Happy – Jacksons Law Firm managing partner Tony Wentworth says his firm has an inclusive and collaborative environment .
GOOD VIBES
Award-winning law firm runs a happy ship
WORDS : SARAH WALKER PICTURE : TOM BANKS
An award-winning law firm “ with no glass ceiling ” is hoping to attract more ambitious staff to its loyal team – and is demonstrating you can work your way to the top in a legal career , whether starting as an apprentice or a fully qualified solicitor .
Some of the staff at Jacksons Law have been there more than 40 years – which says a lot about what a great place to work it is .
With offices in Newcastle , Stockton and Sunderland , the firm ’ s geographical spread covers the whole of the North-East .
And as the firm is on the Tees Valley Combined Authority panel of advisors , it has played its part in the North-shoring effect of big organisations and government departments moving to the region .
Managing partner Tony Wentworth said : “ Big things are happening right across the region – and we are proud to say we are at the forefront .”
With so much going on , Jacksons Law has vacancies in a number of positions , including corporate and commercial solicitor , litigation solicitor and in its trainee and work experience programmes .
The firm also needs a new secretary and has a number of apprenticeship vacancies . Tony says : “ We see the apprenticeship programme as being an introduction into a long-term career in this firm , not just a short-term training opportunity .”
In fact , Tony himself has been at the firm 35 years , after starting on a training contract from university .
The other two staff on the management board started on a YTS scheme at the age of 16 and on a work placement from university .
Tony says : “ It doesn ’ t matter what level you start at , you will get to where you want to go with us if you ’ re prepared to work hard it at .
“ There ’ s absolutely no glass ceiling here – anyone who comes into the organisation can work their way to the top .”
Tony believes staff “ don ’ t want to leave ” Jacksons , due to the focus on team work and simply because they “ enjoy coming to work ”.
“ We ’ ve are a staff-focused business and we look after our staff ,” he says .
“ It ’ s a nice , inclusive and collaborative environment to work in , where staff at all levels understand how the business is performing and are given the opportunity to provide much valued feedback .
“ We believe everyone in the business has something valuable to say and to contribute .” Staff are also motivated by working in an award-winning firm . Jacksons was named Company of the Year , while Jane Armitage of the firm was named businesswoman of the year at the Tees Businesswomen Awards .
The firm is also the only Tees Valley practice to have been a finalist two years running in the Northern Law Awards , winning Team of the Year Property ( Commercial ) in 2017 and 2019 .
In 2019 the team was awarded Property Law Firm of the Year in the North East Insider Property Awards and it has also won this year ’ s Property Law Firm of the Year .
The firm was a finalist for Property Deal of the Year for the work it carried out on The Northern School of Art development in Middlesbrough .
Tony says : “ It ’ s rewarding to know that the job that you do is recognised by others outside the firm and we are perceived as a successful organisation that does what it does very well .
“ There is satisfaction in knowing that you ’ re part of something that is the best at what it does .
“ Now , we want to attract staff who are ambitious and want to stay with us for the long term – people who want to be part of our team .”
For more information , visit jacksons-law . com / careers-job-vacancies-teesside-newcastle /
26