Careers at JMW

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Careers at JMW

At JMW, we are always looking for talented people who can complement and enhance what we’ve built. Every individual will have a unique set of needs and wants, and we believe we have a lot to offer to the right candidates.

We don’t fit neatly into a box, and we don’t expect you to either.

We believe that our success is intertwined with your growth. Supporting your professional development is not just a priority, but a vital part of our ongoing success.

We are passionate about learning through doing; giving you opportunities at every stage of your career and providing the support you need to thrive.

Our commitment to your growth is complemented by a range of learning programmes that you can access anytime, from anywhere. Whether through our specialist training programmes, mentoring scheme, annual promotions process, or through one of our internal community networks, we’ll help you to develop your skills.

Join us and be part of a company where your growth is just as important as ours.

To read more about us, our mission, and our values, click on our ‘About Us’ page.

Vacancies

Trainee Solicitor Recruitment

Work Experience

Employee Benefits

Life at JMW

Want to know more?

Vacancies

Explore our vacancies

If you need adjustments for any part of the recruitment process, please email us to discuss how we can support you.  Alternatively, you can call the Talent Acquisition team on 0330 828 8256 to discuss this.

Polite note to recruitment agencies – we work with a small and select group of recruitment agencies and do not accept speculative or unsolicited applications from other sources.  If you are interested in working with us, please email the Talent Acquisition team.  Please note that fees are only paid where agreed terms and conditions are in place. 

Employee Benefits at JMW

Here are our core benefits, summarising the minimum package all new starters will receive, which we enhance further as careers progress:

  • 25 days’ annual leave, plus all public holidays
  • Up to 3 days’ additional paid leave when the office closes between Christmas and New Year
  • Two days’ paid leave each year for voluntary work, supporting the charities JMW connects with
  • Private medical insurance (on an opt-in basis), with access to the Headspace app, discounted gym memberships and other scheme-related perks
  • Death in service cover, of up to three times your salary
  • Group income protection cover, in the event of long-term ill health
  • SMART pension scheme (enabling contributions to be made exempt from tax and NI)
  • Annual travel insurance for you and eligible members of your family
  • Employee Assistance programme and mental health first aiders
  • JMW staff loyalty card for discounts with businesses local to our offices
  • Interest-free travel loan, e.g. to spread the cost of your train or tram season ticket
  • Cycle scheme, helping you to get riding in a tax-efficient way
  • Sports teams, hobby clubs, and social committee events
  • Recruitment and work referral schemes to reward you for helping us to win work and/or attract talented people

Life at JMW

Equal Opportunities

Aligned to our ‘We Are One JMW’ value, inclusivity is a fundamental part of our culture and has been since the firm was founded. We want everyone to feel able to bring their whole self to work and to know that they will be supported to achieve their potential with equality of opportunity.

Armed Forces Covenant

JMW has been given the the silver award as part of the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme.

JMW has been a signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant since 2019. We acknowledge the sacrifices made by members of the Armed Forces and are committed to ensuring that all serving, veteran and reservist personnel and their families are treated with fairness and respect. As part of our ongoing support and recognition of the Armed Forces community, JMW has been awarded the silver award in the Employer Recognition Scheme.

Work/Life Balance

At JMW, we strive for excellence. Our people are solution-focused and tenacious, and they work hard to deliver the right solutions.

We believe that happy people are best placed to deliver brilliant outcomes, so we work hard for our employees, fostering a culture and environment that fits around busy lives.

Our core working week is 35 hours, and our department heads recognise the importance of offering flexibility and supporting colleagues, whether with caring responsibilities, commitments outside of work or their health and wellbeing. Our targets are designed with enough space to allow for business development, supervision and learning as well as client work.

Hybrid working options are available for almost all roles alongside opportunities for our people to spend time together collaborating, socialising, and learning from one another. This is what has helped to create our friendly and collegiate culture and fast-tracked the nurturing and recognition of talent.

Out and about

Take a look at some of the fantastic things our team gets up to outside of their day-to-day work. Click on the images to view a larger version.

