Russell-Cooke's 'application for trainees'—why Russell-Cooke is the top candidate for your training contract

Russell-Cooke  

An award-winning team of lawyers.

We were founded in 1880 and are one of the longest established law firms in England, but what makes us special and why should Russell-Cooke be the top candidate for your training contract?

Trainees are offered a blend of responsibility and autonomy alongside support and supervision. Ben completed his first seat in real estate and reflects on the support and guidance he received. Each week Ben would meet with his supervisor and reflect on the previous week, discuss his future workload and work through complex tasks. There was often a nice chunky bit of technical law to discuss. 

The firm provides trainees with the opportunity to build their confidence as the seat progresses. During Ben’s first seat he started with small tasks but by the end was taking responsibility for small transactions with the support of his supervisor. The important point is that Russell-Cooke will ensure you are ready to take on the world as a newly qualified solicitor, and that means being responsible for your own matters! 

Legal practice is as much about ‘what you know’, as it is about building lasting relationships with your colleagues and your clients. The firm is client-focussed, collaborative and, most importantly for trainees, supportive. Many partners began their journey as trainees at the firm.  

Committed

The firm is absolutely committed to its clients, and trainees are absorbed within teams committed to delivering the best results for clients. During your training contract seats, you will talk to both current and potential future clients every day. Ben is currently a member of the litigation team and recalls the wide variety of issues and disputes that clients face. He particularly enjoys working through those issues and looking at how the firm can further assist clients to get the best possible outcomes. Trainees are encouraged to think laterally, and in the circumstances that Russell-Cooke is unable to assist a client, trainees are encouraged try to direct enquiries to alternative help. 

Collaborative

We are collaborative. Ben has rotated through three training seats so far. He started his training contract in real estate, before moving to professional regulation and is now part of the commercial litigation team. Throughout his training contract he has worked with a wide range of teams across the firm including insolvency, private client, employment, personal injury, charity and family. The point is we work together at Russell-Cooke, bringing in expertise from different areas of the firm to support our clients. We are solution-focused that means we work together, 'all under one roof' to deliver for our clients. Trainees will be part of these collaborative teams of lawyers working together and you will be 'pulling your own weight' (with plenty of support and guidance along the way). 

As a trainee you won’t be sheltered from the outside world either. Ben has had the opportunity to work with various professionals. Trainees will be liaising with counsel, courts, surveyors, managing agents, accountants, company directors to name just a few. Russell-Cooke works closely with professionals outside of the legal practice to be able to provide our clients with the best possible advice. 

Supportive 

Ben thought about what 'supportive' actually meant to him as a trainee at Russell-Cooke. He felt it was being encouraged to learn, develop, take responsibility and make decisions without fear of making mistakes or being wrong. After all, that is how we learn best. You are encouraged to share your view. Mistakes will happen, most are easily rectified, but his supervisors have been there to help rectify issues and spend the time explaining. This means that it is a safe environment where you are encouraged to learn and develop your skills in the knowledge that supervisors are there to support and guide you. 

The firm is a friendly place, many of the partners, senior associates, associates, trainees and support staff all participate in social clubs and events together. It isn’t hierarchal and partners will be there to help and guide you along the way. It is often the case that you will be assisting a partner directly which means you have lots of opportunity to get stuck into real legal work. 

The firm also supports numerous sports clubs, sponsors events such as the Kingston Half Marathon, as well as participates in events such as the Weybridge Regatta and the Legal 5k, where there is plenty of opportunity to don the famous branded Russell-Cooke green t-shirt!

Russell-Cooke has people as its core. From week one you will be busy! But the firm is welcoming and those around you will want you to succeed and they will invest in your training. The trainees in their second year are also there to provide support to incoming trainees with a well-established buddy scheme and regular meetings and events as a trainee cohort.