Inside Look at Law Firms

AN INSIDE LOOK AT
2012 EDITION
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Exceptional service
to exceptional clients
Slaughter and May is widely regarded as one of the most
prestigious law firms in the world. Because of our reputation
for excellence, we are often appointed as legal advisers to
leading companies on high profile and landmark
international transactions.
If you want to work on complex and challenging deals for
high calibre clients, and have a good 2:1 degree or better
(not necessarily in law), then this could be the firm for you.
To find out more about career opportunities,

visit slaughterandmay.com
AN INSIDE LOOK AT
2012 EDITION
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INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the 2012 edition of our guide An Inside Look at Law Firms!
If finding a job in law wasnt already difficult enough, securing a training contract following a global
recession really is a tough nut to crack. With vacancies at a premium and more and more graduates looking, its vital you are not only qualified, but also prepared and well informed.
This is where we can help you out. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about the top
players in law, in the words of their very own trainees and solicitors. This year 37 law firms have participated in our survey, so youll get to hear the thoughts of 1,057 trainees and solicitors.
In these pages you can find out exactly what its like to work at each firm, and what you can expect from
life as a trainee. Get detailed and honest info on topics ranging from the hours, training and working
environment to the interview process and much more. Youll read the best insider tips and advice that
you cant find anywhere else to help you find the firm that is right for you.
Best of luck with your job search!
The Inside Buzz team
Inside Buzz puts a new spin on the way graduates and job seekers research companies and careers. We
provide quotes from those in the know, the employees. Year round we survey thousands of employees
to hear what they think of their jobs everything from the hours to company culture, perks to salaries,
and interviews to career progression. This helps to give you a real taste of what working at a certain
company is like. We publish the good, the bad, and the ugly. No company ever pays to have their profile
and employee reviews included on our website nor in our guides. We also refresh our profiles and
quotes regularly so all of the information is always up-to-date.
INTRODUCTION
ABOUT INSIDE BUZZ
Inside Buzz is on a mission to give you the tools to make informed decisions about your career.
On www.insidebuzz.co.uk, you will find:
>> 1,000s of quotes from current employees
>> Over 150 in-depth company profiles
>> Company interview advice and tips on getting hired
>> Engaging career articles, news and jobs
Inside Buzz publishes print and digital career guides, updated and distributed every year to students at
all major UK universities. 2012 editions include: An Inside Look at Accounting, An Inside Look at Consulting, An Inside Look at Investment Banking, An Inside Look at Investment Banks, An Inside Look at Law
Firms, An Inside Look at Graduate Employers.
WHATS IN THIS GUIDE?

This guide walks you through the top law firms
offering training contracts and vacation schemes in
the UK. Profiles are split into sections; here is the
rundown as to what each part will tell you about
the firm:
ONE LINER
Seats
Trainees tell us about the seat options at their
firm (the number, departments, locations, secondments, etc.)
PROS & CONS
Formal Training
The lowdown on how training programmes are organised, whether there is time to attend and what
skills are taught, etc.
THE STATS
Informal Training & Mentoring

How accessible partners and senior solicitors are,
whether they make good mentors, and the lessons
and skills theyve passed on, etc.
While not necessarily condensed into one line, this

will give you a snapshot of the firm.
The highlights of what trainees and solicitors have

to say about their firm.
Facts and figures, salaries, departments and

practices, locations, and the all important graduate
recruitment info.
QUOTES
Career Prospects
We ask what it takes to make it to the top of the
firm (the work, reviews, promotions, etc.).
Current employees have their say! A selection

of quotes collected from our trainee and
solicitor surveys, broken out into the following
sub-headings:
Where do you see yourself over the course of the

next 5-10 years?
Solicitors talk about what doors a career in law
had opened for them.
LIFE ON THE JOB

Satisfaction with work
We ask about the level of responsibility assigned,
satisfaction with the work allocated, and the
amount of contact with partners and clients.
Pro Bono
We ask whether pro bono counts towards billable
hours, if there is a minimum quota, and for specific
examples of projects.
What does your typical day involve?

Solicitors and trainees provide a glimpse of what
they get up to at the office.
Culture
A look at the firms structure, how teams work
together, and whether employees go for drinks
after work.
Partner / Solicitor Relations

We ask how trainees and solicitors are treated by
individual partners, as well as by the firm partnership as a whole.
Green Initiatives
We enquire about policies and attitudes towards
energy use, recycling, going paperless, etc.
Diversity
Employees speak on diversity with respect to
women, ethnicity and LGBT, and comment on
recruitment, retention, promotion, child care, and
maternity leave.
How prepared do you feel to practise law upon

qualification?
Trainees share their thoughts on their training
contract upcoming qualification.
HOURS, PAY & PERKS
Hours
We ask how many hours are billed per month, how
many hours are spent on average in the office and
how flexible the firm is (part-time, leave policies,
purchasing additional holiday etc.).
Salary
Trainees and solicitors comment on the all important topic of compensation.
THE BUZZ ON GETTING HIRED
Youve had the what; this is the how! Tips and

advice on the application and interview process
based on our research and what employees have
told us.
FIRM PROFILE
A comprehensive overview of the firms history,

business structure, CSR and pro bono work.
ARTICLES & ADVICE
There is also a selection of the best law-related

articles from our website in this guide.
FEATURED EMPLOYERS
Minuses
And the flip-side, what they dislike the most.
Youll occasionally come across a full page colour

advert and a page listing graduate opportunities
next to the company profiles. Youll also find QR
codes over which you can scan your smartphone
to directly access the employers website. This is
the only sponsored info we feature; companies
have paid to have this information listed. After all,
we also have to make money and pay our bills. So
a big thank you to our sponsors, without whom
free distribution of the guide would not have been
made possible.
Fun Facts
Quirky or little-known facts about the firms.
For 1,000s more quotes, visit:
Perks
A rundown of the best perks!
Pluses
What employees like the most about their firm.
GETTING HIRED
Interviews & Applications
Trainees and solicitors talk about their interviews
and assessment days (How many rounds? Who did
they interview with? What format did the interview follow?).
WHATS IN THIS GUIDE?
Offices & Dress Code

A survey on the dos and donts of office dress,
and the facilities provided (gym, swimming pool,
cafeteria, etc.).
Tips & Advice

Vital employee tips for potential candidates looking to get their foot in the door.
What made you choose your firm?
Trainees and solicitors tell us their reasons for joining their firm.
IN THIS GUIDE...
Allen & Overy
Berwin Leighton Paisner
Bond Pearce
Brabners Chaffe Street
Clifford Chance
DLA Piper
DWF
Herbert Smith
Hill Dickinson
Hogan Lovells
Ince & Co
Jones Day
Kirkland & Ellis International
Latham & Watkins
Mayer Brown
Mills & Reeve
Nabarro
Norton Rose
Olswang
Osborne Clarke
Shoosmiths
Sidley Austin
Slaughter and May
SNR Denton
Travers Smith
Trowers & Hamlins
Weil, Gotshal & Manges
AND COMING SOON...

Cleary Gottlieb
Clyde & Co
Dorsey & Whitney
Eversheds
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
10
Irwin Mitchell
McGrigors
Penningtons
Simmons & Simmons
Walker Morris
2!
d
a
P
i
n
a
n
i
w
r a chance to
fo
facebook.com
st graduate
te
la
e
th
t
e
G

articles
career news & web
e
from around th
os hiring
Find out wh p of the
and stay on to
latest jobs
engage
Connect and people
with the right
11
ALLEN & OVERY

Magic Circle incumbent Allen & Overy is not only one of the UKs most prestigious law firms, but also
one of the largest in the world in terms of revenue. With 39 offices across 27 countries, the firm employs
over 2,500 lawyers worldwide.
PROS
Top quality work and high-profile deals

A great name to have on your CV
No pressure for face time
The training is amongst the best in the City
Good compensation and perks for a UK firm
Very friendly atmosphere and incredible
support staff
THE STATS
No. of lawyers firm-wide: 2,500+
No. of lawyers in London: 1,058
London partners: 186
London solicitors: 620
London trainee intake: 104
London trainees retained: 91% (March 2012)
Approx. no. of applications per year: 2,000
BASE SALARY
LONDON 2011
1st year trainee: 38,000
2nd year trainee: 43,200
Newly qualified: 61,000
1 year PQE: 68,000
2 years PQE: 74,000
3 years PQE: 85,000
DEPARTMENTS & PRACTICES

Antitrust & EU Banking Corporate Employment
& Benefits Energy & Infrastructure Environment &
Climate Change Finance Industry Sectors Insurance
Intellectual Property International Capital Markets
Litigation & Dispute Resolution Real Estate Regulatory
Restructuring & Insolvency Tax US Law
LOCATIONS
No. of offices: 39
Abu Dhabi Amsterdam Antwerp Athens Bangkok
12
CONS
Hours can be long and unpredictable

Not a great deal of client contact for trainees
The unpredictability of your workload
Not that flexible when it comes to seat choices,
though there is a wide range of overseas seats
The ladder to making partner is steep
Beijing Belfast Bratislava Brussels Bucharest*

Budapest Casablanca Doha Dubai Dsseldorf
Frankfurt Hamburg Hong Kong Jakarta* London
Luxembourg Madrid Mannheim Milan Moscow
Munich New York Paris Perth Prague Riyadh*
Rome So Paulo Shanghai Singapore Sydney Tokyo
Warsaw Washington, DC
*associated office
LONDON OFFICE (HQ)
One Bishops Square
London E1 6AO
Tel: +44 (0)20 3088 0000
www.allenovery.com
GRADUATE RECRUITMENT INFO

CONTACT: graduate.recruitment@allenovery.com
Application Deadlines:
Training Contracts:
31 July 2012 (for law undergraduates and law graduates
for training contracts commencing in March 2014 and
September 2014)
15 January 2013 (for final year non-law undergraduates
and graduates for training contracts commencing in March
2015 and September 2015)
Vacation Schemes:
Winter: 31 October 2012
Summer: 15 January 2013
LIFE ON THE JOB

Satisfaction with Work
Responsibility is readily available and trainees

absolutely have the opportunity to run with what
they have. Once youve demonstrated yourself
to be competent, there is a huge amount of
responsibility available for the taking e.g. be
primary point of contact for clients, run own
(small!) transactions, organise and run signings,
draft documents, review drafts, all the liaising with
local counsel and the counsel for the other side.
First year trainee
Tends to be a steady stream of fairly
uninteresting trainee work (running CP processes,
company searches, etc.), but enough more
challenging work that you can actually learn from
(drafting, calls, etc.) thrown in. Little direct contact
with partners unless you sit with one you will
usually end up liaising with whichever junior
associate is assisting the partner on the deal.
Some client contact, but usually only by email.
Nature of the deals/transactions exposed to is
varied, very high-end and interesting.
First year trainee
The quality of work varies greatly depending
on who gives you it. Junior associates are usually
much more willing to give large responsibility
to trainees, whilst partners will only delegate
research and admin tasks that far down (for
example, doing company research). In 4 months
I have been to one client meeting with a junior
associate, but my senior associate trainer appears
to have no intention of allowing me any client
contact at all. The cases, transactions and deals
are huge, so there is no prospect of running
these alone.
First year trainee
I am given a huge amount of responsibility

compared to my peers. My supervisor is excellent
and is always happy to check my work if I am in
any way unsure. Being given responsibility is the
best way to learn quickly, however, this can make
life very stressful. This is my first seat at the firm
and I have learnt a tremendous amount in a
very short period and my confidence increases
every day. I have been involved in a wide variety
of deals.
First year trainee
ALLEN & OVERY
QUOTES
What does your typical day at work involve?

A few stray winding-up and company searches;
checking and amending CP docs such as board
minutes and company certificates; drafting fee
letters, accessions, notices, etc.; correspondence/
calls with local counsel and clients to keep the
transaction moving/resolve any issues; internal
briefings and discussions with associates.
First year trainee
There is no typical day. I have been asked to

write research notes and have drafted letters to
opposing counsel, clients, barristers, mediators.
I have drafted petitions to court and applications
to arbitral tribunals. I have contributed to a vast
document review exercise and created bundles of
documents, amongst other things.
First year trainee
Travelling to meetings (local and abroad), client
events in the evening, marketing, transactional
work such as drafting documents, managing
conditions precedent and transaction timetable,
first drafts of credit agreements and intercreditors,
reviewing comments on the same, etc.
Newly qualified solicitor, Banking
13
Drafting or commenting on documents, reviewing

comments from the other side, perhaps some
research into specific points that have come up on
a deal.
Newly qualified solicitor, Capital Markets
Partner/Solicitor Relations
Solicitors are informed on a departmental level

either by email updates (e.g. recent awards,
rankings, annual performance) and a global level
intranet articles, etc. There are also annual calls
in respect of strategy, annual results, etc. where
you can ask senior partners questions on any issue
you want (questions and attendees are arranged
by ballot). Important decisions involving the firm
are also transmitted personally e.g. meetings
concerning the redundancy process from a couple
of years ago were held for each level of staff
in the firm.
Culture
Trainees have an active social life. We tend to

congregate in the bar after work on a Friday and
there are plenty of socials. On a more daily level,
we catch up for coffee and there is always a large
group of trainees to sit with at lunch time. We
also support each other by sharing know-how and
helping out with each others work loads when
appropriate. There is also a liaison committee
where views can be aired with HR and the
training supervisor.
First year trainee
Trainees are incredibly supportive of one another
at this firm. Good natured, great fun, down to
earth and tolerant of everyones differences,
strengths and weaknesses. I socialise outside of
work with some of the trainees and have made
a few incredibly close friends out of my trainee
intake who I see on a regular basis at weekends.
Both departments I have sat in have been lovely.
I have had some of the nicest, most entertaining
trainers imaginable. I am really impressed by how
pleasant people here are.
First year trainee
14
The firm has an open-minded and innovative

culture. Colleagues are willing to support each
other in every respect and the staff, on the whole,
are extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Most
trainees are supportive, but some are just looking
to get ahead, dump their un-interesting work on
someone else and take the better tasks. Trainees
do socialise together, but largely in cliques rather
than all at once (its a big intake!). The trainee
intake (and workforce generally) is not very
diverse or sensitive to diversity this can make
things uncomfortable for those few of a different
class/race/sexual orientation or gender identity,
but (unfortunately) I do not believe that this is
worse here than at any other City firm, and is
most probably slightly better.
First year trainee
Seats
Aside from the priority seat, it can be difficult to

get a seat in a niche area. Very wide range of
overseas seats, though some are very popular and
therefore difficult to get.
First year trainee
At least 4 seats of 6 months each, one of
which can be spent on client secondment or
international secondment with an overseas A&O
office (huge choice e.g. NY, Sydney, Budapest,
Paris, Dubai, etc). Also possible to do 3-month
seats in some departments though generally
people are less keen on this as its difficult to
get up to speed and impress colleagues in such
a short period of time, so people worry about
qualification prospects. Have to spend 12 months
in the core practice areas which makes sense
given thats what the firm specialises in. When
you also factor in secondment (which is generally
though not always in a seat you have already sat
in) and the SRA requirement to gain experience in
three distinct practice areas, there doesnt seem
to be much leeway. HR is very accommodating
though and seat planning info is readily available
from an early stage.
First year trainee
Formal Training
Training sessions are very organised and

structured. They are run in-house and all the
materials and teachers are excellent. The firm is
serious about us attending and in terms of the
skills that I have acquired, these vary from code of
conduct rules, accountancy issues, how to present
yourself to clients, to information on the financial
industry. We also have group training sessions
which normally involve updates to the relevant
area of law that the particular department
practices in.
Second year trainee
Training, on the whole, is very good though our
bespoke LPC in particular did well to prepare us
for working life. Compulsory PSC training is not
always as relevant. The firm gets excellent people
in to take the sessions so we get as much out
of it as possible. Lots of update meetings, huge
amounts of know-how circulating and professional
support lawyers on hand to help. Library on the
ball with keeping you updated with the relevant
news updates.
First year trainee
Time is always an issue, as sometimes work
dictates that you cant just up and leave. To
that end, most of the lectures are recorded and
available for watching at a more suitable time in
order to ensure that nobody suffers as a result of
not being able to attend.
First year trainee
Informal training is easy to receive. For example,

you can ring and have someone give you oneon-one training at your desk for IT or document
production training. There are also numerous
lunch time sessions for both departmental training
and personal training (for example on the systems
we use).
First year trainee
ALLEN & OVERY
Typically, trainees do four seats. There is a wide

variety of departments to sit in such corporate,
banking, international capital markets, tax,
litigation, employment and pensions and real
estate. You have a great deal of choice, but
need to sit two core areas which are corporate,
banking and ICM. There is an option to complete
your fourth seat abroad.
First year trainee
Senior lawyers are generally accessible; they

can be intimidating and perhaps it requires a bit
of nerve to approach them, but they are, in my
experience, always very forthcoming. Dont really
have a mentoring system though; providing your
relationship with your supervisor is good, then it
is common to maintain contact and discuss with
them aspects of your training contract. Learning a
lot. Fast!
First year trainee
Very easy to receive informal training and
the open door policy means everyone is
approachable, and always willing to take the time
to discuss matters with you whether that is deal
related or just general advice about seat planning,
qualification, etc.
Second year trainee
My trainer is fantastic and will answer any
questions I have, as well as give me regular
informal feedback. Partners genuinely have an
open door policy and are very accessible. The
main lesson I have learnt is the importance of
attention to detail.
First year trainee
Pro Bono
World bank research tasks, legal advice clinics,

soup kitchens, Red Cross disaster relief research
and report task, attending CV workshop for
graduates without a job.
15
25 hours pro bono per year count towards

billable; lots of opportunities to get involved in
legal and community pro bono work. Personally, I
have been involved in the Whitechapel breakfast
mission, Smart Start programme, mentoring and
giving practice job interviews at local schools.
Junior solicitor, Litigation
Green Initiatives
All cups are now compostable and you can

bring your own cup to get discounted coffee
at our wonderful Italian coffee shop. There are
recycling facilities and posters about energy saving
everywhere. Lights turn off automatically. We are
a very green firm and a huge effort has been put
in to reduce our carbon footprints.
First year trainee
There are a lot of environmental signs around the
office, but paper waste is as high as at any other
firm! Biodegradable cups and environmental taps.
A new campaign to make everyone bring in their
own mug. Good facilities for cyclists to park.
First year trainee
The firm is obsessed with it seems to be doing
everything they can. We have our own water
purifying plant so we fill our own glass bottles,
everything is recycled.
First year trainee
Diversity
There have been massive efforts made to ensure

that women are treated equally, including allowing
flexible working patterns for women and ensuring
that maternity leave is updated. There are also
good networks for LGBTUA members of staff.
However, there is still a significant bias towards
public schooling, Oxbridge educations and wealthy
backgrounds.
First year trainee
16
The maternity policy is bad. It was awful and

slight improvements have been made. The firm is
keen to emphasise in the press its commitment
to keeping its best lawyers regardless of gender,
but in reality I have seen very little to encourage
this. A huge number of female associates seem
to leave after having children and it appears to be
incredibly difficult to get the partnership to agree
to part time working at any level.
First year trainee
Very strong racial diversity. The firm has a very
strong mix of different ethnic backgrounds.
However, socially they are not very diverse
with relatively few people from non-affluent
backgrounds.
First year trainee
Offices & Dress CODE
The office is brilliant. It has everything you

could need and being right on the doorstep of
Spitalfields Markets means there are a whole
host of restaurants, bars and shops available.
Commuting is pretty easy too, with Shoreditch
High Street Overground and Liverpool Street
Station a couple of minutes away. The dress code
varies from department to department. In some
departments you will be expected to wear a suit,
whilst in others chinos will suffice.
First year trainee
The office is incredible. The artwork adds colour
and vibrancy and we often have exhibitions in
the foyer. The office is an inspiring environment
to be part of and its great to be in such a
fantastic location in Spitalfields. The gym,
restaurant, outdoor terraces, on-site GP, dentist,
physiotherapist and dry cleaner make our office
unbeatable! I use all facilities regularly and am
extremely grateful to be able to have access to
them. The roof terraces are particularly impressive
with rare views across London and immaculately
preened plants. The dress code is business casual
and people tend to be smart, yet comfortable.
First year trainee
How prepared do you feel to practise law

upon qualification?
I feel that I will be in a good position if I qualify
here. Whilst I will not know everything about the
practice area, the support system and know-how
network available will hopefully mean that I dont
struggle.
First year trainee
I think it will be an enormous jump. There are
always people to help you out though.
First year trainee
Better prepared each day, but definitely with
LOADS still to learn...
First year trainee
Graduate recruitment has just been cut by
around 15 places, and there are a large number
of trainees in their final seat who have either not
been offered a qualification post or who have
been asked to qualify abroad. So not very.
First year trainee
SALARY, HOURS & PERKS

Hours
It is inevitable that hours are long at times, but

this is very much dictated by business need.
Trainees are encouraged to go home as early as
they can when possible and you are not expected
to stay in the office just to show your face if you
have nothing to do. Hours eventually balance

out as a busy period will be contrasted by more
reasonable hours later in your training contract.
Initially, I worked many more hours than I
expected, but now I work less than I expected. On
average, I work around 50 hours per week.
First year trainee
ALLEN & OVERY
Office is stunning. The roof gardens are

stunning. The facilities are first class. The gym and
sports hall are brilliantly equipped. Location by
Spitalfields market is fantastic. Firm deserves great
credit for its offices. No ties in the office unless
meeting clients.
Second year trainee
Average working week is 50-60 hours, comprised

of billable and non-billable (e.g. know-how,
marketing, pitch documents, etc.) hours. This is
what I expected. Occasionally, there can be 100hour weeks, but these usually balance out. The
key is that you are given responsibility to manage
your workload, and as long as you are meeting the
deadlines you are given for your work, there is no
need to hang around the office trying to look busy.
This is actively discouraged. If you have no work,
you go home. If you want to go to the gym in the
afternoon, you go.
Second year trainee
The hours are long, but this was expected and
is honestly not as bad as it sounds. It is actually
worse when you are quiet with work, as the time
drags. My average week normally consists of
working 9:30am 7:30pm. However, when my
deal was closing I had two weeks of 8am 11pm
as standard, along with working on a Sunday. But
it was actually pretty enjoyable, and the adrenalin
definitely keeps you going!
First year trainee
48 hours on average per week. The hours are not
as bad as the horror stories lead you to believe.
Late nights are the exception rather than the
norm and are only taken when necessary. This
does differ between departments, but trainees
should also be wary of thinking that they should
stay beyond 6.30pm when they have finished their
work. Opportunities to leave at a decent hour
should be taken wherever possible as there will be
occasions where an early finish is not possible.
Second year trainee
17
Salary
I am pretty satisfied with my compensation.

Not only are we paid well, but the added benefits
beyond the salary really make an impact. In
addition to healthcare and insurance, the
subsidised food and subsidised bar probably
save me the best part of 50 a week, which
quickly adds up. Saving on a gym membership
due to the firm having a free gym on site is also
an added bonus.
First year trainee
At times, the hourly rate can be disappointing
given the number of hours worked, but it is
entirely fair that trainees are paid the same
regardless of how many hours they work.
First year trainee
We are very well compensated as trainees
obviously it looks absolutely abysmal when you
work it out as an hourly rate in a week where
youve billed 100 hours, but the remuneration
packages increase quickly after qualification and I
think on the whole they are just.
First year trainee
Pay is competitive amongst the Magic Circle and
better than all other English law firms. Pay still
significantly lags behind American firms. Bonus
at my level is a fixed award, based on the firms
performance can be up to 10% of your salary.
Perks
Huge 6th floor roof terrace with a subsidised bar!

Free dinner after 7pm, free taxi after 9.30pm. Free
gym in the basement with 5-a-side football court
and sauna. On-site doctor, physio and beautician.
First year trainee
Corporate box in the O2/Wembley but you
have to go with clients! Some departments have
weekly (free) drinks where there is a department
tab in Lavanda (the A&O bar).
First year trainee
18
Secondment perks are excellent: uplift, free

accommodation, free flight out and return flight,
one free flight back, free flights for training with
which there is a degree of flexibility. You stay in
top hotels and can eat at top restaurants, access
to seats/boxes at sporting events (although
sometimes some costs are payable towards these
if not client related).
Free gym in the office, fun bar, day off for moving
house, two extra days off when you get married.
Pluses
The people, without a doubt. I am working with

my friends, which definitely makes the experience
that much more enjoyable. The subsidised bar and
the free gym come a close 2nd and 3rd.
First year trainee
Everyone is friendly and understands workloads.
There is no pressure for face time.
First year trainee
Status of working for such a highly regarded firm.
Most of the people here are a pleasure to work
with. Closing high-profile deals can be exciting.
First year trainee
Top deals, working with best lawyers in their
field, good compensation, nice offices, good and
ongoing training programme.
First year trainee
The people I work with are intellectually
phenomenal, but also very nice to work with. The
outdoor roof terrace on a sunny day.
First year trainee
Minuses
The hours. An inherent part of the job and

completely expected, but it is a bit galling when
it is a Friday night and 5.30pm comes around and
you still have work on your desk!
First year trainee
The office has so many facilities that you rarely

need to leave and you feel like you live here.
First year trainee
The hours are unpredictable and it is difficult to
plan things. Potentially not that much job security
on qualification as many of the current crop of
fourth seaters have been offered jobs abroad
instead of in London. There is often not much
transparency on this kind of thing from a trainee
perspective. I dont think they are as flexible as
some firms regarding seat planning.
First year trainee
Unpredictability of workload but this is also a
positive as no two days are the same.
First year trainee
Fun Facts
We are the only firm that I know of with an

on-site bar. Apparently, if you go to Moscow
on secondment in your fourth seat, you get an
allowance to buy warmer clothes.
First year trainee
Theres a Hummingbird bakery only 3 streets
away.
First year trainee
A&O was the firm advising on the abdication of
Edward VIII.
First year trainee
There is a real passion for cakes here.
First year trainee
Ive learned that being chirpy is a valuable asset;
stay positive, no matter what!
First year trainee
INTERVIEWS & APPLICATIONS

Interviews & Assessments
After completing the online application form for

my vacation scheme I was invited to interview.
The interview was in two parts. Firstly, there was a
general interview for 30 minutes to discuss my CV
and application. This was followed by a 45-minute
discussion on a case study, which tested my
business awareness and problem solving abilities.
Following the formal interview process, I was
given a tour of the office and had a coffee with
a trainee.
First year trainee
ALLEN & OVERY
Long hours, the odd partners inability to

manage people.
Second year trainee
I had my first interview for the vac scheme

which I found really tough. There was an HR
interview, and then an interview with a partner/
senior associate who asked you questions about
a 16-page document you had 45 minutes to read.
So quite gruelling. I had my training contract
interview on the vacation scheme and it was much
more relaxed, more of a chat about the vacation
scheme experience.
First year trainee
I interviewed with 2 partners; the first partner
conducted a general interview, based on my
application. I had to present to the second
partner a case study, namely the possible risks
and advantages of buying a certain business. The
questions were quite probing; be prepared to talk
about the bad points of your CV!
First year trainee
Interview for a vac scheme had two stages: an
in-depth personal interview with a partner; and
a very challenging case study with a different
partner. Case study comprised a lengthy document
which you are required to read in 20 minutes
(there is barely enough time to speed read to the
end of the document) and then present advice to
the partner as if the partner was the client. It is a
difficult exercise.
Second year trainee
19
Difficult but not harder than it needs to be;

online application form and an interview. No
assessment days, etc. The firm assumes that you
have the relevant intelligence once it has vetted
the paper applications. The focus in the interview
is how you will fit into the culture of the firm and
then there is a quasi-legal exercise to test your
ability to think logically, rationally and on your
feet.
Tips & Advice
People with broad horizons and lots of interests.

Lots of extracurricular activities are really
important at A&O. They are big on pro bono and
volunteering. I think most people that are hired
are quite fun and friendly. There are specific
grade requirements; check the grad recruitment
website. There arent specific uni requirements
with respect to which one you went to. A&O is big
on inclusivity, and as long as you have good grades
and skills you wont lose out because youve not
been to a red brick university.
First year trainee
I think the firm is interested in people who
work well with others, are confident (but not too
confident) and who have a real interest in the
area. Be personable and friendly. Also, be honest
if you have a disappointment in your CV, talk
about it, why it happened and how you learned
from it. Read the FT/business pages before your
interview, so you can talk about whats happening
in the market.
First year trainee
Generally, I describe the typical A&O trainee as
someone that is friendly, outgoing and personable
that you can put in a room with a FTSE 100 CEO
or housekeeper and will treat them exactly the
same.
First year trainee
20
I would advise researching the firm, looking at

any recent cases/clients that the firm had been
involved with. Candidates should be enthusiastic,
hard working, organised, proactive and show
knowledge about what training at the firm
involves.
Second year trainee
The people! When you work hard and long hours,

the only thing that takes the edge off is the fun
and friendly people around you. Out of the firms
that I experienced, A&O had the most people that
I would enjoy spending my time with. Thats the
key for me.
First year trainee
I was lucky enough to have had offers from
A&O and two other Magic Circle firms. From
my experiences on the vacation scheme, A&O
seemed the most social and welcoming working
environment, which was very important to
me. I have had great experiences with the firm
throughout the last few years; from sponsoring my
rugby team at university to financially rewarding
my degree and LPC results, they have always had a
genuine interest, showing my decision was clearly
a good one.
First year trainee
As with all big firms you get to work on the
top deals, excellent training, excellent salary
and perks, etc. A&O differentiated itself when I
interviewed by being interested in me and my
story I really got the feeling that they wanted to
get to know me and not just tick boxes on their
form. I left with an impression that people that
worked at A&O enjoy the work and working with
the people. I found this to ring true throughout my
trainee and NQ career.
Definitely seemed the most welcoming of
somebody who didnt go to a Russell Group
university.
First year trainee
Allen & Overy is keen to emphasise that while it

demands a strong academic background, its not just
focused on the Oxbridge elite. A look at its graduate
pool paints a colourful picture of candidates from
a wide range of academic institutions and diverse
backgrounds. Current trainees say good academics,
social skills and business awareness are all key, but
equally you should be hard working, organised and
proactive. A&O is known for its work hard/play
hard culture and the firm only takes on trainees that
can keep up with its fast-paced environment. If this
sounds a little intimidating, dont be put off.
All of the trainees in our survey agreed that A&O is
a genuinely friendly firm and most trainees
are quite fun.
A&O trainees tell us how there is a wide variety of
departments to sit in, such as real estate, litigation
and employment; but keep in mind that you will
have to complete two of your four six month seats in
the firms core departments international capital
markets, banking and corporate. The training at
Allen & Overy is described by trainees as absolutely
fantastic and one of the best offered among UK law
firms. In addition, there is a huge range of client
secondments and secondments in overseas offices
available. The firm gives its trainees the option to
go abroad for their final seat, to locations such as
Sydney, Dubai, Paris, New York or Budapest.
So what can you expect from the application
process? Its relatively straightforward: with no
psychometric testing, verbal reasoning tests, group
exercises or assessment days. Instead candidates
are judged on a one-to-one basis through interviews
which include a case study exercise. The initial stage
requires you to fill in an online application form,
quizzing you on your background and CV. Make the
cut and youll be invited to two rounds of interviews;
as you might expect for a Magic Circle firm, one
trainee say its very competitive to even land
an interview.
The first interview is more general and will focus on
your CV and business acumen. It is usually with a
partner or senior associate who will want to cover

your personal qualifications and experiences to
assess your motivation, skills and knowledge. Make
sure you can articulately explain your reasons for
applying to Allen & Overy and this is important.
Be prepared for questions such as how do you
demonstrate youre interested in business?, what
have you read in the FT/Economist recently which
interested you? or what do you know about
our competition?.
ALLEN & OVERY
For the second round, A&O trainees say to expect

a 45-minute discussion on a case study, which
will heavily test your commercial awareness and
problem solving abilities. Youll be asked to speed
read a lengthy document in 20 minutes, which
you will then have to present to your interviewer.
The presentation is followed by a discussion
about key points from the case study. This can
be quite gruelling you will be asked lots of
detailed questions about the document. But try
not to worry questions are described as fair and
thought provoking and interviewers do their best
to make you feel at ease. After youve finished both
interviews, you will be given a tour of the offices by a
current trainee.
Vacation Schemes
Allen & Overy also offers vacation schemes;

these often provide a springboard to landing a
training contract with the firm. There are summer
programmes available for penultimate year
students, and winter programmes for grads and
career changers, offering 65 students each year
the opportunity to get their hands dirty and gain
some real work experience. Summer schemes
run for three weeks while the winter ones are
shorter, lasting for only eight days. The firm also
offers international internships to 12 lucky students
who then spend their summer in New York, Hong
Kong, Dubai or Frankfurt. If you fancy one of these
international placements, a knowledge of the local
language is definitely a plus especially if youre
keen to go to the German office.
21
FIRM PROFILE
Representing one-fifth of the Magic Circle, Allen
& Overy is one of the UKs oldest and most
prestigious law firms. A&O spreads its wings
across 39 offices and employs approximately
2,500 lawyers worldwide, including more than 500
partners. Best known for its banking, corporate
and international capital markets practices, A&O is
home to the largest number of American lawyers
outside of the US, creating a niche in advising
American clients overseas.
Founded in 1930 by George Allen and Thomas
Overy, the firm rose to prominence when, in 1936,
it advised on the abdication of King Edward VIII.
Since then, A&O has rarely been out of the legal
limelight. The firm advised on the first hostile
takeover in the so-called Aluminium Wars, and
in 1963 really staked its claim as a City brand by
drafting and developing the first Eurobond for the
Italian company Autostrade.
The firm has even formed a global

alliance with the Red Cross, and is
helping them to promote new laws that
can speed up the international response
to natural disasters.
The early 1980s saw investment banks branching
out and opening offices all around the world; the
law firms that represented them soon followed
suit and Allen & Overy was no exception. In 1978
the firm opened offices in Dubai and Brussels,
in 1985 it arrived in New York, and 2002 saw
the opening of its Shanghai office. In 2010 A&O
opened two Australian offices in Perth and Sydney,
and more recently established new branches in
Casablanca and Belfast, expanding its global reach
even further. The firm is now represented in all
the major financial centres across the world and
22
has one of the largest US presences of any UK

firm. In fact, 60% of A&Os income now comes
from outside the UK.
Over the past few years, Allen & Overy has not
stopped growing and expanding in London, the
city where it all began. In 2005, A&O became
the first Magic Circle firm to convert to a Limited
Liability Partnership (LLP), meaning, among other
things, that the firm now has to periodically
publish its accounts. The following year, A&O
relocated from its iconic London headquarters,
opposite St Pauls Cathedral, to new purpose built
offices near Liverpool Street. Not to be outdone in
the green-stakes, A&Os new digs were installed
with 494 solar panels on the roof, generating
enough power for more than 200 laptops a year.
Allen & Overy is one of the UKs oldest

and most prestigious law firms.
Although built on a foundation of banking and
finance, A&Os lofty position is reinforced by
well established and reputed capital markets
and corporate law practices. As such, the firms
client list includes many of the worlds top
financial institutions. A&Os banking and finance
solicitors advise over 800 corporate and financial
institutions. Other areas of expertise include
litigation and dispute resolution, employment and
benefits, tax and real estate.
Allen & Overy also casts a wide net in pro bono
and corporate responsibility matters: the firms
solicitors regularly act as trustees for local
charities, help primary schools in numeracy
and literacy projects, and mentor secondary
school pupils. The firm has even formed a global
alliance with the Red Cross, and is helping them
to promote new laws that can speed up the
international response to natural disasters.
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23

