FAQs

Our overriding objective is to retain our trainees as solicitors. We are proud to say that the majority of our present partners were trained at the Firm and are now leaders in their field.

Apart from an excellent academic record, we look for highly motivated individuals with common sense, good communication and social skills, commercial awareness and a sense of humour!

We expect our trainees to work well in a team. They need to show drive and initiative. An ability to focus on a task and to exercise meticulous attention to detail is vital.

Although we value the work/life balance, we expect 110% commitment to the Firm and its clients.

2. What is the history of Hugh James?

Gareth Williams, Senior Partner -

The firm began its life in 1960 when a distinguished Cardiff solicitor Hugh James left another city practice to set up a small business of his own.

Hugh James was a fine lawyer, and in particular a wonderful advocate. However, he also had an eye for legal talent. Over the following years he recruited around him a band of highly gifted lawyers, many of whom went on to become partners in the Firm.

During the succeeding decades the Firm has grown both in size and in reputation. For a number of years it had offices throughout South East Wales but, as the nature of legal business changed, it has now concentrated its resources on Cardiff, where it has its main office, Merthyr (from where it runs some ground breaking litigation) and London, an office which we have recently opened.

Whilst originally our reputation was in litigation, and whilst we remain a very powerful litigation firm, we now act for a huge range of businesses both nationally and locally, for public sector clients and also private clients. We pride ourselves on offering a comprehensive commercial service to our clients.

Our business clients include the likes of Welsh Water, the Welsh Rugby Union, Millennium Stadium, HBOS and the Norwich Union; our public sector clients include the Welsh Assembly and Cardiff City Council; and our private clients include 50,000 miners or their families for whom we have recovered compensation following a test action which we brought against British Coal which has led to the creation of the largest personal injury scheme of its kind in the world.

From our very modest beginnings, we are now established as the largest indigenous law firm in Wales and have exciting plans for future growth.

3. Where does Hugh James see itself in the medium to long term?

Matthew Tossell, Managing Partner -

Hugh James is currently enjoying a period of record growth. During 2007 alone we have created 135 new jobs as part of a major expansion of the Firm and opened an office in London; boosting our overall staff to well nearly 600.

The latest expansion reflects our success in aligning our services to our clients’ requirements, through which we have secured more work from existing and new clients across the UK including household names such as HBOS and Norwich Union.

We are delighted with the calibre of candidates attracted by Hugh James’ professional reputation. We are now one of the largest employers in the economically important professional services sector in Wales.

In my role as Managing Partner I will be implementing our strategic growth plan and I am confident that the current successful expansion will continue.

The opening of our new London office through the acquisition of a specialist outsourcing and procurement team from a London based US law firm is a major part of this expansion plan.

The team is headed by Phillip Rees, former partner of Shaw Pittman and ex senior technology counsel in Europe for Citigroup and will provide specialist legal advisory services to national and international clients. This expansion builds on our existing successful Cardiff based practice group led by Partner Richard Lane, which has blue chip clients such as City and County of Cardiff and the Environment Agency.

We are now in a position to offer seamless Technology, Sourcing and Procurement law services in both the public and private sectors from Cardiff and London with a team of Partners based in both offices headed by Phillip. This is a unique offering from Wales’ largest independent law firm.

We run a regular and extremely successful business event called the Hugh James Exchange which we staged in London for the first time in October on the topic of Global Outsourcing. We were delighted to welcome, once again, Lord Digby Jones of Birmingham, Minister for Trade and Investment, as our guest speaker. The high level of attendance at the event and the lively debate by the panel and audience highlights the fact that the outsourcing of manufacturing as well as services and intellectual property, are matters of increasing importance to UK businesses in the globalised economy. We intend to make available our expertise in this area to businesses throughout the UK from our offices in both Cardiff and London.

4. What is living in Cardiff like?

Cardiff is a fantastic city. From many streets in the city, you can see countryside and hills rather than a massive expanse of concrete - yet it packs in all the amenities of a large city, allowing you a great standard of living.

The Cardiff International Arena (CIA) and St David’s Hall attract many top names in music and comedy. Great bars and restaurants ensure that your weekends are never dull. The redevelopment of Cardiff Bay adds another dimension to your quiet weekend stroll or night out. If shopping is your thing, then the exciting St David's 2 development will really appeal.

Sport is a big deal, with successful rugby, football, cricket and ice-hockey teams and regular international sporting events at the Millennium Stadium. Bute Park is a short stroll away and a great place to go for a lunchtime walk (or jog if that floats your boat).

