The 10 Best UK Law Firms for Work/Life Balance
Work-Life balance issues are an increasingly popular work requirement and a survey of over 2,000 trainees and junior associates which indicates that Big Money is not the sole focus for many lawyers seeking a decent legal life in the UK.
The Legal Cheek survey shows that 60 per cent of the firms are also in the top 10 for the best average 'arrive and leave times', which is also about "having an open mind, exploring flexible working, avoiding ‘presenteeism’ and not emailing staff until the late hours and expecting a response. Out of a possible top score of ten; one equates to: “I’ve sub-let my flat as I haven’t been there for months,” and ten is: “I’ve never had to cancel a dinner reservation”.
The top 10 -
Ashfords - "This South West stalwart with over 500 staff in six sites (including London), scored a shiny A* for work/life balance."
BLM - "Apparently, trainees at BLM can expect to leave the office at an astonishing 5.45pm. That is almost like an average school day of yore or reminiscent of being a student after a day with a few lectures."
Blake Morgan - "a firm spanning South England from London and Southampton across to Oxford and onto Cardiff, not only scored A* for work/life balance but also hit jackpot by making it into the top ten best arrive-and-leave times.
Browne Jacobson - ". .a full-service firm with good-quality work across a good range of practice areas (they do a lot of work defending the public sector".
DWF - ". . As one insider put it, the firm’s work/life balance is: “Pretty bloody great to be honest — would not trade it right now.”
Fieldfisher - ". . third year in the top ten law firms for work/life balance, which is impressive given our less-than-secure times. The firm has continued its growth with a series of European openings in Italy and Holland."
Forsters - "A repeat top ten law firm for work/life balance, Forsters is an elegant practice based in Mayfair doing private client and real estate work."
Irwin Mitchell - "consistently received accolades for delivering on work/life balance for its lawyers, making it into our top ten for the third year running (and always also doing exceptionally well on its arrive-and-leave times)."
Mills & Reeves - "This East-Anglian-headquartered law firm has some great work in areas such as tech and life sciences, and posted excellent turnover and bonuses at the end of 2018 (there was £2 million of love to spread around the firm)."
Royds Withy King - "This well-established, Bath-based firm slam-dunked in Legal Cheek’s arrive-and-leave time scores by being the firm officially with the shortest working day."
