​Bristows is well known for being one of the friendliest firms in the City; this reputation doesn’t just stem from how well everyone gets on in team meetings or from the small talk over a cup of tea in the Hub (our social space). A large part of the firm’s character comes from the high attendance at a wide array of social events, causing many Bristows’ partners, associates, trainees and support staff to become, dare I say it, friends.

The biggest social event of the year is the Spring Dinner Dance. A black tie event that budding Bristows solicitors find out about early on, as future trainees are invited in the year before they commence their Training Contract. The Dinner Dance is often hosted at prestigious venues, such as the Cheesegrater and the Rosewood Hotel, with trainees responsible for entertainment as part of the evening. Past events have also seen live bands guest starring members of the firm and dance-offs between partners and trainees.

Another firm favourite is the more informal Autumn Party following the firm’s AGM. This often involves a sports/games element, popular with notoriously competitive lawyers/support staff. Previous events have been held at Swingers Club (crazy golf) and Flight Club (technology integrated darts).

Other firm-wide events include Hub Drinks, which are held on the last Friday of every month; the New Partners and Newly Qualified Lawyers’ party; and countless Charity Events, including B-Fest – a festival themed party with a live band, Bristows’ Got Fear – a Halloween event with fangtastic (sorry) fancy dress, and participation in the Colour Run – a 5k fun run during which you get showered in powdered paint.

The two annual Christmas parties divide the firm as the litigators take on the transactional teams to prove who is capable of organising the most festive fun. Individual departments also run their own parties and social clubs. If you’re lucky enough to be in a department as a case or deal comes to its conclusion then it’s likely that you will be invited to attend a lunch at one of the fancier restaurants that London has to offer in order to celebrate.

Bristows has a wide range of sociable sports teams (see Nick’s blog) and other social networks, including the Turing Network – our LGBT+ network which hosts regular socials; evening film showings in the Hub; and Comm IP/IT’s annual Comm ISki trip (they love a Comm IPun).

Finally, it wouldn’t be right to have a Trainee Blog on socials without mentioning the trainee local – Chi. Every Friday a ‘Chi-mail’ is sent around the trainee e-mail group and many of the trainees will go for a post-work drink to debrief on the week just gone and bring in the weekend. Any applicant who attends a Bristows Workshop will experience an evening in Chi first-hand (see Kate’s blog to help you get there!).