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Capsticks Solicitors LLP 
77-83 Upper Richmond Road London SW15 2TT
Lex 100 winner
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The trainee verdict

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The lowdown (in their own words...)


Why did you choose this firm over any others? 'I spent a year working at the firm as a paralegal - the work was very interesting and I was impressed by the willingness of qualified staff to help me learn'; 'I had an NHS background and wanted a firm that offered predominantly health-related clients'; 'fits perfectly with my academic background'

How does your training compare with peers' at other firms? 'It is my impression that Capsticks provides a higher quality of training than some other firms and a better work/life balance at the same time'; 'it compares very well. I am not merely a note-taker or photocopier'; 'better than average in terms of both quality of work and responsibility given to trainees and friendliness of the firm'

Best thing about the firm? 'The open-door policy. We were given ownership of our cases from day one but support was always available when needed'; 'the best thing is that I enjoy going to work in the morning (except maybe on a Monday)'; 'the friendliness and the fact that it's a leader in its field' 

Worst thing about the firm? 'Lack of air conditioning'; 'it's too far away from where I live'; 'the carpets'; 'regulatory work dominates some seats. And uncertainty about 'the move' to Wimbledon is frustrating'; 'work/life balance may well become more difficult to achieve as senior and middle grade solicitors are very busy, often working nights and weekends'

Best moment? 'The signing of the first contract that I had drafted'; 'successfully representing a client at a case management discussion in the employment tribunal'; 'Learning the dance to Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' for the firm's charity gala competition in the summer!'; 'appearing before the master at an Infant Approval Hearing at the RCJ'

Worst moment? 'The first mistake you make. Purely because it is your first mistake and you are sure they're wondering why they hired you'; 'being sent off to appear before a judge on a case I had not worked on at all'; 'the worst (or more accurately most embarrassing) moment was appearing as a contender in the Capsticks Charity Gala Apprentice Competition'



The Lex 100 verdict

The firm

Putney-based Capsticks is one of the UK's leading healthcare law firms handling litigation, projects, employment law, commercial and property work for healthcare bodies including the General Dental Council, the Healthcare Commission and the Terence Higgins Trust. It also has a leading clinical negligence department with a dedicated team of over 40 lawyers. Clients describe the firm as a 'class outfit' with an 'experienced, responsive and measured' team of experts in their fields.


The star performers

Clinical negligence (defendant); Employment; Healthcare; PFI.

The deals

Advising NHS bodies involved in the issues surrounding the death of Baby P, including advising on the criminal process and dealing with a number of requests for information, as well as ensuring appropriate disclosure of information to the health professional regulators; advising NHS bodies on PPP and LIFT projects including advising Housing 21 on the Walsall Extra Care PPP.

The clients

Over 300 NHS trusts, Primary Care Trusts and Health authorities; Mental Health trusts; Nursing and Midwifery Council; Partnerships UK.

The money


The Lex 100 verdict

'Having attended the Capsticks vacation scheme, I found the people at the firm very friendly and believed I would receive a high quality of training. It hasn't disappointed', so says one contented trainee and this reflects the feelings of most trainees here. Trainees can't praise their firm highly enough for the 'top-quality, interesting, hands-on work' where 'dealing with clients ourselves while getting to grips with the legal issues is a great way to learn'. No surprises then that Capsticks is a Lex 100 Winner in the quality of work and client contact categories. Trainees feel they have a good balance of responsibility and assistance - they are 'given ownership of our cases from day one but support is always available when needed' and there 'really is an open-door policy'. People here 'enjoy going to work in the morning' and have a genuine interest in their cases. The firm also seems to offer trainees a balanced lifestyle with high quality training and a strong work ethic on one hand and a sensible approach to hours and work/life balance on the other (although some comment that this might change higher up the firm with assistant solicitors sometimes working weekends and late nights). On the downside they're still complaining about the lack of air-conditioning leading to 'extreme temperatures' and the office location in Putney is still an issue for some (although Capsticks is also a Lex 100 Winner in the social life category so maybe they've found somewhere to party in this riverside pocket of South West London). Very few other complaints about this specialist firm and trainees who work here tend to feel very lucky and satisfied in their jobs, as well as optimistic about their future (the firm is a Lex 100 Winner for 'confident of being kept on'). If it's healthcare law you're after, 'it has to be first choice' remarks one current trainee and for the right candidates, Capsticks certainly appears to offer a high level of interesting, hands-on training.

A day in the life of.....

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About the firm

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