Martineau

Vault’s Verdict: Trainees have good contact with clients, partners and everyone in between, and an ideal balance is struck between responsibility and guidance. The firm’s sociable atmosphere is a real selling point. The hours are another positive aspect of working at Martineau—variable but reasonable; the pay, on the other hand, is disappointingly low.

Life as a trainee

•  “At Martineau you are encouraged to take on quite a bit of responsibility from the start of your training contract. I have regularly been in contact with clients, both in person and over the phone. Due to the open plan nature of the offices, I have had a lot of contact with the partners within the firm.” – Trainee

•  “I think that Martineau has a reputation for having one of the best working environments of all the firms in the Birmingham region. Partners and senior lawyers are very approachable and the culture of the firm encourages networking between members of the firm and also between other firms. Martineau has several trainees on the BTSS committee.” – Trainee