PICTURING what your first day at work will be like after you’ve left university can be somewhat daunting. How will you feel as you stride through reception? What are your new offices going to look like? How will you find your way round the building? And where does everyone go for lunch? Day 1 in most jobs will be full of these unnerving little uncertainties.

Not so at Lovells, a London-based law firm.At Linklaters, one of several law firms ranked in The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers, about a third of trainee solicitors are “non-lawyers” The firm includes a full virtual tour of its international headquarters on its website — complete with audio commentary — to orientate potential job applicants, something that has helped Lovells to win “best graduate website” (graduates.lovells.com) in The Times Graduate Recruitment Awards 2006.

The tour of Atlantic House — which takes in everything from the corporate gym to the roof gardens — was a real hit with the 1,000 final-year university students who judged the awards and rated Lovells’ online information as “engaging, innovative and inspiring”.

The firm is one of 12 major law firms in the latest edition of The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers and hires university-leavers to work as trainee solicitors. Like many of its rivals, the firm takes on a mix of law graduates and those with degrees in other subjects. Entry standards are tough — applicants need a minimum of grades AAB at A level and at least a 2:1 degree. Trainees are typically recruited two years in advance of their start date.

After graduates have completed the one-year postgraduate Legal Practice Course (plus the additional one-year Graduate Diploma in Law for graduates from non-law degrees), Lovells’ two-year training contract is divided into four six-month placements.

Known as “seats”, these placements are designed to provide trainees with practical experience of different parts of the firm and can include a secondment to one of the firm’s clients or to an international Lovells office. Successful completion of these seats is the final stage before qualifying as a practising solicitor.

Martin Birchall is editor of The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers

NUMBER 64: LOVELLS

What does it do?
Lovells is a major international law firm, the fifth largest in Europe. It has 26 offices worldwide and employs more than 1,600 lawyers. The firm has 329 partners.

What is the demand for graduates?
Lovells hires about 90 trainee solicitors each year. It is recruiting for its August 2008 and February 2009 intakes.

Where are the jobs?
All new graduates are based at Lovells’ headquarters in the City of London, but trainees have the opportunity for placements in Brussels, Frankfurt, Milan, Hong Kong, Moscow, New York, Paris, Singapore and Tokyo.

What’s the pay like?
Last year’s trainees began on a salary of £29,000 and newly qualified solicitors are paid £50,000.

What’s the competition like?
Lovells typically receives at least 2,500 applications each year for its graduate vacancies.

How has Lovells done in the Top 100?
2001: Not ranked
2002: 95
2003: 85
2004: 66
2005: 71

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