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1 Graduate opportunities 2011 and vacation placements We recruit to retain We will treat you as a future solicitor and partner. Many of our current partners trained at BLM and this organic growth is something we are very proud of. Training and development starts from the first day of your training contract and continues throughout your career. Welcome to BLM. >

2 Contents > The firm Training contracts It s not all work and no play Corporate Social Responsibility Vacation placements Salaries and benefits Apply The last word Contact us The firm Berrymans Lace Mawer (BLM) is a leading national law firm with more than 115 partners and over 450 legal professionals. We recognise that the firm s most important asset is its people and in doing so we strive to create a working environment that is vibrant, stimulating and immensely enjoyable. The firm has offices in Birmingham, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Southampton and Stockton-on-Tees. We provide an extensive range of legal services across many industries and sectors. Our firm is renowned for our dispute resolution and insurance expertise. Clients are drawn from across the commercial sector, FTSE 100 companies, the insurance industry, local authorities, professional services and the public sector. Our vision is to understand what drives our clients and deliver practical advice that enables them to achieve their goals. We are described in independent legal directories and in client surveys as a very professional outfit which has a close partnership working together, delivering results, and very dependable and as a firm that listens as well as for its ability to have their finger on the pulse of the market. BLM s eight market sectors Business services Construction and property Insurance and indemnity Leisure Media and technology Public sector Retail Transport Graduate recruitment 2011 Clients appreciate Berrymans Lace Mawer s first-class service Legal 500 page 2

3 Partner Keith s career so far 1989 Graduated in Law from University of Bristol 1991 Qualified into construction 1997 Partner 2005 Elected to BLM s Management Team Keith Lonsdale Career progression Keith: I joined BLM as a trainee (articled clerk in those days) in early At the time I was the firm s only trainee (trainee lunches were easy to organise!) and was the only trainee the firm had for a little while. I was given my own room, a collection of files and a Dictaphone and asked (very politely) to get on with it. It is fair to say that this arrangement was unique amongst my law school contemporaries (it also meant that I was not able to compete with stories of staplers etc being thrown by supervising partners at trainees to encourage them to shut up or get out of the room). However, at every step of the way, I was given considerable and invaluable advice, guidance and direction by supervising partners and senior solicitors. At BLM today we still very much encourage initiative and still very much provide excellent support by supervising partners and senior solicitors. However, now a training contract at BLM is heavily backed up by a first rate continuing education program and a highly professional and dedicated support team. Our trainees are highly valued by us. We are not just interviewing for a trainee position but very much looking for talented people who can become future partners. It is fair to say that this firm heavily encourages internal promotions. Good luck with your careers. Excellent support... continuing education program page 3

4 Training contracts > BLM 2011 We recruit approximately 15 to 20 trainee solicitors each year, which is a relatively small number considering the size of the firm. This is because we like to invest a great deal of time and effort in the training and development of each individual, to build long term relationships. Our success is dependent on the talented people we recruit. This may seem like a huge responsibility for a trainee but we will be there with you every step of the way. The training, support and development opportunities you will be given will leave you ready for a long and successful career at BLM. All new trainee solicitors are allocated a buddy someone to call on for informal advice and support. Our structure and approach Rather than rigid departmental structures, our firm is divided into eight market sector groups: business services, construction and property, insurance and indemnity, leisure, media and technology, public sector, retail and transport. Many of our partners and solicitors have more than one area of specialism and we encourage and support our trainees to develop their practice in the same way. Your training begins from your first day and continues throughout your time with us. Our strategy is to demonstrate commitment to our people by enabling them, through continued training provision, to maximise their individual potential. All our trainee solicitors attend the Professional Skills Course, which covers compulsory subjects such as advocacy and communication skills, client care and professional standards and financial and business skills. During your training contract you will have six month seats in four different areas in the firm. We always try and accommodate a trainee s preference for a particular type of work and there may be opportunities to spend time on secondment with clients or with the ABI (Association of British Insurers). Trainee solicitors have the opportunity to gain experience during their training contract in the following areas: Personal injury Clinical negligence Occupational disease Construction Professional negligence Property insurance and recovery Our success is dependent on the talented people we recruit page 4

