Legal Recruitment Manchester

Welcome to the Ten-Percent Legal Recruitment information page for Manchester – this page contains details of the local legal recruitment market, legal jobs, legal careers in Manchester, solicitors firms based in Manchester, Salford and Greater Manchester and relocation information to the Greater Manchester area.

MANCHESTER

Exciting – Vibrant – Unique v. Cold – Wet – Miserable

The capital for the North of England, Manchester is, in theory, one of the nation’s most appealing, youthful and vibrant cities. As the commercial, financial, legal, educational and cultural centre for the region, it is a magnet for company investment and new comers to the area. Manchester has a local population of 2.8 million, with 11 million people living within 1 hour’s drive. It also hosts one of Europe’s largest student populations.

To anyone coming from the South however, it is also very cold, windswept, slightly grey in places and in need of a bit of TLC. Temperatures in Manchester are usually 2-3 degrees cooler than London and it is much more likely to rain in the North West than the South. Industry is not exactly booming in the city and surrounding areas, and a lot of investment in recent years came from the public sector…

Whatever your take on Manchester, it is still a busy city and a world beater at football!

Legal Recruitment in Manchester

There are numerous legal recruitment agencies based in Manchester and the surrounding area. Over 300 law firms practice within 25 miles of the Centre of Manchester although the market has contracted in recent times with the demise of Halliwells and another couple of similar sized organisations.

At one point Manchester was the centre of the personal injury claims industry with companies like Accident Direct and Claims Direct being based here. Consumer Credit Solicitors also set up with the aim of helping consumers to recover missold Payment Protection Insurance and bank overcharges. This firm was shut down after an intervention by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Halliwells closed a number of years ago because the partners had entered into a land deal that backfired when property prices collapsed. They had similar large bulk operations to the other big companies dealing with consumer work including Accident Direct and Claims Direct. All of these companies at some stage went into liquidation because they were non-sustainable and more to do with gaining as much money as quickly as possible.

The market today is polarised between the smaller high street practices struggling to survive with very small turnovers and the large national law firms with a local presence acting for the government and larger businesses based in the area.

There are a number of city law firms based in Manchester who undertake corporate law work at a very high quality level. These operations are extremely large and typical clients will include multinationals and government departments. The vast majority of the smaller practices are on the high street and there are very few specialist commercial practices based in the North West at all.

Most of the law firms of any note are based around Manchester City Centre with the vast majority being practices of between 2 and 20 solicitors. The typical firm on the high street in Manchester will probably do some LSC funded work, be it crime, family or immigration, coupled with conveyancing and private client matters. Quite a few will dabble in commercial work, but very few are actually specialists in this area.

To progress in law in Manchester usually requires you to be fairly locally based. It is difficult to persuade a firm of your desire to work in Manchester if you are based in London. There is a very different feel to Manchester than other cities and for those who are not used to it it can be something that is hard to begin with.

For example the temperature in Manchester is usually 2 or 3 degrees lower than the temperature in London. There are very few green spaces in central Manchester and very few parks in the city itself. Whilst you are closer to the adventure playgrounds of the Pennines, the Lake District and North Wales you are still very limited for choice of activities of things to do at the weekend when you are not working as a solicitor.

This does mean that if you are thinking of contacting legal recruitment agencies in the area to relocate you need to think carefully to start with about the area you are planning to move into. Take a couple of weekend breaks to Manchester and experience it before you make any commitment. A good number of people move up to Manchester or Lancashire and move on again relatively quickly because they have not realised what it entails exactly.

Salary levels are traditionally lower than London, even though in some areas of Manchester cost of living is probably the same. North West firms have been traditionally very tight on salary ranges and expect their solicitors to work at a very low level whilst making fairly large sums themselves. This of course does not apply to the larger practices who have set wage levels across the board.

For any moves to Manchester, Bolton, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Cheadle Hulme or Altrincham please contact Ten Percent Legal Recruitment who are locally based near Chester and will be delighted to assist.

WHAT THE CITY HAS TO OFFER

CULTURE – Manchester is home to many world-class museums including the Daniel Libeskind’s Imperial War Museum (the building has generated very mixed opinions!), the Museum of Science and Industry, the interactive Urbis centre, and the Manchester Art Gallery. All these buildings host many wonderful permanent and touring exhibitions.

