Pros
I can honestly say that it has beaten all expectations. The firm is big enough that it doesn't feel isolated, but small enough that even Duncan, the CEO, knows everyone individually. The staff are all very lovely and it doesn't matter who you are in the organisation, everyone will make an effort with you, whether you know them or not. As a junior solicitor, I was pleasantly surprised by the time and care the partners invest in you to ensure you continue to develop, not only as a person but also technically. There are also many opportunities for business development and networking if you enjoy doing them. There is an open-door policy at the firm and you regularly work with people across the various teams or offices. The roles are hybrid (typically 2-3 days a week in the office, with the rest at home), depending on your manager.
Cons
The salary is around market rate, but you can get slightly more elsewhere, particularly in Bristol/London due to the big-name law firms locally. When considering salary alongside overall culture and work-life balance, though, I do think Buckles ticks all the right boxes for a long term career. There is quite a high turnover rate; however, I genuinely think that this is across the market, where a lot of firms see people staying for 3-4 years and then move on. Saying that, there are a large number of people who have been at the firm for 10+ years. I do not think this reflects the firm's culture, but it might also be due to the salary/ overall benefits package offered. There is no private health care included as standard, only health plan cash back, which is very different. Similarly, I do not feel that their enhanced maternity/paternity policies are in line with the firm's family-friendly culture and this is much less generous than other firms of a comparable size.