The Legal Cheek View
Want City living without City hours? Maybe art and cultural property tickles your fancy more than corporate and commercial? Then independent law firm Wedlake Bell might be for you. Somewhat of a goldilocks firm, Wedlake Bell has scored consistently well in the Legal Cheek Trainee and Junior Lawyer Survey over the years. Trainees rate the “hands on training” and “excellent work” just as highly as they value the “collegiate culture”, “great working hours” and 50p soup and salad.
A medium-sized City firm, Wedlake Bell has around 75 partners and takes on around eight trainees each year. There was a significant merger with Cumberland & Ellis in 2012 as well as the acquisition of Moon Beever, Stitt & Co in the not so distant past but WB has otherwise stayed in its own lane. And, for good reason too –– the firm’s latest financial results show revenues are up over 16% from £50 million to £58 million. The firm does not release official figures but profit per equity partner (PEP) is understood to be in the ballpark of around £372,000.
Real estate, private client, business services and dispute resolution are the four broad categories of work you can expect to encounter at Wedlake Bell. Like many of London’s smaller commercial outfits, Wedlake Bell has a big real estate division, and also does a lot of private client work. (Wannabe lawyers who aren’t into leases and wills should perhaps consider looking elsewhere). That being said, the firm does have a bit of something for everyone and the trainees we spoke to claimed they were at the “frontline of matters” when it came to “core decision-making and strategy” in any seat. We’re told that there is “inevitably some more administrative work at junior level” but recruits tell LC that they are “consistently given more complex and higher-level tasks (including ownership over workstreams where appropriate).” Trainees are also encouraged to delegate admin to support teams.
The eight trainees recruited this year rate the firm’s training very highly. Rookies enjoy “lots of responsibility to project manage and run small matters” and are able gain exposure to real ‘lawyering’ early on. One rookie told us that the training style can depend on team size, with the larger ones offering “more structure and higher quality training,” and smaller teams more likely to encourage trainees to learn by doing.
Despite expanding, the size of Wedlake Bell is still pretty manageable, so newbies report a “culture of approachability” which “doesn’t feel hierarchical”. The firm itself says there’s “room to be noticed”, which isn’t necessarily the case in firms with dozens or even hundreds of trainees. The same rings true at trainee level; there is apparently “no sense that trainees are in competition with each other” and we’re told that the “recruitment process is on a really human level to ensure that trainees who can continue that collegiate culture are recruited.”
And there’s definitely some big boots to fill because the social life at Wedlake Bell is said to be positively pumping (for a law firm). “Organised social events are frequent, both firmwide and in teams, and these are well-attended and good fun.” Highlights include “monthly firm drinks”, a “ski trip in winter and walking trip in summer” and “the odd theatre trip”. What’s more, the firm is reportedly “generous at these events”, with one junior concluding that they are “seen as important by management”. The only grumble amongst the recruits we spoke with was that they couldn’t spend even more time with their peers, with the firm’s impromptu Thursday night social scene lacking somewhat.
On the whole, supervisors were rated as approachable and encouraging and, most importantly, they’re said to “respect the contribution and input of juniors and trainees”. “This is one of the most supportive work environments I’ve ever worked in,” one trainee explained. “I did not expect a City firm to be so warm. People care about people here as well as the law.” One trainee describes that “as in any firm, some individuals have working styles which are not naturally aligned with mine, but learning how to work through that is an important skill to develop” –– wise words indeed!
As far as office space goes, Wedlake Bellers are sitting pretty atop the 8th floor of their “very conveniently located” hub just off Cannon Street. One current recruit gives this room tour: “The client floor is smart and the terrace overlooking St Pauls is great. The office is open plan but there are separators and cubbies around each desk (like a cubicle) so you have plenty of space and it doesn’t feel overcrowded. All trainees get a permanent assigned desk for each seat. Part of the office was refurbished about 18 months ago and is nicer than the rest, it would be good if those improvements could be replicated in the rest of the office.”
The firm has also upgraded from the occasional lunch table to a daily soup and salad bar –– which trainees get for free in exchange for a 50p charitable donation! “Gets a bit repetitive but can’t complain when the price is so good” said one thrifty recruit. Insiders inform us “there is also cooked breakfast twice a week (porridge on the other days) and self-service toast is available all day, along with machine coffee. Most teams also host sit-down team lunches in the office –– prepared by the firm’s kitchen –– about once a month. In the summer you can sit outside on the roof terrace with a great view of St Paul’s. If nitpicking would be good to have the option of nicer coffee –– the machines are not so great!”
This is especially a problem for un-decaffinated trainees as new recruits are expected in the office five days a week. That being said, there is some flexibility on this depending on your team, and trainees get “full IT equipment set up” for the odd chance they get to stay in the home office.
Unfortunately there’s an even slimmer chance of jet-setting as –– although WB does have a network of independent law firms it works with, alongside an international employment law subsidiary ‘iGlobal Law’ –– there are currently no international secondment options on offer.
That’s all right: you’ll be too busy painting the City red to worry about overseas excursions. This is where the work-life balance comes into its own: “I appreciate being able to finish at 6pm on most days –– definitely a rarity across the City!” beamed one insider. Another added that “boundaries are respected and it is not expected that trainees are available absolutely all of the time.” While leaving times vary, Wedlakers can almost always bank on finishing by about 7pm and there’s said to be no culture of presenteeism. That means being able to plan evening and weekend activities –– something trainees don’t appreciate until they’re stuck in the Magic Circle with no plans or hobbies for years on end. The trade-off is time versus money –– a newly qualified (NQ) solicitor salary of £82,000 is no match for a Magic Circle NQ.
The perks are decent too. As one current trainee divulged: “we have the usual private medical and dental insurances (with a generous level of cover) and the typical selection of other wellbeing/lifestyle benefits. One benefit that’s been introduced recently is access to the firm’s corporate travel agent for personal trips –– they apparently have great deals on flights which I’m planning to take advantage of this summer!” There’s also a day off on your birthday but at least one rookie feels that “the rooftop terrace is the best perk we have.”
Legal tech receives mixed reviews in our latest survey –– whilst the firm’s diligent roll-out of responsible AI is in the works, there are still lingering complaints about the “middling” tech offering at WB. Trainees have, at least, been recently upgraded to new iPhones and new laptops are said to be close behind, so trainees shan’t be “let down by the dreaded Surface Pros” anymore. On the other hand, the firm scores well for its environmental performance, particularly in its drive towards net-zero emissions. The firm has partnered with Carbon Partner Auditel to measure and reduce its carbon footprint over time.