Forty-five future Halliwells trainees see training contracts cancelled

I really feel sorry for the current and future trainees. Back to square one.

The SRA have been very quiet. Surely they can help these future trainees in these extreme circumstances... or maybe not.

Metallica -22 Jul 2010 | 13:45

SRA's response

“We’re not in the position to get into employment law related issues. We deal with regulatory issues and this is clearly a contractual issue. But one would hope that other firms might look sympathetically on their situation and try to help.”

IHateBPP -22 Jul 2010 | 15:07

I really feel for the trainees, it's a horrible situation - but what exactly can the SRA do? Halliwells is in administration, there's no point taking action againt the LLP. And other firms have already been hit by the downturn, they can't be forced to take more staff on for fear of tipping them over. This, unfortunately, is the true face of the downturn. And it's nasty.

Anonymous -22 Jul 2010 | 15:18

Spare a thought for the current trainees who have had ABSOLUTELY no guidance on whether they are going to be paid until the end of their contracts (30 July 2010).

It is absolutely disgusting the way they have been given no information or assurances whatsoever.

Glad to get away from this firm - where people only care about themselves never mind the fact that we have worked our fingers to the bone for the past two years.

Anonymous -22 Jul 2010 | 15:22

Looking on the bright side, at least they won't have the stain of the name 'Halliwells' on their CVs...

MrSnuffleupagus -22 Jul 2010 | 15:25

Shoosmiths must be relieved that the spotlight is no longer on them!

Anonymous -22 Jul 2010 | 15:31

Halliwells

In all respects the communication given in relation to this to trainees and future trainees has been on the whole dire.

anon -22 Jul 2010 | 15:56

Apparently current London trainees were all told they were moving to HBJ. HBJ pulled out at last minute and only took on one trainee. No reason given to other two for why they were not considered. Decision was based on what seats they had been allocated to. Absolute disgrace.

anon -22 Jul 2010 | 17:01

From an ex-future trainee

As one of the trainees who was due to start in August with Halliwells in Manchester, I am obviously extremely disappointed to say the least to have been told that my training contract has been withdrawn.

Given the small amount of future trainees that are affected, the fact that Hill Dickinson have taken on the trainees in the Liverpool and Sheffield offices, the fact that the trainees due to start in August have already been deferred for a year, and the fact that the business they were due to start in is still there, just under a new name, it is extremely disappointing that the two firms taking over the Manchester business have not been prepared to divide the future trainees between them.

To add to the disappointment, the trainees due to start in August were actually part of the same intake who started in March and are keeping their training contracts. The ones who started in March were deferred for five months, and those due to start in August were deferred by ten months. The decision as to how long the deferral was to be for was by random ballot!

We are now placed in an extremely difficult position, already a year after we were due to commence our training contracts. It would be nice to think that other law firms in Manchester would take the opportunity to step in and agree to take one or two trainees each, trainees who have already been through the Halliwells selection process and who have already obtained their LPC+. It would be great for the reputation of the firms who were prepared to do so, and also very much appreciated by the future trainees who otherwise risk having their legal careers ended before they have even begun, or at the least probably having to wait another two or three years to commence a training contract.

Ex-Future Trainee -22 Jul 2010 | 19:27

Complete Disgrace

Halliwells' partners should be ashamed of themselves (I bet they are not though)! This is a terrible situation, especially for the current unemployed trainees and those due to start next month. What are they meant to do? Scrape in before the 2012 training contract deadline (for most firms) next week and find a job for the next two years? In respect of those first year trainees without a job, surely there is a firm out there who wants some (relatively cheap) fantastic PR by taking these guys on? While we are on the subject, well done Hill Dickinson who at least seem to have acted with a degree of decency in this process.

Anon -22 Jul 2010 | 19:32

Perhaps Slaughter and May will step in to take up the slack.

