1. How to attract law graduates to the
East Midlands during the early
stages of their career- either as a
solicitor or barrister
ROPEWALK CHAMBERS
Challenge 1

2. Misconceptions
 London is better for lawyers
 Quality of work is better elsewhere
 London is better as more exciting
 Opportunities are better in London
 Get paid more in London
 Nottingham is not a ‘sexy’ city (Alan- Brown Jacobson)
 Likely to progress “ small fish in a big pond”
“ Don’t have the shard but we have the Britannia” (James/ Shawn Freeths)

3. Results
 However we found that…
 Salary
 Reputation
 Quality of training
 Quality of life
 Support

4. Pupillage
 Those from London (27%) were
more likely to get a pupillage than
from Nottingham Trent (15%).
(Lawyer2B)
 Reginal firms have 1-2 pupillages.
 London offer up to 5

5. Training contracts
 3,500 training contracts a year and 6,000 law graduates
 Only 12 law firms in Nottingham:
 Browne Jacobson 12 -14 in Nottingham
 Freeths 12 in Nottingham and15-20 across the board
 Whereas In London there are 100’s

6. Why the retention rate in the East
Midlands is an issue for junior
lawyers
Challenge 2

7. Retention rate
The East Midlands has the lowest retention of students of any UK
region, with only 39.2% of those who studied in the region in
employment there six months after graduation. (The Guardian)
However both Freeths and Browne Jacobson have a 90%
retention rate!

8. The Effect
 This is a major issue for law firms as they are spending
hundred and thousands of pounds on training.
 “treated like a stepping stone, to bigger and better things”
 Attracted by sexier cities like London, Manchester and
Birmingham – Alan (Browne Jacobson)

9. Recommendations
 Better marketing and promotion of the opportunities
 Making students aware of Bygott Biggs; legal recruitment company
 Incentives
 Flexible working hours
 The Council; Improve the city and promotion of Nottingham
 Freeths; Legal assistant foundation scheme
 Regional law fairs
 Informal contact

10. Thank You
 Ropewalk Chambers
 Bygott Biggs
 Freeths
 Browne Jacobson
 #Grads4Nottm
 Any Questions?