South East

Regional overview
This area offers superb opportunities for those looking to move within the region, and those looking to re-locate to it.

Ten years ago the region’s firms were regarded, in the main, as provincial practices, living in the shadow of the City. With many firms now competing head to-head with London practices, this is no longer the case and has led to an influx of talented professionals from the City, attracted both by the quality of work and the opportunity to work alongside similarly ambitious and capable colleagues.

Due to the close proximity of London, salaries are higher here than you might expect. What’s more, the size and character of many firms in the region creates opportunities to develop your own reputation alongside that of the practice, and make the case for partnership far earlier in your career than would normally be possible.

Complementing the region’s larger firms, there are many smaller, though highly regarded practices serving local businesses and communities. These offer the opportunity to strike an excellent life/work balance, with competitive remuneration and genuine prospects of progression.

Principal business centres and key employers
With no single commercial centre, the region’s largest firms congregate around the market towns of Tunbridge Wells (Cripps Harries Hall and Thomson Snell & Passmore), Maidstone (Brachers, ASB Law & Vertex) and Guildford (Clyde & Co, Charles Russell, Stevens & Bolton).

In Sussex, Crawley/Gatwick is rapidly becoming a legal and financial services hub with its excellent communication links and proximity to some of most picturesque locations on the coast and in the countryside. Firms such as DMH Stallard, Thomas Eggar, ASB Law and Rawlison Butler all handle heavyweight commercial work from Gatwick. All these firms have teams rated highly by both Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500 across virtually every discipline.

With several offices achieving an average profit per equity partner of £250,000 – and larger firms offering up to £500,000 – these are worthy of consideration alongside many London practices.

Living in the area
The South East allows you to take advantage of living in beautiful countryside without having to cut your ties with London – you can finish work and still get to London to make the theatre or join friends for drink as they leave the office in the City.  Brighton is only a 50 minute train ride from London, Guildford is 40 minutes, with Gatwick Airport and the Channel Tunnel making international access very easy.  Property prices are high, the whole region being prime commuting country for London.  The undiscovered exception is the Thames Gateway, where a huge amount of money is being spent to redevelop waterside living along the Thames and with the Olympics in 2012 this area will attract still more investment.  Several law firms are recruiting for City calibre lawyers in this area – well worth considering.