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Leading Specialist Recruitment Consultancy BCL Legal Strengthens Temps Team

20th July 2007 from 9:31 am

UK Legal Recruitment Agency BCL Legal recently acquired the Temporary and Contract team from consultancy rival Michael Page plc. Mary Nowell and Liz Lawson join during a period of growth for BCL Legal to develop their success in supplying Locum and Contract Lawyers in the regions. Having graduated in Law and coming from a family of lawyers Mary has a good understanding of legal disciplines which is invaluable when sourcing opportunities for lawyers and liaising with partners of law firms and legal teams. Liz has enjoyed working with temporary lawyers and enjoys the fast paced nature of working within temporary recruitment where a firm usually requires someone to fill a vacancy within a very short time scale. She has gained good technical knowledge and is developing key relationships with law firms, in-house teams and public sector departments in Leeds, Yorkshire and the North East. Director Mark Levine commented ?We are delighted to welcome Liz and Mary to the team, they have strengthened our contribution to the legal sector across the regions as we are now able to offer the full range of services our clients need to run their businesses. In a survey of the legal sector, 90% of the businesses surveyed said that their biggest bar to growth was recruitment. At a time where the permanent recruit is taking longer to find, businesses are having to think laterally about how they can continue to maintain high levels of client satisfaction and in many circumstances a temporary lawyer or locum is a very viable option? With offices in Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham, BCL Legal provides a comprehensive legal recruitment service for solicitors, lawyers, law firms and businesses at all levels, across all disciplines and across all sectors.

BCL Host Evening for In-house Lawyers from the North West's Leading Businesses

11th June 2007 from 9:34 am

On 6th June 2007 BCL Legal, leading legal recruitment consultancy with offices in Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham, hosted an evening for in-house lawyers from the North West's leading businesses. This was in conjunction with the Law Society's Commerce and Industry Group. The event: "How to Manage your Career" was attended by 35 in-house lawyers who currently work across the North West at companies including CitiFinancial plc, MyTravel plc and United Utilities plc. Lara Oyesanya - Head of Legal, Lex Legal Services, David Wilson - Head of Legal, Makro Cash & Carry UK and Steve McDowell - Legal Director, Military Air Solutions, BAE Systems all shared their own experiences of managing their careers and the importance of doing so. They revealed some of the good and not so good advice they have received during the course of their career.BCL Legal was also on hand to give advice on how to advance your in-house career and offered tips on how to secure the next step as well as how to make yourself marketable. Current UK conveyancing job listings for solicitors and legal professionals can be found on the BCL Legal recruitment website through the links below. Mark Levine, in house legal recruitment expert said, "This was an excellent event for in-house lawyers, not only to raise their own profile within the in-house legal community but to get some real life examples of how other lawyers have been able to develop their careers." For further information please contact Mark Levine on 01612093300 or marklevine@bcllegal.com for information relating to job opportunities within legal departments of commerce and industry in the region. For information on in house opportunities in Yorkshire and the North East contact renukasalvi@bcllegal.com

North West UK In House Legal Market Booms

23rd April 2007 from 9:38 am

In a recent article the North West of England was described as a ?country within a country? such is its economic clout, its educational and research base, the strength and innovation of its industries and the beauty of its countryside. Its economy dwarfs anything outside the South East and is larger than many economies on the European mainland. Within the UK, the North West?s economy is the third largest, with 6.8 million people and 230,000 business powering a £106 billion economy. The region is the second largest legal centre with 1,800 law firms employing approximately 11,000 lawyers. The North West is home to 80 banks and the financial and business services sector employs 172,000 people are employed in a sector that is valued at more than £9 billion. Some of the UK?s leading retailers, pharmaceutical, telecoms, aerospace, and health care companies have operations here resulting in many exciting legal opportunities in-house for the region?s lawyers. As the economy develops, career options for lawyer?s in-house increase. The majority of vacancies are for existing legal teams looking to expand further. It is not unusual for a business to recruit its first in-house lawyer and quickly realise the benefits of keeping the legal work in-house. AstraZeneca recently recruited three corporate lawyers in preparation for a sharp increase in M&A activity as they look to boost their drug pipeline by buying up smaller life sciences operations. The majority of lawyers who are sought come from a commercial/IP/IT background however that is not to say that lawyers with little experience in these areas automatically fail to make the move in house. It is often the case that in-house lawyers are recruited as much for their personality and future ability as well as their current legal skills. Only last month we assisted a lawyer specialising in transactional banking at a London City firm relocate to an in-house and predominantly commercial contracts role in the North West. Working with the correct recruitment consultant with knowledge of the market that you are looking to enter could be the key to your success. BCL Legal is a full service legal recruitment agency with offices in Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham, UK

