I started my career here in the summer of 2004 as a student at the Wigan office. After an eight week stint I left for Lancaster University but continued my links with the firm throughout my degree returning to Wigan during the summer holidays on the Vacation Placement Scheme and home working for the Remortgage department whilst in Lancaster.
After completing my degree I returned once again to Wigan but this time as a Graduate Clerk. Whilst clerking I studied the Legal Practice Course part time and I found the firm to be very accommodating of my studying needs and extremely supportive when it came to the dreaded exam periods!
I applied for and secured my Training Contract with the firm in 2007 to begin in 2009. The first stage of the application is to submit your CV and answers to socially and commercially relevant questions.
I was then invited to a group assessment day where I had to undertake a series of verbal and written assessments. Finally, I was lucky enough to be invited for interview with the selection panel where I was grilled in the usual fashion.
Having started as a student on several Vacation Placement Schemes and then progressing on to being a Graduate Clerk, I see the value that Stephensons places in its people: the focus is on ‘home grown talent’.
As a result, the firm tends to consider only internal applications from those who have already worked at the firm. Stephensons chooses and develops its Trainees with a view to them becoming the Partners of the future.
The quality of training at Stephensons is second to none. The firm will look after your needs and tailor your training to suit your chosen career path - you are supported and guided in the choices you make and there’s always the opportunity to challenge yourself and learn new things. If you show promise, there’s no looking back as the firm actively encourages you to reach your full potential.
The breadth of experience a trainee can attain at Stephensons certainly made it stand out for me - you can work in departments as varied as Criminal Appeals to Consumer Litigation and Family Law to Company Acquisitions. Whatever department you find yourself in you can be sure that there will be one, if not many, leaders in that field from whom you have the opportunity to learn and progress. Overall, training at Stephensons is varied, interesting and certainly valuable!
Stephensons’ identity within the community is strong. Whilst it has seen unprecedented growth over the past ten years (100%!) and is tabled by the Legal 500 as one of the fastest growing and most successful solicitors’ firms in the North West, it hasn’t forgotten it’s roots as a high street firm and it’s role within the local community and I’m proud to be a part of this.
And finally, it isn’t all about work at Stephensons! You get the opportunity to make many new friends working in five different locations across the region. The firm provides an all expenses paid summer barbeque and Christmas party and the quiz is always an interesting (if not competitive!) evening. There are also inter-department sports tournaments, firm sports teams and many Trainee nights out.
If you are talented and want to work at a firm which recognises and actively encourages potential then I would certainly recommend you consider applying to Stephensons – you could be a Partner of the future!
