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Shoosmiths

Insider reviews

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Get the inside view from graduates at Shoosmiths

8.8 / 10 Overall Satisfaction
(based on 11 ratings in 2019)
"Not your average law firm."
Culture
9.5 / 10
 
Formal Training
8.4 / 10
 
Informal Training & Mentoring
8.2 / 10
 
Offices & Dress
8.1 / 10
 
Hours
8.7 / 10
 
Salary
7.1 / 10
 
Green Initiatives
8.0 / 10
 
Diversity
8.8 / 10
 
Satisfaction with Work
7.9 / 10
 
Pro Bono
8.3 / 10
 
Trainee Retention
8.0 / 10
 

Pros

  • The firm is very sociable with a relaxed and friendly environment.
  • Trainees get a good amount of responsibility and client interaction from an early stage.
  • The work/life balance of trainees is treated with importance.
  • Very strong mentoring and detailed feedback is given regularly.

Cons

  • There’s relatively low remuneration compared to other firms.
  • Some trainees would like to have more secondment opportunities.
  • While the firm is flexible, some departments can have demanding hours.
  • Retention rates can vary a lot between departments.

What insiders say about...

Interview: Tips & Advice

"The best way to prepare for the interview is to go to the firm and meet the people...."
Culture

"Teamwork is very important at Shoosmiths. Practice groups work together to deliver..."
Formal Training

"Training varies from team to team. Some can be very useful but some can also be re-iterating..."
Informal Training & Mentoring

"My supervisor is great. We have already had a one-to-one that set out what I could..."
Offices & Dress

"Birmingham has a really nice open-plan office. There are hundreds of staff but they..."
Hours

"I work from 8:30am-6:00pm on average, but longer as and when work requires. No 'face-time'..."
Salary

"There isn't a bonus structure."
Perks

"There are a whole host of staff discounts for shops in the vicinity (this is handy..."
Interview Process

"There is an initial telephone interview and if successful you will be invited to..."
Interview Questions

"The questions ranged from competency questions to questions based on current affairs...."
Green Initiatives

"In terms of reducing the firm's carbon footprint, there is a new printing initiative..."
Diversity

"While I would say that diversity could be improved in some respects, the firm has..."
Career Prospects

""
Satisfaction with Work

"I mainly deal with admin and project work, and there is a lot of client contact for..."
Pro Bono

"First-year trainees have to undertake a first-year pro bono project. By midway through..."
Pluses

"Shoosmiths has a fantastically open, friendly and supporting culture."
Minuses

"Limited practice areas in each location."
Why your firm?

"I successfully completed a placement with the firm in its Northampton office. My..."
Trainee Retention

"The retention rates are good but you never know what is going to happen."
Fun Facts

"The firm has fruit delivered to all the office kitchens twice a week."
In a few words

"Fantastic clients, a great quality of work and amazing colleagues."
Social Mobility

"Work experience for applicants from less privileged backgrounds."
Level of Stress

"Depends on workloads."
One Small Change

"I would like the salary to be a little higher."
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