What Our Employees Say

"My life at JMW began in the summer of 1996 when I spent a few weeks at the firm on a work experience placement. This quickly evolved into working the whole summer as an office junior in the crime team. During that time, I was lucky enough to be offered a training contract to return the following year. I never intended to work for only one firm, but right from the beginning, I've always felt incredibly happy at JMW and that's why I am still here today."

Chris Sutton - CEO

"I have been with JMW since 2004, starting fresh out of school as a Postroom Assistant [I have been presented with the opportunity to work in a variety of roles and teams] and progressing to a secretary, PA and Team Manager throughout my time at JMW.

"I feel I have always been supported in my ambitions and have continuously been provided with the opportunity to learn and develop. The trust and responsibility that has been placed in me by the firm have led me to my current role as Operations Manager, and I am looking forward to continuing my career here and seeing what the future brings."

Stacie Williams - Operations Manager (Manchester)

"The firm recognises the value of loyal employees and it has been incredibly supportive to me throughout the years of service, particularly in my new role. The firm also recognises that its employees can contribute so much more to the business. I have great job satisfaction and contentment working as a professional support lawyer at the firm I joined 16 years ago."

Louise Wakely - Commercial Litigation Partner (Manchester)

"In 2009, I arrived at JMW on a summer placement in the Postroom and opted to carry on working at JMW instead of pursuing a course at university as I was impressed by the embracing culture of the firm, and that has not changed over the years. Less than a year later, I was offered a role in IT and was enrolled on an apprenticeship by the firm."

"Since then, the firm has grown into one of the top law firms in the country, and I have been given the opportunity to grow with it and help shape the technology used. "

Michael Sharp - Technical Services Manager (Manchester)

"The firm is very open to having juniors take up positions of responsibility beyond our core legal work. For example, I joined the Corporate Social Responsibility Committee as a paralegal and now manage the London office’s charity relationships and set up volunteering events for colleagues, which has been very fulfilling. The fact that I am encouraged and supported to lead on this feels like a huge vote of confidence. "

Chloe Wynne - Apprentice Solicitor, Business Crime & Regulation (London)

"Life as a newly qualified employment lawyer in a fun, supportive, and dynamic team is as rewarding as it is challenging. No two days are the same – one moment you are advising on a complex redundancy, the next you are helping with a unique workplace dispute. The fast pace keeps things exciting, and the team’s energy, encouragement and sense of humour make even the busiest days enjoyable. It is the perfect mixture of challenge and growth – proof that work can be meaningful and fun!"

Olivia Russo – Solicitor, Employment (London)

"Outside of fee earning, there is so much to get involved in at JMW. I play for the netball team each week, which is funded by JMW and a great way to meet like-minded people from across different departments. I also do a lot of fundraising work for the CSR committee which is such a rewarding way to help JMW give back to the Manchester community."

Madeleine Langmead – Associate Solicitor, Clinical Negligence (Manchester)

"The people, the values and the management In the Court of Protection team at JMW make this a happy, fulfilling and enjoyable place to work.  The work the team do can be challenging and difficult, as they are dealing with the most vulnerable people in society.  However, the team are like a family, all working together with the same goal in mind.  We celebrate success together and support each other in times of need both personally and professionally.  They are simply a collection of kind, caring, professional and wonderful people who make me smile daily. "

Sarah Bradshaw – PA, Court of Protection (Manchester)

“Since joining the firm in September 2019 I have been fortunate enough to gain experience in four very different departments, working alongside some of the best lawyers and business developers the profession has to offer."

"From the outside, the firm would appear to have grown and changed significantly over the last six years, but I can vouch that it is still very much the people focused JMW I joined that very first day.”

Pearse Weatherby – Solicitor, Restructuring & Insolvency (Manchester)

Want to Know More?

There is plenty more information about JMW on our website and social media channels. You can find some of that via the links below:

If you would like to make an enquiry about careers at JMW, please contact our recruitment team at recruitment@jmw.co.uk.