By Mary Mullally
Herbert Smith has set up what is believed to be the first law firm graduate training scheme for marketeers.
Three graduates – Richard Fowler, Jennifer Lowis and Martin Reed – joined the firm last month and will take part in a two-year training programme.
The step reflects the development of 'career marketing' within the legal profession, and has been welcomed by rival law firms.
The three trainees have joined a team of 10 full-time marketing personnel at Herbert Smith.
The firm will be recruiting an additional trainee next year and intends to have four trainees in the department on an on-going basis.
The scheme follows the restructuring of the firm's marketing department into three separate areas of planning, research and communication.
As with the trainee solicitor's scheme, trainees will spend a few months in each section of the department. They will also work on various team projects, including the creation of a presentation to introduce the marketing department to new employees of Herbert Smith.
Barry Jackson, head of business development at the firm, said: "I have worked in professional services marketing for nearly 15 years and it's always amazed me that no one has had the foresight to do this.
"Now I'm in a position to do it, I know it will set a new trend."
Georgina Stewart, Freshfields' director of marketing, said her firm had a range of junior people in the marketing team, but had no plans to set up a similar scheme.
She welcomed the move. "Business development in law firms is a good opportunity for people with ability. There are now sizeable marketing teams in law firms and we are able to attract young people with real career prospects," she said.
Fowler, Lowis and Reed graduated from the universities of Nottingham, Cambridge and Newcastle respectively.