5 Trainee May Ahmed Your future We recruit to retain. Many of our current partners trained at BLM and this is something that we are very proud of. As you near the end of your training contract, our training principal will discuss your qualification preferences with you. Everyone who joins us has a different experience of life at BLM. Here are a few of our current and past trainees tell you about different aspects of their life at BLM. May: I have definitely hit the ground running in my first seat. Occupational disease is a great and challenging team to work in. The quality and variety of work that I have been given has already been challenging and the department really encourages you to get stuck in. I have been on the phone to claimant solicitors and May s career so far 2002 Graduated in Physics from Imperial College, London 2004 GDL at College of Law, London 2005 LPC at College of Law, London 2008 Joined BLM 1st seat: Occupational disease clients from the start, in addition to drafting and reviewing documents. I can honestly say that everyone in the department is extremely approachable, partners and all. They are always available for questions and guidance. This can also be said of the rest of the firm and it was actually one of the reasons I chose BLM. Everyone here works hard but they also know how to enjoy life too. The firm is also big on its Corporate Social Responsibility and so I have already provided pro-bono advice at a local Citizens Advice Bureau centre and started volunteering on a reading scheme in a primary school in Hackney. BLM offers the perfect balance: great training, a chance to get involved in the local community and the ability to leave the office at a decent hour! page 5

6 Solicitor Lisa Cable Lisa s career so far 2002 Graduated in Geography at Leeds University 2003 PGDL at The College of Law, London 2004 LPC at The College of Law, London 2005 Joined BLM 1st seat: Personal injury Career progression Lisa: In 2004, BLM approached the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and suggested that both organisations would benefit from a rolling secondment of BLM trainee solicitors to assist with research projects. Since the beginning of the secondments in 2005, trainee solicitors have been involved in a wide range of projects including: a European personal injury process and system, FSA regulation of general insurance, issues relating to climate change, new buildings regulation, insurance fraud and developing the ABI policy response to the Law Commission Review of Insurance Contract Law. At the ABI, I was seconded to the motor and liability team within the general insurance and health department. My main project was investigating and evaluating options for 2nd seat: Construction rd seat: Occupational disease and the ABI 4th seat: Professional indemnity 2007 Qualified into occupational disease encouraging a greater number of unrepresented claimants to deal directly with insurers. Discussing matters with ABI members allowed me to understand the commercial challenges that the insurance industry would face if my proposals were implemented. At the end of my secondment I presented my paper to the ABI s GIC Members Forum a committee of senior insurance directors: a daunting experience but an invaluable opportunity that a trainee solicitor is rarely given. My experience at the ABI has been invaluable in providing me with an insight into the issues facing the UK insurance industry. I have developed an understanding of how the political process affects the pricing of risks and of insurers key concerns in the fast moving area of law reform. My experience at the ABI has been invaluable in providing me with an insight into the issues facing the UK insurance industry page 6

7 Associate Atiyah s career so far 2002 Graduated in Law from Manchester University 2003 LPC at College of Law, Chester 2003 Joined BLM 1st seat: Personal injury 2nd seat: Property insurance and recovery rd seat: Personal injury 4th seat: Safety, Health, and Environment 2005 Qualified into Safety, Health, and Environment 2007 Associate Atiyah Malik Career progression Atiyah: There is no such thing as a typical day in the safety, health and environment team. Each day brings new challenges and a variety of work. I can be out of the office for two or three days (sometimes more) in the week conducting site visits, interviewing witnesses, attending police stations and representing clients at hearings in various courts. When I am in the office I undertake tasks such as drafting witness statements, considering documents, preparing for court hearings and negotiating/liaising with the prosecution to name just a few. Often I may be in the middle of a task and a call is received stating that there has been a major injury or fatality at a client s premises. When this happens I have to stop what I am doing and immediately rush to the incident scene to help the client control the situation, deal with the police and any of the enforcement bodies such as the HSE and commence my own investigation. The variety and challenge of the work I do means that every working day is different and I come into work with the thrill of not knowing how my day will pan out and where I may end up. Every working day is different page 7

8 Partner Jo s career so far 1993 Joined BLM 2000 Qualified into personal injury, having previously attained FILEX in Associate 2002 Partner Joanne Francis Career progression Joanne: I specialise in personal injury litigation comprising employers liability, public liability, motor and disease cases. I also deal with risk and claims management issues, having been a key player in the development and marketing of a risk and claims online information tool, BLMi, for clients. Here our trainees are treated as individuals. They form an integral part of whatever team they work. The first few weeks can be daunting. All new trainee solicitors are allocated a buddy someone to call on for informal advice and support. Our retention rate is excellent, both in terms of the number of trainees who qualify with us and those who stay with us as the years unfold beyond that. On qualification, there is every opportunity for rapid progression. Our trainees are treated as individuals page 8

