Wilkin Chapman Rollits

About the firm

As any lawyer will tell you, reputation is everything. After all, building a career in law is, at its core, about making a name for yourself. But to make it big, it helps to be somewhere you can quickly become a familiar face among colleagues. That was part of the appeal for trainees at Wilkin Chapman Rollits: “I wanted somewhere I could become relatively well-known quicker,” one interviewee told us.

Lisa Boileau, partner, spoke to us about the importance of immersing the trainees early on: “It should be an enjoyable and exciting experience where you get really great exposure to fabulous clients and amazing quality work early on, but with a support network and a safety net underneath you the whole time.”

Indeed, “It’s a firm where everyone knows each other by name,” said another. Though the firm grew slightly in size following a 2025 merger, with a headcount of just under 200 lawyers spread across Grimsby, Lincoln, Hull, Louth, York and Beverley, the firm is certainly one of the leaner in our guide.

“You have some of the best expertise and support, but also the independence and ability to carry out your own work.”

But that’s not to say that there’s not a structure and plenty of brains for newbies to benefit from. “You have some of the best expertise and support, but also the independence and ability to carry out your own work,” said an insider. After all, the firm receives top-tier accolades from Chambers UK for its family/matrimonial work in the East Midlands, and for its agricultural & rural affairs know-how in the Midlands. Further demonstrating the firm’s balance of size and skill, an insider noted, “I wanted somewhere that felt local but wasn’t high street.”

Why trainees joined the firm

Corporate focus outside the City

As one source mentioned, “At university, I really liked corporate law, so I looked up the best firm in the local area and applied.”

Balanced size of firm

Multiple trainees highlighted that size was a key reason for joining the firm: “I was looking for a firm of good size doing good work, but also a firm that wasn’t too big where I’d be a cog in a big machine.”

Homegrown, family culture

Insiders were looking for a local firm rooted in family culture. As one explained, “I wanted a firm that had a family feel to it, and one that was big on retention and promotion.”

Trainee satisfaction rankings

Training contract structure

Seat allocation

Before joining the firm, trainees are asked to submit practice area and location preferences (as the firm encourages trainees to work across different offices) for their first seat. For subsequent rotations, they will have a conversation with HR to indicate preferences during mid-seat reviews. While juniors aren’t guaranteed to get their first-choice seat, the firm does try to make accommodations where possible. For example, sources noted, “You don’t always get exactly what you want, but if you’re flexible with location, you’ll get a seat.” Ultimately though, allocation comes down to business need, and second-year trainees often get first preference. Additionally, trainees are expected to complete at least one contentious seat during their training contract to fulfil SRA requirements.

Seat Experiences

Trainee life

Culture and environment

Data from our annual trainee survey

“You feel part of a team.”

While one trainee joked that “the boiling water tap in the Grimsby office is often broken,” sources had no qualms about the office spaces and working environments at the firm. In fact, one source went as far as describing the office facilities as “state of the art!” With a culture to match the top-notch facilities, sources pointed to the fact that “you feel part of a team, whether that’s part of a trainee team or a wider firm team, or even a seat team.”

This ‘team’ feeling is cultivated by the fact that trainees are encouraged to work across the firm’s different offices and build relationships. “We try to get together as trainees,” said a source, though ultimately the social factor of each office varies slightly. “The ‘city centre’ offices are more social as it’s easier to do things after work,” we heard. The firm also hosts an annual Christmas party among other events throughout the year.

Working patterns

Data from our annual trainee survey

Sources had no grumbles about the five-day in-office policy, highlighting the benefits of direct contact time with seniors. “It’s the best way to learn and pick up the trade,” said one. The firm also allows trainees flexibility if they need to work from home for a particular reason.

Moreover, if you’re looking for a true 9-to-5, this may be your firm. For the majority of the time, trainees reported working around eight hours a day, with the caveat that there are some discrepancies between departments. For example, for those in corporate, on occasion there’ll be the need to work through to 7pm.

Pay

The consensus on compensation was that trainees were content with their respective salaries. “It fairly reflects the expectations of the firm,” said a first-year: “You’re not expected to work as much as someone who’s about to qualify.” Taking a bird’s-eye view across trainee and NQ positions, sources agreed pay was fair given “we are not expected to work weekends, or even evenings!”

Supervision and training

Due to the open floor plan across the firm’s offices, trainees are typically sat within close proximity to their supervisor. As such, learning is hands-on, with interviewees noting, “The fact we are in office a lot really helps with that.” Boileau described the importance of having trainees dive in at the deep end: “Our trainees get their hands dirty, but in a really safe, supportive environment.”

Training and feedback also aren’t limited to assigned supervisors; senior members across teams are equally proactive in assisting with development. Newbies are also paired up with a buddy who is often an NQ and able to offer advice and guidance in a less formal capacity.

“It’s a good firm to stay at and develop.”

Looking further down the line, trainees noted “people certainly tend to stay for the long haul. It’s a good firm to stay at and develop, and they really try their best to help you do that.”

Pro bono & CSR

Speaking to the firm’s emphasis on pro bono and CSR, trainees boasted, “We’ve got a very big charity sector!” Trainees are allowed to take one day a year to do CSR volunteering work, and the firm does a lot of fundraising work, which trainees are encouraged to get involved in. Examples include a bake sale for breast cancer awareness, running to raise money for different charities, fundraising for the military, and doing a food collection at Christmas time.

Inclusion

Diversity training is mandatory at the firm. As one source highlighted, “There is an effort not only to encourage it in the hiring process, but to make sure people who are hired are aware of the training we have on DEI.”

That said, trainees noted representation at the firm perhaps wasn’t where they hoped it’d be. “There are elements of DEI which are harder to fulfil because of the local demographic; some of the offices are based in areas where communities aren’t as diverse as they are in bigger cities,” an insider noted, adding, however, that “that doesn’t stop the firm from promoting DEI!”

Qualification

When it comes to matters of qualification, the consensus among second-years was they weren’t fretting over getting an NQ position at the firm. “It’s not something I’m stressed about,” said a source, adding, “I think you know if you will be kept on beforehand.”

Trainees are required to register their practice area interests in January. In May, they formally apply for one or more jobs on the jobs list and then undergo an interview in June with the head of the respective department. Interview processes vary by department and interest. As one junior explained, “Some departments host a three-partner interview, but if there’s just one candidate for a department, they will typically just go for a coffee chat. There’s a lot of flexibility in how they approach it.”

Wilkin Yapman Rollits…

“Don’t get me wrong,” said one trainee: “There are times you need to lock in, but in general everyone’s chatty… I wasn’t expecting to make such close friends so quickly!”