Formed in 2001 by the merger of property firm Berwin Leighton, and commercial firm Paisner & Co,
and a vibrant firm with staple real estate, finance, tax and corporate practices, Berwin Leigton Paisners
recent history is marked by impressive growth.
PROS
High levels of early responsibility and great

quality of work
Collegiate, open and positive atmosphere
Ambitious and forward-thinking firm
Strong support network, so you never feel
alone with something
Lots of communication from the top
CONS
Not a lot of freedom in your choice of seats

The office is split over two buildings
Can be hard work and long hours at times
No bonus scheme for trainees
THE STATS
LOCATIONS
No. of lawyers firm-wide: 730

No. of lawyers in London: 625
London associates: 300
London trainees retained: 95% (2011), 88% (March 2012)
No. of offices: 9
Abu Dhabi Berlin & Frankfurt Brussels Hong Kong
London Moscow* Paris Singapore
*The firm is named Goltsblat BLP in Russia
BASE SALARY
LONDON 2011

Commercial, TMT & Outsourcing Competition EU &
Trade Corporate Finance Dispute Resolution Finance
Human Resources Intellectual Property Real Estate
Regulatory & Compliance Restructuring & Insolvency
Tax & Private Client
LONDON OFFICES
Adelaide House
London Bridge
London EC4R 9HA
Tel: +44 (0)20 7760 1000 or 020 3400 1000
St Magnus House
3 Lower Thames Street
London EC3R 6HE
Tel: +44 (0)20 7760 1000
www.blplaw.com

Graduate Recruitment Team
Email: traineerecruit@blplaw.com
Training Contracts: 31st July 2012
24
LIFE ON THE JOB

Throughout my first three seats I think Ive

had some fantastic work. Ive had regular client
contact, including attending meetings and acting
as the primary contact for the client on matters.
I have also been lucky enough to manage and
run small financing deals for one of the big
retail banks, which was a great experience. You
generally work for partners or senior associates
directly if you prove yourself, they are generally
happy to let you run with tasks.
Second year trainee
You are given a lot of responsibility from the
first day, with meetings, telephone calls with
clients, taking primary responsibility for drafting
correspondence, attending strategy sessions and
undertaking research. The partners trust you to
get it right first time, so there is a good deal of
responsibility on your shoulders. You have direct
partner contact and can walk into any partners
office to ask questions or just to catch up. The
work is very good quality, at a high level, for
prestigious and demanding clients.
First year trainee
Although only in my third week, I have been
given work from almost every associate in the
department (and through them work by partners).
Associates and partners liaise with me directly
about arranging work. Every bit of work is on a
different topic and is very varied. I was emailing
clients almost from the beginning.
First year trainee

Research, training, sending correspondence to
clients, reviewing correspondence from other
solicitors and coming up with the first suggestions
for a response, which are usually followed. I
organise conference calls and meetings, take
documents to court and draft the relevant court
forms. There is never a spare minute to get bored,
it is full on but exciting.
First year trainee
QUOTES
Depending on the deal, a typical day can

involve anything from ancillary document
drafting, managing the due diligence on a deal,
incorporating new companies, travelling to other
firms to meet about the disclosure process,
helping with post-completion matters and
Companies House searches and filing.
First year trainee
Day to day, Ill attend client meetings, produce
notes following the meetings, take on the
file management role (i.e. making sure the
correspondence is up to date), do discrete
research tasks on matters; review key documents
and summarise them.
Second year trainee
Culture
Very much a collaborative approach trainees

often get briefed about deal specifics, and brought
fully into the centre of the deal working within
set mini teams. Support structures not only form
in the trainee intake, but also in other trainee
intakes, and juniors in the team offer constant
hints and tips and people to ask for. Supervisors
are of a high standard and very interactive.
Trainees regularly socialise during the week and
on weekends, and the social life is a big plus.
First year trainee
25
The firm is very keen on building relationships

between different people and different
departments. All the trainees take the LPC
together in the same classes with a course based
around the firms precedents so that by the time
we start we are comfortable and well-acquainted
both with the firm and with each other. Trainees
tend to eat together (whether with their intake
or with others) and do make plans to go out.
There are a lot of inclusive firm activates such
as work drinks, a Friday afternoon drinks trolley,
sports clubs, charity events, quizzes, etc. Different
departments do seem to have different attitudes
to sociability and working environment though.
First year trainee
The culture here is the best thing about BLP and
is the most important thing the firm needs to
maintain as it develops and goes forward. All firms
say this, but here it is an open door firm without
a strict hierarchy. At social events there is no
distinction between lawyers and support staff or
between partners and trainees. The trainees are
generally a friendly bunch and because we have
a bespoke LPC (the LPC+) you are already friends
when you start so there is always someone around
to grab a drink with.
Second year trainee
Trainees socialise together a lot and are generally
very supportive of one another (so if an email
goes round requesting assistance, it is generally
given!).
Second year trainee
Formal Training
Training is taken very seriously and attendance

is compulsory. The training programmes are very
useful and are backed up by material available
on the intranet, the Knowledge Development
lawyers and the librarians. There is trainee-specific
training, workgroup training, department training
and whole-firm training and each session attracts
very good speakers. Trainees are encouraged to go
to all training sessions.
First year trainee
26
Training is given high priority, with calendar

notifications sent around for department-specific
trainee programmes and time apportioned
accordingly to ensure their attendance is as high
as possible. Training starts formally during the
induction programme, encompassing lots of extra
skills (commercial awareness, risk management,
conflict resolution, writing styles) as well as the
usual law related skills (time recording, library and
IT training), and continues throughout the training
contract with numerous sessions each week.
First year trainee
The start of the training contract has two and
a half weeks of training. Additionally there are
weekly training sessions for trainees relevant to
the department they are sat in.
First year trainee
We have clear structures of who is supervising,

who is a (partner) mentor, who to ask for
problems in the department and for general
issues. We are given the choice of how much we
utilise the people available to us.
First year trainee
People always have time to pass on their
knowledge and a variety of team members have
each given me some valuable training in different
matters important to the department. Again, fee
earners offer a great support structure on many
levels, and partner mentors genuinely make the
effort to put time aside for queries.
First year trainee
The informal training is easy to get, you just ask,
and partners are very accessible. The mentor
programme isnt hugely structured but is there if
you need it. I have learned an enormous amount
about how to deal with clients, both socially and
in situations of conflict.
Second year trainee
Seats
Trainees undertake 4 seats. Real estate,

corporate and a contentious seat are compulsory.
There is a variety of choice and trainees tend to
get a seat they are genuinely satisfied with. There
are opportunities to do a seat abroad; in Brussels
with the EU/Competition department, a Moscow
seat with one of the corporate teams, and now
there are also opportunities to do a seat in Abu
Dhabi with the hotels group.
First year trainee
The firm has 4 seats of 6 months each. You can
choose your departments but must complete a
core Real Estate seat and a core corporate seat,
plus a litigious seat (to comply with the 3 months
experience the SRA specifies). The firm has just
started to do seats abroad with a trainee currently
in Abu Dhabi and one about to go to Moscow,
plus some in Brussels. With the Singapore office
growing there may also be opportunities there.
First year trainee
Four seats, in five departments (corporate,
real estate, finance, tax, litigation and dispute
resolution) broken up into 24 work groups by
specialism. Guaranteed first choice at least once
during your contract, but preferences are taken
into account throughout.
First year trainee
Green Initiatives
We have recycling bins in the kitchens for plastic

cups and more. The restaurant has recycling
options. We have notices on all our printed
documents to encourage us to think before
printing.
First year trainee
The computers automatically switch off at

midnight (unless they are in use!), the lights
switch off after a certain period of inactivity, the
conference centre is only heated or cooled when
in use. There are recycling bins everywhere.
All documents are produced double sided as
standard. There are hot water taps in the kitchens
to prevent kettles being used and wasting power.
First year trainee
Diversity
Informal training is where BLP is excellent. People

are approachable and always willing to take 5
minutes to explain.
First year trainee
As a female, it would be interesting to see the

firm be a little more proactive about female
retention strategies.
Second year trainee
There is a strong commitment to diversity, with
a very broad range of people joining the firm,
specific groups within the firm who promote
diversity and a womens group who invite
prominent speakers. The biggest indicator is the
number of female/gay/non-white/non-British
partners and workgroup heads.
First year trainee
There are more women in the firm than men, but
this is not reflected at partner level. Because the
firm recognised that some women are not aiming
to become partners if it conflicts with other family
commitments it introduced Associate Directors
as a position. They do seem to be monitoring
diversity with various surveys.
First year trainee
Smart casual when in the office, with a suit in

the cupboard for client meetings (although most
trainees and partners dress more formally than
associates). Office is a lovely listed building from
1928. Location is fantastic, great transport links
and easy access to the City. Facilities excellent
(great repro team, staff canteen, excellent post
room staff).
Second year trainee
27
The riverside location is fantastic and the facilities

first rate. Dress code is quite casual, ties and
jackets for meetings but otherwise open shirt and
trousers in the office.
First year trainee
London Bridge. The firm is split across two
buildings but I dont see this as a problem you
can get a cheeky bit of fresh air at times. Dress
code depends on departments, but it is generally
casual business attire.
First year trainee
The office is split across two buildings next door
to one another and the quality of natural light
available definitely depends on where you are!
All the offices are well equipped and comfortable.
The dress code is business casual and people are
reasonably informal in the office although suits
are expected for client meetings and events.
Second year trainee

upon qualification?
Well prepared and excited for it!
Second year trainee
Very well supported and prepared.
First year trainee
I think my hours are pretty good for a City law

firm, I usually get in at 8.30 9 and leave between
6.30 and 7.15. I never feel that Im wasting time
when I work late; there is always a good reason.
I have occasionally worked till 11 but that has
typically been the day before going on holiday
when there have been loose ends to tie up before
handing work over. The hours are better than
I had expected, but I had expected very long
hours. I had not expected the level of exhaustion
trainees feel every minute of the day is spent
concentrating and it can be draining at first.
First year trainee
I have a very good department for hours! My
work is typically non-urgent because of the nature
of the department and so will typically work a 45
hours week. The latest I have stayed is around
8.30pm and do not anticipate it being much more.
But I do work hard to make sure that I have a good
structure and take shorter lunches so that I can
go home as soon as I feel my work for the day is
done. Other trainees in other departments are not
so lucky with hours.
First year trainee
A bit too much but I know its not nearly as
bad as lots of firms. Work on average 8:30am to
7:30pm each day. Never work at weekends.
Second year trainee
Salary

Hours
I really cannot complain. Most of it is down to

personal time management. There is not a culture
of jackets on backs of seats here.
First year trainee
I work on average 9:30 8:00pm which is alright.
This seems about average when I talk to other
trainees or friends at different firms.
Second year trainee
28
Trainee salaries are average for the City, but once

youve qualified the associates seem a little more
dissatisfied when they consider what similar firms
pay.
Second year trainee
Should be a bonus scheme for trainees lack of
this is weak.
First year trainee
It compares favourably to other firms, and is a
ridiculous amount of money for a 24 year old to
earn!
First year trainee
Perks
Partners are fairly generous when it comes to

their season tickets, but other than that there
arent that many unusual perks!
Second year trainee
Alibi, the firms subsidised staff restaurant, is
brilliant. The food is really good, there is a large
variety of options and the staff are lovely.
First year trainee
The benefits offered early on to trainees. Socials,
societies, clubs and generally getting involved in
the firms life is encouraged.
First year trainee
Car service when working late.
First year trainee
Pluses
The collegiate environment. Being in the

City. Good canteen food. Lots of social events
organised/teams/clubs to get involved with. No
jackets on back of chairs policy.
First year trainee
The people and the fact that the firm stuck to its
strategy during the recession.
Second year trainee
The positive atmosphere and the quality of the
work.
First year trainee
Good work, nice people, realistic ambitious.
Second year trainee
Minuses
A risk that the culture might change.

Second year trainee
I would prefer shorter hours, but I think they are
probably amongst the best for City law firms.
First year trainee
Not being able to have a freer choice of seats.
First year trainee
Running between the two buildings when its
pouring down.
First year trainee
Pretty good. Of course one always wants more...

but compared to the average at other similar
firms, not bad at all.
Second year trainee
Fun Facts
There is a BLP band that is really quite good and

plays at the Christmas party, etc.
First year trainee
Roll On Friday said we had the best looking
trainees.
First year trainee
Adelaide House used to have golf course on the
roof.
Second year trainee

Interviews & Assessment
Phone interview fairly easy. Assessment day

getting tougher. Interviews two partners
and depends, usually quite challenging, but not
designed to catch you out. HR and partners go to a
lot of effort to make people feel comfortable and
not overwhelmed.
Second year trainee
29
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England, BBC, Booz & Company, BP, Citi, Civil
Service, Coca-Cola, Credit Suisse, Deloitte,
Deutsche Bank, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Ernst &
Young, FSA, GlaxoSmithKline, Goldman Sachs,
Google, Grant Thornton, HSBC Holdings,
IBM, J.P. Morgan, John Lewis Partnership,
KPMG, LOral, McKinsey & Company, Oxfam,
PricewaterhouseCoopers, Procter & Gamble,
Sony, Teach First, The Boston Consulting
Group, Unilever, Virgin Group and more...
KIRKLAND & ELLIS INTERNATIONAL
WWW.INSIDEBUZZ.CO.UK
There is a telephone interview, assessment day

and partner interview. The interview was with
two partners and was quite relaxed. Questions
adapted to the situation, so started off quite
commercial, but then became more like a chat
as the interview went on. The assessment day
was relatively intense, with a presentation task, a
written task and a debating task.
First year trainee
Telephone interview; assessment centre;
vacation scheme; partner interview. Mixture of
commercial and factual questions.
First year trainee
Tips & Advice
Candidates need to want to work for BLP and not

just a City law firm.
Second year trainee
Go to uni/career events and meet us in person.
Be friendly, interested and ask questions. You do
not need to know everything, but just express an
interest.
Second year trainee
The firm has a really wide range of candidates
there doesnt seem to be a type. We have a lot of
different ages and backgrounds. Everyone seems
to be very hard working though during holidays
and weekends it was always fellow future trainees
in the library. We help each other as well; it does
not seem like a competition for each others place.
We all like to be sociable too.
First year trainee
Down to earth dont be fake, they see right

through. They go for very sociable people with
strong memorable personalities; they want
people they can have drinks down the pub with
as well as work with. A great variety of unis and
backgrounds, no clichs here. 2:1 minimum.
First year trainee
Be yourself, this firm is interested in real people
with senses of humour who are nice to work with,
as well as being intelligent and commercial. Have a
2:1, if at all possible.
Second year trainee
There was a telephone interview, assessment

day, vacation placement and then an interview. I
interviewed with two partners, and it was just like
being back at university in a one-on-one hours
supervision the questions went as far as your
knowledge stretched and just beyond to see how
you think and deal with new situations. You are
challenged and forced to defend a position. There
is nowhere to hide, you have to be sparky and
with it.
First year trainee
what made you choose your firm?
I chose my firm because I liked the people,

I wanted a City firm that didnt put needless
pressure on its people, and I liked the way that the
firm was evolving. The firm seems to be moving
forward at a much quicker pace than all of its
contemporaries and is trying to exploit certain
gaps in the legal market.
First year trainee
The open and inviting atmosphere. There is a
real sense that the firm respects and cares for it
staff and that it has big plans for the future. It is a
confident, hopeful and positive place to be.
First year trainee
The people, no pretensions, lots of
communication from the very top to the very
bottom.
First year trainee
The personality of the firm as a whole and of
the individuals who work here. This is a firm
that feels as though its really going places and is
taking ground breaking steps in the legal market
with initiatives like Managed Legal Services
and Lawyers on Demand. Great integration of
international elements. Fantastically dynamic
managing partner, who sees opportunities and
takes risks.
Second year trainee
31

