News
Herberts rethinks sacking of trainee
- 03rd February 2010
A trainee solicitor at city giant Herbert Smith who was dismissed last year after allegedly accessing confidential information and passing it onto fellow trainees, has been rehired by the firm, according to legal website RollOnFriday.
After the decision was appealed, the trainee went back to work and is expected to complete her training contract in March. The trainee should have qualified last September before the circumstances leading to her dismissal arose. We understand the trainee accessed information contained in a confidential email from a partner to colleagues detailing which trainees the firm was planning to retain on qualification and which were to go.
A spokesperson for the firm is reported to have said: “Our appeals process is confidential and we don't comment on specific cases.”
It is not clear why the firm changed its mind and re-recruited the trainee. But whilst the case poses a short-term embarrassment to the firm it serves as a salutary tale for trainees and how they should treat confidential information in the office.
-
