How fast growing law firm aims to provide economic boost for Sheffield - Jeremy Brooke

Now, possibly more than ever, it is incredibly important to demonstrate the varied ways in which the leaders of tomorrow can join this exciting, rewarding profession to make their mark.

While it is absolutely critical that ‘traditional’ routes into the industry are available via quality university law degrees, there needs to be wider recognition that is not the best route for everybody.

We are lucky in this county to have a wealth of very well-respected universities offering fantastic undergraduate and postgraduate courses. There will always be a need for law degrees and SSB runs successful graduate schemes for this very reason.

But I firmly believe that modernising the legal sector is only possible through employing people from different backgrounds – who inevitably bring a mix of valuable skills and talent – via both non-university and university routes.

In my view, life and personal skills are needed just as much as legal knowledge in terms of having the ability to advise clients. In the right working environment, new entrants should feel empowered to challenge the norm; suggest-ing changes which can be implemented to truly create a law firm of the future which is not entrenched in protocol.

In truth, we’ve had this approach since forming the business in 2007, so what’s changed now? Firstly, there could well be prospective students considering whether university is right for them in light of Covid-19 restrictions and my message to them is that a legal career is still absolutely achievable.

Secondly, as dispute resolution specialists we’ve seen a rise in cases and we’re on track to secure substantial growth this year. It is important to me that SSB has the same supportive, diverse ethos throughout its expansion in order for our people to be motivated and complete top-level work for our clients.

That’s why I am making it my mission to heighten how we attract and retain talented students who may otherwise find it difficult to get on the legal ladder. We’re implementing a Schools Partnership Programme to encourage local students to consider a legal career, dispelling the myth that law degrees are a mandatory requirement to work in the sector.

We’re partnering with schools and further education colleges across Sheffield, as well as opening up growing numbers of apprenticeship opportunities within our business. Our extensive training programme means we can support people to thrive and succeed.

We’re already seeing the rewards that this approach brings. We’ve supported people through several promotions and it’s great to see dedicated team members rise through the business.

The average age of employees at SSB is just 35, lower than other firms in the sector; creating a culture that’s always questioning and striving for more.

Despite the fact we do have a younger workforce at SSB, I entered the legal profession later in my career with a vision to provide accessible, straight-forward legal services. I left school with just five O Levels (GCSEs) and moved between industries before deciding to make the move to law.

Yorkshire is a special place to me and it’s important that SSB invests in the future of the region widely too. We employ more than 150 people in Sheffield now and have acquired several firms in recent years. Despite offices being empty so much during the Covid-19 pandemic, we have plans to move SSB into larger premises.

It’s important our cities and towns can spring back into action once more certainty is known after the vaccine roll-out and businesses like ours have a large part to play in how well that transition happens.

By Jeremy Brooke - CEO of SSB Group

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