Sep 15, 2014

Written By Jos Weale, Managing Editor, AllAboutLaw.co.uk

Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2013-14 Winners & Rankings Announced

Sep 15, 2014

Written By Jos Weale, Managing Editor, AllAboutLaw.co.uk

Ever wondered who really offers the top training contract programmes and vacation scheme opportunities in the country? 4 November 2013 saw representatives from some of the UK’s very best law firms gather to celebrate the winners of the brand new Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes rankings, voted for by current trainees and vacation scheme students. So how do the rankings look?

This year’s rankings were determined by employee satisfaction surveys: one for training contracts and one for vacation schemes. The training contract surveys were completed anonymously by first year trainees, second year trainees and first year NQs; vacation scheme surveys were completed by first year trainees who had previously completed a vacation scheme with their firm or former vacation scheme students who had previously undertaken a vacation scheme and are yet to start their training contract.

Each survey covered various topics such as training, career progression, company culture, work-life balance, level of responsibility and job satisfaction.

So without further ado, here are the rankings for the Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2013-14:

Top Law Firms for Training Contracts

Farrer & Co
DWF
Burges Salmon
Latham & Watkins
Bingham
Penningtons Manches LLP
Wedlake Bell
Lewis Silkin
Thomas Eggar
SGH Martineau
Shoosmiths
Baker & McKenzie
Eversheds
Sidley Austin
Travers Smith
Berwin Leighton Paisner
Norton Rose Fulbright
Herbert Smith Freehills
Mishcon de Reya
Nabarro
Mayer Brown
Withers LLP
Freeth Cartwright LLP
Slaughter and May
Lester Aldridge
Browne Jacobson
Gide Loyrette Nouel
Howes Percival
CMS Cameron McKenna
Reed Smith
Osborne Clarke
Hogan Lovells
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Linklaters
Shearman & Sterling
DLA Piper
Cleary Gottlieb
Ashurst
Field Fisher Waterhouse

Top Law Firms for Vacation Schemes

Shoosmiths
Penningtons Manches LLP
Travers Smith
Norton Rose Fulbright
Farrer & Co
Wedlake Bell
Baker & McKenzie
Nabarro
Osborne Clarke
Latham & Watkins
Reed Smith
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Weil
DLA Piper
Linklaters
Field Fisher Waterhouse
Slaughter and May
Herbert Smith Freehills
Mayer Brown
DWF
Eversheds
Burges Salmon
Withers LLP
Berwin Leighton Paisner
Howes Percival
Lester Aldridge
Cleary Gottlieb
Thomas Eggar
Mischcon de Reya
Ashurst
SGH Martineau

The AllAboutLaw team donned their glad rags for the Awards evening, hosted by cvmail (Thomson Reuters) at the Thomson Reuters building in Canary Wharf, to congratulate the winning law firms of several award categories recognising the fantastic work that is being done to train up the next generation of lawyers. We were also really pleased to welcome Chief Executive of the SRA Antony Townsend, who gave a speech at the event.

And as for the award winners? National firm Farrer & Co (pictured) really stole the show. They took six awards in all along with the title of Top Law Firm for Training Contracts. Other highlights included Trainee Solicitor of the Year, awarded to Baker & McKenzie’s David Dowling. David has set up a pro bono charity whilst he has been training with the firm.

Top Law Firm 2013-14

Winner: Farrer & Co

Runner Up: Shoosmiths

Third Place: Penningtons Manches LLP

Best Training Contract

Winner: Farrer & Co

Runner Up: DWF

Third Place: Burges Salmon

Best Vacation Scheme

Winner: Shoosmiths

Runner Up: Penningtons Manches LLP

Third Place: Travers Smith

Best Training Contract – National Firm

Winner: Farrer & Co

Runner Up: DWF

Third Place: Burges Salmon

Best Vacation Scheme – National Firm

Winner: Shoosmiths

Runner Up: Penningtons Manches LLP

Third Place: Farrer & Co

Best Training Contract – International Firm

Winner: Latham & Watkins

Runner Up: SGH Martineau LLP

Third Place: Baker & McKenzie

Best Vacation Scheme – International Firm

Winner: Norton Rose Fulbright

Runner Up: Baker & McKenzie

Third Place: Nabarro

Best Training Contract – US Firm

Winner: Bingham

Runner Up: Sidley Austin

Third Place: Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

Best Vacation Scheme – US Firm

Winner: Weil, Gotschal & Manges

Runner Up: Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

Best for Training – Training Contract

Winner: Farrer & Co

Runner Up: Wedlake Bell

Third Place: SGH Martineau LLP

Best for Training – Vacation Scheme

Winner: Shoosmiths

Runner Up: Linklaters

Third Place: Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Best for Career Progression – Training Contract

Winner: Latham & Watkins

Runner Up: Farrer & Co

Third Place: Thomas Eggar LLP

Best for Career Progression – Vacation Scheme

Winner: Berwin Leighton Paisner

Runner Up: Shoosmiths

Third Place: Osborne Clarke

Best Level of Support – Training Contract

Winner: Farrer & Co

Runner Up: Wedlake Bell

Third Place: DWF

Best Level of Support – Vacation Scheme

Winner: Travers Smith

Runner Up: Shoosmiths

Third Place: Wedlake Bell

Best for Job Satisfaction – Training Contract

Winner: Farrer & Co

Runner Up: Wedlake Bell

Third Place: SGH Martinaeu LLP

Best for Job Satisfaction – Vacation Scheme

Winner: Berwin Leighton Paisner

Runner Up: Penningtons Manches LLP

Third Place: Norton Rose Fulbright

Best for International Opportunities

Winner: Baker & McKenzie

Runner Up: Gide Loyrette Nouel

Third Place: Linklaters

Trainee Solicitor of the Year

Winner: David Dowling (Baker & McKenzie)

Runner Up: Ben Gant (Freeth Cartwright)

Third Place: Jo Saye (Veale Wasborough Vizards)

The Social Mobility Award

Winner: DLA Piper

Runner Up: Lewis Silkin

Best Trainee & Vacation Scheme Website

Winner: Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Runner Up: Linklaters

Third Place: Ashurst

Best Use of Social Media in a Trainee & Vacation Scheme Recruitment Campaign

Winner: Linklaters

Runner Up: Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Third Place: Shoosmiths

The AllAboutLaw team would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took part in the rankings this year and congratulations to the winners!

You can find out more about this year’s winning law firms and finalists if you swoop on over to the law firm profiles.

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