Olswang cancels trainee recruitment scheme, defers 2011 intake
Olswang has cancelled its 2013 London graduate recruitment programme due to a revision of the number of trainee solicitors the firm plans to recruit for its London office.
The shock move follows the firm’s decision to defer future trainee solicitors due to join the firm from September 2011. The next round of training contract vacancies will be in September 2014 and March 2015.
In a prepared statement an Olswang spokesperson said: “Along with our competitors, we have seen a change in client demands and this has resulted in a change in our resourcing requirements, particularly at trainee level,”
“We want to ensure that our trainees get consistently excellent experience and on-the-job training during their training contracts, in addition to the required formal training, and we feel that a smaller trainee body will allow us to ensure this consistently as the legal market continues to change.”
Similar to Simmons & Simmons MBA programme set up initially for its deferred trainee intake, Olswang plans to support its deferred trainees by giving them the option to study an MA in Law with Business at BPP Law School.
The deferral programme also means that Olswang will not be going ahead with its London-based vacation scheme.
The firm is however continuing its recruitment of trainee solicitors at its Thames Valley Office, due to it not being affected by the deferral programme, and is accepting applications for aspiring lawyers to start in 2013 and March 2014.
View results 10 per page | 20 per page
Readers' comments (13)
Anonymous | 8-Feb-2011 12:40 pm
"However, we now have many vacancies for paralegal positions in Northern Ireland."
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 8-Feb-2011 1:12 pm
Olswang ahead of the curve as usual... oh wait, 2 years behind, my mistake.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 8-Feb-2011 1:34 pm
"The firm is however continuing its recruitment of trainee solicitors at its Thames Valley Office".
That's two trainees.
And a MA from BPP. Really, is that the best they can do? Would never have happened in Jonny's day...
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Vercingetorix | 8-Feb-2011 2:04 pm
"Would never have happened in Jonny's day..."
Others would say that the firm is just reaping what Jonny sowed.
He was savvy enough to leave before it all went Pete Tong.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Stephen Pipes | 8-Feb-2011 2:06 pm
Increased outsourcing and automation means less work for trainees to do.
At least less people coming into firms now means less being sacked in the future as even associate level work starts gets outsourced or automated.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 8-Feb-2011 4:24 pm
There is pathos in their statement as well as a stunning lack of transparency. Putting someone through an MBA of dubious quality as a sop for not getting a job is second rate. Furthermore instead of dropping half an equity point and thinking about the firm's future, it's clear the partners have decided to pocket the dosh at the expense of others. So nothing's changed really.....
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 8-Feb-2011 11:53 pm
This is an absolute joke. If there were ANY doubts as to the liklihood of the vac schemes going ahead/ training contracts being offered the firm should not have opened the application process. The application form is time consuming if conducted well and to spend such time, with the inevitable doubt that surely existed, shows a complete lack of respect and decency. And as for the 'work experience day' being offered in replacemen.. do me a favour!
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 9-Feb-2011 10:13 am
Terribly frustrating to be told this after everybody has already submitted their applications.
In fact, a conspirist may suggest that this was done on purpose for some ulterior reason? Surely this "re-evaluation" should have been undertaken by the firm before candidates were given the opportunity to submit arduous and lengthy applications.
The firm has certainly gone down in my estimations.
Very, very poor form indeed.
I'd be cautious of doing business with them in the future if this is how they treat their prospective employees.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Harsh but Fair | 9-Feb-2011 12:24 pm
Presumably Olswang will pay the price in future years when potential vac schemers think twice about taking the time to fill in an application. Oh wait a minute, that wont happen because the market is awash with desperado lawyer wanabees. Market forces, why drop half an equity point (as 4:24 suggested) if there is no personal or business benefit.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 9-Feb-2011 9:19 pm
Talking so much nonsense about skills and attention to detail and provide updates and so forth....this is a very good example of a firm who is not professional and obviously who does not take future trainees seriously...a joke!
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment