It's cheering to find that many firms view a good social life as an important part of a training contract and working life. Obviously social life has more to do with the people than the place, hence our top ten scorers are spread between Manchester, Nottingham, Bristol, London, Liverpool, Birmingham and Reading – proving you can have a good time wherever you are with the right bunch of people, aided by the right attitude from the firm. Manchester-based Pannone is top of the pile this year and is known for its 'management by cakes and bonus holidays', as well as a 'full and active social life' on the 'sports and drinking fronts' with all levels of the firm joining in together. It seems that food could be a common theme among our top scorers here, as Nottingham's Browne Jacobson LLP is praised not only for the great social life and the free pool table in no44 ('our café'), but also for amazing bacon butties. Burges Salmon in Bristol has a breathtaking list of social activities: 'football, hockey, basketball, Friday (or any other day) drinks, wild Christmas parties, fancy dress ice-skating...', while fourth is hard-hitting corporate firm Travers Smith LLP, embracing the work hard/play hard ethic, with a 'fantastic, supportive, collegiate atmosphere' and a 'brilliant social working environment'. At US firm Clearly Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, trainees cite the informality and lack of hierarchy as the base for a great social life and talk of a sociable canteen and camaraderie between all levels of staff, while at new entry Vinson & Elkins the small intake of trainees encourages bonding and socializing. Liverpool firm Brabners Chaffe Street LLP offers 'many social, sporting and charity events that are great to be involved in and there is a very healthy balance between work and play', while another new entry Martineau from Birmingham offers football, outdoor pursuits, pub Olympics, a Hawaiian summer party and 'brilliant' Christmas party to name just a few of the activities on offer. The secret to a great social life seems to be two-fold – active input from firm management obviously helps, but the happiest (and most sociable) trainees appear to be in those firms where there are like-minded people who genuinely want to spend time (both working and playing) together – which is why the recruitment process is so important.