Stephenson Harwood

Back at base, trainees report being given high quality and “intellectually challenging” work that is complemented by “exceptional and consistent” support. “Generally, the quality of work is excellent, trainee exposure on matters is very good and means that we often find ourselves exposed to NQ and associate level work on matters. It varies depending on the department and practice area, but generally, matters are staffed with a partner, an associate of some level, and a trainee or apprentice. At first, it feels like you’ve been thrown in a little, given how niche some of the practice groups are, but I think it makes for a better learning experience, and trainees are given the knowledge in induction sessions and in training to do well. The firm has some impressive clients and acts on big transactions and cases, so this helps too.” Sources say SH has a good administrative and document support function, making delegation of some of the more admin-y stuff easy. Another insider, reflecting on the work they’ve done so far, explains they have “been able to carve out ownership of matters” so they genuinely feel like they’re “contributing and adding value to the team”.

In terms of training, trainees tell of “one-to-one supervision, lots of exposure, and the opportunity to get involved in good quality work if you put yourself out there.” Our sources tell us that, given the firm’s specialities, “seat options can be limited and have a narrow focus” in terms of the work it might entail, but the silver lining to this is some pretty in-depth experience. As another adds: “From speaking to my peers at other firms, one of things that SH is very good for is the quality of training. Each department has a lengthy induction period at the start of every rotation, usually lasting at least one week, consisting of knowledge sessions focused on the specialist law of that practice area. Some practice groups also have structured knowledge programmes for trainees and apprentices to complete throughout the seat, on top of the induction. It would be hard to pass though a seat and not be at NQ level by the end.” There’s “slight variance” between some of the smaller teams who are less used to training up new recruits but even this is a “minor complaint as even in the smaller teams the training has been good”. Trainees also have monthly ‘lunch and learns’ with more senior members of their team and in litigation expect the odd chambers visit and round table discussion.

A “collaborative and collegiate” culture permeates the Stephenson Harwood ranks. We’re told that “newbies can bounce ideas around or simply ask a question if you do not know the answer” –– a far-cry from the ‘no stupid questions’ policy of some City firms. One insider explains that their fellow trainees feel more like “good friends” with little to no “atmosphere of competition”. Another reckoned that “you will struggle to find a more supportive bunch than the SH trainees.” This is especially high praise considering the fairly large number of new recruits the firm sees through its doors each year. Our sources credit the “regular trainee events” for morale building, with another adding that “the firm does a great job at hiring genuine and approachable people”. These good vibes are supported through a Thursday pub group / lunch time meet up, WhatsApp groups and a newly formed social committee. We’re also told there’s a “London-wide Teams chat with all trainees and apprentices”.

Further up the ladder, partners are generally “very friendly” although we’re told that, as with other firms, this can vary “a lot” between departments. Sharing a positive experience, one respondent says: “Partners make an active effort to interact with trainees –– not only to get them involved but also just to be friendly and to make sure they’re doing ok. I feel very comfortable going to a partner’s office/giving them a call when I have a question or want to get involved with some work. I’ve always felt supported and able to share concerns with the partners, who always seem invested and give great advice!” Others mention that “you need to know how to navigate the styles of different partners” but once you’ve got that down, “partners are happy to discuss work and give you pointers”.

The work/life balance at SH isn’t too bad for corporate law, according to our sources. One trainee explains how their team is “very respectful” of downtime and that on the rare occasions they work late or on a weekend, associates and partners are always “very grateful”. Another tells us that they’re “usually finished around 7pm” and have “never had to work on the weekends”. But we are told, like with many City firms, work/life balance can be “extremely seat dependent”. Some have “peaks and troughs with workload and the flow can be rather unpredictable,” one source explains. “Some are a constant level of busy and you can accurately predict your finish time and be confident in making evening plans.” Overall though, “there is no culture of leaving the trainees alone to do the menial work late into the night” and “when times are quieter, there is also no obligation to stay late for appearance purposes”. Many rookies also report leaving the office relatively early and picking up the remainder from home when possible.

Gen Z’ers take note: Stephenson Harwood offers some solid perks. They free Deliveroo after 8pm, free taxis home after 9pm, a “heavily subsidised canteen”, a £400 contribution towards a 12-month gym membership and a box at the Royal Albert Hall (though there are whispers this is only available to associates and above). Other benefits include private medical and dental insurance along with the opportunity to purchase and sell annual leave days.

The office is quite nice, with “gorgeous Lutyens architecture and pretty decent facilities” and delightful-sounding olive trees outside the building. The newly refurbished first floor “has a Silicon Valley feel to it,” according to LC insiders, though this has led to calls for a full revamp. Trainees express their pleasure at it being “not another glass box”, but rather “a building with history and elegance (from the outside at least)”. Apart from the first floor, inside is “the normal corporate affair, although the glass doors and walls make it feel very open and accessible”. A number of spies also praise its location, “backing on to Finsbury Circus Gardens”. This is apparently perfect for those sunny “summer lunches”. As one happy camper put it: “I like coming into the office every morning –– I still pinch myself a bit!”

The office canteen also receives some fairly solid reviews. “Good food, varied, lots of options, good breakfasts. Potentially could be subsidised a bit more (sort-of pricey though still compares favourably to getting lunch elsewhere). Free fruit is a very welcome little perk!” remarked one junior. “Good social hub, discounted and with some good options. Sometimes an adventure with the menu but absolutely no complaints” was another’s verdict. Overall, recruits seem pretty happy with their daily cuisine, though the small portion sizes were a bugbear for quite a few hungry trainees.

SH juniors are generally in their Lutyen digs four days a week, though this can depend on the practice group with some rookies working from home two days a week. In any sense, the recruits we spoke to seem pretty happy with the policy –– though this is definitely helped by the £300 on-boarders receive to contribute towards their WFH set up. The firm also provides laptops and headsets which work well. “Have not struggled to work from home effectively” is the consensus from one rookie.

Despite the firm recently getting to grips with Harvey, tech-wise, rookies encounter a lot of IT issues.“Things crash rather frequently,” one source tells us, “often breaks and is slow.” Despite this, rookies are optimistic about Stephenson Harwood’s “very clear drive to progress innovation” and other insiders claim that some of the tech is actually pretty good. “Contract Companion, DocuSign, Bundledocs make our lives that much easier,” they say.

Any eco-conscious aspiring lawyers will be pleased to hear that Stephenson Harwood continues to use ‘keep cups’ and reusable water bottles across its offices to reduce waste. We’re also told the firm is “very aware of its carbon footprint” and is “committed to improving”.