HGR -23 Jul 2010 | 09:59

Don't blame the economy

I have been lucky enough to transfer to one of the new firms. I also feel sorry for the trainees and numerous support staff who have worked hard over the years and have been left to pick up the pieces with no guarantee of a job after September. Don't blame the economy - Halliwells' demise is purely as a result of utter unadulterated greed by the partners. This not only includes the partners who took the money from the Spinningfields building but also those silent masses who sat back for years and said absolutely nothing. They too were key in the downfall of what was a great firm to work for. I should be grateful - at least I have a job to go to but in reality all I have been left with is a very bad taste in my mouth and feeling utterly repulsed by some of the senior fee earners I am now moving with.

Bob -23 Jul 2010 | 13:07

As a Manchester future trainee who has had their training contract withdrawn I am bitterly disappointed. I take little comfort from the fact my future colleagues have been taken on by Hill Dicks, whilst me and great number of others are effectively out of the door with little more than an email.

I am disgruntled that there has been no offer of support or advice from the Law Society and I question what exactly the £80 covers.

This is a prime example of the failings in the current training system. I have invested a lot of time and money in getting to this stage and in Halliwells itself.

On the whole, congratulations to those who have been successfully transferred, but it doesn’t make it any less of a bitter pill to swallow.

gutted -23 Jul 2010 | 15:17

Training Contracts

We have been sorry to hear about the problems faced by those who are now not able to take up their training contract with Halliwells. Fenchurch Law is looking to take on a trainee at the moment and if any of those affected are interested in a specialist claimant professional negligence firm based in the City then please do send us your CV. We will be happy to have a look.

Good luck to you all.

Rob Fink -23 Jul 2010 | 16:31

As one who is directly involved, I do feel genuinely sorry for any trainee/would-be trainee who has lost their training contract as a consequence of this greed-driven debacle. I also feel genuinely sorry for some great "support" staff who are now out of work. Everything is difficult these days. Keep your chins up and fight on or make the decision to do something else. Law is NOT a recommended profession. But what is these days? Shame on the 40 idiots whose greed brought about the end of a once great firm and a once great place to work.

Bedriche -23 Jul 2010 | 21:16

wake up and smell the coffee

Enough of the "shame", "how horrible" and "feel for us innocent victims of this horrible greed".

Sh*t happens, our profession has been through remarkably few failures considering the carnage going on out there.

Stop the whingeing and sense of entitlement - get out there - if you're any good, you'll find a job in a half decent northern firm, or try your luck down in the big bad south (having taken some elocution lessons first).

nescafe -24 Jul 2010 | 03:30

Workers of the World Unite

I think it is a bit unfair to suggest that people "sat back and did nothing". The junior partners used to get revved up on three pints of lager and talk endlessly about challenging the main board. The problem is that they sobered up and convinced themselves that it was safer to be in the herd. Costly!

Karl Marx -24 Jul 2010 | 16:16

I bet these partners can never feel what the affected trainees are feeling. "SHAME ON YOU!!!" These talented youngsters have been committed to this career in the past few years and devoted too much into this. Do they deserve this end? SRA is absolutely useless and bureaucratic. Best best luck to these people. I am sure they will have a brighter future.

Anonymous -25 Jul 2010 | 01:47

Nescafe's comment above is less than useful and show a severe lack of empathy, which I sincerely hope is not symptomatic of his professional and personal life. I hope your legal advice is more mature. Shame on you.

Anonymous -27 Jul 2010 | 11:49

Time for Reform

I feel very sorry for the trainees. It is not fair.

With respect, though, I feel that people are missing the point. What this really is about is not the trainees being deprived of a career at Halliwells (who cares about that?) but being deprived of a training contract and thus a career in law.

As a former trainee, I can say with some assurance that even 'reputable' firms nowadays pay nothing more than lip service to the idea of "training". Training contracts are nothing more than leverage given to employers over employees. "Do as you're told - because we have the say as to whether you become a lawyer."

It is time for wholesale reform. The current situation is unjustifiable.

And the reform is simple.

Design and administer a standard examination - make it lengthy and difficult! - and then allow everyone who passes to become a solicitor.

Talented young lawyers will benefit and the consumer will benefit.

The only losers will be greedy partners and incompetent associates.

A. -28 Jul 2010 | 05:41

Make the LPC as hard as the CTA and you will have gone some way to moderating the numbers...

Anonymous -28 Jul 2010 | 18:33