Career opportunities at Tees
Life at Tees is good. You will join a fast-growing regional firm that offers a wide range of legal and financial services - there's plenty of high quality work and lots of opportunities for you to shine.
Tees is a great place to grow your career
It’s been quite a journey. In 1913, Tees started out working for farmers, gathered on market day in the local town square. Today, Tees is a 300-strong firm, turning over £26million and knocking on the door of the UK’s top 100 law firms. The Tees journey is all about going from strength to strength - and you can be a part of it. We’ve always had top quality work and top quality values to guide our ways of working. There are loads of reasons to work at Tees - here are just a few…
Our technology-based business model
Law firms often say the client is at the heart of everything they do, but while that may well be their intention, in reality, a lot of them are traditional law firms, without the modern technology to make that a possibility to deliver in a reliable way. In recent years Tees has undergone a vast business process re-engineering project to put technology - and clients - genuinely at the heart of the business.
We are delighted to have been announced as a finalist in the Technology Team of the Year Category for the ‘British Legal Technology Awards 2022’
Employee benefits
Our business is built on people, and the great relationships we enjoy with our clients are a reflection of the relationship we’ve built with our employees.
We offer all the normal benefits of working at a modern law firm – a stakeholder pension scheme, non-contributory death in service benefit and permanent health insurance are standard.
2022 Best Companies
In August 2022 Tees was confirmed in the Best Companies listings as being one of the top 25 law firms to work for in the UK. Additionally Tees was recognised as a top 50 company to work for in the East of England, and awarded the One Star Best Companies accreditation, listing as a Very Good place to work in the Large Companies category (200-1999 people). If you’re looking for a new start with a top legal and financial services firm, then get in touch via teesrecruitment@teeslaw.com or give us a call
Legal 500 - Top tier Firm 2023
The Legal 500 independently analyses the capabilities of law firms, highlighting the practice area teams who are providing “the most cutting-edge and innovative advice” to their clients. It's published each year and is researched and written by an independent team who talk to real clients as part of their assessment process.
You can see our listing here UK Legal 500 2023 directory. Tees is recommended in 26 practice areas with five departments rated in the Top Tier 1 category
Training and development
We pride ourselves on having a mindset focused on lifelong learning, to inspire and support your development at Tees. With two full time trainers, there are courses available in technical legal skills and IT software, as well as ‘soft’ skills such as: leadership training, networking, managing teams. There’s plenty of opportunity for people to grow.
Legal support specialists – a career for you
At Tees it’s not all about the lawyers! We have a wide variety of professionals all working together to make Tees the great place that it is and deliver an outstanding service for our clients.
The work of the legal support specialists has been transformed in recent years, into an ultra-modern system with state-of-the-art technology complemented by modern, efficient ways of working.
We are a company built on values
One team, together - We know that we achieve more by working together. Our clients are at the heart of everything we do, and we’re determined to get the best results for them.
Passionate about our work - We embrace change and come up with creative solutions that exceed our client’s needs and expectations.
Easy to talk to - Our relationships are built on trust. We talk to each other openly, honestly and with empathy.
At the heart of the community - Our business is built on long standing relationships with the communities where we have our offices.
Current vacancies at Tees
More about working at Tees
Are you a law student? Our popular graduate scheme offers a road into a major regional law firm.
We are a major regional law firm, and we’re growing fast. We offer a wide variety of opportunities in a range of departments. So whether it’s wills or leases, farmland development or divorces – we'll have something that piques your interest.
You will absolutely be allowed and encouraged to contribute effectively day-to-day – and of course you will be surrounded by experienced lawyers, helping you at every step. We carefully assess the level of responsibility we give you and when you’re ready, you can deliver client-facing work too.
Vacation schemes are a great way of deciding to which firms you would like to apply for a training contract, and Tees’ vacation scheme is no exception. During your placement, you’ll have the chance to chat with our current trainees about life as a trainee solicitor here.
Our training contract consists of four seats of six months in different departments at one of our six offices. Trainees work in supportive teams and are supervised by either a Partner or Senior Associate. We actively encourage our trainees to get involved in marketing, networking, training and social events hosted by the firm. The environment is an enthusiastic and friendly one and trainees have regular meetings with their supervisors.
At Tees, we support our trainees and their progression through the firm. Some of our previous trainees include:
Chris Claxton-Shirley – Wills Tax Trusts and Probate Solicitor at Tees
Sally Powell – Family Partner at Tees
David Miller – Commercial Property Partner at Tees
We only recruit academically strong, personable and ambitious people to train with Tees. Our trainees are a big part of the firm’s future, as they progress through their training, into qualification and beyond. In fact, 8 of our current partners, started their careers as trainees at Tees!
When to apply
The application process for Tees 2025 training contracts opens on 1 January 2023 and closes on 30 June 2023. The 2025 trainee assessment centre is due to take place on 25th July 2023. Please check our website before applying for any updates.
Please note the application process for training contracts starting in 2023 and 2024 is now closed.
We receive a very high volume of applications, so please do apply well in advance of the closing date, we will respond to all applications after the closing date.
What we’re looking for
- At least 320 UCAS points (ABB) or equivalent
- At least a 2:1 in your degree
- A keen and genuine interest in Tees
- A personable and ambitious nature
- A well-rounded individual with interests both related and unrelated to the law
- Commercial awareness
- A sense of humour!
If that sounds like you then we would like to hear from you.
Please send your CV with a covering letter clearly marked – Application for Tees 2025 Training Contract - addressed to Jane Winfield by email to gradrec@teeslaw.com or by post to our Bishop's Stortford office.
Tees’ award-winning vacation scheme provides a first-hand look into what it’s like to work at a top UK 200 law firm.
What is the Vacation Scheme?
Every year, we welcome talented students and graduates for a week’s placement on our vacation scheme. It’s your chance to get to know us and about working in a modern law firm.
It’s also our chance to get to know you and we regularly invite vacation scheme candidates to join our training contract assessment process.
How the Vacation Scheme works
The vacation scheme runs for one week during June/July, and is open to:
- Second and third year undergraduates
- Graduates
- Students/graduates of the LPC or GDL
During your placement, you’ll get to work on real cases and will work in two or three different departments. You’ll get to see the range of the firm’s work and talk to experienced solicitors about what it’s like to work in their field.
We are looking for candidates with:
- At least 320 UCAS points (ABB at A Level or equivalent)
- A keen and genuine interest in applying to Tees for a training contract
- A personable and ambitious nature
- Interests both related and unrelated to the law
- Commercial awareness
- A sense of humour!
During the week, you will be invited for lunch with some of our current trainees. We will reimburse any travel expenses up to £50.
Tees 2022 Vacation Scheme Application Deadlines
The deadline for each summer is the preceding 31 March and interviews are normally conducted in April.
The deadline for our 2022 summer vacation scheme is 31 March 2022. We will let you know after the closing date whether you will be invited to interview.
Applications are open from 1 January 2022 by cover letter with attached CV addressed to Helen Midgley and emailed to:gradrec@teeslaw.com
We believe in enabling our people to grow in their roles and develop their careers