The transport links are really good if you want to go away for the weekend as in two hours or less you can be in London, the Brecon Beacons, the Gower, the Cotswolds, Bath, Bristol… the list just goes on.

There are a number of trainees living in the Cardiff Bay area and in Pontcanna which has a ‘boutiquey’ feel about it. There are plenty of people at the Firm living close to the city for weekend get togethers. In fact there was recently a trainee/newly qualified housewarming crawl from the seaside town of Penarth to leafy Llandaff - all in about a 6 mile radius! Most trainees are not quite on the dinner party circuit yet though - Cardiff’s nightlife is too good to stay at home. The Cardiff and Merthyr trainees frequently get together for drinks and tapas in the sunshine on Mill Lane or for some Christmassy antics on the ice when it’s cold.

5. How involved will I be in the legal community in Cardiff?

The legal community in the city is quite close knit and you will often find yourself socializing with, or up against, familiar faces. If you study the LPC in Cardiff (which is a very well-run course) you will have a good opportunity to stay in touch with friends in other Cardiff firms. It is a good idea to join a social networking group, such as the South Wales TSG which runs regular events and which is well-supported by local firms, businesses and even judges.

Hugh James is also the ‘hub’ firm in the South Wales Connect2Law network, which links the clients of many smaller firms across Cardiff and South Wales to specialist legal advice at Hugh James. This provides those clients with access to legal advice that they may not otherwise receive.

6. Is Hugh James involved in investment in the local community?

Hugh James has a strong tradition of Corporate Social Responsibility and the Firm believes that building good relationships with employees, suppliers and the community will guarantee long term success.

Specifically within the Community itself Hugh James has always had strong links with local and national charities - in particular; Valleys Kids, Headway and Arts and Business.

The Firm frequently enters teams in charity events – for example; the Race For Life, charity bike rides and the Three Peaks Event - to name but a few.

If you want to get involved – you would be more than welcome to join one of the teams!

7. What is the structure in Hugh James?

The Firm has three offices in Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil and London.

The Firm is divided into three Divisions:

Corporate/Banking (major clients include Norwich Union, Welsh Water, The Environment Agency, Cardiff County Council, the WelshAssembly and the Welsh Rugby Union)
Property (major clients include Barratt Homes, HBOS and Crown Estates).
Claimant Litigation (specialising in large group action cases eg miners’ respiratory and VWF, environmental actions and nursing care).
Each Division is managed by an equity partner and those three partners together with our Managing Partner and Senior Partner – Matthew Tossell and Gareth Williams – comprise the Board of Management of the Firm.

8. How many people work for Hugh James?

587 in total -

49 Partners

202 Executives

336 Support staff.

9. Are there any specific electives that I should take on the LPC?

We do not stipulate any electives that we would ask you to take on the LPC but would suggest that the business electives would be most useful to you.

10. What is the present trainee salary (2007 – 2008)?

First year: £17,999.00 Second year: £19,103.00.

11. Are there opportunities to work as a paralegal before the training contract starts?

Yes, we encourage this if at all possible. A number of our teams rely heavily on paralegal support.

Many of our trainees work for us as paralegals prior to the start of their training contract. This enables them to become familiar with the Firm and to settle into office life and routines before their training contract starts. It is a far less daunting prospect if you are aware of the Firm’s procedures and have established relationships within the Firm when you start your training contract. You can really ‘hit the ground running’.

Vacancies are regularly posted on our website and can be accessed from the following link:

http://www.hughjames.com/recruitment/solicitorsexecutives.html

12. Are there opportunities for secondments - either national or international?

From time to time opportunities do arise for trainees to be seconded to one of our major clients for a period of time during their training contract.

We do not have any overseas branch offices but we do have close links with Firms in France, Spain and Finland.

In collaboration with the Finnish Firm, this year, for the first time, there will be an exciting opportunity for a trainee or newly qualified solicitor to spend a month in the summer working in Finland.

13. Will there be opportunities to use my knowledge of foreign languages?

Many of our trainees have a second language. The ability to communicate in a second language is becoming increasingly important as we are operating in a global market. We maintain a database of all our foreign language speakers so that we can contact the person with the appropriate language skills as soon as the need arises.

14. Can I apply if I have a work permit?

Applications are accepted from individuals needing a work permit. You must presently be studying or working in the UK. Any offer of employment would be subject to proof of entitlement to live and work in this country.

Hugh James

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