If the theatre is more your thing, there are endless options at a variety of venues. Take in a show at the Royal Exchange, the Lowry, the Palace Theatre or the MEN arena- which attracts international performers such as Justin Timberlake, Take That, Beyonce and Lionel Richie to name a few. For more information on up coming performances and exhibitions check out www.visitmanchester.com

SHOPPING – With an array of high-street shops in the heart of the city, clusters of independent boutiques in the Northern Quarter and designer stores including Harvey Nichols and Selfridges, Manchester has something to offer everyone. If you like the idea of doing your entire shopping under one roof, shoppers can pick between the Arndale Centre in the city itself or the huge Trafford Centre, a short distance outside the city where you can easily spend a whole day and still not have seen every shop!!

NIGHTLIFE – The endless mix of bars, pubs and clubs are always bustling with young people…as well as the young at heart!! Dancing, music and comedy are on offer from Mondays to Sundays so you will always find something to do whatever your pleasure is!! If you fancy a quieter night, Manchester is also well serviced by top quality cinemas which include:

· Odeon Cinema – www.odeon.co.uk

· AMC Cinemas – www.amccinemas.co.uk

· Cornerhouse – www.cornerhouse.org Screens the best of independent and alternative films and is found at Manchester’s international centre for contemporary visual arts and film

Cineworld – www.cineworld.co.uk My personal favourite is situated at the Parrswood complex just outside the city centre and offers a delicious range of ice cream milkshakes!!

SPORTS – There is a strong tradition of football in the city with plenty of games being played at Old Trafford and Manchester City’s football ground throughout the season. If you are keen to soak up the history behind the two rival clubs there is also an option to take a guided tour of the stadiums and museums. Check out www.manutd.com and www.mcfc.co.uk for more information.

In 2002 Manchester hosted the Commonwealth Games, so top class sporting facilities are available throughout the city. There is plenty of opportunity to join running clubs or take up a variety of dance classes including, hip-hop, ballet, pole dancing, jazz and tap to name a few. Manchester is also within easy reach of the Peak District so those interested in mountain climbing and other outdoor pursuits are well catered for also.

Visit www.manchesteronline.co.uk to keep updated with all the sporting news!!

EATING OUT – In Manchester you will never go hungry. From Mexican to African to Thai you can eat your way around the world. There are the sights and smells of Rusholme’s Curry Mile, home to many delicious restaurants, the delights of Chinatown in the heart of the city as well as numerous other world cuisines right on your door step.

One of my top places to tickle the taste buds is the ever popular Akbar’s offering wonderful Indian cuisine in a trendy setting. (www.akbars.co.uk)

PARKS – The city boasts around 130 parks and open spaces. In 2007 Manchester’s parks were awarded 21 Green Flag Awards for meeting the national standard of excellence for parks and green spaces in England and Wales. These areas are excellent for a family day out, as running circuits or for leisurely strolls on a crisp sunny Sunday morning.

You can find out where these parks are located and what they have to offer on www.manchester.gov.uk.

The community groups in the area also organise events on a regular basis. An Annual Potato Day in held at the end of February in Hulme Community Garden Centre. Everyone is welcome to come along and sample some homemade soup, organic seeds and vegetables or to stock up on fruit trees and bushes. For more information; Tel: 0161 227 8198

Email: info@hulmegardencentre.org.uk

Another worthwhile activity to get involved in is tree planting. A group called Friends of the Fallowfield Loop organise days with the help of conservation volunteers with the aim of planting large trees, small trees and shrubs. Everyone is welcome to take part and for more details contact Dick Venes on 0161 224 3843.

TRANSPORT INFORMATION

Manchester is a highly accessible city with an excellent travel and transport infrastructure.

By Air – Manchester is home to a major international airport which opens doorways to the rest of the world.

By Road – Manchester benefits from connections with a number of significant motorways which means the city can be easily reached by road. Check out www.manchesterairport.co.uk/manweb.nsf/Content/RoadNetworkMaps for a map of all the major roads connecting Manchester to all the UK major cities.

By Train – Manchester Piccadilly is the main train station serving the city centre with regular services to and from all the major UK cities.

Travel Times – View train times at www.thetrainline.com

· Manchester to London – approx 2hrs 40 minutes

· Manchester to Leeds – approx 1hr

· Manchester to Newcastle – approx 2hrs 40mins

· Manchester to Edinburgh – approx 4hrs 40mins

· Manchester to Cardiff – approx 3hrs 40mins

· Manchester to Nottingham – approx 2hrs 15mins

Within Manchester the train network makes commuting from surrounding areas easy and ensures you’re always heading in the right direction!!

