Nice place to work
We are based in North Norfolk, the coastline for which is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Both of our offices (Fakenham and Holt) are within a 15 minute drive to the beach. Both towns themselves are lovely places to live and work, with Holt in particular being a popular shopping and tourist destination. We plan to base ourselves in North Norfolk forever.
Our Fakenham office is converted from the old Post Office, and the Holt office was designed and built for us in the early 20th century, opposite Bakers & Larners. We have no plans to move to something like an open plan office; we like the peace and quiet that comes with separate rooms. The most secretaries we have in any one room is four, but usually secretaries and managers are in a room with only one or two people.
We do need all our support and management staff to work from the offices. Most seem to prefer it that way.
Good team
Our current support and management staff describe the firm as being a great team who pull together, and are there for each other, in times of need.
Above all they describe the firm as friendly and like a big family. Indeed, our support and management staff have regularly encouraged their relatives to join the firm over the years so for a lot of them it literally is like a family.
Nice people to work for
The partners are all very approachable and very supportive. All have an “open door” policy and will be available to discuss whatever needs to be dealt with to get the job done. They will also listen to, and take onboard, feedback from all staff.
Promotion prospects
We encourage our support staff to let us know if they are interested in developing their career further. We usually have at least a few people who are going through CILEX, for example, and some of our current lawyers trained with us through that route and have stayed with us since.
We try to “upskill” where possible, and where that person is keen to do so. Some of our secretaries get involved in marketing and credit control, for example, and our receptionists deal with some of the administration of the firm and secretarial work when able.
Good reputation and client feedback
Clients often remark on the friendly atmosphere when they come to our office. Going to a solicitors’ office can be a bit daunting for some, but our receptionists and secretaries (and lawyers) make every effort to make clients feel at ease. Our staff feel proud that they are able to do so.
Healthy work-life balance
Our policy that staff should work their contracted hours, and no more, applies equally to lawyers and support/management staff. We have a culture that encourages it.
We give a minimum of 25 days holiday (pro rata if part time) to all staff (plus bank holidays), and we encourage everyone to take all of it. We also close the office over Christmas and New Year and give an extra day or two of holiday to our staff in order to do so.
Salary and benefits
Salaries are competitive, at least locally. We don’t pay less than others just because we have a better work-life balance and a nice place to work. We also offer the kinds of benefits that other firms offer, including death-in-service benefits, a fair sickness leave policy, a pension scheme, referral incentive scheme for all staff, staff discount scheme and regular social events.
Dog friendly
When we asked our current staff what they liked about working at Butcher Andrews, they gave us all of the positive feedback that has gone into this webpage and more. A couple of them additionally said we were dog friendly, and that dogs were made very welcome; some of them went on to say how much they loved a cuddle and a pamper. The partners are now wondering quite how many canine friends have gone unnoticed in the offices over the years…
