Gardner Leader LLP

At Gardner Leader, we recognise that our people are our greatest asset. We’re in a dynamic phase of growth, with our team expanding by 15%, from January 2022 to  September 2024, reflecting our ongoing commitment to attracting top talent and setting ourselves as a leading regional law firm.

We have introduced numerous initiatives to support employee well-being, career development, and job satisfaction. We place a strong emphasis on work-life balance, through the efforts of our Wellbeing Committee, which looks after all aspects of mental health and wellbeing of our team members, as well as our Community Committee which enhances our culture by making Gardner Leader a diverse, fun and collaborative place to work. They organise team-building events and activities, promote sustainability, support mental, physical, emotional and financial wellbeing of our staff, while also ensuring we give back to the community.

According to our 2023 Employee Survey a very low staff turnover is anticipated across the firm or any of the teams, as 80% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed to seeing themselves working at Gardner Leader for another five years or more.

Each year we also invite everyone at Gardner Leader to propose and vote for the Firm Charity. Since our CSR Committee was established, we have supported numerous charities through volunteering, bake sales, quizzes, food and clothing donations as well as fundraising, and have raised over £48k as of August 2024.

Talent management programme and focus on people development

Our talent management programme is designed to nurture and develop employees at every stage of their careers. For aspiring lawyers, we support various qualification routes, including traditional degree paths with the LPC (until 2032), the SQE, as well as options through CILEx, CLC, and apprenticeships.

Beyond legal qualifications, we also support career development for business, legal support, and administrative staff, offering options to pursue further qualifications or transition into new roles. We provide tailored training and development opportunities, including access to legal and personal development courses, sales and marketing training, and leadership development programmes.

Our regular Performance Reviews are held twice per year and ensure that we receive regular feedback and have clear pathways for progression. We now have a structured application process for anyone seeking promotion to Associate, Senior Associate or Salaried Partner referencing clear criteria at each stage and the firm’s values. We also offer work placements to students of all levels across our offices, with many returning as permanent employees.