it afforded me the opportunity of deploying not only my legal skills but also my entrepreneurial business sense.

What Clarke Willmott has been like

Since I joined Clarke Willmott I found it a very stimulating and often challenging place to work. Its very much success driven, you’re given a degree of freedom to develop your skills and to develop business opportunities but at the same time there is an overriding supportive and collegiate culture.

Why Clarke Willmott values its trainees

Clarke Willmott very much values its trainees, because it gives us an opportunity to bring bright young lawyers on within the culture of the firm. That’s not to say that we want to mould you in to something that you’re not, but it gives us a chance to show you from the outset how we work and how we think you can work.

Why I’d recommend Clarke Willmott

I joined Clarke Willmott in the face of other offers from other national law firms because I believe that it offered me a real route to the top. I think that if you’re considering offers from various law firms, you can be assured that within Clarke Willmott there is a very real prospect that you will in due course make partnership, there is a coherent and structure route of training giving you the opportunity of promotion at each stage of your career and as I’ve said all the time in a supportive and collegiate environment.

Name and background

I'm Hussein Osman. I'm a trainee solicitor in the Birmingham office. I joined Clarke Willmott in October 2006, I started off as a paralegal in the commercial litigation department. Since then, I managed to secure a training contract. I started my training contract in March 2008. I've just done a six month stint in the corporate department and am currently sitting in the commercial property department having a lot of fun. It's very challenging and so far I'm enjoying the experience.

Why I chose Clarke Willmott

I joined Clarke Willmott for a number of reasons. I think from the outset it was very obvious that the firm was very ambitious and being an ambitious person myself, I wanted to be part of an enterprise that shared that value. And for me it was very clear that it had a very clear vision as to where it wanted to be in the legal and the business market, and had a very clear and defined direction as to where it wanted to be at the present and in the future. And I felt that I wanted to be part of an enterprise that was growing and that would use whatever qualities, whatever skills that I had, to help it to grow and at the same time to grow myself. So it was an important decision for me to join the firm and I felt that it was not only one that would benefit me but possibly would benefit the firm in the long term, and so far it was a good decision to make.

How I was supported as a trainee

I've been supported a lot since I joined Clarke Willmott, right from the point when I joined as a paralegal. The people have been very welcoming. They've embraced whatever ideas, whatever contributions I've wanted to make to the firm, to a department, and I think that being a firm that is very much in its formative stages, it's embraced any new ideas, any innovation, any creativity, and the people have very much embraced me in that regard as well. What I would say is that as a trainee it's been very clear from the outset that they understand that I'm there to learn, but at the same time, I'm there to try and acquire as many skills as I can as a trainee to become hopefully a competent and very successful trainee, or solicitor rather, in the future so I feel very welcome and I feel very much supported by colleagues and management alike.

How I see my career progressing

I'm enjoying my time at Clarke Willmott at the moment and I think I've got short term and long term goals. The short term, is to try and be the best trainee that I can be. The long term, is to hopefully become a competent and confident solicitor and I think that hopefully by the end of my experience as a trainee I will have achieved that. As to what follows on from that, who knows. I'm not ruling out partnership and I'm certainly not ruling out becoming prime minister one day! Who knows – the world's our oyster, its my oyster, so I'll give it a go but I'm enjoying my time and I think the key thing for me is to continue to try and learn as much as possible and hopefully my time will continue to be as useful as it has been, so far. Very productive. I've learnt a lot and the key thing for me is to continue to try and learn as much as possible, so yeah, I think Clarke Willmott has given me the support that I need.

Why someone should choose Clarke Willmott

I think somebody should think about joining Clarke Willmott because if you have fresh ideas, if you're innovative and creative by nature, this is a firm and an organisation that will embrace that, will embrace those qualities, not only now but in the near future. So if you are a person like that, I would certainly suggest that you join the firm.

Name and Background.

Hi, my name's Carly and I work in Clarke Willmott’s Southampton office. I qualified into the corporate department this year and I joined the firm two years ago in 2006. I studied law at Bournemouth University and graduated in 2006.

Why I chose Clarke Willmott

I chose Clarke Willmott because of the way the firm is completely client led. They tailor the way they work towards what the client wants and they provide advice in a way that the client understands and in a way that’s completely jargon free which I think is really important.

What Clarke Willmott has been like since I joined

Since joining Clarke Willmott the thing I've been the most impressed with is the friendliness and approachability of the people that work there. As a trainee I was never afraid to approach someone and ask for help or advice and that’s important when you’re finding your feet.

How I was supported as a new trainee

As a trainee I was supported on an everyday basis. You have a supervisor who you can go to whenever you need help and you have regular chats and appraisals.

Why someone should join Clarke Willmott

You should choose Clarke Willmott because it’s a forward thinking firm, which allows its trainees to get involved in every aspect of the firm from the legal work itself, to marketing and getting out and meeting clients. You will be challenged but you’ll also get all the support you need in order to progress.

