Law firm announces graduate boost - graduate jobs

The graduate trainee programme at leading law firm Irwin Mitchell is to be expanded in September, despite other businesses in the sector scaling down staff retention.

The company, which is based in Sheffield but has offices in a number of cities in the UK and Spain, is planning to increase its number of trainee places by five, after already making 27 appointments for September.

Jane Horton, graduate recruitment partner for the solicitors, said the move was a long-term policy.

She said the firm aimed to employ top candidates, who have done everything right but are still finding it difficult, in the current climate, to get placements elsewhere.

The trainee intake hike by Irwin Mitchell has bucked a recent market trend among other major companies. As Eversheds and Field Fisher Waterhouse put their graduate recruitment programmes on hold until next year, Allen & Overy reduced trainee places from 2011 and Hammonds halved its intake for this September.