BLP recruits from a range of universities, with one
trainee stating the firms attitude to recruitment
seems background-blind. I was really impressed
by the diversity in my intake. However, the one
thing all trainees do have in common is academic
achievement: BLP ordinarily expects good A-levels
and a 2:1 degree from its candidates. Having said
that, a first from Oxbridge alone is not enough to get
the job, personality is key. So how can you impress?
Due to the relatively small number of trainees the
firm takes on each year, the competition for places
is high, and you need to make yourself memorable
in order to be successful. BLP looks for the standard
coveted traits such as enthusiasm, determination
and commercial awareness, but one trainee also
places importance on a good sense of humour.
Current advice is to be yourself and not to try and
sell yourself as someone youre not as the firm will
see right through.
After submitting your online application, BLP follows
up with a phone interview. Here you might be
asked about anything you put on your application
form, as well as the odd question on current
affairs. If successful, youll receive an invitation to
an assessment day which will include a tour of the
offices and tasks such as a negotiation exercise, a
written exercise and a presentation. Your overall
performance in all of these assessments is taken into
consideration, so it is a good idea to be confident
and speak out throughout the day.
The final stage is the toughest and comprises an
interview with two partners. The questions go as far
as your knowledge stretches and test your critical
thinking and ability to deal with new situations.
One trainee says that during this interview you are
challenged and forced to defend a position. There
is nowhere to hide, so you have to be sparky and
with it. Although this final interview is demanding,
it is not designed to catch you out. It gives you the
opportunity to really display your interest in the firm
and show off your knowledge about BLPs latest
deals and news.
32
If all goes as you planned (or should that be hoped),

as a trainee at BLP youll undertake four seats and
spend six months in each. There is a broad range of
seats to choose from, although real estate, corporate
and a contentious seat are all compulsory. A current
trainee states that the firm guarantees first choice at
least once during your contract, but preferences are
taken into account throughout. Furthermore, those
with the wanderlust will be pleased to hear that
there are opportunities to do a seat in one of the
firms foreign offices, with trainees being seconded
to locations as far flung as Abu Dhabi, Moscow and
Singapore.
Following the merger of property firm Berwin

Leighton and commercial firm Paisner & Co in
2001, Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has created
ripples in the London legal market and is now
arguably one of the most vibrant law firms in
the City. Over the past several years, BLP has
expanded into new specialties while building on
its strong real estate and corporate practices. In
the process, the firm has increased its headcount
by hundreds, opened new overseas offices most
recently in Hong Kong, Berlin and Frankfurt in
2011 and has more than doubled its profits
per equity partner. The firm now boasts eight
international offices and its reach extends to a
network of preferred firms in locations across the
globe. In fact, international work now accounts for
more than a third of BLPs turnover.
BLP has revolutionised the way legal

services can be delivered to their clients.
The origins of the firm go back to 1932, when
Leslie Paisner founded law firm Paisner & Co to
provide general legal advice. The firm built up a
reputation for its corporate work and boasted
major clients of the likes of Great Universal
Stores and Penguin Books. Law firm Leighton &
Co meanwhile was founded towards the end of
the 1940s, specialising in litigation and property
advice for West End developers. Berwin & Co,
which counted tax, M&A and corporate finance
amongst its specialties, later merged with
Leighton & Co, creating a well respected property
firm whose clients included British Land and Tesco.
The 2001 merger of Berwin Leighton and
Paisner & Co created a law firm with over
1,300 employees, more than 700 lawyers and
suited both firms down to the ground. Berwin
Leighton was looking to take on more City work
and develop its banking and M&A practices;
meanwhile, Paisner & Co was struggling in
the increasingly competitive City and looking

to expand.
The growth of BLP over the last decade has been
impressive, especially with regards to corporate,
banking and finance-related work. Currently, BLP
is one of the leading law firms for property work,
with clients including The Crown Estate, Tesco,
Blackstone, Liverpool City Council and Credit
Suisse. The firms corporate practice has also
expanded, from the firms corporate finance, AIM
and private equity work. BLPs policy of advising
small companies as they grow, such as on their
flotation on AIM, has meant that the firm has not
been short of corporate work.
FIRM PROFILE
In finance, BLP has won a number of major

clients, including Barclays, ING International,
UBS, Merrill Lynch, The Boeing Company, and the
Olympic Delivery Authority. The firm is a leader in
privately funded public projects, for both private
finance initiatives and public private partnerships.
Furthermore, the firms litigation and dispute
resolution, and tax capabilities are not to be
ignored. BLP has a highly respected tax practice
that has expanded in recent years to become
one of the largest and broadest legal tax teams
in the City.
Additionally, BLP has revolutionised the way
legal services can be delivered to their clients.
The firms Lawyers on Demand program a pool
of highly trained freelance lawyers available to
clients, and Managed Legal Service where BLP
can manage all or part of a clients legal needs for
them, mean that lawyers can vary their workload
to suit their lifestyles.
When it comes to pro bono work, BLP has a
committee which nominates a charity each year to
which the firm then devotes its fundraising efforts.
Furthermore, BLP is a patron of the Hayward
Gallery, borrowing works of art regularly for the
firms offices, and has worked on the London 2012
Olympics bid.
33
BOND PEARCE
Bond Pearce may not be a colossal international law firm, but it certainly is a growing firm with big
aspirations and stands tall as a true regional heavyweight in the South East and South West.
PROS
Quality work minus the pressure and long hours

of City firms
Hands on responsibility, even on headline deals,
from the start
Professional yet relaxed and friendly
atmosphere
Progressive when it comes to diversity
THE STATS
LOCATIONS

No. of Partners: 74
Trainee intake: 15
Approx no. of applications per year: 700
No. of offices: 5
Aberdeen Bristol London Plymouth Southampton
BASE SALARY
2011
1st year trainee 24,000
2nd year trainee 25,000
Newly Qualified 39,000

Banking and Finance Commercial Corporate Dispute
Resolution Employment & Benefits Environment
Pensions Planning & Regeneration Projects Real
Estate Regulatory and Competition Tax
34
CONS
Pay and perks could do with a boost

Lacks the recognition that its City peers
may enjoy
BRISTOL OFFICE (HQ)

3 Temple Quay
Temple Back East
Bristol BS1 6DZ
Tel: +44 (0)845 415 0000
www.bondpearce.com

Samantha Lee (Recruitment)
Tel: +44 (0)845 415 6521
LIFE ON THE JOB

The quality of work is very high and there are

always opportunities to get involved in the firms
headline deals. We are also given the opportunity
to run some smaller files ourselves, particularly in
litigation departments.
Trainee, Southampton
Trainees are given a lot of hands-on experience
and are encouraged to become heavily involved
with transactions/litigation, rather than
undertaking piecemeal work. We are given a lot of
client contact and are able to contribute at client
meetings. Much work is undertaken directly for
partners and there is no obvious separation from
them (especially as the offices are open-plan).
I have been involved in high-profile, high-value
transactions, which is great, especially as we are
based outside of the City!
Trainee, Bristol
I am very satisfied in my job. I am given a great
deal of responsibility and autonomy, coupled
with a strong supervision structure which means
I can always ask questions, or request that my
work is checked before it is sent out to clients,
and I do not feel that I am left alone. I have
considerable interaction with clients and have
my own files to run, now that I am in my fourth
seat (and in preparation for qualification). I have
direct contact with partners on a day-to-day basis
and am exposed to a wide variety of work, with
a wide variety of fee earners. The partners are
very approachable and the office culture is not
hierarchical at all.
Trainee, Bristol
BOND PEARCE
QUOTES
Generally, I tend to work from 9am until 5.30pm,

with later nights being very rare. I start by catching
up with my supervising partner to discuss the
tasks for the day and then reviewing my progress
throughout. I am often on the phone to clients, or
drafting formal documents for court, or preparing
letters of advice. My day varies depending on
the type of work we have on, but it is all very
interesting. 5.30pm soon comes around!
There is no typical day at work! I have a number
of transactions that I am constantly working on,
but am often asked to step in and help out with
other, more urgent matters. Photocopying does
not come onto the agenda often!
Trainee, Bristol
I am currently working in the commercial
property department and my typical day
involves reporting to clients on search results,
replies to CPSEs and title investigation, drafting
documentation including leases, licences to alter,
deeds of surrender, liaising with the Land Registry
to make applications, register interests, remove
notices, etc. and liaising with clients to move deals
forward and obtain instructions.
Trainee, Bristol
Culture
Trainees at Bond Pearce appear to have been

made from the same cloth. I think that the
recruitment process looks for a certain sort of
person, the criteria of which I am unable to put
my finger on. We go out for after-work drinks
together quite often and also socialise outside of
work. However, when it comes to seat selection
and NQ posts, as with any law firm, the gloves
come off.
35
The working environment is professional, yet

relaxed and friendly. Offices are open plan and
fee earners work in pods therefore there is
literally an open door policy at everyones desk.
Trainees get on well and have regular catch ups
both at work to organise charity events/CSR
initiatives/trainee forums, and outside of work
socially. Trainees are very supportive of each
other and there is a collaborative, as opposed to
competitive, relationship between us.
Trainee, Bristol
Trainees are assigned a supervisor (typically a
partner or senior associate) to whom they report,
although youll generally carry out work for all
members of the team. The atmosphere is friendly
and the people are approachable and sociable
in the office. Trainees do tend to support one
another and we share our experience with each
other over lunch or at social events. One criticism
is that the social life outside of office hours isnt
the most active.
Trainee, Plymouth
Seats
Trainees at Bond Pearce complete four seats

of six months each. The range of seats depends
upon the office that the trainee is based in, but as
a rough guide, the Bristol office offered a choice
of 13 different departments in March 2011, and
there is scope to move between offices. There are
currently no overseas seats offered.
Trainee, Bristol
Trainees do four seats of six months each; theres
a wide range of departments and the opportunity
to be seconded to the legal department of
one of the firms clients or to one of the firms
other offices (e.g. London, Aberdeen). When
switching seats, trainees have to select and rank
four choices of which they will usually get one
broadly speaking, you will get a chance to do the
seats you want over the course of your training
contract.
36
Formal Training
Training programmes are well structured and

organised. There is always time to attend. I have
developed my advocacy and legal writing skills, as
well as gaining greater commercial awareness.
Trainee, London
The firm has a structured training programme for
trainees, which operates alongside the PSC. The
sessions are well spaced out (which encourages
people to attend as it means that they dont
have to take too much time away from their
departments in a concentrated period) and usually
take place over a whole day, which means that we
can all get together and focus upon the training,
rather than worrying about the emails we will
have to come back to! We are never made to feel
that we do not have time to attend these sessions.
The sessions we have attended so far include
writing and drafting skills and communication
skills.
Trainee, Bristol
The firm has a very structured training
programme, although this does vary from team
to team. In the team I am currently working in,
we have regular monthly current awareness
sessions, as well as ad hoc training on key issues.
We also attend webinars put on by external
providers, for example LexisNexis, in order to keep
up-to-date with the latest legal developments. In
addition to legal knowledge, we also have other
training. For example, recently the department
went on a team building event which included
raft building and an overnight camping trip. In
addition, the entire team across all offices
got together for a day of business development
training, on how to target and win new clients, as
well as nurture existing relationships.
Trainee, Bristol
In all of my seats I have received excellent

informal training and supervision. Lawyers are
generally available and will make time for you,
unless there is an urgent business need which
means meetings have to be cancelled. I have
learnt to pick my moments when to ask for
guidance as the supervision will be more useful
if there is more time to go through my work
thoroughly.
Trainee, London
Colleagues are always happy to help with queries
on a day-to-day basis. We are also assigned a
trainee buddy, who is usually from the trainee
cohort in the year above. This is good because
most of the problems you encounter early on in
the firm are ones which your buddy has already
been through. I have learnt to improve my general
professionalism from being at the firm and from
taking tips from supervisors. My writing skills have
also improved through my work being supervised,
to make it more commercial.
There are department-led training sessions
concentrating upon legal updates in that area of
law. These are generally one hour long and are
held once a month. Trainees are encouraged to
prepare training topics for these sessions. We are
encouraged to highlight areas that we feel we
need to focus upon. The partners and solicitors
are easily accessible and are happy to listen to any
problems or areas of concern. I am always aware
that people have a lot of work on and I therefore
dont want to be constantly asking questions. It
is often about picking the right time and asking
the right questions. We have monthly reviews
and appraisals every three months with our
supervisors (who are often partners) and that is
the ideal time to raise any areas in which we feel
we need more support.
Trainee, Bristol
Green Initiatives
Each floor has a number of recycling bins

(including those for plastic drinking cups) and the
facilities team is keen on having computers turned
off overnight and lights only being used where
necessary.
BOND PEARCE
The office lights are on timer systems so they

turn off after a certain period of inactivity. The
firm operates a cycle to work scheme and in 2010
we rolled out a new printer system which was
designed to reduce paper waste (and reduced
our paper consumption dramatically in the first
month). Many departments have now become
paperless and it is envisaged that this will be
rolled out to the whole firm.
Trainee, Bristol
diversity
The firm is incredibly progressive when it comes

to diversity. Flexible working policies are used by
many people, and they are very understanding
when it comes to childcare. I have a two-year-old
and am about to go on maternity leave; the firm
has been very supportive of my working hours
and the need for me to leave on time for childcare
purposes. I have been extremely impressed by
their attitude in this regard.
Trainee, Bristol
We have a diversity forum group which
challenges our policies and procedures and
ensures that we are as diverse as possible. There
are flexible working hours available, and childcare
schemes for those with families. There is online
diversity training to ensure that all staff are aware
of the policies, law and how they can integrate
this into their working lives.
Trainee, Bristol
The office is modern with all the necessary

facilities. With regard to dress, suits are worn Mon
Thurs with a casual dress down day each Friday.
37
The Bristol office is in the city centre, right next

to the train station. The offices are only five years
old and are open plan. We have lots of facilities
available, including on site catering and a breakout
area. The dress code is what you would expect for
a law firm if you are meeting a client you should
be formally dressed. However, it can be more
relaxed if you are not having client contact. We
have a dress down policy every Friday (unless you
are meeting with a client), which always means
that there is a more light-hearted mood on a
Friday.
Trainee, Bristol

upon qualification?
Very well prepared, although am aware that it
is likely to be a steep learning curve. I feel I have
been well prepared and that there is a genuine
interest in equipping me with the requisite skills
before I qualify.
Trainee, Bristol
Extremely prepared, as the help and assistance
I have gained will set me up for embarking on my
professional career.

Hours
I currently work 35 hours a week on average.

Only in very exceptional circumstances have I
been asked to work later and, even then, not
beyond 7.30pm. Generally, I work less hours than
I would have expected, considering the size and
type of firm.
38
I probably work between 40 and 45 hours a

week, depending on my workload. This is probably
slightly less than I expected, given some of the
horror stories you hear about trainee hours.
Trainee, Bristol
I work on average 40 hours per week. I am
working the same hours as I expected. If there is
a lot of work on, we are expected to stay longer,
but as long as we have done everything that we
need to, we are not made to feel guilty for leaving
on time. It is understood that everyone has
commitments outside of work and it is important
to have a work/life balance.
Trainee, Bristol
Salary
The pay is competitive for the area, but maybe

less so for the quality of work that we are
expected to undertake.
Pay is not great, but the experience gained makes
up for it.
We are paid a reasonable wage, although it
is lower than some firms with which we align
ourselves.
Trainee, Bristol
Perks
There are no specific perks, other than the usual

health and pension benefits.
We have regular social events which are
subsidised for members of the sports and social
group.
Trainee, Bristol
Friendly working environment, positive culture,

and encouragement for everyone to reach their
potential.
Trainee, Bristol
Being part of a growing firm with big aspirations
and being part of a team which recognises my
efforts and my personality.
MINUSES
The management and low pay.

