Pros
I genuinely enjoyed my time at Carpenters. From day one I was given a high level of autonomy to manage my work, which helped me build confidence and take ownership of my caseload. The colleagues I worked with were not only skilled but also collaborative and supportive. It made coming to work genuinely enjoyable. The hybrid setup was great too, with two days in the office and the rest working from home. It gave me the flexibility to focus while still keeping that team connection. One of the standout aspects for me was the real commitment to internal promotion and career development. Carpenters opened up so many avenues within the industry, whether you want to specialise in niche areas like credit hire or eventually switch over to the defendant side. The experience I gained here has been invaluable for my long term career trajectory. I also want to give special recognition to my management team. They were hands down the best I've ever had. Personable, kept me accountable without micromanaging, and so knowledgeable. That combination pushed me to perform better while always feeling supported. If you're looking to build a career in this field and want an employer who invests in your growth and trusts you to do your job, I would highly recommend Carpenters.
Cons
A few honest things to be aware of I came in from the court team, so I was basically starting my litigation career from the ground up with Carpenters. They take a chance on you, and with that comes a real uptick in responsibility and workload. You have to expect that. It's a fast paced environment, and you need to be organised. If you're not, you will fall behind. And if you aren't the type of person to speak up when things get heavy, then you might struggle. That said, trust in management and be transparent with them. Every mistake can be rectified if you voice it in time. I genuinely mean that. On the pay side, just be aware it might not be a lot if you don't have extensive experience in the role. If you already have claims experience, you'll acclimatise much faster. Litigation experience is especially helpful for dealing with the pace. Most importantly, focus on learning case law independently. Get comfortable with the CPR guidelines and the litigation process if you haven't already. And if you really want to put the cherry on top, try to actually give each claim you work on a bit of time and attention. At the end of the day, this job is all about your communication skills, your organisational skills, and a genuine interest in litigation. If you have those, you will thrive in abundance and be rewarded. If you don't, you can learn, but it's a give and take. Carpenters will give you the chance. You just have to show up, stay organised, and speak up when you need to.