Mills & Reeve advises some of the UK and the world’s most successful and innovative businesses and public sector organisations as well as individuals. With a unique blend of clients, graduates are offered a varied experience. In 2015 Mills & Reeve lawyers engaged with more than 75 jurisdictions across the globe, working with a trusted international network of independent law firms. As a trainee at Mills & Reeve you will be fully involved from the start of your training contract.
Voted by the graduates we surveyed as the best graduate employer to work for in the Law industry (smaller intake) 2015/2016, Mills & Reeve one of the UK’s leading full-service law firms with over 800 staff nationwide. With an overall rating of 4.2/5, Mills & Reeve score particularly high for colleagues (4.4/5), training (4.4./5) and company culture (4.4/5).
1. The Best and Worst things about working for Mills & Reeve LLP
Best: Everyone I have ever met within the firm is a real expert in their field and they are always willing to share their highly technical expertise with me. Work is a constant learning experience which is challenging but exciting. Not only this, the working environment is very friendly and everyone is approachable which enables me to enjoy coming into work.
Worst: The graduate roles are outside of London but there are opportunities to move around the company.
Trainee Solicitor, at Mills & Reeve LLP
Best: The collaborative and collegiate nature of the team. The amount of client contact is great and the firm makes a real effort to get you involved in a wide range of things to benefit your training. There is also a great work-life balance.
Worst: None spring to mind.
Trainee Solicitor, at Mills & Reeve LLP
Best: Majority of people are amazingly friendly. The office itself is so bright and open, it’s like being outside, inside. The work is varied; I’ve undertaken work for both public and private sector and had both quirky and basic tasks throughout my seats. I have to actually apply myself daily and consider clients’ needs and commerciality throughout. These skills are developed continuously, and I’m looking forward to developing my skills base team by team.
Worst: The wage does not vary between location whereas cost of living can vary dramatically.
Trainee Solicitor, Commercial Disputes at Mills & Reeve LLP
2. Average Working Hours
8.00am – 6.00pm
3. Average Graduate Salary
£25,000 – £27,000
4. Interview Tips
Application Advice: Do your research and make your sure your application is tailored to Mills & Reeve. Try to find something about yourself that is different to what everyone else is saying and apply it to what the company does.
Interview Advice: Make sure you get fully involved in the assessment day and show what you can do. The interviews are not too scripted and are more about the interviewer having a chat with you, so have something interesting to talk about. Also make sure you’re up to date with the news/politics, as they may throw the odd topical discussion at you.
Trainee Solicitor, at Mills & Reeve LLP
Application Advice: Know the firm as generic answers will not get you very far. You don’t have to know where you want to qualify, but know why you’ve applied! Also, the Vacation Scheme is a very good method of applying and experiencing the firm simultaneously.
Interview Advice: It was a relaxed atmosphere while we discussed my application and a few relevant topics in the news.
Trainee Solicitor, at Mills & Reeve LLP
Application Advice: Always check for tiny errors as these may cause your application to be discarded due to fierce competition. Try to make yourself stand out.
Interview Advice: Be confident but not arrogant. Engage the interviewer in a conversation rather than simply answering a string of questions. In the group session of the assessment day, balance your own contributions with your encouragement to others for theirs.
Trainee solicitor, at Mills & Reeve LLP
Interested in finding out more about graduate life at Mills & Reeve LLP? Click here for their full range of graduate reviews.