Name and background

My name’s Anthony Fairweather and I’m a partner in the private client team based in the Bristol office. I studied at both Edinburgh and City University before going on to bar school and completing a pupillage in London. After a stint in the City I decided that I wanted to be based in the country and retrained to be a solicitor. Since I have been with the firm I have been given many great opportunities including being able to set up the clinical negligence team in Bristol and I now head up the Bristol private client team. I became a partner in 2005.

Why I chose Clarke Willmott

I was looking to join a firm that has a reputation for good quality work. I was also attracted to the locations the firm offers and enjoy being able to live in the country without having to compromise on the quality of work that I am involved in on a day-to-day basis. Clarke Willmott offers the opportunity to work in a large firm with a thriving private client team.

The practice areas I work in

The private client teams within the firm have been around for a long time which means that we have a very strong client base. As a department, we are all specialised in all areas of private client work including, but not limited to, tax and estate planning, pensions, overseas assets and divorce and family work. As part of my role, I advise on tax planning but also have considerable experience in relation to mental capacity and elderly care.

Why Clarke Willmott values its trainees

Trainees are the future of the firm and offer an opportunity for us to nurture growing talent. Our trainee intake is diverse and we are always looking for ways to challenge the norm. Trainees are made up from individuals who have come through the university route as well as individuals who are able to make contributions from previous experiences in different industries. We offer the opportunity to get experience in private client as well as commercial sectors and trainees are exposed to a very wide range of clients.

Why I’d recommend Clarke Willmott

As a firm, Clarke Willmott is full of individuals who think like business people rather than like lawyers and that’s why our clients like us. The firm offers lots of opportunities if you want to take them and I have been lucky enough to experience this first hand throughout my time here. If you are talented and hardworking then you can go a long way and we hope to hear from you soon.

Name and background

My name’s David Maddock and I’m an associate in the private client team based in the Taunton office. I studied history at Oxford University before going on to convert to law. I completed my training contract with a top 50 medium sized regional firm and joined Clarke Willmott about 18 months ago.  As part of the private client team, my role means that I am involved in a full range of traditional private client work including inheritance tax planning, planning advice, wills and trusts drafting and estate administration.

Why I chose Clarke Willmott

I was drawn to Clarke Willmott because of its reputation for its practice areas but specifically the specialism the firm has in agricultural work. Working within this sector at Clarke Willmott means that I am working on a day-to-day basis with members of the firm who have been recognised for their expertise in publications such as Chambers & Partners at the same time as being exposed to and having daily contact with a wide client base.

What I enjoy most about working for Clarke Willmott

There are a number of things I enjoy about working for Clarke Willmott. The work I am involved in is second to none and I cherish the opportunity to be able to work with such a high quality client base. The people within the firm are another major selling point. Not only are the people here motivated by the work that they do but there is a real sense of team work. Since joining the firm I have enjoyed working with people from across all offices and departments and there is always someone on hand to offer advice or guidance when needed.

The type of clients I work with

I mainly work within the agricultural sector and the clients I work with are from a broad spectrum. These range from high net worth individuals to farmers to local estates owners.

Why I'd recommend Clarke Willmott

I would definitely recommend Clarke Willmott to anyone looking for a training contract. The firm has a national reputation for its practice areas and sector specialisms. On a day-to-day basis, you will be exposed to a fantastic client base which is coupled with a great deal of client contact. The environment within the firm is very supportive offering a great place to start your legal career.

Name and background

My name is Felicity and I work in the Clarke Willmott Bristol Office. I graduated from the University of Bristol with a degree in English Literature; I then converted to Law through the GDL. I joined the firm as a trainee solicitor two months ago and I'm currently in my first seat in the commercial property department.

Why I chose Clarke Willmott

I choose Clarke Willmott because I wanted to work for a regional firm without compromising on the standard of training I would receive and the quality of work and clients that I would be exposed to. Clarke Willmott has an impressive client base and with that can offer a high quality of work to its employees.

What I’ve found Clarke Willmott to be like since starting

I spent my first day in the firm in the commercial property department. My inevitable nerves were soon put to ease. I was introduced to my supervisor who took the time out of her day to show me around the office and introduce me to everybody in the department - which was quite an undertaking as the department is quite large! Everybody was extremely welcoming and I felt very reassured by the number of people who encouraged me to approach them any time if I felt that I could benefit from their advice, or if I had any questions. A few members of the department took me out to lunch and by the end of the day I felt very much more integrated into the firm.

The first two weeks with the firm are primarily spent on induction giving you all the information and skills needed for the training contract. It was also a really good opportunity to meet and get to know the other trainees in my year.