Trainee, London
Time recording (but that is a given in a law
firm!).
Trainee, Bristol
Fun Facts
Bond Pearce was involved with the litigation

that resulted in shops being able to trade on a
Sunday!
Trainee, Bristol
I had previously worked for the firm as a

paralegal, but still had to attend a two-week
vacation scheme in another office. I had a
structured interview with a partner and a senior
associate. I was asked about my skills and about
the firm.
Trainee, London
BOND PEARCE
PLUSES
The recruitment process consisted of an

assessment day which included a group exercise,
role play, and an interview. I had an interview with
a senior associate and an HR representative. The
format of the interview was relatively relaxed,
and included various questions relating to
business awareness and commercial acumen. The
assessment day was very enjoyable and there was
a real sense of investment by the firm. They had a
lot of assessors present, from associates through
to partners, and I felt the firm was really trying to
get the best out of the participants. Questions at
the interview included talking about something
in the news at present which had caught my eye,
what I thought the role of a solicitor entailed, and
what I thought the most important qualities of a
solicitor were.
Trainee, Bristol
Tips & Advice

Interviews, Applications and Assessments
The firms recruitment process either takes
the form of a two-week long vacation scheme,
with assessment over the scheme, or a formal
assessment centre day. There is therefore
generally only one round of interviews. I had my
interview with a partner and somebody from
HR. The interview was relatively relaxed and,
although there were obviously questions that
they were expected to ask, it was allowed to
progress naturally depending upon my answers.
The questions asked varied from interests and
hobbies, current affairs and areas of law/other
subjects studied.
Trainee, Bristol
The firm appears to want commercially minded,

sharp human beings (as opposed to highly
intelligent, but socially inept billing machines).
Having a 1st does not appear to be a requirement,
but any weaknesses in your grades will require a
good reason to justify it. My advice would be
to be yourself as anyone can fake it for one day,
but doing that for the rest of your life will be
hard work.
Look at the website, understand the firms vision
and try to use the buzz words in your application.
Also be aware of the clients we act for and do
not refer to the recession as your commercial
awareness point as this has been overdone.
39
The firm does not have a typical trainee. Instead,

it operates a point scoring system which takes
into account the candidate as a whole. Candidates
should try and get themselves across as naturally
as possible on the application form and not focus
solely upon academics. Candidates should have
a strong academic background, lots of interests
outside of work, be approachable and confident
and have a passion for law and the city in which
they would like to be based. Bond Pearce does
not have a preferred university. Candidates are
expected to have a 2:1 at degree level, although
this is not compulsory.
Trainee, Bristol
I enjoyed working as a paralegal at the firm and

wanted to train there.
Trainee, London
They were by far the friendliest firm, and
the assessment day impressed upon me their
approachable style, and not a sign of stuffiness. It
has lived up to my expectations in that regard.
Trainee, Bristol
I attended one of their open days and liked

what I saw! They offered the right kind of work,
had offices in a city that I love and most of all,
everyone I met seemed really enthusiastic,
friendly and encouraging!
Trainee, Bristol
Go online for in-depth profiles and

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40
With 600 employees, Bond Pearce may not be

a colossal international law firm, but it certainly
is a growing firm with big aspirations. Although
Bond Pearces presence is particularly strong in
the South of England with offices in Southampton,
Plymouth, Bristol and London, the firm moved into
Scotland (Aberdeen to be exact) a few years ago
to expand its national footprint. The firms trainee
intake has increased with the firms growth to 15,
but this doesnt mean its an easy mission to snap
up a training contract.
While current trainees claim there is less of a
focus on academics and more on personal skills
and communication, prospective trainees will still
have to present Bond Pearce with a top degree
as any weaknesses in your grades will require
a good reason to justify it. Apart from that, you
should have lots of interests outside of work so
make sure you have some extracurricular activities
under your belt. The firm is especially keen to hire
graduates who are approachable and confident
and dont forget to put across your passion for
law and the city you want to be based when you
apply a strong local connection will certainly
work toward your advantage. The firm currently
takes on trainees in its Bristol, Plymouth and
Southampton offices, though seats are available in
London and Aberdeen.
Training contracts at Bond Pearce are made up
of four six-month seats, and were told theres a
wide range of departments and the opportunity
to be seconded to the legal department of one of
the firms clients. Options vary, but usually include
insurance, commercial property, commercial
litigation, regulatory, oil and gas, financial services,
corporate, and property litigation. Trainees are not
able to do a seat abroad dont let this put you
off though as there isnt going to be a shortage of
interesting work when you train at Bond Pearce
one trainee comments that the quality of work
is very high and there are always opportunities
to get involved in the firms headline deals.
If all of this sounds good to you, submit your

online application and fingers crossed youll
be invited to an assessment day consisting of an
interview with a partner and senior solicitor, a
role play, a few tests and a group exercise. The
firm will have a lot of assessors present, from
associates through to partners, but this shouldnt
intimidate you. The recruitment process may be
pretty tough, difficult and tiring, but it will also
be relatively relaxed and believe it or not, for
some the assessment day was very enjoyable.
The interviews will cover a range of topics and
you may be asked about anything ranging from
interests and hobbies to current affairs and areas
of law/other subjects studied.
BOND PEARCE
The firm operates a point scoring

system which takes into account the
candidate as a whole, so remember
to be commercially minded, sharp,
personable and able to get on
with people.
In need of some last tips and advice? Current
trainees suggest candidates should know what
clients the firm deals with and consider how you
would interact with those clients as the face of
Bond Pearce. Other than that, keep in mind that
the firm does not hire a typical trainee. Instead, it
operates a point scoring system which takes into
account the candidate as a whole, so remember
to be commercially minded, sharp, personable
and able to get on with people.
41
FIRM PROFILE
Take a quick scout round Bond Pearces website
and you may notice the words customer, service
and experience crop up more than just a few
times. With a friendly, colourful, informal design
more akin to a media agency than a commercial
law practice it is clear Bond Pearce are trying
to sell themselves as a personable firm. And it
appears they have the goods to go with their
image: in 2010 Bond Pearce was named the
number one UK law firm for client service in the
Legal Week Client Satisfaction Report.
In 2010 Bond Pearce was named the

number one UK law firm for client
service in the Legal Week Client
Satisfaction Report.
Founded in Plymouth 1887, Bond Pearce has
grown into an established commercial player in
the South East, advising major UK businesses
and public sector organisations. But aside from
its provincial power-base, the firm is a big name
on the national stage, with marquee clients
including Banks, Renewables, B&Q, Carlsberg UK,
Cineworld, E.ON Ruhrgas, English Heritage, LV=,
Marks & Spencer, New Look, RWE Npower, Royal
Mail, Sainsburys and Specsavers.
Bond Pearce services clients in hospitality and
leisure, insurance, real estate and retail and
consumer goods. However, the firms flagship
department is energy, with its work securing a
400 million investment fund for National Wind
Power the standout out amongst its recent
deals. The firm provides advice in a range of
areas including banking and finance, commercial,
corporate, dispute resolution, employment and
benefits, environment, pensions, planning and
regeneration, projects, real estate, regulatory and
competition and tax.
42
The firm now has offices in Plymouth,

Southampton, Aberdeen, London and Bristol.
The latter in particular has gone from strength
to strength since its 1998 launch, growing
incrementally through a series of relatively small
mergers and lateral hires. In 2001 the Bristol
base assimilated Eversheds property team and
merged with Bristol firm Cartwrights. Nationwide,
Bond Pearce now employs over 600, including 74
partners and over 360 other legal professionals.
Bond Pearces CSR mission statement is to leave
behind something better than we inherited. In
ensuring it has a positive impact on the world
in which it operates, Bond Pearce supports
several projects in its local communities. The
firms corporate responsibility group, led by its
Chairman, supports charitable organisations
across the UK not just with financial support but
also by providing time and expertise.
Bond Pearces CSR mission statement

is to leave behind something better
than we inherited.
In 2011, the firm is supporting The Princes
Trust as its national charity, working with the
organisation to support young people from
troubled or less fortunate backgrounds. In several
regions, Bond Pearce also supports local causes
chosen by its employees, such as St Peters
Hospice in Bristol, Scratch in Southampton and
Theatre Royal Playhouse project in Plymouth.
Furthermore, Bond Pearces solicitors provide pro
bono work under a variety of guises. This includes
membership of a board of a childrens hospice,
chairmanship of boards of governors and work for
a number of community foundations.
BOND PEARCE
e
h
t
r
o
f
g
Lookin
n
o
p
o
o
c
s
latest
Accenture, Apple, Bain & Company, Bank of England, BBC, Booz & Company,
BP, Citi, Civil Service, Coca-Cola, Credit Suisse, Deloitte, Deutsche Bank,
Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Ernst & Young, FSA, GlaxoSmithKline, Goldman
Sachs, Google, Grant Thornton, HSBC Holdings, IBM, J.P. Morgan, John Lewis
Partnership, KPMG, LOral, McKinsey & Company, Morgan Stanley, Oxfam,
PricewaterhouseCoopers, Procter & Gamble, Sony, Teach First, The Boston
Consulting Group, UBS, Unilever, Virgin Group and more...

43
BRABNERS CHAFFE STREET

A leading light of the North West corporate and commercial scene, Brabners Chaffe Street has
quadrupled in size in the past decade and provides a full range of legal services to mid-level corporates,
large businesses, private clients and other high net worth individuals. The firm has three offices in the
North West Liverpool, Manchester and Preston.
PROS
Great deal of responsibility given to trainees

High level of support, and trainees can work
closely with partners
Open-door policy and friendly, relaxed culture
Great quality of work, and the workload varies
every day
Good work/life balance encouraged
CONS
Slow I.T. system

Occasional tedious trainee tasks, e.g. organising
files
Lack of maternity pay
QUOTES
LIFE ON THE JOB
I have been given a broad range of work and a

manageable level of responsibility for matters.
I have sat in meetings with my supervisor and
clients, and I have also conducted some meetings
on my own, with just me and a client. I have direct
contact with the partners should I wish to ask for
any support and I have been exposed to some
high-profile deals and clients.
Trainee, Preston
A great deal of responsibility from early on,
although the degree of this does change from
department to department. On the other hand,
trainees do get their fair share of admin tasks!
There is a high degree of direct contact with
fee earners of all levels, most of whom are very
approachable.
Second year trainee, Liverpool
44
Trainees are given a great deal of responsibility

from day one of their contract, but are also
greatly supported by those giving them work.
The partners are very approachable and make
time for trainees. Work is given with reasonable
deadlines except where urgent and the work given
to trainees is largely valuable, experience laden
work. The work can be of a high profile nature due
to the size and reputation of Brabners.
First year trainee, Liverpool

It varies everyday which is great, and involves
doing a variety of work for several partners with
most work coming from the training principle
partner. Often involves research for partners and
helping them with preparing advice for clients,
drafting witness statements, instructions to
counsel and preparing bundles.
At our firm they believe that it is also important

to have a social life. We take part in a number
of networking events, and also have staff drinks
once a month. All of the trainees get on really well
and meet for lunch on a regular basis, as well as
lunching for peoples birthdays, Christmas, the
fact that it is payday, etc. There is a very good
atmosphere among the trainees. We also work
together on charity events.
My work varies day by day. I start at 9am

and usually leave at about 5.30pm. From 9am
1pm and 2 5.30pm my work will usually
involve drafting various applications to the land
registry, deeds, memoranda, letters, e-mails
and making telephone calls to clients and legal
representatives of others. I analyse the terms of
leases to determine what needs to be removed/
included for the client, prepare reports on leases
highlighting their key terms for clients, analyse
deeds and the results of property searches so
that such can be reported to clients, carrying
out research into various property matters for
colleagues (e.g. intensification of use as regards
easements) and attending meetings to discuss
the firm, client matters, or to be trained in certain
aspects of law.
The working environment is friendly yet

professional. Trainees are happy to help each
other. Trainees socialise with each other across
the firm at annual events such as the trainee
dinner in Liverpool, trainee drinks evenings in
Liverpool, the staff conference and at charity
events organised by the firm. On a local level, at
the Preston office there are informal drinks after
work, office walks to the Lake District, a running
club during the office lunch hour, an annual
summer BBQ and Christmas party.
Trainee, Preston
Culture
The firm as a whole is extremely friendly

and relaxed. We operate an open door policy
at all levels of staff, from managing partners
to secretaries, and so everyone in the firm is
approachable. First year trainees are assigned
a second year mentor who is their first point of
contact if they have any queries or problems.
However, all trainees are very supportive of each
other regardless of whether they are mentoring
or not. We try and socialise as much as possible
and tend to go for drinks and/or lunch together at
least once a week. This is important especially in
larger firms where due to the proximity between
trainees in different departments you may not see
a fellow trainee for a few days at a time.
First year trainee, Manchester
It involves liaising with clients and third parties

by letter, e-mail and/or telephone. Drafting
documents including leases, witness statements
and shareholder agreements, and researching
new or obscure points of law. Attending client
meetings, completion meetings and court/tribunal
hearings. Arranging training sessions. Drafting
client updates/bulletins, and providing general
support to the whole department.
Seats
Trainees are able to do a minimum of four

seats in all departments across the firm (except
private client). There is also the chance to do a
secondment with the legal team of one of our
major clients, which is open to both first and
second year trainees. During the first few weeks
of the training contract a meeting is held with
the training partner to discuss your preferred
seats. Every attempt is made to place trainees in
at least one, if not all, of their preferred seats. If
this has not been possible, the trainee is offered
the chance to split their final seat into two threemonth seats, enabling the second year trainee
to either gain experience of a new department
before qualification, or to be put back into a
department in which they would like to qualify.
45
Typically, each trainee does four six-month

seats in different departments. The following
departments are available in the Liverpool office:
commercial litigation (which includes property
litigation and media litigation), employment,
commercial property, corporate (which includes
commercial, charity and banking law), private
client, social housing (which includes litigation
and property).
Formal Training
Brabners Chaffe Street provides in-house

training seminars, updater materials, and each
department regularly hold short meetings to
discuss new developments in the law. This ensures
that you are constantly up-to-date with the legal
developments, and feel as though you are on top
of the area of law that you are in. This is essential
when talking with clients. Despite it being difficult
due to the busy nature of the firm, Brabners
always makes time to provide, and for you to
attend training. Brabners also gets involved with
presentations at local universities and events.
Trainees are given the opportunity to do these,
which provide invaluable lessons. As well as
improving my legal knowledge and understanding,
at Brabners I have also learnt how to conduct
meetings, present and even write better.
Training is taken seriously and is provided
regularly, in an interesting manner and with
expertise to ensure development. Attendance is
rarely an issue as plenty of details and notice is
given. Skills are learned substantively from the
content of sessions and from interaction with
colleagues. They are also gained in terms of
management of work and firm style expectations.
46
Our initial training was undertaken in the first

week of our training contract and this was quite an
intensive training period. Following on from this,
we are regularly updated with various training
programmes ranging from IT systems to the use of
the LinkedIn service on the internet. Trainees do
tend to take all training sessions seriously and our
attendance at these sessions is expected, except
where work commitments mean we are too busy
to attend. When this is the case, a further session
is usually rearranged for a later date and in the
meantime any hard copy information is provided
to the individual trainee to review in their own
time. The firm also holds weekly training sessions
which trainees are expected to attend, these are
often department specific and so attendance by
senior fee earners varies, however trainees are
expected to attend all sessions. Time is made
available for sessions such as these and lunch is
often provided to ensure that attendees are able
to enjoy lunch at the same time.
The partners that I have dealt with are very

hands on and very eager to teach you. They are
happy to attend catch up/update meetings,
even if it is only for five minutes to clarify a minor
problem. I have learnt that if you dont understand
something you should ALWAYS ask. There is no
such thing as a stupid question.
Solicitors, associates and partners often discuss
work with trainees on an informal basis and there
is therefore easy access to informal training.
Trainees are encouraged to speak with them
with respect to the work given and any questions
or concerns arising from such. Lessons/skills
Ive learnt be assertive and confident. Know
exactly the details of what you wish to discuss
before doing so. Ensure you always observe
deadlines and if there are any problems meeting
them explain this to the person who gave the
work. If any mistakes are made, address them
immediately.
The firms office is located in Exchange Flags,

Liverpool right behind the town hall. Exchange
Flags is a very well known and historic building,
and is a fantastic setting for offices. The office
is open plan, although some separation is
maintained; I think they have struck a great
balance. All the facilities that you need are
available. Obviously the dress code is office wear.
It is not essential to wear a tie every minute
of every day, unless you are meeting clients or
attending a hearing. Brabners also operates a
dress down policy every Friday.
The office is set in the heart of Manchester
and is modern and bright, with enough space
for all members of staff without any sense of
claustrophobia. The dress code is office wear
Monday to Thursday (including suit jackets when
attending court or a meeting), and dress down on
Friday (unless you are scheduled to attend a client
meeting or court, etc.). It is advisable, particularly
in departments like litigation when things can
happen on the spur of the moment, to leave a
suit jacket in the office and bring a suitable skirt
or pair of trouser with you on a Friday in case you
are given the opportunity to attend a meeting or
hearing.
Green Initiatives
Lights, computers and printers are turned off

when not in use. The heating is on a timer. There
are lots of recycling bins for different types of
waste. Staff are encouraged to cycle to work
where possible, with favourable rates on bikes
with a particular supplier. Staff are encouraged not
to use paper plates and plastic cups.
Trainee, Preston
The firm has emphasised the importance of
recycling and does indeed regularly recycle. Lights
turn off after a period without movement around
them and computers stand by if left alone for a
period thereby conserving energy. I believe the
firm seeks to reduce as far as practicable paper
consumption and has recently introduced a new
document management system for easier use of,
and access to, electronic documents.
I share an office with a partner who provides

feedback and assistance not only on work for
them; but also on any other matters Im dealing
with, as well as generally discussing matters that
arise and explaining their significance. All fee
earners provide feedback on work done, and
explain the context of matters and the substance
behind our work, as well as explaining any
suggested improvements so that learning on the
job is significant.
diversity
The firm is highly committed to promoting

diversity and equal opportunities. The firms
retention level of those recruited is excellent. All
but one of the previous trainees who have most
recently qualified, were retained. The prospect
for promotion within the firm seems high; I know
more associates and partners than I do solicitors.
The firm is diverse in its workforce in respect
of all areas such as sex, race, age and sexual
orientation. Unfortunately the nature of the beast
is that the senior level staff tend to be male.
However, there are more and more female fee
earners who are vying for partner level positions.
The only complaint I would have is that the firm
does not currently operate a maternity leave
policy, and so only statutory maternity leave is
currently available.
Across the firm there are a good number of
female partners.
Trainee, Preston
47

upon qualification?
I have not yet even completed the first of my four
seats, but I feel that should my other three seats
give me the experience that my first has then I will
be confident and very much prepared to practise
law on qualification.
Ive only done my first seat in employment law,
but would feel very prepared and comfortable
practising in this area.
Very, cant wait!

