Xiaopei Wang

Why Howes Percival?

I have always wanted to work for a firm with a forward thinking team working atmosphere. Howes Percival satisfied these criteria whilst also maintaining an exceptional reputation and client base within the East Midlands and Norwich. There is clearly a high level of commitment in the development of trainees here, where individuals are able to gain client contact and take responsibilities early on. The innovative atmosphere is also reflected in each department where all partners and staff are pro-actively working together in a supportive atmosphere. There are also excellent opportunities to get involved in local projects and charity work which brings the firm closer to the local community. Howes Percival is definitely a firm where everyone is genuine, friendly and approachable therefore creating an environment where trainees can achieve their full potentials.

Describe the recruitment process

I decided to apply to Howes Percival for a training contract after meeting the graduate recruitment team and trainees at my university law fair. What really struck me was how down to earth and friendly they were and a genuine interest was taken in me and my progression through university. It was clear to me that trainees at Howes Percival would be valued for their individual contributions and there would be a lot of emphasis on personal development and training.
I attended the assessment day which involved an interview, grammatical and mathematical tests and a presentation. There was also an informal lunch were I was able to meet current trainees and speak to some of the staff. By the end of the day, I had gained a really good insight into the culture and people within the firm, and was delighted when I was offered a training contract.

What is the best thing about the job?

As a first year trainee I have already been given a lot of responsibility and have had some client contact. I really feel valued as a member of the team and the friendly and approachable culture within the firm means that there is a real sense of community.
There are also plenty of opportunities to get involved in charity and community-led projects. I will be involved in a sponsored sky dive for the Leonard Cheshire Charity in Leicestershire in a few weeks which is definitely going to be one of my highlights so far!
The excellent remuneration and benefits package also means that I am well rewarded at the end of each month and I am finally beginning to pay off those student debts!

...and the worst?

Everyone at Howes Percival is so good at what they do that I often find it frustrating when I don't know as much as they do. I think that this is an inevitable part of the learning process of any trainee and it is just a case of being patient and learning the most I can from those around me. With the supportive and team working environment within the firm, I'm sure this won't take long!

What are the hours like?

The hours are generally very good here, but it really depends on which seat and what office you are in. Trainees are only expected to stay late when they need to and it really depends on how busy the department is. The hours will vary from day to day, at the moment I am sitting in the Commercial Property Department and I rarely finish later than 5:45. However I know that trainees in other departments have been known to stay until much later.

What is the social life like?

The social scene is very good. There is definitely a work hard play hard culture at Howes Percival. Regular social events are organised where everyone can talk and meet in an informal and relaxed atmosphere. It is very nice that everyone from the trainees and the secretaries to the partners choose to socialise outside of work hours, whether it be a sneaky drink after work or a night out in town! I recently attended the AGM which involved a fun packed day at Sandringham Palace where I was able to meet staff from the other offices and dress up in fancy dress for the evening disco. There are also opportunities to meet other trainees through events organised by the local Trainee Solicitors Group as well as being encouraged to attend marketing events on behalf of the firm to meet clients and other professionals.

What next?

I am currently in the Commercial Property department and have only just started my journey as a solicitor. I have 3 more seats to experience before qualification and I am looking forward to being able to gain a good understanding of other departments and areas of law. The firms' commitment to training and development coupled alongside the dynamic culture truly makes Howes Percival an exciting place to train and work.
John Chadaway

Why Howes Percival?

I chose Howes Percival for three main reasons: its location, reputation and size.

In terms of location, due to my strong ties with the area, I have always possessed an ambition to join a leading midlands-based regional law firm. Howes Percival, with offices in Leicester, Northampton and Milton Keynes, has an extremely strong presence in the midlands and so it was an ideal choice for me.

Howes Percival also benefits from an exceptional reputation. Both the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners regularly publish flattering reviews about the firm based on the excellent feedback that they receive from its clients.

Howes Percival, despite being a regional heavy weight, is not an overwhelmingly large sized firm. This is clearly illustrated by the fact that everyone in each office, from support staff to partners, knows each other's name and so nobody is seen as merely a number. However, in terms of the quality of service that the firm provides, it is often compared to city and national firms and so, given its size, Howes Percival really does punch above its weight!

What have you done to date?

I have completed seats in the firm's corporate/commercial and employment departments and I am currently in my commercial property seat.

Corporate/commercial was an excellent first seat and a great introduction to life as a solicitor. I was involved in some large company transactions and, although it was tough at times, it was highly rewarding.

Employment was an incredibly interesting seat due to the wide variety of work that I experienced, which included defending various claims, amending policies and procedures and working on a case that eventually reached the Employment Appeal Tribunal in London.

In commercial property (despite the fact that I hated land law at university!), I am really enjoying the tasks that I have been set so far, which have included drafting leases, licences to assign and reports on title.

How much responsibility do you get?

As a general rule, you can take on as much responsibility as you would like, provided that your supervisor believes you can adequately cope. However, in my experience, the amount of responsibility you receive as a trainee depends, to a certain extent, on the department.

In corporate/commercial, I was not in a position to run client files by myself due to the sheer size of them. However, I was a valued member of the team and when the team worked on various corporate transactions, I was often given the responsibility of ensuring that individual tasks were completed on time.

In employment, I was provided with a lot of responsibility in terms of marketing, which included preparing seminars, presentations and tenders for work. This was an invaluable experience as in order to become a successful solicitor, it is very important that you are able to effectively market yourself, your department and the firm.

In commercial property, the department has provided me with the opportunity to run several of my own files under the supervision of other solicitors in the team. This has involved responding to correspondence on a daily basis, making decisions on what steps to take next and dealing with some complicated issues that have arisen.

Do you get to see the other offices?

Yes. Trainees are actively encouraged to complete seats in more than just one of the firm's offices. Personally, I have completed seats in two different offices and I am glad that I took the opportunity to do so. I discovered that, whilst all of the offices maintain and promote Howes Percival's culture, each individual office has its own underlying sub-culture. Consequently, through working in the different offices, I have had the benefit of a much broader training experience.

What are the people like?

Everyone at the firm, from support staff to partners, shares the same fundamental characteristics. They are all very professional, dedicated, confident and extremely motivated yet "down to earth", friendly, approachable and always willing to help.

What is the Culture?

The firm has a very distinctive "work hard play hard" culture and aims to maintain this by recruiting the right people. In terms of "work", everyone is always willing to go the "extra mile" when required. In terms of "play", the firm has a great social scene, which includes organised nights out, days at the horse races and trips to the theatre. The firm also participates in local sports leagues and charity events. This culture helps everyone to maintain a healthy work life balance and ensures that everyone enjoys working at the firm.

In addition, the firm also encourages team work through a concept known as TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More). An excellent example of this concept in action is the firm's organised nights out at which people from all levels within the firm choose to socialise together.

What next?

As I am now in my third seat, I am starting to think carefully about where I would like to qualify. However, at the moment, I am totally undecided as I have thoroughly enjoyed all of my seats so far and, consequently, my future decision is going to be a tough one!