What we look for

Our approach to recruitment is very different from most firms. We are not solely looking at qualifications, ability or experience. Of course, those things are important to us, but only as a starting point. We are looking for something much rarer and far more important than any of those things, and that is character. We mean that in the traditional sense of the word, namely the values, attitudes, habits and standards that a person has. Those are the crucial things which decide whether someone is going to succeed in their career. They also indicate whether they are going to provide the kind of service that we want to offer to our clients.

Perhaps it is easier to spell out the sort of person that we are not looking for and whom we would not allow to join us or to remain with us. We always make clear to candidates at interview that if they know in their heart that they are careless, indifferent, dishonest, manipulative, selfish, devious, divisive, cunning, lazy, and have no commitment to providing a service to clients, then please don't apply to us.

We have learned from our own experience, but also from our employer clients, that any firm will get into major difficulties if they employ staff who display those kind of characteristics. It's broadly true to say that 80% of any firm's problems are caused by 20% of their staff. So, our aim is to keep out that 20% in the first place.

Accordingly, we are looking for people who, in addition to having ability and qualifications, stand out as possessing the following kind of personal traits and qualities: sincerity, diligence, genuineness, faithfulness, transparency, attention to detail, concern for the interests of clients, unselfishness towards colleagues, and the integrity to stay true to their beliefs and values even when under pressure. When we find such people, we snap them up and keep them very long-term. If you genuinely think that you are such a person, then please apply to us. We would be delighted to consider your application.

There have been many times in the past when, even though we have emphasised these requirements at interview, candidates have looked us in the eye and told us that they are precisely the sort of person we are looking for. Sadly, some of them know full well that they are not.

However, our recruitment procedures are so thorough that we will not allow a nasty or selfish person to join us. Even if they somehow slip through, we will not allow them to stay. For that reason we advise people who privately know that they do not fit our criteria, not to apply to us. They would be making a mistake by joining us.

However, if you are the same kind of person as our existing staff then we very much want to hear from you, even if in some other way your CV is less than perfect. Whereas some firms lay down rigid rules about the need for a First or 2:1 or for As or Bs at A Level, we are willing to be slightly flexible on those things, provided that you are genuinely the kind of character we are looking for.

Of all the thousands of negligence claims that are brought against law firms, only a tiny minority have to do with lack of knowledge or ability. Overwhelmingly, they are caused by staff who

a) don't care,

b) aren't faithful,

c) aren't interested in their job,

d) aren't interested in people,

e) don't pay attention to dates and deadlines.

Such failings have nothing to do with ability. They are purely character related. Hopefully that helps you to see why we place so much importance on character.