Hill Dickinson

Culture

8.2 / 10
15 reviews
How would you describe your firm’s culture both in the office and after hours?
2012 Reviews

  • Overall, trainees enjoy an excellent work/life balance. Working hours vary from department to department but tend to average out at 9 - 6.30. Trainees tend to get on very well and socialise often, although normally in informal events.

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  • Culture amongst the junior staff is inclusive and friendly, although juniors are generally not well perceived in terms of being long-term prospects within the firm. NQ recruitment tends to appear short-termist.

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  • The office is very friendly and everyone really does get on well with one another. As trainees, we are encouraged to get involved with social events as well as business development and networking from day one and so as trainees we will work together to attend as many of these events as we can.

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  • Hill Dickinson has a very friendly open-door policy. Whilst naturally, there is a hierarchy from trainee to partner, the more senior members are very approachable and whatever level you are at, there is a sense of integration and feeling a part of a team. There is a very good social life, be it sports, networking, drinks, team meals, CSR events. The trainees regularly meet for lunch or after work drinks and organise events for Christmas, birthdays, seat rotations, etc. There are approximately 10 trainees in the Manchester office which is a nice amount for socialising.

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  • The firm organises monthly drinks events to which colleagues can get to know each other in a better capacity. Trainees have partner supervisors to ensure that they are well managed and controlled. The trainees socialise together - weekend trips out, Christmas parties, etc. Everyone is there to help from partners to secretaries and admin staff.

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  • Great culture of socialising with other trainees. Good opportunities to play sport and socialise with the rest of the firm. Some departments are partner heavy, partners are approachable.

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  • There is good opportunity to integrate not only with your team members but also individuals in other offices. The hours are good in terms of you can work late some days but leave early - if you have things you need to attend. There are regular team and wider team events to allow you to socialise with your peers and those at a higher level.

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  • There is the traditional hierarchy, which is to be expected but the partners are helpful and willing to assist with the development of junior fee earners. I work in a small team of 2-3 fee earners and whilst I have my own files, these are regularly reviewed by the partners and I assist on other files, where appropriate. There is very much a friendly, open door culture. We have a drinks night once a month and I regularly meet with other junior fee earners for lunch, etc. The firm also has the usual Christmas/Summer party.

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  • Great social life amongst the trainees and the NQs. Friday night drinks are always well attended with everyone from partners to trainees. With former mariners in the office we're not short of characters. Overall it really is a great place to work.

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  • The firm's culture is generally very friendly and sociable. There is some bureaucracy but overall it's a decent firm to work in. Trainees have lots of social events and generally get along very well.

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  • The firm is very modern and progressive. The hours are very reasonable. Trainees get together frequently and there is a real sense of team spirit amongst us. The firm pays for pay-day drinks and other trainee initiatives such as social evenings. The firm is partner led by small teams but trainees get quality work to do which counts as part of transactions. Trainees are very well respected and all levels of staff are very willing to take our opinions on board.

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  • Trainees organise regular events and help new starters to integrate before their training contracts begin.

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2011 Reviews

  • The firm is in a typical structure with partners, associates, assistant solicitors and trainees. The office is friendly and people are approachable right through to partner level. The trainees do support each other. We talk on the phone, consulting those who have previously done a seat that we are in. We have a central trainee intranet, which provides useful precedents and information provided by other trainees. We socialise together on a regular basis, usually drinks on a Friday night together with other more formal events from time to time.

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  • There are not that many trainees in London for the size of the firm so we stick together. We usually go for lunch together and there is the odd evening of drinks, etc. Everyone is friendly and supportive, but of course you click with some trainees more than others.

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  • Trainees do support each other. In the seat that I started in March the previous trainees had made a book of useful information, etc. That is passed on from trainee to trainee. Trainees interact between departments. Trainees do socialise together, both at firm events and off the cuff events, such as drinks after work or doing things at the weekend.

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  • The firm has a friendly environment to work in and all members of a team are approachable, from partner to secretary. It is an open office set up and you can always pop into someone's office for help. Trainees are often helping each other and providing precedents to each other. Often the best person to speak to if you have a query in your seat is the trainee who was last there. Trainees do socialise together. It is up to you how involved you get but there is always someone who will be willing to go out for a beer on a Friday, and there are lots of more 'organised' events for the trainees to do.

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  • The firm's culture is relaxed allowing trainees to ask questions and advice of more senior individuals. Trainees have a mentor upon joining the firm so they can ask questions and seek advice from these fellow trainees. Trainees can also learn from each other with regard to finding out about other practice groups they may want to complete a seat in. Trainees regularly socialise together both as a group and with other individuals at the firm. There are a range of networking events in the region and events organised by current trainees for those who are about to commence their training contracts.

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  • Every department has a different structure. Some departments are very top-heavy (too many partners and not enough junior fee earners) which can make it quite difficult as a trainee. Trainees are on the whole very supportive of one another, although some of the second years have begun to get very competitive now that they know when the job list will be made available.

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  • The firm's culture is very much open and friendly with staff at all levels able to communicate freely with management. Trainees, on the whole, work well together and socialise on a regular basis.

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  • Very pleasant. Relaxed, but professional. Everybody is approachable and available for a chat during the day. Trainees do help each other out. Most trainees will support their peers. The trainees do socialise, be it lunches, drinks after work, or the various trainee solicitor group events.

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2010 Reviews

  • Clearly defined hierarchy from assistants, to associates to partners. Other solicitors are very helpful and supportive. Everyone works well together. Not the most open and sociable place I have worked. Can be a bit cliquey.

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  • As with any large firm there is a management structure which takes some of the admin off our shoulders. I can only speak for the team I am in but it is very collegiate and supportive and we do work well together. We do not socialise all that much as we work pretty long hours but we do tend to go for a Friday evening drink at least once a month.

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  • Great atmosphere where you colleagues support and assist you.

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  • Hierarchy is traditional and, dare I say it, patriarchal. In my department, solicitors of all levels work and interact well. There are no political barriers within my department although that cannot always be said as regards other departments and we are generally defensive in that regard. Some departments/teams are better at socialising together.

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  • Open door policy; solicitors in teams are very supportive of each other; partners fully support associates and assistants whilst allowing high level of autonomy (particular to associates) in respect of individual cases; regular socialising with clients and between solicitors of all levels and support staff.

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