Mills & Reeve

The Legal 500 Future Lawyers verdict on Mills & Reeve

Mills & Reeve draws trainees with its strong reputation for “work-life balance in combination with quality of work” and being “the only firm in the region which gives access to London-level work.” Others point to the “culture,” “variety of service areas offered and the quality of clients,” plus the “transparency of decision making” as major selling points. The firm’s “friendliness” and “flexibility and adaptability of the leadership team” are also consistently mentioned as differentiators. The training contract stands out for its breadth, with many emphasising the benefit of six seats. “We have more seats than most other firms, which is something I am very grateful for since four seats does not seem like enough,” one trainee explained. Another noted that “my training provides a greater breadth of work…this helps when making a decision as to where we want to qualify into.” The balance of responsibility and support is another recurring theme: “Greater client contact and greater responsibility than friends at MC/City firms,” one commented, while another added, “I probably have more responsibility and less supervision… I feel I would get more out of my training contract by more active mentoring.” “The people” are repeatedly praised as the best thing about the firm. Trainees describe “a close group of juniors who regularly socialise and support one another,” and a “large network of very social colleagues to lean on.” The culture of “approachability and cooperation” is matched by flexibility: “If I have an interest in a particular sector or type of work, I am not only given the opportunity to pursue that interest, but actively encouraged to do so.” Memorable training moments include “leading two difficult lease negotiations from start to finish,” “working on a case all the way through to trial,” and “attending a sports arbitration hearing.” Another trainee enjoyed “seeing the progression in the responsibility and independence I am given.” Tougher moments have ranged from “slow periods” and “seats where I did not feel as supported” to “managing a multi-country completion process at 1am.” The firm’s hybrid working policy is generally viewed as positive, with “50% WFH and 50% in office” providing “flexibility to suit your needs.” Many, however, feel they learn more in the office. CSR opportunities are described as “abundant,” with initiatives like the firm’s “give a day” scheme and charity committees providing plenty of scope, though several note there is “less so pro bono.” For trainees who want quality work without sacrificing balance, in a culture described as open, flexible and people-focused, Mills & Reeve offers a supportive and varied training experience.

A day in the life of... Milly Larner, first-year trainee – Norwich office

Departments to date: Agriculture (real estate); Employment; Insurance disputes

University: University of Bristol

Degree: History

8.10am: I leave the house just after 8am and walk through beautiful Norwich to the office.

8.45am: I arrive in the office at around 8.45am. I often grab a coffee or something for breakfast from Edo’s, our in-house café which does a selection of tasty food.

9.00am: After logging on, I check my emails and catch up with the team.

9.15am: An associate in the team asks me to help with the assessment of the quantum on a medical negligence claim. To do this, I consider evidence that was recently exchanged and evaluate the items included in the claimant’s schedule of loss. After reading through a number of the documents on the file, I draft an email including my thoughts on how much the claimant should reasonably expect to recover.

11.00am: I catch up with the associate and we discuss my conclusions and findings. I am asked to draft a report to the insurer including the recommendations I suggested in relation to the quantum. As the completed report is not required until next week, I decide to move onto another task.

11.30am: I continue to draft an article considering a recent case that contemplates the doctrine of vicarious liability. This is a great task to dip in and out of, but also important that I finish drafting the article today as it will be included in an update to clients which is due to be circulated later this week. The article will also be posted on M&R’s website and on LinkedIn which is valuable exposure for me.

12.30pm: Every Tuesday lunchtime, I attend a 45-minute Pilates class that is held in the client meeting rooms. It free for staff to attend and is a fantastic way to incorporate some exercise into the day and get to meet other colleagues. After the class, a couple of us enjoy soup and a toastie in Edo’s before returning to our desks.

1.30pm: Last week, a partner in the team asked if I would attend an in-person settlement meeting held in the office. The claimant and their solicitor are attending, along with our client (the defendant). The purpose of the meeting is to negotiate and try to come to a resolution, perhaps even agreeing a settlement. Earlier in the week I prepared a bundle of documents for the meeting but have been asked to add some additional documents. After doing this, I meet our client at reception, show him to the meeting room and provide him with a copy of the bundle.

2.00pm: At 2pm, the settlement meeting commenced. I am tasked with taking a verbatim note of the discussions. Unfortunately, the matter did not settle but it was great to experience how negotiation is conducted between solicitors.

