Partner Article

Record number of trainees retained by DWF

National law firm DWF – which has its headquarters in Manchester - is retaining 81 per cent of its trainees who are due to qualify in October 2014.

Of the 48-strong second year trainee cohort, 39 were offered and accepted a newly-qualified position, representing the largest number of retained trainees in the firm’s history.

DWF has seen a 30 per cent increase in the number of training contract applicants since 2012 and has become the first UK law firm to introduce video interviews to its graduate recruitment process, attracting an increasing number and broadening the diversity of candidates as well as doubling the number of people interviewed.

In addition the firm has launched the DWF Academy, a new learning and development initiative designed to enhance and support the career and personal development of its people, to further support both prospective and current employees. The firm currently employs 95 trainees across the UK & Ireland

Carl Graham, training principal and partner at DWF, says: “We’re proud to have achieved such strong retention rates this year and these figures reflect our commitment to attracting, investing in and retaining the best talent.

“Our trainees play an integral role at DWF and in order to continue supporting the best clients across our chosen industry sectors we’re continually looking for new and creative ways to further support and develop our people.”

The announcement follows the news that DWF has been independently ranked as one of the top three law firms for employee satisfaction.

Over the past 12 months DWF has introduced a number of initiatives to boost employee engagement and satisfaction, which include supporting the firm’s flexible and agile workforce through an £11 million investment in technology; launching a women’s network to support the development of female talent and establishing a partner-led diversity steering group to further the diversity agenda.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .