A ‘virtual trainee’ programme has earned South West law firm Foot Anstey a major award for innovation in the legal sector.
The firm, which has seven offices including one in Bristol, came top in the Business Development category of the 2018 Legal Week Innovation Awards.
The winning programme has been running for five years and involves Foot Anstey recruits stepping into part-time in-house legal roles with client, working on programmes and gaining insight into the businesses’ operations.
The result is better and stronger relationships based on genuine insight and comes at no extra cost to the client. The awards were announced at a ceremony in central London last Friday.
Foot Anstey business development director Amelia Stirling, who is based in its Bristol office, said: “This is a scheme that was first developed with our clients’ in-house legal teams and we have continued to evolve it over time, so it truly provides maximum mutual benefit.
“The initiative has had the backing of the whole business – not least the trainees themselves, who benefit hugely in terms of their professional development and client insight. The programme has been fundamental in helping us create our next generation of client-centric lawyers.”
The Legal Week Innovation awards, now in their fourth year, celebrate outstanding achievement within the legal profession.
Foot Anstey, whose other offices are in Exeter, Plymouth, Taunton, Truro, Southampton and London, has received a number of awards for innovation including from Legal Business, The Lawyer and the FT Innovative Lawyers Awards.
Pictured: The Foot Anstey team collect their 2018 Legal Week Innovation Award from host, comedian Zoe Lyons
