Francesca Seaman

Why Howes Percival ?

I completed a vacation placement at Howes Percival in 2003 which I thoroughly enjoyed. I found everyone to be friendly and approachable and the work interesting, challenging and varied. I felt that Howes Percival was a good fit for me in terms of personality and ambitions.

What have you done to date ?

I have completed a seat in commercial property and commercial litigation in the Milton Keynes office, company commercial in the Northampton office and I am currently in my final seat in company commerical in the Milton Keynes office.


How much responsibility do you get?

As much as I am willing to take on. In commercial property I had a lot of responsibility as, due to the nature of the work, there are several matters that a trainee can take responsiblity for, such as drafting and completing licences to assign. In commercial litigation and company commercial a trainee can be responsible for parts of larger transactions such as due diligence.

Do you get to see the other offices?

Yes. I often attend internal and external training seminars at the other offices. Trainees can also request to complete seats in any of the three offices.

What are the people like?

I can honestly say there is no one at Howes Percival that I do not like. I think Howes Percival consists of a variety of people and personalities but everyone accepts and respects each other.

What is the Culture?

Howes Percival have an open door policy that from a trainee point of view works well. I have been able to approach partners as well as assistants and associates for help with my work. I think most people have the common goals of working hard but also enjoying themselves - this is reflected in the annual general meeting where the whole firm gets together for an afternoon of activities followed by dinner, drinking and dancing in fancy dress!

What next ?

Good question. I have really enjoyed all of my seats and, although I know I definitely want to qualify with the firm, I am finding it hard to pick one department to qualify in, having been offered jobs in both company commercial and commercial litigation.





Alexa Phoenix

Why Howes Percival?

I was initially attracted to Howes Percival because they offered trainees the opportunity of working on City standard work in an environment that struck me as less impersonal than that at some of the larger firms. It was obvious that the firm puts a lot of emphasis on training and views trainees as an investment for the future. This was evident from the LPC/GDL funding and maintenance grant on offer (which, I have to admit, was a massive help!) All that aside, Howes Percival struck me as a group of people who are genuine, friendly and approachable.

Describe the recruitment process

My first contact with Howes Percival was through its summer vacation scheme. During the week, I met some of the trainees I would later be working with and spent each day in a different department. I was pleasantly surpised that I was given serious and exciting tasks to do and that the people were not only friendly and encouraging, but also fun to be around. This week was invaluable in confirming that Howes Percival was the firm for me. I can honestly say that the qualities which had initially attracted me to the firm were all present.
As a result of completing the vacation scheme, I was invited to attend the assessment centre. This involved 2 interviews, a legal test, a mathematical test and a presentation exercise. It was a tough day but well worth it when I received the all important phone call!

What is the best thing about the job?

The money!!…Howes Percival trainees benefit from an excellent remuneration/benefits package. That aside, as a 1st year trainee, I have already been given significant responsibility. This, of course, can be very demanding but also very rewarding.

Being a young and dynamic firm, everybody is very approachable at Howes Percival. There is a real sense of community and I often find myself chatting to partners from other departments. The definite open-door policy makes life as a trainee much less intimidating.

… and the worst?

Everyone at Howes Percival is so good at ‘their thing’ that I often find it frustrating when I don’t know as much as they do. I think that this is an inevitable insecurity of any trainee and it is just a case of being patient and learning the most I can from those around me… until the day comes when I am also a ‘master of my own art’… fingers crossed!

What are the hours like?

I don’t want to portray an airbrushed view of life as a trainee at Howes Percival. To be honest, how late you work is very much determined by the particular seat you choose and trainees are expected to put in the hours when required. In my corporate seat, I have experienced a 5.30am finish, whilst being involved with a completion meeting… but at least I got pizza and champagne out of it! However, I have also had 5.30pm finishes too. What I can say, is that however tedious some trainee tasks can seem and however long the hours, you are always given the chance to create a good impression and to learn something worthwhile from the experience.

What is the social life like?

There is definitely a ‘work hard, play hard’ culture at Howes Percival. It is nice that people choose to socialise with each other outside of work hours, whether it be a sneaky beverage at the local or a ‘knees up’ in town! Trainees are also encouraged to attend marketing events on behalf of the firm to meet clients and other professionals. In addition, the local Trainee Solicitors Group regularly organises social events, which gives trainees in the area an opportunity to meet up and share their experiences.

What next?

I am only at the beginning of my journey as a solicitor and have two more seats to experience before qualification. Having experienced two excellent seats already, I am looking forward to qualifying into a department where I will be happy and successful. The firm’s commitment to training, together with its drive to continually move forward, makes Howes Percival an extremely exciting place to work.

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