Gary Crawford, 2nd year Trainee
What first struck me was the firm's excellent reputation which was showcased by the high quality of its clients. I didn't follow the conventional path into law: I completed my degree in Business and Management, followed by the CPE and LPC. I knew that Muckle LLP was a business-minded law firm and I therefore felt that, given my own interest in business, I would enjoy working for such a firm and would also be able to utilise the skills and knowledge I had obtained during my degree.
The firm has an open and friendly culture. People are approachable, supportive and genuinely down to earth. As a trainee, this is something I have been extremely grateful for as it made settling in a lot easier. It's a fun place to work and you are involved in everything from day one, so you instantly feel part of the team.
The offices are fantastic: they overlook the city centre with the Quayside on one side and St. James' Park on the other. They also provide excellent facilities for both you as an employee and for clients as well. You are always involved in challenging and exciting work, which keeps things interesting and fun. My seats so far have been in Employment and Commercial and I've just started with the Property Services Group. I have received excellent training so far and have had so many different opportunities to learn and develop my skills and knowledge.
Finally, I'm from the North East and love it here (biased!). The fact that Muckle LLP was based in the heart of Newcastle was also something that appealed to me.
Natalie Starkie, 2nd year Trainee
Having overcome the daunting task of applying for training contracts, I decided to apply to Muckle LLP. As a regional, commercial firm offering a diverse range of services and wealth of expertise, Muckle LLP ticked all the right boxes. I was fortunate enough to get a place on the vacation scheme, which was a fantastic opportunity, giving me a real insight into the type of work and training I would get as a trainee.
Now, as a second year trainee having done seats in the Corporate Real Estate Team, Banking Team and just started with the Employment Services Group, I receive continual support and training, not only through working closely with partners and other experienced members of the team but also with the internal training sessions. I have also been involved in big corporate transactions and get a variety of client contact – albeit not on a daily basis - but my involvement and the responsibility that I am given within the various teams is rewarding and really helps to expand my knowledge and skills.
It is clear that although a lot of importance is placed on providing service excellence to clients, Muckle LLP does not forget about their people. There is great emphasis and enthusiasm for personal development both professionally and personally – such as the community team – where you can be involved in charity projects that are important to you.
The same passion that attracted me to Muckle LLP continues and I know that Muckle LLP will not fail to exceed my expectations and help me achieve my ambitions - I don’t think every firm could make me feel that way!
Stacey Morland, 2nd year Trainee
Having always lived and studied in the North East I knew this was where I wanted to stay and build my career. Therefore, I believed Muckle LLP, as an established and respected local firm, would provide the perfect platform to accommodate these aspirations. This view was reaffirmed on the vacation placement scheme where everyone was friendly and welcoming.
Importantly for me, as a non-law graduate, I was reassured that this was not a disadvantage. It was clear from the well thought out and interesting programme that Muckle LLP was keen for prospective trainees to gain useful experience during the placement and give us both an opportunity to learn about each other. Their ethos of providing an excellent all round service alongside a strong community focus made me certain that this was the firm I wanted to train, and ultimately work, with.
I have now done two seats - banking and corporate real estate - and none of my first impressions have changed. The happy work environment and open plan offices mean that everyone is approachable and keen to ensure that I settle in. I have been involved in many different-sized transactions from complex refinancing and company reorganisations, to simple loan agreements between individuals, to leases and property purchases as well as getting the opportunity for client contact.
The work is challenging but I am well supervised and pushed to get the most out of my seats with the teams. The client focus is always evident across the firm, with an emphasis upon providing an excellent all round service to fit the bespoke business needs of our clients. Reassuringly, it is clear that Muckle LLP is keen to build on its current success and part of this is through ensuing that their trainees get the best possible start to their respective law careers.