OTS Solicitors Reviews

BULLYING: Solicitors openly bully caseworkers. When raised to management, they turn a blind eye and you are made to feel like you are in the wrong. No respect from staff or management - if the owners don't like you don't expect to last long! WORK: Expected to bring in your own clients by cold calling and harassing new lines of enquiries (breach of SRA code of conduct - one of many!). Need to essentially 'beg' your clients to write a positive review. If you receive a negative review, it affects the whole firm and would result in a 'strong talk' from the owners, complaining that the 1 negative review is affecting their 'bread and butter' and they cannot 'line their pockets' (yes they stated this in numerous meetings!!). BILLING: expected to meet unrealistic billing targets and complete own admin (copying, billing, filing etc), answer new enquiries and deal with other people's complaints. Due to the pressure of billing targets, staff are extremely competitive and will steal work and billing from you. There is no such thing as support or team work and solicitors will always steal your billing. If you try to be a team player, you will be thrown to the gutter so act like the other staff and fake it till you make it (but you won't at this firm). WORK/LIFE BALANCE: expected to work above and beyond your job description with no reward or recognition. Absolutely NO job flexibility. There are no job benefits. TREATMENT: made to feel like you are disposable. Every person who worked there at the same time had their probation extended beyond 6 months; over 4 people left 'unexpectedly' in under 1 year. cannot accept constructive criticism and turn their heads when you raise any concerns about the way you are treated by other staff - Owners have witnessed the abuse and do nothing. Unable to handle constructive criticism. Lost count of the amount of ex-staff the owners have fallen out with. They will promise training contracts to staff but will keep making excuses not to honor their promise MANAGEMENT: more concerned about what time you get to the office than your wellbeing. Fails to provide support and treats grievances as playground tales. Does not care about the firm. POOR LEGAL ADVICE: solicitors regularly give incorrect advice to clients and telephone manner is poor amongst some staff. Even when raised to management, or mentioned in MANY negative reviews, no action is taken. ADVERTISING: Don't believe what you read on their website - half the staff listed haven't worked there for years! They waste money on attending a 'start up business show', despite being a firm for 5 years and don't reimburse your travel, expect you to work like you are on the apprentice and do not reduce your billing target despite time out of the office. They also waste money on a second office in Fleet Street - no one works there, its a glorified archiving room. SALARY: non existent. For they way they treat you, work you like a dog, location of the firm and amount they spend on renting their office, salary is poor! Continually get your pay wrong and would refuse to amend until next month. Overall, this is not a career enhancing firm or even a 'stepping stone' to achieve your goals. Save your mental health and self confidence and go elsewhere!