How I was supported as a new trainee

As a new Trainee it's perfectly natural that one of your greatest concerns will be the level of support that you will receive. I very quickly realised that at Clarke Willmott that is not a point of concern. Whilst my supervisor is busy, she will always make time to answer any queries that I might have and I have learnt a great deal from the time that she has given me. I also find my other colleagues extremely approachable and when my supervisor has been unavailable I have never found myself without a friendly face that is willing to give me the guidance that I require. Receiving this level of support from my colleagues is really enhancing the standard of the training that Clarke Willmott is providing as it has enabled me to feel really confident in the quality of the work that I am processing.

How I see my career progressing

I look forward to progressing my career with Clarke Willmott. The firm offers a wide choice of seats and having experienced four different departments, I will be in a position to make an informed decision about my qualification options. The firm is keen to support its employees through further training and development, and I’ve already had the chance to attend various courses, not just in relation to legal work but also the development of the firm as a whole. I've been given lots of opportunities to be involved in networking and marketing activities.

Why someone should choose Clarke Willmott

Clarke Willmott can offer a high quality of training to someone who wants to be part of an ambitious client led firm whilst benefitting from the firm's regional surroundings. Although I’ve only been with the firm for a couple of months, I’m confident that Clarke Willmott is the right firm for me.

My experience of the firm so far has exceeded my expectations.

Name and background

My name’s Graham McIntyre and I am a partner in the property litigation team based in the Bristol office and I am also the head of the retail sector. After attending Uni at Durham I spent a year at the College of Law in York. I joined Clarke Willmott about four years ago as a senior associate. When I started here I was put on the firms Senior Associate development programme which is colloquially known as Fame Academy. Basically it teaches you some of the skills you need to be a partner, from how the firm’s finances work through to how to pitch for work. After a couple of years of training on Fame academy I was promoted to partner in 2007.

Why I chose Clarke Willmott

I was looking for a firm with ambition and a national reputation. The firm has been quoted as being the most ambitious of the next generation of national law firms and I can honestly say that is true. Clarke Willmott has been making a splash in the market for the last few years attracting high quality work and high quality fee earners often relocating from London. Unlike many firms, it has retained a wide spread of practice areas. As a property litigator by trade, I was attracted by the excellent reputation it has for commercial property work.

The firm however was also Private Client and Family Team of the Year 2008 in the British Legal Awards 2008. I like the wide spread of practice area as it adds depth to the work we can undertake. From a training contract perspective it also offers a broader choice of options. It is often the case with trainees that they may start off with their heart set on one practice area but they will find a passion in something quite different by the time of qualification.

We aren’t a traditional law firm. We like to get behind the businesses of our clients and this is something that is really important to me. I want to be more than just a legal advisor. I am interested in my clients industries and find it impossible to provide high quality advice without really getting behind their commercial pressures and objectives.

The practice area I work in

Being a partner within the property litigation team means that the majority of work I undertake is with surveyors who are experts in their own field. The team as a whole works with a range of property owners, occupiers and funders nationally with the aim of solving disputes as quickly and cost efficiently as possible. What this means on a day-to-day basis is getting involved in the nitty gritty of the business and advising on the commerciality of deals and not just giving the legal answer.

Why Clarke Willmott values its trainees

Clarke Willmott invests a lot in trainees and they add a lot to the culture, to the firm. It is great to have people coming into the business every year with fresh ideas and energy for what they will be doing. It is important that we listen to those ideas. Speaking as a partner, I take a lot of satisfaction out of seeing people succeed and letting them fulfil their aspirations through giving them development opportunities. Within each team, there is a mix of trainees, solicitors and partners with a wide range of backgrounds but it is great to work with people you have personally helped train and develop.

Why I’d recommend Clarke Willmott

If you are looking for a firm that will give you the opportunity to do more than just learn about the law then Clarke Willmott is the perfect choice. As well as high quality legal training, you will be given the opportunity to learn about business sectors and what clients want commercially as well as legally. Our aim is that at the end of the two years you will find that you are more than just a solicitor, you are an in-house advisor to your clients. As well as this, entrepreneurial spirit is really encouraged and you will be confident in your ability to think for yourself.

Name and background

Hi, my name is Nicola Lee and I work in Clarke Willmott’s Birmingham office. I qualified into the construction department in September 2009, after having joined the firm two years ago when I started my training contract here. Prior to my training contract, I studied law at Birmingham University, followed by my LPC at the Birmingham College of Law.

Why I chose Clarke Willmott

When it came to the stage of training contract applications, the main factors which attracted me to Clarke Willmott were; firstly, the firm’s reputation in the national legal press as a developing practice both in the South West and the Midlands. Clarke Willmott appealed as a midsize expanding firm with strong local roots and national reach. Also, the firm’s strong commercial client base appealed as it would provide the type of work I was interested in gaining experience in. And finally, having studied in Birmingham for a number of years, I was keen to be based in the region and to be at the heart of the city’s thriving commercial centre with its growing legal reputation.

