Reading: Osborne Clarke named best law firm to work for
Law firm Osborne Clarke – whose Reading office is celebrating its 20th anniversary - has now been named as the best in the country to work for by a leading legal website.
The firm was praised for its 'friendly culture which did not sacrifice work/life balance despite the high calibre of work'. The accolade, shared jointly with Burges Salmon and Mills & Reeve, comes from legal sector site RollOnFriday.
The three firms tied with overall scores of 83 per cent based on comments and feedback from legal staff on subjects ranging from pay, career development (where Osborne Clarke came top) and work/life balance, to the state of the loos and the snacks on offer.
RollOnFriday described Osborne Clarke’s success in the contest as a “long-awaited triumph” after it missed out on top spot last year by just 1 per cent.
The win follows more success at the recent Legal 500 Awards, where the firm won two awards and was shortlisted for a third.
Among corporate and commercial law firms it received the firm (regional) of the year award for its South East practice, based at its offices in Reading’s Forbury Road, as well as being named transport firm (specialism) of the year in specific recognition of its work in the rail sector.
Osborne Clarke was also shortlisted in the TMT (Technology, Media and Telecoms) firm (specialism) category for its intellectual property work.
RollOnFriday quoted from comments made by Osborne Clarke employees, one senior solicitor saying “it’s not one thing” that makes the firm so good, with a “relaxed and inclusive culture, quality of work, openness of management, clear career development path, flexibility in working, support of life outside of work.”
Another solicitor said she “genuinely would never move to another law firm” because “I have never come across anywhere that beats OC across the board as a place to work.”
The firm was “very forward-thinking in terms of flexible working”, said one senior solicitor. “As a working mother”, she said, that was “invaluable.”
The firm “as a whole pulls together to make this work”, said another, “with co-workers (including partners) being very understanding and respectful of the demands of the parental juggling act.” And one Osborne Clarke secondee even said her experience was “so good” that “I don’t want to leave.”
Ray Berg, managing partner, said: “We’ve come close to winning in previous years and following the feedback last year, we were determined to make changes, so it’s great that we’ve finally come out on top.
“Our culture is so important to us and RollOnFriday’s survey is an outstanding endorsement that what we are doing is really making a difference to our people. Thanks to everyone who took part.”
