News - Top trainers and recruiters get awards

DLA Piper was awarded a commendation for diversity, in association with BLD, at the annual LawCareers.Net Training and Recruitment Awards (TARAs).

BLD founder and chair Debo Nwauzu commented: “The volume and quality of applications clearly demonstrates that law firms accept that commitment to diversity is not an optional extra, but rather an integral part of any business that is forward-looking and forward-thinking.” 

The awards, which recognise the best recruiters and trainers amongst law firms, were based on a survey of more than 2,500 trainee and newly-qualified solicitors. Almost 200 guests from 72 law firms attended the ceremony.

LawCareers.Net is an online resource for future lawyers and its publisher, Matthew Broadbent, said: “In a year where there have been mixed messages about the health of the law graduate recruitment market, the TARAs reconfirm that there are plenty of firms which have remained unstinting in their commitment to, and support of, those joining the profession. Our survey, by which the nominated firms are determined, covers three annual cohorts of trainees recruited in often vastly differing landscapes. We can only commend those firms that demonstrate that creating and nurturing new lawyers is the pathway to success.”

The winners were: Alan Edwards & Co (best small firm recruiter); Thackray Williams LLP (best small firm trainer); Knights LLP (best medium regional firm recruiter); Thomson Snell & Passmore (best medium regional firm trainer); Farrer & Co LLP (best medium City firm recruiter); Goodman Derrick LLP (best medium City firm trainer); Kirkland & Ellis International LLP (best US firm in City recruiter); Arnold & Porter (UK) LLP (best US firm in City trainer); Burgess Salmon (best national/large regional firm recruiter); Wragge & Co LLP (best national/large regional firm trainer); Allen & Overy LLP (best large City firm recruiter); Baker & McKenzie (best large City firm trainer); Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom UK LLP (best City firm work placement scheme); Mills & Reeve LLP (best regional firm work placement scheme).