In what can only be described as a “shock-horror revelation”, it seems that not everyone wants to work for big City law firms — or even in the big cities.

Yes, according to Sue Clarke, head of postgraduate careers at Nottingham Law School, there are still plenty of law students who are not seduced by the glitz of the big City law practice but instead opt for the romance of working in smaller legal practices where they are recognisably part of the communities in which they live.

This is particularly true of the nations and regions remote from England’s commercial and industrial heartland. Cornwall and Devon, East Anglia as well as Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each have a distinctive feel to their legal community and it is important for applicants who wish to work in these areas to latch on to this local character. “Commitment and suitability are critical to these firms — even more so than academic qualifications,” Clarke says. “It’s important that applicants have done relevant work experience and chosen the correct electives for these kinds of practice.”

For the right person the benefits are considerable. Work-life balance will be easier to achieve — and also the opportunity to take responsibility earlier. Add to that the charms of coastal life or the Celtic heartlands and this is clearly an attractive option for lawyers who want to take pride in being the local lawyer.

East Anglia

Apart from big cities, East Anglia has everything — coast, fen, cathedral cities and tough agro-industry. This diversity is reflected in the Norwich-based Leathes Prior, an 11-equity partner firm that offers a wide menu of services from business start-up to intellectual property.

The firm gets between 400 and 600 applicants each year for its four traineeships, with many applicants coming from the “local” universities of Cambridge and the University of East Anglia. Martin Plowman, head of the litigation department and a Cambridge graduate, explains that the firm “recruits to retain” and in recent years almost everyone who has joined the firm as a trainee has remained after qualification. “We offer great, hands-on training with plenty of partner involvement. We are also keen to give trainees the chance to make a direct contribution early on. For example, a trainee with a degree in marketing quickly became involved in developing our marketing strategy.”

With a strong emphasis on mediation and arbitration, trainees will have good opportunities for developing their advocacy skills — and all within the shadow of Norwich Cathedral.

Cornwall

Cornwall is changing fast and Stephens & Scown is playing a key part in that development. With offices in Truro and St Austell the firm is closely involved with regeneration projects on the north coast while its work in agriculture and mines and minerals shows its commitment to the local business community.

Above all, however, the firm is tapping enthusiastically into the Cornwall vibe. “Being a good surfer alone won’t get you a traineeship here — but it will help,” explains recruiter Liz Allen. “We value brainy surfers because they are usually sociable and outward-going people who have a life beyond work. We certainly don’t want any intellectual weirdoes.”

This robust attitude has won Stephens & Scown many friends and it is extremely well-rated in The Lex Student Guide. Given its distinctive character there is no surprise that it has about 400 applicants each year for its six traineeships (three each for Cornwall and Devon). However, it has a well-established custom of requiring likely candidates to do a period of paralegal work with the firm to prove themselves before being offered a place. This year for the first time it will pay its trainees’ fees on the Legal Practice Course.

Wales

Apart from Eversheds, the international law firm, the Welsh legal scene is largely dominated by local firms that mop up both the work and the local talent.

Competition is considerable so it is important to stand out. For Dolmans Solicitors the distinctive feature — in addition to its corporate practice — is its definitive sports management agency that represents footballers, rugby players and other sportsmen and sportswomen. “One of our partners is a registered football agent and we’re committed to providing our clients with an ethical service,” Philip Bradley, the firm’s training principal, says. It is certainly a talking point with many of the hundreds of applicants the firm has for its four to five trainee places. In a recent experiment the firm has undertaken a mini milk round at campuses giving students a ten-minute slot in which to show off what they have to offer.

“We’re a largely young and progressive firm and we’re intent on expansion,” Bradley says. “We aim to retain the trainees we recruit so we need to select the right people.” With its new campus procedure in place its expectations of success are high.

Northern Ireland

Cross the water and, as in much else, you enter a different world. The Northern Ireland Law Society operates unique rules that look distinctly paternalistic and restrictive compared with the free-for-all of the rest of the UK. The word “apprenticeship” is still used for training and every trainee lawyer must be attached to one of the named masters in the list maintained by the professional body. Fewer than 40 firms in the region are able to offer this approved apprenticeship training although firms such as L’Estrange & Brett and Stafford Thompson Johnston have more than one master in their partnerships.

Even more striking is that before a solicitor student can take up one of the 95 places at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies, he or she must have already secured a master with whom the apprenticeship is served. Very restrictive — but at least it means that you are guaranteed a job.

Scotland

With its distinctive legal system and none of the leading English and Welsh law firms represented north of the Border, the home-grown Scottish legal profession packs a powerful punch.

With a cohort of great firms such as MacRoberts, Maclay Murray & Spens, McGrigors, McClure Naismith, Shepherd and Wedderburn, and Tods Murray, there are ample opportunities to pursue a leading-edge legal career entirely independent of English law — provided, that is, you are good enough.

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