Some stations with a daily service to and from the city centre include:

Deansgate – 0.43 miles

Salford Central – 0.54 miles

Oxford Road – 0.76 miles

Salford Crescent – 0.97 miles

Ardwick – 1.86 miles

Trafford Park – 2.57 miles

Ashburys – 2.66 miles

Eccles – 3.08 miles

Belle Vue – 3.49 miles

Levenshulme – 3.55 miles

Mauldeth Road – 3.58 miles

Manchester also has a tram system which runs on the streets of the city. It’s also a train, which joins the rail line at Victoria Station to become a smart fast commuter service. It operates services to the towns of Bury, Altrincham and Eccles and is currently being developed to take services to Oldham and Rochdale, Ashton-under-Lyne, Stockport, Manchester Airport and the Trafford Centre.

For more information see www.metrolink.co.uk

WHERE TO LIVE

Manchester and its surroundings are made up of a host of diverse areas and you are sure to find somewhere that suites your individual taste and needs.

City Centre

Manchester’s city centre is big and bustling. Its population is young and hip, and the atmosphere is exciting and buzzy. This is very much a playground for well-off young professionals who like to eat, drink and shop. It’s not cheap, but it’s also not as pricy as you might think, and the massive amounts of new apartments being built mean prices are being driven down further.

Salford Quays

Based around Manchester’s former docks, this regenerated area now has a couple of great museums, a shopping centre and lots of stylish flats. It’s out on its own, but does have a quick tram link into town. Prices are reasonable but are on the rise.

Fallowfield

A student ghetto where all the shops and facilities are tailored to suit student needs. It can be a bit grubby in places but if you are young and want somewhere cheap and bustling it could be the perfect location.

The average asking prices as of 2007 in the Fallowfield area:

1 Bed Flats	£102,746
2 Bed Flats	£150,975
2 Bed Houses	£138,313
3 Bed Houses	£177,104

Withington

This is the next place out on Wilmslow Road. Still a high number of students but attracts many young professionals with its nice old Victorian houses and tree lined streets. This area is more expensive than Fallowfield but still affordable and offers quieter living.

Didsbury

This area is split into two areas, Didsbury Village and West Didsbury. Didsbury Village has some attractive streets and period houses. A wide range of shops are within close proximity and the restaurants and bars are always busy.

West Didsbury is more bohemian. It has lots of old Victorian villas and has attracted a lot of musicians, TV people, rich students and young professionals. The main street, Burton Road is full of independent businesses, and has a range of good bars and pubs with a lovely feel to it. House prices in this area are high accordingly with the average house price at £350,811, well above the national average.

Hulme

A bit rough and ready, but again it is getting much better. It’s always been full of a real mix of people, nationalities and cultures, and has always been very alternative but a little bit edgy. Prices are rising, but you can still get bargains and it’s very close to the city centre so has great potential for the future.

Prestwich/Whitefield

This is a large area north of the city centre. Some parts are similar to Didsbury in terms of housing and environment – lots of big beautiful houses, tree-lined roads and parks. It’s also on the metrolink tram so commuting is an option.

Also consider:

The Heatons – Heaton Moor, Heaton Norris, Heaton Chapel

Monton – Only 5 miles out of the city on the west side. It is a nice village type area with a safe and friendly atmosphere.

Glossop – On the edge of Manchester and surrounded by the moors of the beautiful Peak District national park. It’s very friendly and property is well priced. The train direct into Manchester runs regularly and takes only 30-35 minutes so again is a good option if you fancy living close to the city and the countryside.

Alderley Edge, Wilmslow and Knutsford – Very well to do areas in greater Manchester and if you were to settle here you could find yourself living next to some very rich footballers!!

A look at the average HOUSE PRICES in some of the surrounding areas of Manchester:

(Figures have been taken from the BBC website as of December 2007)

MANCHESTER
Average Cost	£159,558
Detached	£299,551
Semi-detached	£184,971
Terraced	£128,418
Flat	£156,921

TRAFFORD
Average Cost	£256,895
Detached	£534,643
Semi-detached	£228,197
Terraced	£183,080
Flat	£191,675

SALFORD
Average Cost	£143,816
Detached	£298,453
Semi-detached	£144,923
Terraced	£111,009
Flat	£145,211

WIGAN
Average Cost	£130,920
Detached	£216,998
Semi-detached	£132,073
Terraced	£99,074
Flat	£125,216

WHERE TO STAY

For those on a budget:

The Hatters – www.hattersgroup.com

50 Newton Street

Manchester

M1 2EA

Tel: 0161 236 9500

E-Mail: manchester@hattersgroup.com

Quality budget accommodation in the city centre with double/Twin rooms at £25/person/night & singles at £27/person/night

Or check out www.ibishotel.com or www.HolidayInn.co.uk for more quality accommodation in the city centre that won’t break the bank.

