Solent water 

Though it's 160 years old, in 2012 Warner Goodman is moving with the times, building up a full-service practice. Managing partner Ian Curtis explained: “We are well on our way to ensuring at least 50% of turnover is achieved through the firm's commercial group.” The firm has a “mixed bag” of departments spread across offices in Southampton, Portsmouth and Fareham. Commercial practices rub shoulders with 'high-street' probate, injury and conveyancing ones. In light of massive cutbacks to the public funding of legal aid, it is no accident that WG, while it still does this type of work, is continuing its drive to win more commercial and personal injury clients. "By the end of 2012 we want commercial to account for 50% of turnover, and that’s a stated objective.”

The recession wasn't easy for WG. Ian Curtis told us: “We did have to restructure, because we were heavily involved in property, but practices such as private client and personal injury have done particularly well.” A trainee added: “It's never easy to lose people, but the struggle has made people friendlier and the firm has been very open and honest about the progress, putting people at ease.”

All three WG offices have family and conveyancing lawyers. Wills and probate is exclusive to the Fareham office (which doesn't usually take trainees); personal injury and commercial litigation are only in Southampton, while employment, company commercial and commercial property can be found in both Southampton and Portsmouth. Practically, “as most areas are focused in Southampton, that's where trainees tend to end up.”

Be warned: “Realistically, at the moment, there is less of a need for trainees in some departments.” The seats actually available at the time of our calls were family, property, injury, commercial litigation and employment. Seat allocation is relatively informal and trainees complete anything from three to five seats. Training principal Dan Thompson sits down with them to discuss their seat preferences and “notes down what we talked about and discusses it with heads of departments.” Business needs influence where trainees go but, “as there are only three trainees, you are likely to get what you want.” It's common for trainees to spend their final seat in the area where they hope to qualify. If a department is spread between offices, “it is not unusual to travel between them. If one office is quiet, you'll help the team in the other. You have to be flexible, but it's a good way to get to know everyone.”

They should be taken to court! 

The commercial litigation department is one of the firm's largest and its work includes commercial contract disputes; debt recovery; property and construction litigation; professional negligence; trade marks and copyright; and contentious trusts and probate. The majority of clients tend to be small and medium enterprises, and trainees experience “a lot of client contact, and lots of drafting.” One told us: “I drafted a number of defences and particulars of claim. I have done some photocopying or trial bundling, but I also deal with client enquiries, take phone calls from them and sit in on meetings.” There's good support, and “you can ask lots of questions.”

The injury team works exclusively for individual claimants and “deals with all types of injury except clinical negligence.” Interviewees thought the team was “fantastic,” but said they got less client contact here than in litigation. Our sources also conducted quite a lot of research and went on “lots of court visits.” One told us: “By the end of the seat, I was able to run my own files. I conducted meetings and organised my caseload the same way my supervisor did – I just ran everything past him first.”

The family seat is “really interesting and very busy. There's a whole lot of court work,” and trainees attend trials “once or twice a week.” One source enthused: “You get to try advocacy as well! You get your own hearings to prepare for, which means plenty of client contact. You write lots of letters and go to client meetings alone.” The close relationship trainees have with clients and the personal nature of the issues means “there is definitely a high level of emotion running through the work.”

WG has both a conveyancing and commercial property practice. Trainees tend to work more on the commercial side. Trainees spend their time “assisting senior associates.” Coco clients vary from “individuals to big companies – generally regional ones, but also a number who started off regional and became international.”

“Warner Goodman is keen for us to maintain a work/life balance.” Average home time is between 5.30 and 6pm and trainees only reported staying late if they were in the throes of a trial.

Join the club 

Despite its age, trainees told us WG is “not lost in tradition.” They say it's “friendly” and “family-like,” but also “trendy” and “keen to keep moving and developing.” There's “no Big Brother environment” and although “no one slacks off, you can have a laugh and joke.” The dress code is business-formal, but there are regular dress-down days for local charities – monthly in Fareham and Portsmouth, bi-monthly in Southampton.

The firm runs a “social club” that is open to all employees. Its members pay a pound a month and have the total matched by partners. The money goes towards events and nights out, such as a day out at Goodwood races. There's also a departmental pub quiz every month, and there's “always pay-day drinks, and lunch if it's someone's birthday.” The local pub – Chambers – is just a short dash away. “If we go in a group of ten or more they give us free nibbles!”

“We’re looking for ‘Warners people,’” says Dan Thompson. “People who have warmth, a generous spirit, drive and commitment. Someone who looks at clients’ needs as well as their wants. Even with traditional high street clients, there’s always a commercial slant.” Work placements or charity work/volunteering are always going to impress.

And finally... 

In 2011, the one qualifier stayed with this pleasant South Coast firm.