4.00pm: The meeting ends at around 4pm, so I head back to my desk and tidy the attendance note that I drafted. I spend the rest of my day continuing to finalise the article and send off the completed version. Finally, I ensure that my timesheet is correct and accurately records the work undertaken today.

5.30pm: I leave the office at around 5.30pm and head to one of the pubs on the river in Norwich for an outing with the team. The team have booked ‘Pub and Paddle’ which involves canoeing along the river and stopping off at the various pubs along the way. It was a lot of fun!

About the firm

The firm: You will often hear Mills & Reeve say ‘Achieve more. Together’, and while many law firms talk about teamwork and collaboration, it’s not just a catchphrase here. It’s the cornerstone of the culture and how the firm works.

The clients: Jaguar Land Rover; University of Cambridge; Ministry of Defence; Professional Footballers’ Association; AIG; Wellcome Trust; Department of Health and Social Care; HSBC; Urban&Civic; VetPartners.

The deals: Advised neuroscience company NRG Therapeutics on its £50m Series B Financing – Stevenage-based NRG Therapeutics has developed a novel mechanism to target mitochondrial function that will slow or halt the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/motor neurone disease (MND); advised independent connection provider HVSS Group on its maiden acquisition of a Norwich specialist electrical contractor – Northamptonshire-based HVSS Group has bought AM Electrics (Renewables) in a move that will further enhance its capabilities in delivering integrated infrastructure solutions; advised on a $55m Series C Funding round for an Oxford-based pioneer of AI driven cardiology solutions – Ultromics has developed the first FDA-cleared AI technology to help clinicians detect two of the most elusive forms of heart failure, HFpEF and cardiac amyloidosis; supported the shareholders of Bloc Hotels, which specialises in developing, owning and operating high-quality, short-stay hotels in prime locations, on the sale to Arora Group – the purchase includes the 245-bedroom Bloc Gatwick and the 105-bedroom Bloc Birmingham, along with two further sites in the UK that are yet to be developed.

Senior partner: Charles Staveley

Managing partner: Claire Clarke

Other offices: Birmingham, Cambridge, Leeds, London, Manchester, Norwich, Oxford.

Who we are: Mills & Reeve is a dynamic, modern and thought-provoking firm. We’re personal and passionate about the law.

What we do: Delivering value to our clients through highly commercial, pragmatic and practical advice, we follow the highest possible standards of professional service, in the most personable and approachable way we can. Our 1,450-plus people and over 850 lawyers work from seven offices nationally and through handpicked relationships with law firms across the globe. Our work spans a broad range of legal sectors and jurisdictions for a diverse range of clients: from the FTSE 250 to fast-growth start-ups, from individuals to some of the world’s most established and prestigious organisations.

What we’re looking for: We want people who are ready for early responsibility because that is what we will give you. You will be driven, have a positive attitude and an agile approach. You will enjoy untangling complicated issues and thrive on building relationships with clients and colleagues.

What you’ll do: We want you to really understand what it’s like to be a lawyer and the best way to do that is to give you responsibility. You’ll be working with national and international clients where you are given the freedom to learn in a supportive environment. Trainees take on six four-month seats to allow you to experience the breadth of the work we do and you will be supported by dedicated supervisors, a partner mentor, a trainee buddy and the graduate team throughout the two-year training programme.

Perks: Everyone has different priorities and preferences, so at Mills & Reeve you can choose the benefits that appeal to you. From buying holiday and undergoing health screening to leasing a bicycle – the choice is yours.

Benefits include: pension scheme; life assurance; bonus scheme; 25 days’ holiday a year as standard with the option to buy or sell five days each year; extra day of leave for wedding, civil partnership, religious holiday, moving house; option to take qualification leave at the end of the training contract; sports and social committee; subsidised restaurants; season ticket loan; confidential employee assistance programme; membership costs for junior lawyers groups.

Sponsorship

Full course sponsorship and maintenance grant.

SQE: Full course and exam fees.

PGDL: Full course fees (non-law graduates).

Maintenance grant: £7,500 (regional), £10,000 (London).

Tips from the recruiter

1. Make sure your application is specific to Mills & Reeve. Highlight why you are interested in the firm and how your skills and experiences align with our values and practice areas.
2. Attention to detail in the application process and throughout the recruitment cycle is important. Make note of key dates, do lots of research for your application and check it thoroughly before sending.

Diversity and inclusion