Hours
I tend to work around 50 hours per week, and

I am more than happy with this. People have
a certain stereotype of bigger firms, but it just
isnt true. Brabners strongly encourages you to
maintain a work/life balance, especially while you
are a trainee.
On average I work between 40 50 hours per
week. This is most definitely a satisfactory level
of working hours. The firm is not the sort of place
that you feel the need to stay late just to be seen.
If you have finished your work by 5.30pm then
you are free to go at 5.31pm! However, there was
a two week period where I worked 15 hour days
(plus working from home at the weekend). On
reflection, this does not seem anywhere near as
bad as some trainees, (to whom 15 hour days are
the norm) however at the time it was exhausting.
48
It very much depends on the seat you are in

some departments require longer working hours
than others. Working extra hours is always noticed
and you are thanked for it, but it is only expected
when absolutely necessary.
Second year trainee, Manchester
Salary
Brabners provides an attractive and competitive

salary, particularly when viewed against the
backdrop of the current economic climate.
Brabners Chaffe Street pays a competitive wage;
trainees are included in the bonus scheme and
have previously been given M&S vouchers as a
thank you.
The salary is not as high as some of my peers
who work in similar size firms across Manchester;
however, it is definitely of a satisfactory level
for a trainee.
Perks
Free staff drinks at the end of every month at a

local bar. The annual staff conference each year
(employees are put up by the firm in a hotel for a
night and participate in team building exercises,
capped off with a big meal and big party in the
evening, and a big breakfast in the morning!). Free
dinners and drinks at events throughout the year.
Travel loan scheme. Ability to claim back work
expenses. Free fruit, tea and coffee each day!
The firm provides lots of free social events for
staff, including a conference at a top hotel in
Cheshire, with dinner and an overnight stay. Free
tickets for trainees to attend MTSG events such
as the Christmas and summer balls, Manchester
Christmas party, plus departmental Christmas
lunches along with other social and marketing
events.
Everyone is friendly and approachable, great

selection of seats, relaxed atmosphere, reasonable
deadlines for work, great salary. Great benefits
such as the travel loan scheme and numerous
events paid for by the firm. The firm is large and
reputable so trainees can be exposed to more high
value and high profile work. Trainees are given
a great deal of responsibility and corresponding
support.
The people and fellow trainees. Youre able to
work closely with partners on a variety of cases.
The social calendar, and potential to grow within
the firm.
The people both socially and in a working
environment, such as partner led supervision
and assistance. The quality of work and
responsibility given.
MINUSES
The I.T. system that the firm uses can be slow

at times. There will be occasions where trainees
must carry out tedious work such as organising
files or drafting schedules of documents.
Commuting into Manchester, the lack of
maternity pay, the I.T. system.
Parking, I.T. system!
FUN FACTS
The corporate seat at Brabners is not corporate

alone, but rather includes corporate, commercial
and charities all in one.
The firm supports a different charity each year

which is nominated by the members of staff. We
run charity events (including an Apprentice style
trainee event) each year to try and raise as much
money for these charities as possible.
PLUSES

There were three rounds the first round was
the application form, the second round was an
assessment day (which included a group task
and presentation). The third round was a formal
interview with our director of training and a
partner. The assessment day was enjoyable and
I was made to feel at ease by those interviewing.
Some questions that were asked included: How can
you demonstrate commercial awareness? Explain a
time when you have failed? How would your best
friend describe you? What are your strengths?
There was a mixture of formal questions and
questions about you as an individual, e.g. what
triggered the credit crunch? Give us an example
of a time you were involved in a business
transaction? How would your friends describe
you? Why do you want to be a solicitor? Why do
you want to be a solicitor at Brabners? Where do
you see yourself in five years?
I attended an assessment day and an interview
which was with three partners who were all
very friendly and approachable. The assessment
day included a group task and an individual
presentation to partners, but the tasks were
interesting and not too false or forced. The
interview was a general chat through my CV and
application before some more firm/law specific
questions.
49
Tips & Advice
The firm seeks people with intelligence, intuition,

humour, approachability and commitment, and
who have a connection with or interest in the
North West. The firm prefers candidates to
have achieved, or be forecast to achieve, a good
2.1 degree.
The firm looks to hire individuals who do not fit
in to any particular mould. If you think that youre
sure to get a training contract here just because
you have impeccable academics, this is not the
case. Whilst academics are important, the firm
also looks for personality and a life outside of your
degree. You need to be able to communicate with
your peers on both a professional and sociable
level. It is all well and good getting a first class
degree from Oxford or Cambridge but if you cant
hold a discussion about last nights Coronation
Street or the football match at the weekend then
you are unlikely to succeed past the interview
stage. The firm only asks that you attain a 2.1 or
higher at degree level and is not in any way biased
to any particular university.
Friendly and sociable. Candidates should be
intellectual but also personable; it is a good
advantage to be a good communicator, both to
clients and colleagues. It is advisable to have a 2:1,
but not essential. Brabners like to know why you
have chosen a particular city, i.e. what ties you
have here, but they do not recruit from specific
universities.
50
The overall impression was fantastic, Brabners

Chaffe Street have the whole package, and I
especially liked the encouragement to maintain a
good work/life balance.
Brabners has a relaxed yet hardworking
atmosphere. Emphasis is placed on client
satisfaction and the firm is not solely driven by
profits. The firm is large, but not so large that
trainees will never know many of the people they
are working with. The firm offers a wide range of
seats to trainees. Trainees are given a great deal of
responsibility and corresponding support. Finally,
the firm is highly reputable.
The work/life balance, the relaxed and friendly
atmosphere, the firms extension into specialised
areas such as sports and media law, the potential
for growth within the firm, the training structure
and the people in general.
The message coming from the Brabners camp

is unanimous: whilst academics are important,
once the prerequisite level of a 2:1 is achieved,
other factors become more important. The firm
looks for candidates that will fit into the work
and with the people; as one trainee puts it, you
need to be able to communicate with your peers
on both a professional and sociable level... [so]
if you cant hold a discussion about last nights
Coronation Street or the football match at the
weekend, youre unlikely to succeed past the
interview stage.
Brabners Chaffe Street doesnt employ any
Oxbridge or red-brick snobbery; its not in any
way biased to any particular university although
a connection with the North West is preferable.
Brabners actively looks to hire individuals who
do not fit in to any particular mould, although
well rounded, intelligent and hard working are
attributes that crop up in our survey responses.
You need to be able to communicate

with your peers on both a professional
and sociable level... [so] if you cant
hold a discussion about last nights
Coronation Street or the football match
at the weekend, youre unlikely to
succeed past the interview stage.
The first takes the form of an assessment day,

with candidates facing a group activity and an
individual presentation to partners. The former
has been described as interesting and not too
false or forced, and unlike many other firms,
the assessment day doesnt include verbal
reasoning tests.
The second round will see you faced with a

panel of interviewers normally three or four
comprising a training supervisor and partners.
This may sound like an intimidating proposition,
but the partners are normally very friendly and
approachable, after all, they would all have been
there themselves at some point in their career!
The interview tends to be a mix of general chat
on the candidates CV and application, and formal
industry specific questions. Expect to be quizzed
on your reason for choosing Brabners in particular,
be prepared to elaborate on previous work
experience and watch out for left-field pitches,
such as What book are you currently reading?
Successful applicants will do four six-month seats
during their training contract. The first seat is
chosen for you and every recruit must complete
a stint in commercial property. Brabners gives
trainees their preferred options for the remaining
two seats where they can, but if this is not
possible, the trainee is offered the chance to split
their final seat into two three-month seats. The
firm may not have offices abroad but there is the
chance for a secondment to the legal team of one
of Brabners major clients.
Trainees describe Brabners as a local firm [with

a] good atmosphere. The work/life balance and
specialisms such as sports and media law make
it a popular choice for trainees looking for good
quality work in the North West. Those wishing
to become part of this regional legal leader must
begin their journey with an online application.
This initial stage is followed by two rounds.
51
FIRM PROFILE
A leading light of the North West corporate and
commercial scene, Brabners Chaffe Street is
starting to become a regular feature in the Sunday
Times 100 Best Companies To Work For. Having
quadrupled in size in the past decade, Brabners
now provides a full range of legal services to midlevel corporates, large businesses, private clients
and other high net worth individuals. Brabners has
three regional offices, in Liverpool, Manchester
and Preston, but that doesnt mean the firm is
restricted to local or domestic markets. The firms
legal patter can be heard all across the Continent,
with Brabners represented in 83 offices across 35
countries through its networks with Eurolegal and
the Association of European Lawyers.
Each client, whether based in the North West
or further afield, has a relationship manager
whose role is to learn and understand the clients
business objectives, preferences, priorities and
concerns. Brabners client roster includes plcs,
public sector bodies, banks and a wide range
of commercial, corporate and professional
businesses.
Brabners Chaffe Street is starting

to become a regular feature in the
Sunday Times 100 Best Companies
To Work For.
Brabners commercial services arm is the first of
its cornerstone practices. It provides services to an
array of sectors and industries, from business and
legal guidance on the day-to-day requirements of
running a company, to arcane advice on specialist
areas such as IP rights, data, technology and
media. Highly regarded for its corporate work,
Brabners provides a range of services to all kinds
of clients, from financial institutions to charities.
Both corporate and commercial services are
accommodated in all three offices, comprising over
30 lawyers as well as support staff.
52
The firm employs a partner-led approach to its

employment services division, endeavouring to
identify issues before they become problems
and advising clients proactively. In litigation,
Brabners has a team of 30 people spread across
its three offices with expertise in a number of
areas, including media, environmental and general
commercial litigation, as well as private client
services such as personal injury claims.
Brabners has advised on headlinegrabbing transfers, including deals for

David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Through its private client services, Brabners has
been advising business owners, landowners and
executives for more than 200 years, and has
unsurprisingly developed a strong reputation and
expertise in this field in the North West whether
that be drafting wills or advising on complicated
tax planning. The firms property department is
one of the largest of its kind in the region, and
boasts a client list that includes everything from
blue chip companies and banks, to local authorities
and individuals.
Lastly, but certainly not least, is Brabners sports
department. Not just a bellwether of the North
West, it is a market leader both within the UK and
internationally. Tending to leading names in the
world of sport, the firms sports division advises a
vast array of clients from international federations,
national governing bodies and clubs, to event
organisers, sponsors, broadcasters and individual
sportsmen and women. Brabners notably offers
regulatory and transactional experiences and
exposure to top flight football clubs in England
and Europe, and has advised on headline-grabbing
transfers, including deals for David Beckham and
Cristiano Ronaldo.
This new kid on the Magic Circle block has witnessed a meteoric rise over the past couple of decades;
having grabbed internationalisation by the horns, Clifford Chance has established itself as the largest law
firm both in the UK and globally.
PROS
Very meritocratic once youve proved

yourself, good work will come your way
Regular direct contact with partners
High quality clients and work
Involvement in big international deals
from the outset
Excellent, extensive formal training
International opportunities every trainee
that wants to do a seat abroad can
CONS
No trainee bonuses as seen at other

Magic Circle firms
Lack of control over hours, and therefore
social plans
Can sometimes feel like a very small fish
in a massive pond
A fair bit of repetitive trainee work
such as proofreading
THE STATS
LOCATIONS
No. of lawyers firm-wide: 2,360 (not including partners)

No. of lawyers in London: 730 (not including partners)
London Partners: 190
London trainee intake: 120 per year
London trainees retained: 82% (2010)
No. of offices: 32
Abu Dhabi Amsterdam Bangkok Barcelona Beijing
Brussels Bucharest Doha Dubai Dsseldorf
Frankfurt Hong Kong Istanbul Kyiv London
Luxembourg Madrid Milan Moscow Munich New
York Paris Perth Prague Riyadh* Rome So
Paulo Shanghai Singapore Sydney Tokyo Warsaw
Washington DC
BASE SALARY
LONDON 2011
Newly qualified 61,500
*Co-operation agreement with Al-Jadaan & Partners Law

Firm.
LONDON OFFICE
10 Upper Bank Street
London E14 5JJ
Tel: +44 (0)20 7006 1000
www.cliffordchance.com
Banking & Finance Capital Markets Corporate/M&A

Litigation & Dispute Resolution Real Estate
Tax, Pensions & Employment
CLIFFORD CHANCE
CLIFFORD CHANCE

Tel: +44 (0)20 7006 3003
Recruitment.London@CliffordChance.com
53
QUOTES
LIFE ON THE JOB
The firm is very meritocratic; once you prove

yourself to superiors good work will come your
way. Client contact is frequent but seldom faceto-face in the department I am in. The partners
are very approachable (unless theyre really busy)
and I work closely with one or two of them on a
regular basis. The deals we do are second to none;
if theres a big deal out there we are probably on
it, at least in a small way and trainees are brought
right into the heart of even the biggest, most highprofile transactions from the outset.
First year trainee
I am very happy with the quality of work and
level of responsibility. Clients and deals are usually
the most prestigious ones and the level of work
depends on the trainees prior experience and
department (with smaller departments offering
more responsibility). Support services are very
good and ensure that trainees get to do legal work
rather than mundane proofing or copying, etc.
First year trainee
Work satisfaction depends on which department
you are in. Some of the law-based departments
are very satisfying, but you always have work such
as preparing bundles of documents and paginating
documents which is time-consuming, often
urgent, and unrewarding.
Second year trainee
The amount of responsibility you get and client
interaction really depends on who you work
for, the partner whos running the deal, and the
nature of the deal itself. Even if youre competent
and can be placed in front of clients, quite a lot of
the time youre just helping out with transaction
management.
Second year trainee
54
No two days are ever the same. Even when you

are doing a big piece of ongoing work, there are
always things coming in from clients and what you
are doing by lunchtime is not always what you had
planned at 9 oclock. It is not rare for me to do
drafting, due diligence, client care and research
tasks in the same day, sometimes in the same half
hour.
First year trainee
I can be involved in anything from doing ad hoc
pieces of research and then tailoring them to the
requirements of the particular client, to drafting
ancillary agreements and documents. Trainees are
often also involved in managing the paperwork
generated by deals, which means you get a great
insight into how the deal works and the different
aspects of it.
First year trainee
Checking mail, acting on work requests
depending on capacity, doing some research
or minor drafting under supervision, feedback
from seniors after review, incorporating changes
suggested. While this is more or less a structure/
sequence, no two days have been alike and a day
varies depending on the nature of deal, stage of
the deal, and timelines fixed.
First year trainee
Culture
The firm is very open and friendly. There is a lot of

support amongst trainees and this extends into the
ranks of the associates too. Departmental socials
tend to take place every couple of months and
trainee events around once a month to once every
six weeks. Less formal socialising is always going on,
whether it be drinks in the bar or heading out of
the office for something more adventurous.
First year trainee
Contrary to most peoples expectations, the firm

(or at least certain departments) have a much
more easy going approach. There is little or no
concept of face-time in fact my supervisor has
often asked me why I am still in the office at 6.30.
All partners and associates that I have worked
for have been very approachable and willing to
answer questions. Obviously you are expected
to use your own initiative to try and solve any
problems yourself first, but people are more than
happy for you to wander into their office and
check your understanding. As trainees do the
LPC together, you will generally know the people
you are starting work with and this is very helpful
when you need to ask straightforward questions
on how the office works, etc. There are regular
department drinks and trainee drinks, and you will
most likely find someone you know in the bar in
the office on any given evening to socialise with.
First year trainee
Seats
All departments take trainees but you have to

take at least one finance and one corporate seat,
and (unless you opt out) one litigation/contentious
seat. HR is very helpful if they cant satisfy your
seat preferences in one seat, you will generally be
able to negotiate a competitive/glamorous seat
later. Most trainees do at least one seat abroad,
but some choose to do two. Often, if you have
language skills that are required in certain seats
(e.g. Frankfurt, Paris, Milan) you can use that to
bargain with HR and get a more exciting seat (e.g.
Hong Kong, Dubai, New York) as well.
First year trainee
Trainees do four seats in total. Finance, Corporate

and Litigious seats must be done (though there
is an option to do Litigation through pro bono or
summer courses). You can sit in any department at
the firm and there is a lot of choice and dialogue
to discuss where you want to go. Going abroad is
an option and is positively encouraged.
First year trainee
CLIFFORD CHANCE
The trainee group is very friendly and quite a

few trainees socialise outside work and even live
together. The bespoke LPC means that nearly all
of the trainees in that intake know each other,
which can be very helpful. It is normal practice
for trainees to contact each other for help on
legal or general work matters. There is a trainee
committee which organises social events such as
winter and summer parties and drinks at the start
and end of seats.
First year trainee
Majority of available seats are in finance,

corporate, capital markets or real estate. There is
plenty of choice and youre usually able to get the
seats you want. Plenty of options to go abroad,
although naturally some seats (Tokyo, Hong Kong,
Singapore) are very competitive and are a bit
harder to get.
Second year trainee
Formal Training
The firm has its own academy, which provides

huge amounts of ongoing professional
development. Departmental courses are run
at least once a week. The training ranges from
lectures to fully interactive discussion groups
and includes occasional overnight off-sites. Legal,
technical and soft skills (such as communication,
networking, and client care) are all covered in
the programme. There are also frequent lectures
and seminars on non-work-related topics, such as
regular guided tours of new art exhibitions.
First year trainee
There are inductions at the beginning of most
seats for several days, then a few training days
dotted around during the seat. Occasionally
people are asked to skip them to do important
work, but only very rarely and I have never been
asked to, most people take them seriously and
make sure you can attend. Lots of skills picked
up; obviously the obligatory law society required
ones, but also things like networking, which is
useful.
Second year trainee
55
We have excellent training resources with a

specialist team constantly updating the courses.
We are also trained in skills such as business
communication and presentation to ensure that
we can communicate effectively with clients and
colleagues.
First year trainee
Time pressure can often prevent full explanations

of tasks at the time they are given, but generally
senior lawyers are happy to go over issues and
will give constructive feedback. Ive learned a lot
about how to present documents, interactions
with clients and the commercial imperatives of
clients.
First year trainee
Pretty easy to get feedback on your work and
people are always willing to help there is
always someone who has time. The partners
and associates make very good mentors and
clearly have been in our position themselves. I
have learnt how to deal with clients and general
drafting preferences plus general deal etiquette.
First year trainee
Supervisors and partners are always happy to
answer trainees questions and there seems to
be a very good programme for training them to
be good trainers. The attitude is that you should
always try to work something out for yourself
but, if that fails or takes too long, there is always
someone to explain it or to confirm your own
thoughts.
First year trainee
Some people take on the mentoring role to a
much greater degree. All of my supervisors have
been very good at training and looking after you.
Second year trainee
56
Offices & Dress
The office is excellent, the transport links are