What I’ve found Clarke Willmott to be like since starting

I have really enjoyed my training contract with the firm and since joining Clarke Willmott I have found that throughout the various departments I have worked in there is a common focus on each individual’s contribution to the team effort. I think the firm seems to attract similar minded people with a strong team ethic. The working environment within the firm is conducive to this as all of the offices are open plan, and therefore partners and other more senior members of staff are accessible and willing to have a chat. At the beginning of the training contract, trainees are given a comprehensive induction programme which covers all aspects of the next 2 years as well as thorough training on the IT systems such as time recording. The induction is a really useful introduction to the firm and the systems, especially if you have not worked in a solicitor’s office before.

How I was supported as a new trainee

The supervision of trainees during the training contract is very good and at the start of each seat you would be allocated a partner within your department, who would have ultimate supervision over your work and who would also be your main point of contact. In addition, you would also usually be allocated to a more junior member of the team, who you liaise with on a day-to-day basis. This arrangement can be really useful, especially if you have any questions you feel you don’t want to ask the partner. As you progress in your seats and become more familiar with the area of law that you are working in, your supervisor will delegate work of an increasing level of responsibility. This is a really good approach to take, as you are not usually thrown in at the deep end but are allowed to progress at a natural pace.

Being part of a firm the size of Clarke Willmott, means that you also have access to extensive support such as a knowledge services team who specialise in legal know how and who can be particularly helpful with the research tasks trainees are often asked to undertake. In addition, a member of the HR team is allocated specifically to trainees and therefore you always have a point of contact for any questions or issues. They also help guide you through decisions such as which seats to undertake and the processes on qualification.

How I see my career progressing

Within the firm there are clear opportunities for progression to the level of associate, senior associate and partner, provided that certain criteria and standards are met. It is helpful to have this transparent structure as even as a trainee it gives you something to aspire to and to work towards. Over the next few years, I would hope to grow with Clarke Willmott’s construction department as it builds its reputation and client base within the Birmingham market. I would also hope to gain more specialised experience in the construction sector and potentially conduct further study in construction law to enable me to focus my knowledge, continue my learning and ultimately be able to provide a better service to the client.

Why someone should choose Clarke Willmott

As I have already mentioned, there are many reasons for wanting to be part of Clarke Willmott. The practice is a growing firm, offering a variety of legal specialisms, with a good calibre of client. It has an atmosphere where each individual is valued for their own contribution to the team effort.

Name and background

My name is Tom and I am a trainee in the Clarke Willmott Bristol office. I am currently working in the corporate department and my previous seats were in private property and agriculture and private client and agricultural litigation. I studied Law with Politics at Keele University and joined Clarke Willmott three and a half years ago, as a paralegal in the private client department.

Why I chose Clarke Willmott

I joined Clarke Willmott for a number of different reasons. The firm is large enough to offer me a lot of options during my training contract and also opportunities when I qualify and beyond. I chose Clarke Willmott because it's an ambitious firm that has a clear vision of where it wants to be in the future and, just as importantly, how it wants to get there. Unlike other firms, Clarke Willmott is totally client led. The firm is focused on delivering an excellent service that is tailored to its particular client needs.

What I’ve found Clarke Willmott to be like since starting

Since joining Clarke Willmott I have been made to feel very welcome and that I am an important member of the firm. I have found them to be pragmatic, inclusive and supportive. Clarke Willmott has a good social side and I have made a lot of friends here. I think that the firm appreciates that there is more to a workplace than what happens in the office and lots of social events are organised throughout the year and there are a number of different sports teams.

How I was supported as a new trainee

I was, and continue to be given, a lot of support as a trainee. On a day to day basis my supervisor, team manager and other colleagues are always on hand to offer help and guidance. I enjoy working in an open plan office as I think it helps me to learn and integrate with the rest of the team. I have mid and end of seat appraisals with my supervisor. At these I am able to set my goals and targets for the particular seat and get feedback on my progress. At a firm-wide level, there is a clear support network with HR and the team managers taking trainees through each seat towards qualification.

How I see my career progressing

I am positive about my career progressing well within Clarke Willmott. I am at the stage of my training contract when I need to consider which area of law I would like to qualify into. The firm has a good record of retaining trainees and I am confident that if there is a position available, it will be the right choice for me. Clarke Willmott appreciates that qualification is simply the next stage in my development and will offer me the right blend of supervision and responsibility when I qualify. They also reward people who are talented, innovative, commercially minded and work hard.

Why someone should choose Clarke Willmott

I think you should choose Clarke Willmott as it is a firm that rewards people and ideas that are innovative and creative. As a trainee you will be given the right amount of freedom, responsibility and support. You will also be challenged but you will be given a good legal and commercial education to set you in good stead for the rest of your career.