For those feeling a little more flush:

The Palace Hotel – www.palace-hotel-manchester.co.uk

Oxford Street,

Manchester,

M60 7HA

Tel: 0161 288 1111

4 star hotel offering twin/double rooms available from £145/night or if you’re lucky single room online offers can be found from £85

Also check out The Hilton – www.hilton.co.uk/manchester and The Midland Hotel – www.qhotels.co.uk/hotels.

EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION

Some of the top primary schools in the area include:

King David Junior School, Manchester
St Willibrord’s RC Primary School, Manchester
Brookburn Community School, Manchester
Didsbury CofE Primary School, Manchester
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Manchester
Broad Oak Primary School, Manchester
Aspinal Primary School, Manchester
Chorlton CofE Primary School, Manchester
Lily Lane Junior School, Manchester
St Edmund’s RC Primary School, Manchester

Top independent and state schools for A Level results include:

Withington Girls’ School
The Grange School, Northwich
Bolton School Girls’ Division, Bolton
Manchester High School for Girls
Hulme Grammar School for Girls
Bury Grammar School (Girls), Bury
Bolton School Boys’ Division, Bolton
The Manchester Grammar School
The King David High School
Loreto College
Parrs Wood High School

THE LEGAL WORLD IN MANCHESTER

Manchester is one of the largest legal and commercial centres in the country, home to leading national and international law firms that are key players in the legal services market. Whether your interest lies in family law, accident and personal injury compensation, clinical negligence, employment law, criminal law, commercial litigation, competition law or intellectual property, a wide range of options are available for ambitious lawyers looking to make their mark!

For more information on the many firms in the city and surrounding area see www.lawsociety.org.uk

For a list of barristers’ chambers in Manchester log on to www.manchesterdirectory.co.uk/local/Legal_Services/Barristers for details and links to the wide range of legal services available throughout the city.

OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION

LAND REGISTRY – www.landreg.gov.uk

Land Registry, Lytham Office
Birkenhead House
East Beach
Lytham St. Anne’s
Lancashire
FY8 5AB

Tel: 01253 849849

The local authority districts served by this office include:

> BOLTON > BURY > MANCHESTER

> OLDHAM > ROCHDALE > SALFORD

> STOCKPORT > TAMESIDE > TRAFFORD

> WIGAN

MANCHESTER COURT – www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk

Crown Square
Manchester
M60 1PR

Tel: 0161 830 4200

EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNAL – www.employmenttribunals.gov.uk

Alexandra House
Parsonage,

Manchester,

M3 2JA

Tel: 0161 833 6100

Email: manchesteret@ets.gsi.gov.uk

LEGAL SERVICE COMMISSION – www.legalservices.gov.uk

Legal Services Commission
North West Regional Office
2nd Floor
Lee House
90 Great Bridgewater Street
Manchester
M1 5JW

Tel: 0845 602 1400

E-Mail: manchester@legalservices.gov.uk

THE CROWN PROSECUTION SERVICE – www.cps.gov.uk/local/northwest

The CPS

8th floor
Sunlight House
Quay Street
Manchester M60 3PS

Tel: 0161 827 4700

MANCHESTER LAW SOCIETY – www.manchesterlawsociety.org.uk/

Rational House,

64 Bridge Street,

Manchester,

M3 3BN

Tel: 0161 831 7337

Other interesting sites on Manchester:

www.ten-percent.co.uk – Legal Recruitment Consultants based near Chester, but covering the whole of the North West.

www.chancerylane.co.uk – job board for UK Legal jobs

www.manchesterfacts.com – Districts of Manchester (maps, facts etc)

www.manchester.gov.uk – Manchester City Council

www.manchester.ac.uk – University of Manchester

www.gmp.police.uk – Greater Manchester Police

www.mymanchesterjobs.co.uk/ – Search for Manchester jobs across many sectors including legal

The content of the careers centre is intended as guidance only.

If you have any questions that we have not covered above, please contact us by email at cv@tenpercent.co.uk