generally good and the facilities are worldclass. The dress code is business casual and the
firm seems to be relatively relaxed about this,
although you are expected to dress smartly and
professionally and wear a suit if you are dealing
directly with clients.
First year trainee
The office is fantastic. Being in Canary Wharf it is
very modern and has everything you could need: a
gym, squash courts, swimming pool, a hair salon,
a post office, a games room, a Starbucks, a bar, a
sandwich bar and a restaurant; not to mention the
full gamut of professional support facilities.
First year trainee
Swanky and modern office, and arguably one
of the grandest buildings. Location is at Canary
Wharf and although not in the City, the place has
a charm of its own and has a very business district
feel, which is also green and by the river with
great views. Facilities are very nice and include an
internal gym and swimming pool.
First year trainee
Trainees share an office with their supervisor.
It is private, but it would be nice to have nonglass walls! Dress is smart casual. Suits are only
required when seeing clients.
Second year trainee
Green Initiatives
The firm has a recycling programme in place

for paper, cans, plastics and other recyclables.
We also have various collections (batteries,
mobile phones, stamps) for charity. The lights
are automatically set to turn off after periods of
inactivity, and there are incentives for bringing
your own cups to the coffee shop, etc.
First year trainee
Lots of recycling around and Im aware of efforts

to reduce use of energy although its not pushed
very hard. I do get annoyed with people leaving
their desk lamps on all night and their computers
and screens, there doesnt seem to be anyone else
who cares about this though.
Second year trainee
Diversity
There are lots of women at junior level, but this

hasnt quite filtered up to the partnership. The
firm has a dedicated India group and recruits a
lot of Asian people (including many trainees from
India). There are not many black employees at
the firm at all. Theres an LGBT group. Im not sure
how many LGBT people actually attend. I know
several out people at work (including myself)
and have not experienced any problems, but am
aware of other employees who keep their sexual
orientation private.
Second year trainee
I think theyre quite good on this. They have
events and talks for various groups of people
(minorities, women...), although it wasnt really
something that I was aware of until I came to
the firm. They are very flexible when it comes to
personal circumstances around child care etc., so
long as you dont take the p*** obviously you
have to work hard and do long hours, but if you
need to work from home or leave early for a sick
child or because your arrangements have fallen
through, thats usually not a problem.
Second year trainee
The firm is constantly reviewing its diversity

policy, looking to promote more women to
the partnership, etc. However, I like the fact
that diversity is not hammered away at all the
time; people are left to get on with their work,
regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, etc.
First year trainee
CLIFFORD CHANCE
Paper recycling in each office, recycling bins

for almost all other things on each floor, lights
which switch off automatically (sometimes even if
you are still in the room but have been sat still for
too long!).
First year trainee

upon qualification?
It is still some way off, but I feel confident the
training programme will get me there!
First year trainee
Im only in my first seat so not sure about
qualification, but I definitely feel much more
competent and confident than when I started.
First year trainee
I would feel very prepared going into any other
Magic Circle or City firm.
Second year trainee
Not very much more prepared than after doing
my law degree.
Second year trainee

Hours
Over 6 months I have probably worked on

average 8/9 hours a day. This is about what I
expected although obviously it varies depending
on what work you have and what stage the deal
you are working on is at. Clearly when there
is a closing or things are very busy you will be
expected to stay and work, but when things are
quiet people are happy for you to leave early. It is
a lifestyle choice and if you are not willing to work
around the fact that the work comes in waves this
probably is not the firm for you.
First year trainee
57
In my current department I work probably

50 hours a week on average. My worst period
involved working 100 in 5 days (or 3 all-nighters in
4 nights).
Second year trainee
50 hours a week. About what I expected but
in the area of corporate I have been in, nobody
leaves until at least 6.30pm even if they dont
have work (officially work finishes at 5.30pm and
partners say there is no face time culture there
is a bit).
First year trainee
During the last six months I averaged about
52 hours per week. I slightly exceed my billable
targets. We are expected to be in the office from
9:30-17.30 officially; however 9:15-18:30 is what
most trainees aim for.
Second year trainee
Salary
The salary is very high for someone my age, with

only investment bankers making more. Compared
to some US firms the salary is low but equally
I feel that those firms want their pound of flesh
for their money. There are some weeks when you
work 70+ hours and the pay per hour seems quite
measly, but we are very fortunate.
First year trainee
We dont get trainee bonuses, unlike the other
Magic Circle firms, even though we put in as many
hours as trainees at our competitors do. The
swimming pool does not make up for it since we
dont even get any time to use it.
Second year trainee
We are on the upper end of trainee salaries.
Second year trainee
We are well paid, but of course when you work
out the hourly rate with the hours you work, some
people say it is below minimum wage.
Second year trainee
58
Perks
Dinners, executive taxis and the best biscuits in

the City are great, but the uplift in salary and free
accommodation during overseas secondments are
probably the best perks. And the boxes at the O2
and the Emirates, of course.
First year trainee
Clifford Chance has a box at the O2 and everyone
can apply for tickets to certain shows (client
events are given priority but many people do get
to take friends/family). Free dinner at the office
after 7, free taxi home after 9 (10 in summer),
free gym and swimming pool in the building,
free tea and biscuits to your desk after 9, free
accommodation and expenses paid for during
your seat abroad.
First year trainee
Squash courts, swimming pool and view from the
30th floor.
First year trainee
Weekend in Paris great dinner and night out
and a weekend staying at Disneyland.
Second year trainee
Pluses
The people are great. In a firm the size of

Clifford Chance I am always surprised at how well
everyone gets along.
First year trainee
International, lots of people to meet and a strong
network to benefit from, good name and good
work, although not at the trainee level.
First year trainee
Steak Friday cheap sirloin steak cooked to
perfection every Friday lunchtime! Also the pool!
First year trainee
Minuses
The hours can be long and theres no getting

away from the fact that 2am is never a great time
to be in the office.
First year trainee
Lack of certainty regarding social plans. Inability
to do more than one contentious seat.
Second year trainee
Face-time; lack of a bonus; commuting to Canary
Wharf; being a very small fish in a massive pond.
First year trainee
Perfection is expected.
Second year trainee
Fun Facts
The Clifford Chance kitchens make the best

cookies in town. The biscuits and cookies are
incredibly good if you are working late a pot of
tea and some smarties cookies can really help
life spirits.
First year trainee
Only firm with a swimming pool! All cookies and

cakes served at client meetings are baked in-house
I can say from personal experience that they
taste amazing!
First year trainee
CLIFFORD CHANCE
Its very relaxed. You can start late (10ish) as

long as you get the job done. You can leave on
time as long as you get the job done. If youve
done a lot of late nights and broken your back on
a nightmare deal, you are usually given a day or
two off in lieu. You can work from home if youre
really unable to come into work. If you have a
medical appointment in the middle of the day
you can keep it as long as it doesnt clash with
your meetings. Things like that are non-issues as
long as the work gets done on time and gets done
properly.
Second year trainee

Applications, Interviews & Assessments
If you do your research, are keen and diligent

then it makes things easier. The hardest part is
getting a really good CV together with the ability
to answer why this firm and why the law. The rest
should fall into place if you are enthusiastic and
informed.
First year trainee
Assessment day was: tour, talk from a partner,
group task (working to build a case in teams
and then being pitted against another team to
negotiate a desired business outcome), verbal
reasoning test, business question (similar to
questions you get given on the business part of
the LPC), and interview with two partners.
Second year trainee
There is an initial online test, before an
assessment day which includes a group exercise,
a one-on-one interview, a commercial awareness
test and a verbal reasoning test. The commercial
awareness questions are very difficult. For the
group exercise, they look at how you interact
within the group. E.g., it is good to ask someone
else in the group what they think about an issue,
as well as making comments yourself.
Second year trainee
We have a games room where you can play pool,

table football, air hockey and PlayStation. Its very
underused!
Second year trainee
59
I imagine it is pretty competitive. There are

online tests and then an assessment day with
a further test, case study, group exercise and
interview. You are interviewed by a partner and
a senior associate. You discuss your responses to
the case study, some commercial questions and
talk about yourself and your reasons for being
there. A common question is to discuss a recent
commercial issue.
Second year trainee
Tips & Advice
The firm takes a very cosmopolitan mix of

people. There is no Clifford Chance standard
type so anyone and everyone is welcome. Just be
willing to learn, bright, keen and hardworking.
First year trainee
The firm normally hires people who are easy to
work with and who are teachable. If you try and
dominate the group exercise on the assessment
day to show off your leadership abilities, this
usually doesnt go down very well. Abrasive,
defensive types dont last very long. Soft skills
would include good manners, ability to make small
talk with a wide variety of people and being highly
organised.
Second year trainee
You will need a good 2:1 and whilst I dont
think the firm looks for any specific universities,
it definitely targets some universities more than
others. In terms of soft skills, I think it helps
to come across as confident and able to make
conversation by the time youve got to interview
you already have the academics that they are
looking for, what you need to show at this point is
that you are someone that the interviewers would
like to have in their team.
Second year trainee
60
The firm is trying to maintain its diversity. A

reasonable amount of intelligence is required.
While a substantial portion of trainees are from
Oxbridge, going to any other university does not
mean you cant get in.
Second year trainee
The firms leading position, poster boy image,

stellar reputation, international reach and diverse
culture, and its size which offers a great variety
and a lot of possibilities.
First year trainee
The openness and honesty of the firm was what
attracted me. I spent two days in the office and
met dozens of people, all of whom were very
honest about the bad parts, as well as the good, of
life at the firm.
First year trainee
Its a lot more relaxed and a lot less hierarchical
than the other Magic Circle firms, and the lawyers
genuinely seem to enjoy each others company.
Long hours are much more bearable if youre
sharing a room with a friend rather than someone
whos just a colleague.
Second year trainee
Great international prospects, varied and
interesting work and the strong commitment to
pro bono.
First year trainee
Clifford Chance expects a 2:1 minimum from all

its applicants, and while a substantial portion of
trainees are from Oxbridge, going to any other
university does not mean you cant get in. The
hiring process is extremely competitive though,
but what else would you expect from one of
the worlds most prestigious law firms? Clifford
Chance looks for a mix of candidates that possess
intelligence, a willingness to learn, potential,
confidence, and the ability to make small talk
with a wide variety of people. These traits are
important for the firms trainees as a great deal of
responsibility is levied from the off.
The process is fairly straightforward: following
an online application and verbal reasoning test,
successful candidates will be asked to attend an
assessment day. This will consist of a tour and
quick introduction to the firm, a group exercise,
a commercial awareness test, a verbal reasoning
test and a partner interview.
For the commercial awareness test, while you
need to be aware of key topical issues affecting
law, you are not expected to already know the ins
and outs of the UK legal system. Youll be given
a short amount of time before your interview to
look at a business scenario question and prepare
your response. Interviewers questions will instead
focus on whether you can draw logical conclusions
and if you are able to explain yourself clearly
both skills required of any good solicitor.
In the group exercise you will be divided into
smaller groups and given a business scenario
to read, analyse and discuss in your group. It is
important that everyone in your group talks. The
better your team works together, the better each
of you will be judged individually as they look at
how you interact within the group. Remember to
always explain yourself and justify your thinking.
Candidates will typically be interviewed by a

partner and senior associate. Youll be asked to
talk through your CV, explaining your choice of
subjects and degree discipline, previous work
experience, and be confronted with the usual why
law?, why Clifford Chance? questioning. Bear in
mind, youre applying to one of the best law firms
out there, so it should come as no surprise that
youll need to put your best foot forward.
CLIFFORD CHANCE
Bear in mind, youre applying to one of

the best law firms out there, so it should
come as no surprise that youll need to
put your best foot forward.
Successful applicants will sit four six-month seats
throughout the training contract, two of which
must be in corporate and finance. Trainees are
also required to do a contentious seat, or instead
complete a two week course at the College of Law.
The music to many a trainees ear is that Clifford
Chance recruits are positively encouraged to
do a seat abroad, with around 85% taking the
international plunge, and some people even do
two seats abroad. Either way, trainees have a wide
choice of seats, with numerous sub-departments
to choose from within corporate, finance, capital
markets, tax, pensions and employment, real
estate and dispute resolution. The firm may not
be able to accommodate everyone all of the time,
but if you are realistic about your choices and
make it clear which departments you particularly
want to gain experience in, HR will usually be able
to accommodate you.
61
FIRM PROFILE
Clifford Chance is arguably the largest law firm
both in the UK and globally, and perhaps the bestknown legal brand in the City. The firm employs
3,400 lawyers, with a total of 6,000 staff across
32 offices worldwide. Although best known for its
finance department, the past decade has seen the
firms corporate practice rise to prominence, and
in 2006, Clifford Chance became the first law firm
to generate revenues totalling over 1 billion.
The origins of Clifford Chance can be traced
back to the 1800s, but it was the merger of
two London firms in 1987, Coward Chance and
Clifford Turner, that created the firm as it is
today. This union singlehandedly transformed
Londons legal landscape. The alliance created a
full-service giant twice the size of the next largest
firm and enabled Clifford Chance to expand
internationally. Headquartered in London, the
structure of the firm was transformed in the 1990s
by managing partner Geoffrey Howe, shifting to a
more centralised management with less partner
independence. In 2000, it merged again, with
German firm, Punder Volhard Weber & Axster, and
Rogers & Wells from New York, making Clifford
Chance the largest firm in the world.
Clifford Chance has two US offices, New York and
Washington DC, and many more across Europe,
Asia, South America and the Middle East. The
recent focus of the firms international operations
is towards the emerging markets, namely China,
India, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. In
China the firm has offices in Beijing and Shanghai,
as well as in Hong Kong. In the Middle East,
Clifford Chance has opened outposts in Dubai and
Abu Dhabi, and most recently the firm opened
an office in Istanbul in April 2011. Additionally, a
capital markets group was formed in Singapore in
2008, to focus on the firms Indian clients.
Although Clifford Chance is best known as a top
banking and finance firm, revered for its work in
banking with top financial institutions, it has more
than just fiscal strings to its mighty bow. The firms
operations are broken into six global practice
62
areas: banking and finance, capital markets,

corporate/M&A, litigation and dispute resolution,
real estate and tax, pensions and employment.
In corporate, Clifford Chance is one of the best
firms for private equity work, dispute resolution
and real estate, in addition to excelling in M&A.
Corporate clients include the Canary Wharf Group,
Siemens, Shell, Barclays, Merrill Lynch and UBS.
The firm takes diversity seriously and because it
has a strong international reach, that filters down
into recruiting. Women, minorities and LGBT
groups are all well represented and employees
remark that as long as you can handle the work,
no one cares about colour, background, or sexual
orientation.
Clifford Chance also strongly encourages pro
bono work and represents individuals, NGOs
and charities to ensure that everyone has access
to justice, finance, and education. Employees
at Clifford Chance are given ten hours a year
for community initiatives and can participate in
drop-in legal clinics and literacy schemes, helping
children with special needs and aiding young
refugees.
CLIFFORD CHANCE
@insidebuzz
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63
SQUEEZE MORE INTO TWO YEARS

WE OFFER YOU ONE OF THE SHARPEST
TRAINING CONTRACTS AROUND
Everything matters and every day counts when youre
a trainee at DLA Piper. We squeeze huge amounts of
experience, responsibility and personal development
into your 24 months with us. That means you get to
know more about the law, our firm and about yourself.
Working with one of the worlds leading practices also

means more opportunities: the chance to try the things
you want to try, work on secondments abroad or with
clients, and get involved with headline making matters.
Enjoy every last bit of your training contract and
develop the all round skills that all top lawyers need.
Visit our website for more details:
www.dlapipergraduates.co.uk or follow us
on Facebook.
www.dlapiper.com | DLA Piper uk llp
64
DLA Piper is a global law firm operating through various separate and distinct legal entities.
Further details of these entities can be found at www.dlapiper.com
AUG11 | 2134814
Few firms employ as many lawyers worldwide as DLA Piper. Augmenting its international network of
offices with alliances and a number of best friend firms, DLA Piper has over 4,200 lawyers spread across
30 countries.
PROS
High-profile clients and quality international

work outside of London
Large global network with lots of secondment
opportunities
Responsibility and hands-on work for trainees
Committed to diversity, with a newly
established Womens Network
Constant training opportunities
Good trainee retention
THE STATS
No. of lawyers firm-wide: 4,200
No. of lawyers in the UK: 1,000
London Solicitors: 220
Trainee intake in the UK: 85
Trainees retained: 82% (2010)
BASE SALARY
LONDON 2011
ENGLISH REGIONAL OFFICES 2011
SCOTLAND 2011

Antitrust & EU Competition Commercial Contracts
Construction Corporate Employment, Pensions &
DLA PIPER
DLA PIPER
CONS
Few firm-wide social events

Regional salary far behind London
Lack of communication and feedback at times
Edinburgh and Glasgow treated as one office
trainees in Scotland may face long commutes
Unsociable hours
Benefits Finance Intellectual Property International

Arbitration International Trade Litigation & Arbitration
Product Liability Projects and Infrastructure Real Estate
Regulatory & Government Affairs Restructuring Tax
Technology & Media White Collar, Corporate Crime &
Investigations
LOCATIONS
No. of offices: 76
Abu Dhabi Accra* Amsterdam Antwerp Atlanta
Auckland* Austin Baltimore (Downtown) Baltimore
(Mount Washington) Bangkok Beijing Berlin
Birmingham Boston Bratislava Brisbane* Brussels
Bucharest Budapest* Cairo* Canberra* Cape
Town* Caracas Chicago Cologne Dallas Dar
es Salaam* Doha Dubai Edinburgh Frankfurt
Glasgow Hamburg Hong Kong Houston Istanbul
Johannesburg* Kuwait City* Kyiv La Jolla Leeds
Liverpool London Los Angeles (Century City) Los
Angeles (Downtown) Lusaka* Madrid Manama
Manchester Melbourne* Miami Milan Minneapolis
Moscow Munich Muscat Mwanza* Nairobi*
New Jersey (Atlantic City) New Jersey (Florham Park)
New York Northern Virginia Oslo Paris Perth*
Philadelphia Phoenix Prague Raleigh Riyadh
Rome Sacramento San Diego (Downtown) San Diego
65
(Golden Triangle) San Francisco So Paulo Sarajevo*

Seattle Shanghai Sheffield Silicon Valley Singapore
St Petersburg Stockholm* Sydney* Tampa Tbilisi
Tokyo Vienna Warsaw Washington, DC Wellington*
Wilmington Zagreb*
* Associate offices
LONDON OFFICE
3 Noble Street
London EC2V 7EE
Tel: +44 (0)8700 111 111
www.dlapiper.com

Email: recruitment.graduate@dlapiper.com
QUOTES
LIFE ON THE JOB
This very much depends on which department

you are in and how busy the department is. The
busier it is, the more likely it is you will get work
which is more challenging, rewarding and more
involved in that particular case/transaction. There
are always occasions where trainees are given the
mundane jobs of filing, photocopying, bundling,
etc. which are a lot less rewarding. The quality
of the work will also depend on how much you
go and find it. You are expected to go and ask
for work and hunt it out and if you want specific
experience in something to ask for it. Work will
not just land on your desk (especially not the more
interesting work!). Client interaction depends
on the department you are in. You are generally
encouraged to interact with clients although this
will be closely supervised and monitored.
First year trainee, Birmingham
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Each seat offers different experiences and

exposure. Supervisor working styles vary, but
there is a general effort to involve trainees in work
from day one. In litigation for instance, trainees
are given their own files to run independently
(under supervision), liaising directly with clients
for instructions, preparing and drafting documents
alone and making decisions whenever required. In
finance, trainees are also responsible for a number
of tasks and typically get to negotiate and agree
ancillary documentation alone. There is also lots
of client contact (e.g. pre-transactional meetings,
mediations, completions, lease negotiations, etc.)
which enables trainees to grow in confidence,
learn from others and also build their own
network.

