Why join #TeamJCP?

Looking to take the next step in your legal career? JCP Solicitors’ COO, Jacqui Gower, shares insights on why trainees, apprentices, graduates and qualified Solicitors seeking their next role should consider joining #TeamJCP.

Q: How does JCP stand out from other law firms in the area when it comes to recruitment and career progression?

A: “JCP has a proud ‘promote from within’ ethos: we offer fast career progression without sacrificing work-life balance, which is key to our culture. We firmly believe that having a happy team leads to happy clients, and so we ensure wellbeing considerations are embedded in everything that we do.

“To achieve this, we listen to our people and make changes based on feedback, so that teams feel heard and empowered. Engagement surveys are a powerful tool for us, they allow us to champion employee voices and respond accordingly.

“Last year, the survey told us that people wanted more clear progression pathways with more promotion opportunities and so we added extra layers to our structure with clear criteria to reach those milestones. These are now part of ongoing performance review conversations, demonstrating our commitment to delivering what our teams most want.”

“We also take pride in creating opportunities for career development for existing and potential team members. I have had the opportunity over the past 18 months to collaborate with education providers, the Law Society and other firms to drive change and secure funding for legal apprenticeships in Wales, which led to JCP introducing our Legal Apprenticeship Scheme in 2023 with a further pathway to full qualification.”

Q: What are your top tips for aspiring lawyers?

A: “There are many routes to qualify as a lawyer and so I would advise aspiring lawyers to look into university education and apprenticeships, choosing the best option for their learning style, as both can lead to full qualification.

“Work experience is vitally important for aspiring lawyers, not just to demonstrate commitment to the profession and improve your CV but to understand the firm and find out if they match your values and aspirations. It is also important to develop commercial awareness, as a legal career requires strong business acumen as well as legal expertise.”

To find out more about JCP Solicitors’ work experience and training options, visit our careers page here. If you have any further questions, please email our recruitment team on recruitment@jcpsolicitors.co.uk