Northern law firm recruits 13 trainees and solicitor apprentice as growth continues

A Top UK law firm has recruited 13 trainee solicitors and one solicitor apprentice as it continues to grow strongly and expand its workforce.

Ward Hadaway LLP, headquartered in Newcastle upon Tyne, has recruited seven trainees to its Newcastle team who have been awarded a two-year training contract at the firm. It has also appointed a solicitor apprentice who will undertake a six-year apprenticeship.

The trainee and apprentice appointments follow a strong financial year for Ward Hadaway LLP which recently reported a 11% firm-wide growth. In July, the business completed a 28-strong round of promotions with 17 lawyers in the Newcastle office stepping up into more senior roles.

Caroline Jones, recruitment and emerging talent manager at the firm, said: “Our trainee programme is a key aspect of our people development strategy and aligned with our aim to recruit motivated, skilled and forward-thinking individuals with the right mix of competency, skills and attitude. A trainee role is a pivotal starting point in a law professional’s career and at Ward Hadaway we fully invest in each trainee to ensure they have a long, fulfilling and successful career in law.

“Because our focus is completely person-centred, we also support trainees in the step up to a newly qualified role and in progressing towards other development milestones.”

Martin Hulls, the firm’s managing partner, said: “At Ward Hadaway, a key priority is our investment in the lawyers of the future. The foundations of a highly skilled, vastly experienced team are based on the quality of training and development trainee and apprentice solicitors receive before they fully qualify. It’s something we commit a lot of time and energy towards.

“Every trainee is exceptional in their own way and whilst we implement a structured and well managed training programme to ensure every junior lawyer has a consistent, enjoyable and effective training contract, our trainees are encouraged to develop as individuals – each one having something unique to bring to the firm.

“Once qualified, the support and development doesn’t stop. We’re continually investing in our people, to enable them to progress quickly in their career with proper structures and processes around professional development and personal wellbeing. Having this year been awarded the coveted gold standard by Investors in People, we have also recently been shortlisted for an IiP UK Employer of the Year Gold award for the work we’ve done in the area of employee health and wellbeing.  This is one of the key aspects that our firm-wide growth strategy is anchored on.

“It’s great to have our talented trainees on board and I am looking forward to working with them and supporting their progression.”

Alice Manners, one of the Newcastle-based trainees, said: “”The recruitment process at Ward Hadaway was really focused on getting to know you as a person, and feeling valued in that way was ultimately what led me to accept my offer with the firm. I have continued to experience Ward Hadaway’s people-centred approach now that I have started here. I’m currently working in the employment team and I am really looking forward to experiencing a diverse range of practice areas over the next two years.”

Applications to the firm’s Vacation Scheme 2023 and Training Contract 2025 were opened  on the firm’s website on 1^st November.

For more information about Ward Hadaway’s trainee offering, visit: https://www.wardhadaway.com/join-us/trainees-apprentices/trainees/