University of Lincoln Careers & Employability

Bridge McFarland is a reputable firm with offices based throughout Lincolnshire and South Humberside. The firm practices in a wide variety of areas of law including Family, Dispute Resolution and Clinical Negligence.

Number of Employees: 194

Bridge McFarland values it’s staff and will provide ongoing support and training to those who wish to progress into a legal career with the firm. Due to the variety of areas of law, the firm can offer our Trainee Solicitors an opportunity to experience working in several different areas to assist them in deciding on the direction of their legal career.

We currently have 6 Trainee Solicitors who have or are completing their LPC. We also have several staff members who are studying through the ILEX route at various stages and several who have completed their ILEX qualifications and working as Legal Executives.

All vacancies are detailed on our website www.bmcf-recruitment.co.uk

Through our summer placement programme we have had graduates join us on a work placement for the summer which has, in some cases, led to successfully gaining a training contract with the firm.

We also have recently qualified LPC students joining the firm on a temporary fixed term basis as Secretaries or Legal Assistants to provide cover for example, maternity leave. Whilst this may not result in obtaining a training contract, this provides valuable work experience which in turn, will improve their career opportunities. These are on an ad hoc basis and all vacancies are advertised on our website.

We do have a Trainee Solicitor Recruitment Scheme whereby students are invited to apply for a work placement over the summer months. An application form needs to be completed and returned by the closing date of end of February each year.

However, running of this scheme is very much dependant on the current requirements of the firm and for this year (2011), there are no placements available.

In the short term, graduates can be costly both in time and money. However, if these are invested, in the long term, graduates can benefit a firm considerably. It installs fresh ideas and approaches to an ever changing environment which can lead to enhancing the firm’s profile and becoming more profitable.

As an employer, we do receive a large amount of applications from graduates either seeking work experience or a training contract each year. A career in the Legal sector is very competitive but a very worthwhile and rewarding one therefore, graduates will need to have perseverance, patience and motivation by the bucket load when searching for an opportunity to enter into the legal field!

The main advice we can give is to research the firm you are applying for, keep up to date with case law and submit CVs and complete application forms in a clear and concise way.

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