Berwin Leighton Paisner

Culture

7.8 / 10
20 reviews
How would you describe your firm’s culture both in the office and after hours?
2012 Reviews

  • The firm isn't hierarchical and has a genuine open door policy. There is a genuinely collegiate feel within the team and people are very supportive. There is a sense, however, that this may change as the firm becomes more successful.

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  • Getting to be like Magic Circle.

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  • The firm is very collegiate and has a genuine open door policy. As the firm has become more successful the hours are slightly longer and more is expected of the team. There are, however, lots of opportunities to socialise.

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  • Trainees all nice and sociable, and often departments are very close-knit and socialise regularly. This changes with each department.

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  • There is a great culture in my firm that really values socialising both inside and out of work. I'm involved in client entertainment on an almost weekly basis, and spending time with university friends who may one day become clients is also highly regarded. My trainee intake is an extremely supportive group within the firm, and there is always someone you could ask if you had an embarrassing question.

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  • I feel like I'm working with my friends, and that if I ever needed help with something there would be plenty of people to ask. There is a strong sense of teamwork and your private social scene is respected as much as it could be.

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  • Open door policy, people are human beings and have a sense of humour. There could be more trainee social events but what goes on is great. Trainees are a real team across all intakes.

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  • Collegiate, within the intake people should make a bit more of an effort to be inclusive. Overall trainee population is very friendly. Current department I get on well with most of the team.

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  • Varies from a department to another, culture is changing... and becoming more corporate.

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  • Really good culture - yes, people work hard, but it is appreciated and recognised, and there is a good collegiate atmosphere in doing so. The teams are genuinely non-hierarchical and everyone works well together. Amongst trainees everyone is supportive and gets on well.

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  • Good social and sports, good camaraderie among the trainees, open door policy, lots of social events where you mix with partners and associates.

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  • The firm has a culture of long hours where there is work but not staying unnecessarily (in most departments). The firm is ambitious so wants to compete with bigger firms to get bigger clients. The hierarchy works well though and senior partners typically enjoy talking to trainees. I have met and talked to the firm's managing partner several times. Trainees know each other very well and are always willing to help one another. Some groups also do a lot of socialising outside of work too.

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2011 Reviews

  • Trainees do support each other and socialise every week. The firm has a culture of encouraging this collegiate atmosphere.

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  • Very much a collaborative approach – trainees often get briefed about deal specifics, and brought fully into the centre of the deal working within set mini teams. Support structures not only form in the trainee intake, but also in other trainee intakes, and juniors in the team offer constant hints and tips and people to ask for. Supervisors are of a high standard and very interactive. Trainees regularly socialise during the week and on weekends, and the social life is a big plus.

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  • The working environment is open and friendly. There is a strong atmosphere that we are one of the best firms for what we do and we are really getting ahead. Relationships with clients are ongoing and strong. There is a strong team spirit both across the firm and within departments. The trainees also have a strong camaraderie and are very supportive of each other. There could be more official social events, but there is usually an informal event organised by individual trainees a couple of times a month, such as a recent cake and cocktails evening one of the trainees held at her home to welcome the new intake. Within departments, trainees are very supportive and know when to bring round the tea and chocolate to support friends who are having challenging days.

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  • The firm is very relaxed and people are approachable. There is a strong work ethic and you are expected to pull your weight. The trainees are very supportive and sociable, often acting as friends not colleagues.

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  • The culture here is the best thing about BLP and is the most important thing the firm needs to maintain as it develops and goes forward. All firms say this, but here it is an open door firm without a strict hierarchy. At social events there is no distinction between lawyers and support staff or between partners and trainees. The trainees are generally a friendly bunch and because we have a bespoke LPC (the LPC+) you are already friends when you start so there is always someone around to grab a drink with.

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  • The firm is very keen on building relationships between different people and different departments. All the trainees take the LPC together in the same classes with a course based around the firm's precedents so that by the time we start we are comfortable and well-acquainted both with the firm and with each other. Trainees tend to eat together (whether with their intake or with others) and do make plans to go out. There are a lot of inclusive firm activates such as work drinks, a Friday afternoon drinks trolley, sports clubs, charity events, quizzes, etc. Different departments do seem to have different attitudes to sociability and working environment though.

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  • Comparatively few trainees so very supportive. Good social life amongst the different intakes too.

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  • Trainees socialise together a lot and are generally very supportive of one another (so if an email goes round requesting assistance, it is generally given!).

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2010 Reviews

  • The firm has a very open door culture where having a lot of personality and a sense of humour is valued. The trainees do socialise together a lot, usually through informal events.

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  • Friendly and supportive. Especially in contrast to what I hear about other law firms… Hierarchy is quite notable with partners and associates very clearly marked. Despite this, still very friendly and partners take a keen interest in the work you are doing and progressing you as an NQ.

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  • It's a great firm with a very forward thinking managing partner who is really open to new ideas. Associates can get involved at every level, even in strategy discussions. It has a very much "open door" policy and places an emphasis on its people and being a good place to work.

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  • Solicitors support and work well together. We have a drinks trolley every Friday and go out for team drinks now and again.

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  • Very friendly place to work, everyone from the managing partner to business services is approachable and will have a chat. Trainees do socialise together, often informal drinks at nearby pubs and various sports teams etc.

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  • The firm has an open door policy which really is followed. Partners are very approachable. There is a real team atmosphere. You are encouraged to ask for help whenever it’s needed. There is lots of socialising that goes on amongst solicitors at the firm. Many people go to a local pub after work for a quick drink, especially on Fridays, when the local bars and pubs are full of solicitors from the firm.

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  • Everyone here works hard but plays hard. Most trainees would class colleagues amongst their good friends. I have always found more senior lawyers very approachable and keen to develop me as a lawyer. I also like the firm's ambition in its continued ascent.

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  • In work there is quite a sociable atmosphere. There really is an open door policy where trainees can feel free (and are encouraged) to discuss work direct with partners. I have never felt stupid asking a question and have always found the person I ask has either taken the time to explain something or has taken the time with me to work out the solution to our problem… It is quite common to see trainees, associates, secretaries and partners all having a drink together in the pub. There are organised firm events, but there is plenty of informal socialising. The sports teams definitely help with this.

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  • The working environment is very friendly, and this is what mainly makes the firm a great place. People are on first name terms and there is a good collegiate atmosphere. At the same time, the working environment is professional.

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  • The firm definitely has an open door and personable working policy. Socialising tends to vary from team to team but Friday nights are generally a big night for both trainees and associates.

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  • Trainees do socialise together and I believe this is the key to ensuring the trainee working environment reaches its maximum potential.

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  • My experience has been that in general the firm is very social and there is no distinction between trainees, fee earners and support staff from a cultural and social perspective. The trainees often socialise together, both firm organised and ad hoc.

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  • The firm has a relaxed atmosphere and everyone is very approachable.

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  • In most departments, there is a non-hierarchical feel.

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  • There is a strong collegiate culture within the firm and jobs are generally carried out in teams, within a department or made up of individuals across the firm. Trainees socialise regularly on an informal basis and departments often organise social events for people to get to know each other better.

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  • The people are great to work with and the culture in the firm is supportive and encouraging.

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  • The working environment is excellent with a really supportive atmosphere and no strict hierarchy with partners who are on the whole able to socialise with trainees and their partners alike. A lot of the trainees are a little more 'mature' and so there is a lack of a raucous scene although there is always a good bunch to go out with on a Friday night.

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