Bristol’s two largest law firms were today named as the best in the country to work for by a leading legal website.
Burges Salmon and Osborne Clarke, along with another regional firm Mills & Reeve, were praised for their “friendly culture which did not sacrifice work/life balance despite the high calibre of work”.
The accolade comes from RollOnFriday, a popular – and often irreverent – source of news and gossip for the legal sector, with a dedicated following particularly among junior and young lawyers.
The website said there was only a “small amount of grumbling” about the trio of winners and this was directed at predominantly the same issues – the drawbacks of regional pay and fears that the precious culture and work/life balance could be eroded.
All three tied with overall scores of 83% based on comments and feedback from legal staff at the firms on subjects ranging from pay, career development and work/life balance to the state of the loos and the snacks on offer.
RollOnFriday described Osborne Clarke’s success in the contest as a “long-awaited triumph” following the firm missing out on top slot last year by just 1%.
Burges Salmon took the crown for a “stunning” third year in a row, said the website, which branded the Bristol firms’ top billing a “West Country double-whammy”.
RollOnFriday quoted from comments made by Osborne Clarke employees, one senior solicitor telling it “It’s not one thing” that makes the firm so good.
The firm boasts a “relaxed and inclusive culture, quality of work, openness of management, clear career development path, flexibility in working, support of life outside of work”.
One solicitor said she “genuinely would never move to another law firm” because “I have never come across anywhere that beats OC across the board as a place to work”. In fact, she would only leave “if it closed”, according to RollOnFriday, which added that hundreds of her peers expressed similar sentiments.
A junior lawyer said that when hard graft was required “It is recognised” adding that it led to “thank you emails from the head of the practice group, time off in lieu, etc”.
She added: “I cannot gush more about the great culture at OC. I was previously at a huge firm, and everyone in every team was miserable”. 
Other comments quoted by RollOnFriday, included “people at OC are genuinely happy” and “being a dick is frowned upon”, whether “you are a partner, fee-earner or client”.
Another Osborne Clarke lawyer describing themselves as “an ex-Magic Circle-er”, added “I am, for the first time in eight years, genuinely excited about coming to work every day!”.
Osborne Clarke managing partner Ray Berg, pictured, joined in the spirit of his employees’ comments, telling RollOnFriday: “I haven’t been this excited since Spurs won the FA Cup!
He added: “We’ve come close to winning in previous years and following the feedback last year, we were determined to make changes, so it’s great that we’ve finally come out on top.
“Our culture is so important to us and RollOnFriday’s survey is an outstanding endorsement that what we are doing is really making a difference to our people. Thanks to everyone who took part.”
RollOnFriday described Burges Salmon as an old hand at making its people very happy, sayng one senior solicitor told them: “Top quality clients, work, colleagues and environment – what’s not to like? But also those moments of quiet smugness when we win some work from City firms who continue to underestimate us as serious competition”.
Another senior solicitor at the firm said its old marketing slogan of ‘Salmon, not sardines’ was still apt, adding: “Here you have all the benefits of London work” while “being able to work (and play) in a great city with the countryside on your doorstep”.
One Burges Salmon trainee said the firm was “as friendly as it claims to be. The open-door policy is pervasive”.
A junior who moved from a City firm said they had taken a 30% pay cut, “but consider that excellent value for the improved work-life balance and the chance to live somewhere you don’t need to be an oligarch to buy a small flat”. 
Burges Salmon managing partner Peter Morris, pictured, told RollOnFriday: “I am absolutely delighted that our people are so positive about our firm. We know that there is always more that we can do to ensure that Burges Salmon is a great place to work.
“We work hard to maintain an open and inclusive culture to which everyone can contribute.”
Mills & Reeve has offices in Birmingham, Cambridge, Leeds, London, Manchester and Norwich.
The results of the RollOnFriday survey would not have gone down so well with staff working at Irwin Mitchell’s Bristol office. The national firm came last, earning it the title of Golden Turd 2018.
RollOnFriday, which is run by former City lawyers, provides news, views and gossip on the legal profession – including the top firms’ salaries.
Source: RollOnFriday
