Ashursts targets sporting solicitors with the stamina to keep going all night

CONTRACTS: Olympic gold medal-winning rower Louis Attrill set to join firm in September

City firm Ashurst Morris Crisp has adopted a policy of targeting aspiring lawyers with sporting prowess, with a handful of trainees set to arrive shortly underlining the firm's commitment to sport.

Louis Attrill, who was a member of Great Britain's gold medal-winning men's rowing eight at the Sydney Olympics, starts his training contract at Ashursts in September.

He follows in the footsteps of former Olympic rower Jonny Searle, who qualified at the firm after winning gold at the Barcelona games, and left recently to work in-house.

Assistant solicitor Ian Warner is a Paralympic sledge hockey player.

In September, Chris Holmes, a partially-sighted swimmer who has taken part in three Paralympic Games, starts his training contract.

Also about to join is hockey player and Olympic hopeful Katy Roberts, who has already worked for Ashursts as a paralegal.

Roger Finbow, Ashursts' recruitment partner, said there are compatibilities between sportspeople and good lawyers.

'They have a single-mindedness and a desire to succeed.

Their time organisation skills are excellent, and they are willing to make sacrifices - both dietary and social,' he said.

Mr Finbow, a corporate lawyer who is also a director of Ipswich Town Football Club, said the firm's commitment to sporting lawyers began with Mr Searle.

He said one theory put forward by the firm's clinical psychologist is that sportspeople's dietary rigour is especially advantageous.

'He claims that those whom are able to drink soup, for example, rather than stay up drinking coffee and eating pizza, are able to obtain a mental advantage over other lawyers during late-night meetings,' Mr Finbow said.

Although the firm is clearly targeting sportspeople as recruits, Mr Finbow was keen to stress that this is not all it takes to get into Ashursts.

He said: 'Whether you're an international rugby player or an Olympic rower, you still need to be suitable for the firm, and have the necessary skills required to be a good lawyer.

'Any number of good sportspeople could apply whom we would reject, but we've got scope to take on those who have the other requisite skills as well, and I believe that's very positive.'

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Jeremy Fleming