Nov 14, 2018

Written By Becky Kells, Editor, AllAboutLaw

AllAboutLaw Awards 2018: top law firms recognised

Nov 14, 2018

Written By Becky Kells, Editor, AllAboutLaw

Every year, we recognise the firms that are consistently getting it right in the AllAboutLaw Awards. Here are the winners for 2018...

The top law firms were recognised for their achievements last night in the AllAboutLaw Awards 2018. Recruiters, partners, associates and trainees from a range of firms gathered at One America Square to celebrate the sector’s achievements.

The top prize of the night - Top Law Firm for Training Contracts and Vacation Schemes - went to Mayer Brown. DLA Piper came away with four awards, while Reed Smith was awarded three.

Held annually, the Awards aim to recognise the hard work done by law firms to create innovative and rewarding vacation schemes and training contracts. Using data gathered from trainees and vacation schemes at law firms, a ranking system is generated to produce the award winners for each category.

Two awards – Best Website and Best Social Media - are judged by a student panel from a cross-section of the AllAboutLaw database. CMS was awarded Best Website while Shoosmiths won Best Social Media. The committee of the Junior Lawyers Division judges the Diversity and Inclusion Award, which this year was awarded to Baker McKenzie.

"We are delighted to have received the award for a second year running", said a representative from Baker McKenzie. "Our approach to diversity and inclusion is ingrained in our DNA: we were not only one of the first UK law firms to introduce contextualised recruitment but also name-blind recruitment.

"Our approach to diversity does not end at recruitment and continues upon joining the firm through 6 very active diversity networks that all of our workforce can get involved with."

Jack Denton, the co-founder of AllAboutLaw, said: "It was great to recognise the achievements of the firms who consistently get it right in what they provide for vacation scheme students and trainees. Congratulations to all winners and finalists!" 

A full list of award winners can be seen below.

Top Law Firm for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes

Winner: Mayer Brown
Runner-Up: Dentons
Finalists:
Baker McKenzie
Dechert
DLA Piper
Irwin Mitchell
RPC
Shearman & Sterling
Taylor Wessing
Weil

Best Training Contract

Winner: DLA Piper
Runner-Up: Mayer Brown
Finalists:
Bristows
Dentons
Irwin Mitchell
Macfarlanes
Shearman & Sterling
Shoosmiths
Taylor Wessing
TLT Solicitors

Best Vacation Scheme

Winner: Reed Smith
Runner-Up: Pinsent Masons
Finalists:
Baker McKenzie
BLM Law
Burges Salmon
Dechert
DWF
Hogan Lovells
RPC
Taylor Wessing

Best Training Contract - International or City Firm

Winner: DLA Piper
Runner-Up: Mayer Brown
Finalists:
Bristows
Dentons
Hogan Lovells
Macfarlanes
Osborne Clarke
Taylor Wessing

Best Vacation Scheme - International or City Firm

Winner: Reed Smith
Runner-Up: Dechert
Finalists:
Baker McKenzie
HFW
Hogan Lovells
RPC
Taylor Wessing
White & Case

Best Training Contract - National Firm

Winner: Irwin Mitchell
Runner-Up: Shoosmiths
Finalists:
Addleshaw Goddard
Browne Jacobson
Farrer & Co
Gordons
Kennedys
TLT Solicitors

Best Vacation Scheme - National Firm

Winner: Pinsent Masons
Runner-Up: BLM Law
Finalists:
Addleshaw Goddard
Burges Salmon
DWF
Farrer & Co
Kennedys
TLT Solicitors

Best Training Contract - US Firm

Winner: Shearman & Sterling
Runner-Up: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Field
Finalist: Cleary Gottlieb

Best Vacation Scheme - US Firm

Winner: Weil
Runner-Up: Cleary Gottlieb
Finalist: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld

Best Training - Training Contract

Winner: Farrer & Co
Runner-Up: Mayer Brown
Finalists:
Dentons
DLA Piper
Irwin Mitchell
Macfarlanes
Shearman & Sterling
Shoosmiths

Best Training - Vacation Scheme

Winner: Dechert
Runner-Up: BLM Law
Finalists:
Bird & Bird
Fieldfisher
Hogan Lovells
Reed Smith
RPC
TLT Solicitors

Best Opportunities for Career Progression - Training Contract

Winner: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
Runner-Up: DLA Piper
Finalists:
Bristows
Dentons
Irwin Mitchell
Macfarlanes
Mayer Brown
Osborne Clarke

Best Opportunities for Career Progression - Vacation Scheme

Winner: HFW
Runner-Up: Addleshaw Goddard
Finalists:
Bird & Bird
CMS
DWF
Fieldfisher
Hogan Lovells
Pinsent Masons

Best for Job Satisfaction

Winner: DLA Piper
Runner-Up: Bristows
Finalists:
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
Baker McKenzie
Gordons
Irwin Mitchell
Mayer Brown
Shearman & Sterling

Best Level of Support - Training Contract

Winner: Hogan Lovells
Runner-Up: Mayer Brown
Finalists:
Dentons
DLA Piper
Irwin Mitchell
RPC
Shoosmiths
Taylor Wessing

Best Level of Support - Vacation Scheme

Winner: BLM Law
Runner-Up: Pinsent Masons
Finalists:
Dechert
DWF
Farrer & Co
Hogan Lovells
Reed Smith
White & Case

Best Opportunities for Skills Development - Training Contract

Winner: DLA Piper
Runner-Up: Taylor Wessing
Finalists:
Dentons
Irwin Mitchell
Lester Aldridge
Macfarlanes
Mayer Brown
Shoosmiths

Best Opportunities for Skills Development - Vacation scheme

Winner: Reed Smith
Runner-Up: Dechert
Finalists:
BLM Law
DWF
HFW
Hogan Lovells
Pinsent Masons
Weil

Best Company Culture

Winner: Baker McKenzie
Runner-Up: Bird & Bird
Finalists:
Bristows
Hogan Lovells
Pinsent Masons
RPC
Squire Patton Boggs
Taylor Wessing

The Diversity & Inclusion Award

Winner: Baker McKenzie
Runner-Up: Bird & Bird
Finalists:
 Fieldfisher
Hogan Lovells
Shoosmiths

Best Website

Winner: CMS
Runner-Up: Shearman & Sterling
Finalists:
Baker McKenzie
Bristows
DWF
Gowling
HFW
Hogan Lovells
Pinsent Masons
Stephenson Harwood

Best Social Media

Winner: Shoosmiths
Runner-Up: Fieldfisher
Finalists:
Bird & Bird
CMS
Hogan Lovells
Michelmores
Norton Rose Fulbright
RPC
Shearman & Sterling
White & Case

Best Training Principal:

Winner: Taylor Wessing
Runner-Up: Wedlake Bell
Finalists:
Bristows
Farrer & Co
Fieldfisher
Gowling
Macfarlanes
Osborne Clarke

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