9 It s not all work and no play > Social events BLM is relatively large yet has a friendly and informal atmosphere which we work hard to maintain. We promote regular social events such as quiz nights, bingo and barbecues so that people in different parts of the firm have a chance to meet and chat. We also organise sporting events socially and competitively including softball, netball, cricket, football, charity walks and runs. BLM charity walk 2008 in The Peak District, Derbyshire The team at the start line Friendly and informal atmosphere page 9

10 Trainee Edward Turner Edward s career so far 2003 Graduated in Law & Politics from Cardiff University 2006 LPC at The College of Law, Chester 2007 Joined BLM 1st seat: Police and road traffic accident Career progression Edward: In addition to my work in the employers and public liability department, I am involved in organising social events at a regional and national level at BLM. I helped organise the firm s 2008 annual charity walk in the Peak District. Nearly 50 members of staff took part raising just over 4,500 for various local charities chosen by each of our offices. I am also Vice Chairman of the Merseyside Junior Lawyers Division which provides career advice, support and networking opportunities to trainees and solicitors with other lawyers and professionals working in the Merseyside area. These positions have enabled me to raise my profile within the firm as well as the Liverpool law scene and gain a greater awareness of the realities in the legal profession nd seat: Commercial litigation (which included recovery, professional indemnity and employment) 3rd seat: Employers and public liability BLM charity walk 2008 in The Peak District, Derbyshire Aiming for the Peak A step in the right direction! Edward was awarded the Muir Matthews Prize (2008) for his contribution to the legal profession by the Liverpool Law Society page 10

11 Corporate Social Responsibility > Nine companies took part in the challenge from The Prince's Trust Insurance Leadership Group, in Namibia, which crowned BLM as the 2008 fundraising champion with the firm raising nearly 30,000. CSR We are deeply committed to making a positive difference to the communities in which we operate. Throughout our offices various projects and activities are being undertaken to benefit local people and charities. From providing voluntary legal advice to taking part in a mentoring scheme, you could make a real difference to people s lives while gaining valuable skills and experience. Most of our trainees participate in CSR work of some kind and find that very often it gives them a highly rewarding and different perspective of how the law can make a positive impact on people s lives. Some of the CSR projects we are involved with: Patron of The Prince s Trust Enterprise Project City Gateway mentoring Legal advice clinic at Liverpool University Manchester Metropolitan University mentoring Royal Courts of Justice Advice Bureau St John of Jerusalem School reading and numbers partners programme Namibia desert - reaching new heights Refuelling at base camp Graduate recruitment 2011 We are deeply committed to making a positive difference to the communities in which we operate. BLM has started planning and fundraising for The Prince s Trust Costa Rica Challenge 2009 page 11

12 Trainee Nicola s career so far 2001 Graduated in Biological and Medicinal Chemistry from Exeter University Diploma in Law at The College of Law, Guildford 2005 LPC at The College of Law, Guildford 2007 Joined BLM as a paralegal in January 2007 before commencing my training contract in September of that year. 1st seat: Occupational disease 2nd seat: Insurance property and recovery rd seat: Construction. Currently at the ABI on secondment Nicola Williams Nicola: In addition to my work as a trainee solicitor, I am involved in the St John of Jerusalem School reading and numbers partners programme. There are some very deprived areas on the doorstep of the City and I wanted to get involved in working in those communities. I feel passionately that people from all backgrounds can access the City and in particular that children feel they can aspire to working here if they choose. I believe it is crucial that companies and law firms engage with their local communities to not only raise their own profiles, but also the professions they represent. Something that impressed me about BLM was its strong CSR programme. I have had so much support from the firm in setting up this project from the very top down. In fact my only real problem has been giving a place on the scheme to everyone who wants one! One of the most enjoyable aspects has been bringing together people from all departments. In a large and busy office, it can sometimes be difficult to link up with people outside your department, but with this scheme there is a range of people involved. I know that it has been hugely rewarding for the children, the school and the volunteers. For me, it has been incredibly inspiring to see the bonds the volunteers have formed with the children and how far the children have come academically since being mentored. Graduate recruitment 2011 Something that impressed me about BLM was its strong CSR programme page 12

13 Vacation placements > While you don t have to take part in a vacation scheme to apply for a training contract with us, it will give you a valuable insight into what working here is really like. The schemes will show you what it is like to be a trainee at BLM and help you decide whether you are suited to our culture and particular environment. They also enable us to meet talented people who might go on to become future trainees. We run Easter and summer vacation placements in our London and Birmingham offices for students in their penultimate year of a law degree or final year of a non-law degree, plus those already qualified or who have taken the paralegal or legal executive route. This year, in 2009, we are only able to offer limited vacation placements; these will be open to those applying for a training contract in London, Birmingham or Southampton. Each placement is for a maximum of two weeks. The dates for the 2009 schemes are: Easter: Anytime week commencing 23 March 2009 and week commencing 27 April 2009 Summer: Anytime week commencing 22 June 2009 and week commencing 29 August 2009 The salary is 250 per week Application deadlines: Easter: 27 February 2009 Summer: 30 April 2009 page 13

