At law firm Howes Percival, one of its key strategic goals is ‘to be the place where people want to work and enjoy working’. It seeks to do this by giving the partners and staff the freedom and support to constantly improve them- selves and the service they provide to clients in a collaborative way. Recruitment and training are fundamental to achieving success in this goal.
To achieve its goals Howes Percival has a strong focus on recruiting high-performing individuals, not just in legal teams but across support functions in HR, IT, accounts, risk management and facilities. The firm wants people who join to have a strong commitment to support their colleagues and provide a fantastic service to clients, whatever role they play in the client journey.
A particular focus in the firm’s recruitment strategy over the last year has been its outreach programme. This has involved attending career events, providing work experience and producing an updated career guide to include apprenticeships, all with the aim of promoting the many routes into law and other professions such as HR and IT.
As part of this strategy, the firm is proud to say that it now employs 13 apprentices including eight that have been recruited this year. These are not just in the legal teams but also in HR, IT, Finance and Business Development. This is, however, just the start and the firm is looking to increase its outreach programme to improve social mobility in its communities as well as increasing the number of apprenticeship opportunities.
Natalie Clarke, Head of People, said: “It has been great to see the steps we have taken in achieving our strategic goal. We have also implemented the Rare contextual recruitment system, which helps us to identify candidates from disadvantaged backgrounds to include in our recruitment processes.
“Inclusivity is a key focus area for us, and our new applicant tracking system has a blind CV functionality to help remove any unconscious bias from our recruitment processes and meet our equality, inclusion and diversity ambitions.”
Training
The last few years has seen a significant increase in focus on training at Howes Percival. Its aim is to empower people to continually enhance both themselves and client services collaboratively.
The firm takes a holistic approach to learning and development so that training is also available for wellbeing, whether that be mental, physical or financial. The firm’s LEAPS programme, which recognises that all roles have an element of leadership, supports people in developing the skills and behaviours they need to be successful.
A mentoring programme ensures that employees and partners can have someone who can assist them on their career development. The online Learning Management System means all of this can be easily accessed by staff and partners.
The firm also invests significant resources into holding all-day-off-site meetings with its lawyers (from paralegals to directors) to develop their skills, learn more about the firm, provide feedback and listen to guest speakers on matters as diverse as delivering excellent service, good communication and stress management and resilience.
Northampton office managing partner Graham Irons, who organises and hosts these meetings, said: “These meetings are a unique opportunity for our lawyers to meet and learn from their colleagues across our seven offices.”
Developing home-grown talent is also key to growth at Howes Percival and the firm always aims to retain as many of its trainee solicitors as possible when they have completed their two-year training contract.
This rings true with Associate James Pitts, who said: “I joined Howes Percival as a trainee in March 2021 and was encouraged from the outset to join internal committees, undertake complex work and network within the local community. It was clear that the firm wanted to give me the best trainee experience possible, and I have felt, throughout my time at the firm, like a valued employee who is able to play a role in its direction. It is for these reasons that I grasped the opportunity to remain at the firm and qualified into its employment team in September 2022.”
This sentiment is echoed by former trainee solicitor and now Milton Keynes office managing partner Simon deMaid, who said: “I’ve been with the business for 22 years now and that’s not unusual at Howes Percival. What keeps people here is not just the quality of the work from a fantastic client base but the great culture which our staff and partners create.”
Achievements in 2024
As a measure of its success, Howes Percival received various accolades for its people-focused approach last year. This included getting the three-star World Class rating in the Best Companies to Work For 2024, putting it in the top five law firms.
Graham Irons said: “We are very proud to move up to the highest rating for Best Companies which is a great recognition for all the hard work that goes into making our firm an employer of choice. It’s been an amazing year for us. Having won Legal Firm of the Year at the Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards last year we were delighted to again be shortlisted in 2024. In the Leicester Chamber Business Awards we won Business of the Year and an award for Commitment to People Development.”
What’s next?
Howes Percival is not a business that stands still and is always look- ing for ways to enhance its Life More Sure brand.
Natalie Clarke is excited about 2025. She said: “We have lots to do in the coming year and we are looking forward to putting in place everything that ensures the continual growth of business and critical to our success will be to make sure Howes Percival remains a place where people want to work and enjoy working.”
Find out more about Howes Percival on their website.
