Career Paths

Newly Qualified

Our aim is to retain as many of our trainees as possible after they qualify.  Generally, we ensure that newly qualified posts are advertised and allocated prior to the second years’ final seat transfer in March of each year.  This means that the successful applicants will spend the final six months of their training contracts in the role that they will have when they qualify.  This provides them with an excellent opportunity to develop their work and client relationships before they qualify.  They can then move easily and confidently into the role of a newly qualified solicitor.

Career progession

Hugh James offers many career paths and opportunities.  We have associates, senior associates, salaried and equity partners.  Each role has a clearly defined competency framework to enable you to decide whether applying for promotion would be the right decision for you at any given time.  We recognise that not everyone will wish to or will have the qualities necessary to become a partner within the Firm.  Our flexible career structure means that you can have a fulfilling career within the Firm without necessarily becoming a partner. 

Case Studies

Kelly Richardson
Solicitor

Gwen Evans

Partner

Ioan Prydderch
Partner

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Case Study 1: Kelly Richardson

Solicitor 

Qualification…where to start?!

Nerves set in around September you are half way through the Training Contract and it’s now time to start looking at what you want to do with your life!

The best thing about the recruitment process at Hugh James is that the NQ jobs come out nice and early.  Generally, second year trainees know exactly what jobs are available for the following September just after Christmas which has definite advantages as most recruitment agencies will start hassling for CV’s around Easter time – so at least you know where you stand by then!

My experience of the process was slightly different to the mainstream.  By the time the jobs came out in January, I had completed three seats, all in contentious departments - a cosy start in family, followed by the sociable but highly intensive Defendant Fast Track department which prepared me for my third seat with the higher value Commercial Litigation work.

At this stage I was still rather unsure as to what I wanted to qualify into…the jobs on offer were all in departments that I had not spent any time in so the panic began to set in!  I had always liked the sound of Commercial Property (despite absolutely hating Land Law at Uni!) and so I set about finding out as much as I could about the department: who it comprises, what a typical day for a fee earner entails, the client base of the various sections of the department and information about the current transactions.

I was fortunate enough to be offered my final seat in the department on the basis that after a three month trial period we would reassess and if I was happy (and more to the point if they were happy with me!) then we could discuss me qualifying into Commercial Property.

Thankfully it all worked out!  There is a fantastic range of knowledge and experience in the team so there is always someone to ask for help!  Best of all, it’s got a down-to-earth, friendly atmosphere.

It has been extremely useful to qualify into the department where I spent my last six months as a trainee.  Given the fact that I came to the department armed only with academic basics, I have learnt so much over the last year.  I have had the privilege of working on a number of large acquisitions and have been involved in some of the highest value development deals in Wales. 

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Case Study 2: Gwen Evans

Partner

I joined the firm as a trainee solicitor in September 1999. My training was enjoyable, interesting and well structured.

Upon qualification in September 2001 there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to stay with the Firm. 

Walking down the office corridor passing pre-eminent lawyers involved in the biggest piece of personal injury litigation in the UK’s legal history was a serious plus for me.  

I was impressed that those individuals were always happy to offer me guidance on any issue and I was proud to ‘learn the trade’ from them!

The Firm is not afraid to take on difficult and challenging litigation which other firms may shy away from.  I found this to be exciting and very attractive.

During my time with the Firm, I have had fantastic litigation experience and have been involved in very interesting, high profile, high value litigation – examples being a multi party action involving a plane crash, complex industrial disease cases and a large professional negligence case involving over 300 claimants.  I now specialise in environmental nuisance group action litigation which is an interesting and varied area of work which I thoroughly enjoy. Although we are based in South Wales, given the Firm’s national reputation, I have clients throughout the UK.

The Firm is a fabulous place to work with friendly and approachable practitioners on all levels. It has a work hard/play hard approach and rewards those who embrace this ethos. It is great to see so many of the Firm’s practitioners noted in the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners directory as being leaders in their fields – there is certainly a feeling that this is a Firm going from strength to strength and it’s exciting to be part of that future.

I have been very fortunate to be advanced up the Firm’s career ladder having been made an associate in May 2004, senior associate in 2006 and partner in 2008. I plan to stay and hope to be advanced further in the years to come. 

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Case Study 3: Ioan Prydderch

Partner

After completing the LPC in Cardiff, I undertook my training contract at Hugh James between 1999 and 2001.

The training was excellent. I experienced a mix of contentious and non contentious work and benefited from working with solicitors who had a great deal of experience in their respective fields. I also felt immediately at home with the people and the culture which was a very important factor for me. I qualified into the insurance and commercial litigation department and spent two happy years there.

I began to seriously contemplate spending my career at Hugh James but felt the need to seek a different experience before "settling down". I spent six years in Bristol specialising in contentious and non-contentious construction law but kept in touch with my friends back at Hugh James. After six years it was time to swap the M4 and the car for Bute Park and the bike. There was only one Firm on my list (although I didn’t reveal that during negotiations!) and I was fortunate enough to be able to rejoin Hugh James as a partner in May 2006.

When I came back, Hugh James had changed: new offices and more faces. However the values and the culture had not. I am now part of the Construction, Energy and Projects Team which is a nine strong team involved in very exciting cutting edge work. An important part of my role now is to ensure that the culture and experience that I enjoyed are preserved and continue to be enjoyed by others joining the Firm.