Survey Results - Trainee feedback on Michelmores

The lowdown - Trainees (in their own words) on Michelmores

Why did you choose this firm over any others? ‘Following my vacation scheme, it offered the culture and work-life balance I was looking for’, ‘the culture’, ‘location, quality of work and work-life balance’, ‘place in market, culture, quality of work, progressive nature of firm, company alignment’, ‘the reputation, culture, and practice areas/expertise in those areas’

Best thing about the firm? ‘The people’, ‘the access to amazing client work and client contact whilst being located in the south west’, ‘big enough to get high-quality work, small enough to know most people, be dynamic and approachable’, ‘culture’

Worst thing about the firm? ‘I would prefer a more London-based presence however our London office is expanding so this is promising’, ‘approaches between teams to trainee supervision can be mixed. A more united and coherent approach would be appreciated’, ‘the office location’

Best moment? ‘Receiving great feedback from my supervisors’, ‘getting involved in a big whistleblowing investigation matter and working with counsel’, ‘attending a conference with Counsel and Experts in London at Chambers on a case which was progressing to trial in the high court’, ‘completing my first acquisition’

Worst moment? ‘Messing up on some work and feeling like I’d disappointed the fee-earner’, ‘feeling overwhelmed in busy seats and unsure how to prioritise/complete work in the right way/order’, ‘being asked to a complicated historical WIP review’, ‘there was a point where I had so little work to do and was really bored in the office’

The Legal 500 Future Lawyers verdict on Michelmores

Michelmores attracts trainees from the get-go. As one put it, “following my vacation scheme, it offered the culture and work-life balance I was looking for.” Others echo this, citing the firm’s “location, quality of work and work-life balance” alongside its “progressive nature” and “reputation, culture, and practice areas.” Trainees value the fact that it offers “good work-life balance, but still access to high-quality commercial work” — combining City-calibre matters with the lifestyle benefits of being based in the South West. The training is described as “much better in terms of exposure to clients, being given responsibility and leadership on matters” compared to peers at other firms. Support is a recurring theme, with one trainee noting “great and well supported training… trainees are well supported by supervisors and more widely in the firm.” Others highlight “really good supervision and client exposure,” though they acknowledge that “seats can vary in intensity.” When asked about the best thing at Michelmores, the answer is almost unanimous: “the people.” Trainees also praise the access to “amazing client work and client contact whilst being located in the South West.” On the flip side, trainees mention practical downsides such as “a lot of the seats being available only in Exeter and the associated travel/cost.” Others note that “approaches between teams to trainee supervision can be mixed” and that they would like a stronger London presence, though the office there is expanding. Highlights of the training contract include “receiving great feedback from my supervisors,” “leading a client meeting,” and “getting involved in a big whistleblowing investigation matter.” Court and trial work also stand out, such as “attending a conference with counsel and experts in London” and “experiencing a client win at trial.” Worst moments range from “feeling overwhelmed in busy seats” to “having so little work to do and being really bored in the office.” The firm’s hybrid working is described as “excellent” and “flexible,” typically requiring trainees in the office for at least two anchor days. CSR and pro bono opportunities are widely available, with trainees citing “many outreach programmes/mentoring schemes with young people” and the chance to “engage with pro bono work within a few months of my TC.” For those who value strong client exposure, supportive colleagues, and a South West work-life balance, Michelmores could be the right fit.