The Legal 500

See the latest survey results from the 2012/13 edition of The Lex 100 - a student guide designed to show what working in a law firm is really like. For more information on the methodology of this survey please click here.

1. Survey results
2. The Lex 100 verdict
3. A Day in the life of
4. About the Firm
5. Facts & figures
6. APPLY NOW

For more information on this firm please click here

Web:  www.brownejacobson.com (and trainee blog www.traineetalk.com) 

Email: traineeapplications@brownejacobson.com

 

Survey results

The lowdown (in their own words...)

The Verdict

Trainees could not be more enthusiastic about Browne Jacobsen, describing it as a 'down-to-earth and friendly' firm. Attracted by its Midlands location and the 'wide number of practice areas', training at the firm is 'well spread', 'varied and interesting'. The firm is a Lex 100 Winner  in an impressive five categories this year; job satisfaction, quality of work, client contact, friendliness and social life. It also scores highly for its attitude towards work/life balance ('excellent') and the open-door policy. The fact that trainees are 'made to feel involved and valued' demonstrates that it is a firm that 'really cares about its people'. Get ready for the work to be very 'hands-on', the amount of responsibility given means that some trainees do feel that they are 'feel thrown in at the deep end, but 'in a good way!'. The range of work available means that recent experiences have included 'attending a two-day trial with the client and counsel alone', 'conducting my own advocacy at a county court hearing' and (because the job isn't without its glamour) 'completing a deal on a client's yacht'. The IT system is a common source of complaint and trainees would like more socialising to be done between the Nottingham and Birmingham offices. The firm tries to compensate for this by making sure that the offices are as sociable as possible so karaoke at the Christmas party and the firm netball team are both popular. For those looking for a top-flight practice in the Midlands, Browne Jacobsen is a great place to start.

 A day in the life of...

Lauren Dobbs first-year trainee, Browne Jacobson LLP 
Departments to date:  Health and property
University: University of Leeds 
Degree: Law LLB, 2(1) Hons 

8.10am:  I arrive at work, turn on my PC and have a quick catch up with my supervisor. Over a cup of tea, I have a look at my emails to see if anything urgent has come in and review my to-do list on outlook. I have a client meeting scheduled for this afternoon as well as a charity cake sale in the morning and a netball match this evening. Browne Jacobson really encourages its trainees to be involved in a whole host of things, from doing applications at court, interviewing clients and going on site visits, to doing charity events, organising social gatherings for the firm's employees and playing sports.

8.20am:  Although most correspondence is via email, we still receive some post and this morning I receive a signed lease on one of my academy files. Even though I am in the property team, by dealing with the property aspects of academy conversions I am able to assist the education team. Trainees are actively encouraged to get a broad range of experience across departments and our other UK offices.

8.40am:  I telephone the landlord's solicitor to see if she is ready to complete, which she is so I date the documents accordingly. I draft a covering letter to the landlord's solicitor and email the client to advise them that we have completed.

9.30am:  I then start drafting an uplift agreement for a client who is selling some land which will eventually be developed. This is quite a technical agreement but fortunately I find a precedent in property's extensive precedent bank which gives me the information I need.

11.00am:  Cake sale time! Along with some of my fellow trainees, I have organised a charity cake sale to raise money for our firm's chosen charity. Employees have baked some delicious goods and we arrange them before the hungry masses descend wanting a cake to accompany their morning coffee. All cakes sell out in an hour and we make £240! One of the reasons I applied for Browne Jacobson was because of its focus on charity and pro bono work; a fact which is even better when it involves cakes.

12.00pm:  My supervisor and I discuss the uplift agreement which I drafted this morning and he makes a few tweaks. We agree that I should send it to the other side, subject to our client's instructions, because our client wants to complete quickly.

1.30pm:  I pop down to No 44 - Browne Jacobson's café - where I run into some of the other trainees. We discuss the office move which is scheduled for next week and our first impressions of it after our tour yesterday. Everyone is impressed with the facilities, technology and the design. My favourite part is the garden and I hope we have a good summer so I can use it at lunchtime!

2.15pm:  Before going into the client meeting, I run through the questions which I propose to ask with my supervisor. He gives me some great feedback so I feel really prepared to take some ownership in the meeting. Browne Jacobson really encourages trainees to liaise with clients and I have already been able to build relations with some.

4.15pm:  I come out of the client meeting and make a note of what has been discussed. The client has also given us two more jobs which I will be conducting, under supervision. The fact that trainees are given their own files, but with the safety net of excellent supervision, is another perk of training with Browne Jacobson.

6.00pm:  Before leaving, I check what I need to do tomorrow and ensure that I have answered my emails. I then get changed into my netball kit and go to the match. Much to everyone's amazement, we actually win the match - our first win in three years!