14 Trainee Christopher s career so far 2005 Vacation placement at BLM 2006 Graduated in Law from University of Sheffield 2007 LPC at Sheffield University 2008 Joined BLM 1st seat: Personal injury Christopher MacQueen Christopher: I did my vacation placement in the professional indemnity department, it wasn't the first vacation placement that I had taken, but it stood out. The whole atmosphere of the firm was friendly. Everyone worked hard, but they all seemed to have time to talk to me and made efforts to talk not just about work but outside interests and what life was like working at the firm. I genuinely felt they were interested in talking to me, not just seeing me as a vacation student but as, I'll say it, a colleague. I was given work as well, nothing difficult, but it gave me a real flavour. There was some research, a meeting where I took minutes, a chance to observe a Masters in Chambers and even a chance to draft a witness statement. I had previously worked in the insurance market, so the insurance angle of the firm was what first attracted me; it was the people that convinced me to join. Vacation schemes give you a valuable insight into what working here is really like page 14

15 Apply > What are we looking for We are looking for undergraduates and graduates in all disciplines seeking a training contract in We may also have some vacancies available for those wishing to start earlier than Details of these vacancies can be found on the application form. We also welcome applications from those who have taken the legal executive or paralegal route, or those working in other relevant professions looking for a career change. You should be able to demonstrate high academic ability (you must have obtained or be expecting to obtain at least a 2:1 in your degree). You should also be able to demonstrate technical ability, good judgment, confidence and good interpersonal skills. In addition, trainees must be ready to take on responsibility from an early stage. How to apply To apply for a training contract and/or vacation placement scheme please access our online application and equal opportunities forms via: Our application form has a dual purpose of a vacation placement and as a training contract. Only applications through this formal process will be accepted. Application deadlines Vacation placement, Easter: 27 February 2009 Vacation placement, summer: 30 April 2009 Training contract: 31 July 2009 The assessment process The interview process will comprise of an assessment day, a presentation exercise to test your communications skills and a panel interview with our partners. page 15

16 Salaries and benefits > As a multi-site law firm, our trainee salaries reflect regional variations. Currently they are: Year 1 Year 2 Regional offices 22,000 23,000 London 26,000 27,000 We recruit a small number of high-quality trainees each year to ensure that we can provide the best possible training and development opportunities. Nineteen trainee solicitors places are available for 2011 in the following BLM offices: Birmingham: 1 Manchester: 6 Leeds: 2 Southampton: 1 Liverpool: 2 Stockton-on-Tees: 1 London: 6 Other benefits* include: contribution towards the costs of the LPC, 20 days' holiday per annum, private medical insurance, permanent health insurance, life assurance, accident insurance, group personal pension plan (with contributions by BLM), employee assistance programme and season ticket loan. All newly qualified solicitors who join the firm are eligible for the firm s discretionary annual employee bonus linked to performance and the firm's profitability. (*Benefits differ depending on location.) All the hard work you put in during your training contract won t go unnoticed or unrewarded page 16

17 The last word > I hope by reading our brochure it has given you insight into BLM and what it is like to work here. But there is only so much we can tell you in a brochure. If there is anything we have missed out look at our website or us. We would be delighted to answer your queries. I look forward to receiving your application form and to meeting you in the future. Adela Taylor Head of human resources and training page 17

18 Contact us > Human resources Ms Mona Rangar Graduate recruitment Human resources Berrymans Lace Mawer Salisbury House London Wall London EC2M 5QN Equal opportunities BLM is committed to promoting equal opportunities. We fully recognise the benefits of a diverse workforce and have undertaken to work towards an environment where all members of staff, in all areas of the business, can develop their potential regardless of gender, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, religion, age and ethnic origin. Web: Berrymans Lace Mawer Graduate recruitment 2011 BLM offices Birmingham Cardiff Leeds Liverpool London Manchester Southampton Stockton-on-Tees Solicitors with offices in Birmingham, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Southampton, Stockton-on-Tees. Associates in Paris (as Bertagna Berrymans), Athens, Brussels, Bucharest, Dusseldorf, Madrid, Singapore, and Stuttgart. Berrymans Lace Mawer is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and accredited to quality standards ISO 9001 and Lexcel. page