Travers Smith

Informal Training & Mentoring

7.8 / 10
34 reviews
How accessible are solicitors and partners at your firm? Do they make good mentors?
How much performance feedback does your firm offer?
Do you receive praise and recognition for your work?
2013 Reviews

  • Arguably the biggest reason to be a trainee at Travers Smith is the mentoring by the partners you sit with, constant teaching, feedback and advice in an open manner.

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  • Very accessible, approachable and supportive. People will give you work, ask you to come to them with any questions and mean it! Feedback (both positive and negative) is constant, so you never feel like there's a nasty surprise waiting at your next review.

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  • People are very accessible (even partners) and there is regular feedback.

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  • Junior associates each have a senior associate mentor and most partners are approachable.

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  • Partners and associates take a very active role in ensuring that you are able to cope with the work that you are doing and I have had guidance whenever necessary throughout my first two seats.

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2012 Reviews

  • Very accessible. I am set work directly by the partner and associate in my room, and receive feedback directly from both.

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  • Lots of feedback, people taking time to explain their mark ups to work you've done, and associates are very approachable for questions.

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  • Generally good. People try to help you where possible.

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  • Excellent - partners and associates both take time to explain matters to you and to comment on your performance. Sitting in a room with partners can give a real insight into how to be a good solicitor and particularly in how to manage clients.

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  • There is always someone available to talk to, supervisors are more like mentors rather than your line managers.

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  • The room sharing system provides easy contact with partners and senior associates at all times. Doors are always open. Partners and associates take a keen interest in the development of their trainees.

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  • Most partners and associates are very interested in trainees' development and improvement, often imparting useful advice both directly through discussion and when asked questions/further explanation.

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  • Very close working relationship with senior staff. In many cases the working relationship is akin to a professional friendship.

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2011 Reviews

  • I am fortunate and sit with a fantastic six year qualified solicitor who provides invaluable support. Some of the partners are better than others at informal training, but none of them are great.

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  • Partners are more like friends/mentors. They are very approachable and most are interested in you as a person and make a real effort to get to know you.

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  • Partners and associates are very accessible; the level of informal mentoring and coaching obviously depends on the individuals concerned, but my experience so far has been excellent.

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  • New trainees are assigned a mentor (a fellow trainee) and are given a departmental mentor (an associate). I have met both but am yet to arrange a meeting or ask any questions of either. The other fee earners in my room are both very open to questions I might have with regard to the deal(s) we are working on and are happy to answer them as and when they come up.

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  • As partners, associates, and trainees sit together, informal training happens on a daily basis simply by discussing issues with people. Partners and associates (time permitting) are always willing to give advice/feedback on work. This is by far the most effective and hands on way of learning and, for me at least, provides a way to hone skills in a practical manner (not just an academic one).

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  • It is very easy to receive informal training. Due to the fact that you sit with an associate and partner, you are always picking up advice on your work, and seeing how partners manage their case load and interact with their clients. I have learned a lot about house style, presentation of formal notes of advice, how to interact with clients, and so forth.

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  • Informal training is extremely strong. Most associates and partners are happy to take time to explain individual points, but also whole documents at a much higher level to show how what we are doing fits into the factual matrix of what we are trying to achieve.

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  • Before starting a piece of work you are always fully briefed on the background and the issues. On the whole, partners and associates are extremely good at this. There is also the freedom to ask questions while carrying out the work. Travers Smith pride themselves on their ‘on the job training’.

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  • Most people share a room with a partner or, at the very least, a senior associate. Informal training is therefore, in my view, very good. Partners are very accessible and, on the whole, they make good mentors (some better than others, obviously). Associates also rotate around the department every 12 – 18 months, so are exposed to, and work closely with, a good number of partners. Associates are therefore in a position to adapt and develop their own style accordingly.

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  • Informal training is readily accessible, as are the partners. If I have a problem I am happy to pick up the phone, or to go and see the partner who I think will be best placed to answer my query or help with the issue I am having.

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  • Partners are generally approachable and keen to offer assistance. Very much an ’open door’ policy, and the relative size of the firm ensures that partners know most people on a personal level. The professional support lawyers are also a willing source of informal know-how and training.

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