On the Piste in Leeds with BCL Legal Recruitment Agency

26th March 2007 from 9:40 am

Legal recruitment agency BCL Legal is hosting the "Join Us On The Piste in Leeds" event for solicitors and legal professionals in Leeds and across West Yorkshire. The event will be held on Thursday 29th March at Bar Ha! Ha! 4, Millennium Square in Leeds. BCL Legal is inviting regional legal professionals to re-live apres-ski moments with their friends and colleagues in Leeds. The party starts at 6:00 PM with a champagne reception followed by DJ and live jazz band. ?Going off the success of our last event in Leeds, we are expecting a good crowd of local supporters and recently qualified lawyers? claims BCL Legal Director James Batt. BCL Legal Consultant Tom Crampton added "the Leeds and West Yorkshire market is buoyant, with very high demand for skills in key disciplines including Corporate Finance, Commercial Property and Construction. The 1-3 years' pqe lawyers are often the most sought after". In house Legal Recruitment Consultant Renuka Salvi comments "there is competition from in-house legal departments in the Yorkshire and North East which is also draining the small pool of resources much sought after by local private practices. Most businesses with in-house legal teams will look for commercial contract drafting experience however recently there has also been a need for Employment, Litigation, Commercial Lending and Property Lawyers. " Tom Crampton specialises in recruiting solicitors into private practice law firms in Leeds, Sheffield, York, Hull, Bradford and throughout Yorkshire. Renuka Salvi specialises in recruiting solicitors into businesses in Yorkshire and North East with in-house legal departments. BCL Legal provides a comprehensive legal recruitment service for solicitors, lawyers, law firms and businesses at all levels, across all disciplines and across all sectors. For more information or current legal job vacancies, please search our legal job listings, or call our offices in Leeds, Manchester or in Birmingham. View the 'On the Piste in Leeds with BCL Legal' event photo gallery.

Northern Law Firms Forced to Take Action as Lure of In-house Sector Grows

26th March 2007 from 9:39 am

A growing number of lawyers are moving in-house on temporary or fixed-term contracts to gain valuable CV-building experience, research has revealed. UK legal recruitment agency BCL Legal conducted their third annual salary survey of in- house legal departments in the North of England and found that average salaries had risen across the board since last year by between 1% and 9% with the average bonus also climbing from £8,500 to almost £10,000. But there was a less positive trend when it came to maximum salaries. Remuneration at the upper end of the scale ? from four years PQE onwards- has fallen by as much as £18,000. Mark Levine, BCL Legal?s Director of in-house solicitor recruitment, said average salaries were definitely increasing in the North-West and that those particular figures could be trusted ?Maximum salaries, on the other hand, can be distorted by (the pay of) very few individuals?. He added that the region?s biggest challenge was to find and place suitable experienced newly qualified commercial lawyers. Martyn Rodmell, group legal counsel at Princes food in Liverpool and chairman-elect of the Law Society?s Commerce & Industry Group, said: ?In-house is a very vibrant sector, with new opportunities presenting themselves all the time?. Mark Levine specialises in placing solicitors into in house legal departments in the North West of England. Renuka Salvi places solicitors in the Yorkshire and North East markets. With offices in Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham, BCL Legal provides a comprehensive legal recruitment service for solicitors, lawyers, law firms and businesses at all levels, across all disciplines and across all sectors.

BCL Legal Offers Specialist Recruitment Service to UK Conveyancing Professionals

7th March 2007 from 9:42 am

BCL Legal is a full service legal recruitment agency with offices in Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham. The residential conveyancing team at BCL Legal specialises in recruiting professionals into the property sector at all levels within private practice, specialist conveyancing businesses and in house departments across the UK. The Conveyancing sector remains as buoyant as ever in 2007 with the number of transactions completed across both transactional and re-mortgage remaining high. With the onset of HIPS (Home Information Packs) and changes facing the industry imminent, a positive outlook has been reflected and many firms are now preparing for these changes with strategic recruitment plans. Clare Franklin, Managing Consultant at the BCL Legal recruitment office in Manchester said ?With our specialist residential conveyancing consultants remaining busy across our offices in Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester; trends are emerging with firms preparing for the onset of HIPS and a further increase in the number of transactions undertaken.? Current UK conveyancing job listings for solicitors and legal professionals can be found on the BCL Legal recruitment website through the links below.

Next Generation of Solicitors and Lawyers Meet at BCL Legal Recruitment Party

29th November 2006 from 9:43 am

UK legal recruitment agency BCL Legal held a party to inaugurate the new Trainee Solicitors from law firms in Manchester, Preston, Cheshire and Liverpool. BCL Legal Recruitment Director James Batt commented, "It's a great opportunity for the solicitors and lawyers of tomorrow to network with solicitors and partners from law firms across the region. The North West is a relatively small legal community and it's important we promote ourselves nationally to encourage more legal work to travel out of London. The North of England is thriving and these events allow everyone to let their hair down and have some fun." The event was held in association with the Manchester Trainee Solicitors Group and the Young Solicitors Group on 26 October. James Batt specialises in placing solicitors into private practices in the North West of England. With offices in Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham, BCL Legal provides a comprehensive legal recruitment service for solicitors, lawyers, law firms and businesses at all levels, across all disciplines and across all sectors. James Batt can be reached at BCL Legal Recruitment in Manchester on 0161 209 3300.

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