I have various tasks on a number of different
files that I action on a daily basis. This includes
document management, liaising with other
departments, making calls to court and other
parties and feeding back to supervisors. Most
weeks include an internal training session or
Webinar and where appropriate I sit in on calls
to clients.
First year trainee, Leeds
A day as a trainee often means helping out other
members of the team; this could be by means
of administrative bundling, filing and chasing
clients for particular documents. However it can
also mean meetings with clients, note taking on
meetings with counsel and drafting documents to
fit a particular instruction. There is often time to
catch up with other trainees over lunch for a few
minutes and/or to chat to other team members.
Typically, trainees will get involved at some level
with any deal or matter that a team is managing.
In a transactional seat, tasks might include drafting
documents or assisting with the drafting of more
complex agreements, liaising with clients and
other solicitors, undertaking research and dealing
with completion requirements. In a contentious
seat, trainees may be expected to undertake the
drafting of court/tribunal documents, conduct
research, deal with clients, other solicitors,
counsel and consultants and attend court
proceedings, tribunals or inquiries.
Second year trainee, Edinburgh
Culture
Trainees socialise together, especially on a Friday

night. Trainees support each other and it is not a
competitive environment. The office is obviously
structured but EVERYONE is friendly (even the
partners!). This is something that I had the
opportunity to experience on my vac scheme and
I have never looked back. It is one of the offices
main selling points.
Second year trainee, Sheffield
DLA PIPER
I have been given responsibility from the start

running small files myself, liaising with clients
and other parties, and reporting to supervisors
internally. The departments I have worked in
have made a real effort to include me in larger
deals and cases, allowing me to sit in on calls and
meetings with clients and witnesses. Partners
are approachable and considerate and although
the hours can be long at times, it is rare for your
efforts not to be recognised and I have been
frequently thanked.
Trainees share an office with their supervisor,

who will either be a senior associate or a partner,
depending upon the department that you are in.
In my office there will normally be two trainees
in each department, and each trainee will get
involved in different matters, but generally it is
ensured that you work with everyone else in the
team in order that you get experience of different
types of work and ways of working. There are 6
trainees per year in my office, and we are all very
supportive of each other. If you have a problem
the others are always willing to help, and we see
each other most days. We have informal nights
out, but there is also a social committee, which
arranges lots of events throughout the year as
well.
Trainee social life is fantastic. The majority
socialise very regularly and become genuine
friends rather than co-workers very quickly. DLA
provides immense support at the beginning of the
TC by paying for a residential. Were it not for this
weekend the relationship between trainees would
be entirely different.
First year trainee, London
Everyone is motivated and hard working, but
there is a definite work hard, play hard culture.
Trainees are very supportive, we socialise a lot
Friday drinks, cinema trips, lunch by the canal
most are friends, not just colleagues. I think we
feel like a band of war buddies, having got through
the terrifying first seat together!
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Seats
Trainees do four seats during the traineeship.

The departments available in the Scottish offices
are: real estate, construction and engineering,
planning, litigation, insurance, employment, IPT,
corporate, projects, banking and restructuring. We
are asked for three preferences of departments,
but there is no guarantee that we will be given
one of those preferences. It depends on the
business needs of each department at the time.
There is the possibility of doing an international
secondment where you can spend time in one of
the other offices outside the UK.
First year trainee, Edinburgh
Each trainee undertakes four seats. The
departments in the office include real estate,
property litigation, construction, employment,
litigation, corporate, IPT and restructuring. You
are always asked what your first three preferences
would be and then graduate recruitment will try
and accommodate this. I have been lucky enough
to have a preference in all my four seats. Both
client secondments in the UK and a secondment
to a foreign office are on offer. It is not just the
London trainees that have the opportunities to
undertake these, and recently a trainee from the
Sheffield office spent six months in Tokyo.
Four six-month seats. You are able to sit in any
department in the office. In Leeds there are seats
in property, corporate, pensions, employment,
restructuring, litigation, regulatory, IPT, finance
and projects. In other offices other seats may
be available, for example, some offices have a
construction department and the London office
has a number of specialist departments. On each
seat move the trainees are requested to provide 3
seat preferences. You are generally allocated one
of your preferences. I am currently on secondment
to our Singapore office. Other secondments
include Hong Kong, Russia and Thailand.
Second year trainee, Leeds
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Formal Training
I have attended various training courses,

including the PSC courses, departmental courses
and other training. The training contract begins
with two weeks of induction, during which
trainees attend a number of PSC classes and
induction courses on IT, office policies, anti money
laundering procedures, etc. There is a one or twoday departmental induction course held at the
beginning of every seat. Most departments also
have regular training sessions either weekly or
monthly, and trainees are often invited to external
training events run by barristers chambers,
professional organisations, etc.
The standard of training at DLA Piper is excellent.
Prior to starting the training contract, trainees
attend a week-long residential course which allows
them to integrate with their peers and attend
PSC modules, as well as firm-specific training. PSC
courses tend to be held off-site in intensive weeklong sessions. Departmental training is given both
at the start and throughout each seat usually
sessions are held at lunchtime and tend to be
interactive.
I feel thoroughly invested in. There are constant
training opportunities and an attitude that they
are to be taken seriously.
There are mentoring opportunities run by the

Womens Network (which are also available
to men) and you can always ask for informal
mentoring. The PSLs and Knowledge Management
are generally happy to point you towards training
materials on particular topics, and there is often a
budget for training courses if there is an area you
are particularly interested in.
Easy to receive informal training if you make

it known you would like training, they will
endeavour to organise it. The vast majority of
solicitors and partners are extremely accessible.
I have had 4 fantastic supervisors from a 6
year PQE to a senior equity partner and feel so
fortunate to have been in a room with someone
to whom I can always ask questions! Ive learnt
the importance of being organised and keeping
a to-do list, the need to keep the client happy at
all times and the need to prioritise; sometimes
you will need to let friends down. I think being
a solicitor involves being excellent with people
building relationships and trust and think
that if you have this skill and you know what
you are talking about, this is a very powerful
combination.
Second year trainee, London
Green Initiatives
There are lots of recycling trays and bins on

the office floors. However, there is a lot of paper
wastage as well, but I imagine that this is the same
across all law firms. Lights and air conditioning
systems are always timed to go off automatically
in the evenings to save energy.
We recycle paper, with facilities on each floor. We
have also curbed air travel significantly and have
a month where meetings can only (within reason)
be held by telephone conference, rather than
travelling to another location.
There is a firm-wide programme to reduce its

carbon footprint. All paper and plastic is recycled.
Desks, etc. are made from sustainably sourced
materials.
First year trainee, Glasgow
DLA PIPER
Attitudes towards mentoring and training vary

between departments and are also dependent on
workload i.e. how much time a fee earner is able
to dedicate to this. However, overall solicitors and
partners are very accessible and are aware that
a key part of the training contract is experience
rather than billable hours. Supervisors will often
try to accommodate trainees learning needs
wherever possible.
Diversity
The Womens Network, recently established to

support talented female lawyers to stay at the
firm/in the profession, has been a success. The
NQ/retention process is handled excellently, we
were kept up to date and everyone was very
tactful, given that it can be a stressful time. The
firm is diverse and attracts applicants from a range
of backgrounds, together with LGBT employees
who, although not having their own LGBT group,
have not encountered any issues as far as I am
aware. It is also encouraging to see that LGBT
employees have made partner, so it is comforting
that should you not disclose your sexuality, it
should not be because of the worry that it will
impact your career progression.
The commitment is there but the evidence isnt
in all areas. There are more women than men at
trainee, solicitor and associate levels and as many
LGBT as I would expect to meet in any regular
working environment. At a glance there isnt a lot
of ethnic diversity but this could be typical of the
office and area.
Theres no denying that there is a real issue
with women in law generally, and that DLAs
statistics make disappointing reading. However,
it is working hard to improve this by the recent
creation of the Womens Network and by
encouraging women in their careers; there is still
a long way to go and only time will tell. In terms
of ethnic minorities, diversity doesnt seem to be
an issue. DLA takes part in the BLD program and
offers support to students from ethnic minorities
wanting to go into law.
69
Offices & Dress code
Our offices are located near St Pauls cathedral.

The London office is split between the main office
on Noble Street which has individual offices, and
the new office in One London Wall which is openplan. Each office definitely has its own character,
but both are large glass buildings which benefit
from easy access to great shops, restaurants and
bars nearby.
The office is lovely light, spacious and
modern. We each have a large desk in an office
that we share with one other fee earner our
supervisor. We have a subsidised staff canteen, a
reprographics team who provide high spec copies
of documents, a document production team who
create documents and amend documents as
we annotate them so we can get on with other
things and we have our own secretaries in each
department. The dress code is business wear the
men wear suits with ties (although jackets are
often on the backs of chairs), while the women
may wear suits, trousers/skirts and blouses or
smart tops. As a tip, I always have a black blazer
on the back of my chair so I can be smart enough
to attend a last minute client meeting!
The Manchester office is split over two
buildings that are next to each other. This can be
annoying when you are in the office that does
not hold document production, facilities or, most
importantly, the canteen. However, facilities staff
regularly come round to pick up and distribute
internal mail. The facilities team is very helpful
and contributes significantly to the smooth
running of the office. The firm expects staff to
dress in office attire, but as a female I am not
expected to wear a suit every day.
Both Scottish offices are centrally located.
They are all open plan. The dress code is smart
business wear, but this tends to be more relaxed
in Scotland where, for example, men will not wear
ties and women will not necessarily wear suits all
of the time.
70

upon qualification?
Whilst you can never be fully prepared, I feel that
this firm has given me the best opportunity and I
know that help and support will be there for me at
each stage of my career.
I think it will be a huge challenge, but am excited
at the prospect and believe I will be in a very
supportive environment which makes me feel less
daunted.
I feel very prepared, because of the hands-on
nature of the work I have done as a trainee and
the experience I have had in dealing with clients.
Prepared-ish. I think its going to be a steep
learning curve. Losing the security blanket
provided by the title trainee is going to be
tough.
Very well you have no option but to swim here
as they put you in at the deep end.
First year trainee, Sheffield

Hours
Every week is different. Sometimes the hours are

extremely long, but only when its necessary. As
a firm they encourage you to make the most of
down time and from my experience, dont expect
trainees to put in face time.
It really is hard to say! Ultimately, you stay in

work to get the job done. As a very loose average,
I would say I work between 40 and 50 hours a
week. Sometimes you have lots of quiet days
(or even weeks!), but then other times you can
work long hours every day for a week. It is totally
department dependent and work load dependent.
I think I am working to about the level I had
anticipated I would need to. There are days when
it is very frustrating because you cant make plans
or have to cancel plans, and thats what makes
it hard. When you are working long hours on
complex matters, it really is exhausting, but
there is an overwhelming sense of achievement
when you have completed a difficult task and
you can see how your assistance helped to
complete a project.
40 45 hours. This is what I expected and I
think generally the trainees dont mind putting
in long hours what they mind is being taken
for granted and made to stay to photocopy. But
most departments are grateful, and respectful of
your free time. Eventually, you learn the balance
between being available and preserving a life
outside the office. The one gripe is that we do
London hours but get regional pay real joke
is that we seem to work longer hours than the
London trainees!
Salary
Much better than any other Scottish firm (they

also pay diploma fees and provide a maintenance
grant, which is not the norm).
Second year trainee, Glasgow
DLA PIPER
This is very dependent on what department

you are in and how busy the department is. My
first seat was in corporate and I was generally
working about a 50 hour week and at the worst
point a 70+ hour week. If the department is quiet
though, they are generally happy for you to do
your contracted hours (9am 5.30pm). My second
seat is in regulatory and the hours are generally
a bit less (40+ a week), but much more sporadic
so sometimes you may have to work weekends
because it is so busy. Generally, working more
than I expected, but if you are busy and the work
is interesting then you dont mind and you are
happy to do the hours.
DLA Piper trainee salaries tend to be at the

higher end of the scale in Scotland, and do
compete with the big Scottish firms. However,
they are markedly lower than those for DLA
trainees in the regional English offices and, in
particular, the London office.
I think that I am paid a decent salary for the work
that I do and the opportunities that training at
DLA will provide in my future career. Additionally,
DLA paid my GDL and LPC fees, along with
providing a 5,000 grant during each year. This has
alleviated a lot of potential debt.
As a trainee, a bit above the regional average. But
I do think the regional NQ salary should be higher,
especially as the work and sometimes hours are
exactly London quality.
Perks
Probably the social events i.e. Christmas dinner

in the Hilton and free nights out to comedy clubs
and quizzes. The international secondments with
accommodation and living expenses is a real perk
too if you are lucky enough to get one!
We get subsidised Starbucks and canteen in the
office, 20% off at local bars and discounted taste
cards for 50% off in restaurants nationally. We also
have a paid-for membership to the JLD in Leeds
which gets us into events including Christmas
balls, wine tasting evenings and casino nights,
etc.
71
Our commuting train fares are paid; 5,000

maintenance grant before you begin the training
contract, free breakfasts and I have been able to
attend various events with the firm.
Corporate membership to the Tate and access to
most Barbican exhibitions for free.
The firm puts on office drinks each month on the
Friday after payday. These are held in the office
and everybody is invited to attend.
Potentially not enough client contact as a

trainee.
There is a lot of emphasis on business
development tasks and attending firm events
this can be quite demanding on your precious
free time!
There should be a stronger push for social
activities (i.e. sports, events) across the firm as a
whole. More benefits would be appreciated.
Pluses
The staff, the support given to trainees and the

fact that the firm cares about its trainees.
Hours can be long, regional salary is far behind

London even though the work is exactly the
same.
Varied amount of work (interesting and

sometimes very difficult), friendliness of all
employees (generally), international presence,
actually get involved with transnational work and
work together with international fee earners.
Scottish trainees are not able to express a

preference for a particular Scottish office, meaning
that they may have to commute/move to that city
if not situated there, often with a short period of
advance warning.
The friendliness, the opportunities for client

contact and the fact that trainees are given lots
of hands-on practical work and not just the
photocopying!
Atmosphere, approachable staff, diversity of
departments to do seats in, good work/life
balance and great support. Great retention
and commitment to keeping trainees on at
qualification.
Second year trainee
Good work, friendly people and its going places.
72
Minuses
Fun Facts
The Scottish trainees organise a Burns supper

every year for all the other UK trainees.
We have a stairwell challenge each year to see
who can run up to the 10th floor the quickest.
The firm will pay for your membership of the
Birmingham Trainee Solicitors Society whilst you
are a trainee which includes a ticket to a ball.
The banana flavoured toffees in the meeting
rooms are really yummy.

There were two rounds: one interview and then
a second round assessment centre. This involved
giving a presentation on a topic of choice, two
written exercises and an interview. The interview
lasted about 45 minutes and was with a member
of the GR team and a partner, followed by a
tour of the office with a current trainee. It was
fairly tough, quite a lot of commercial awareness
questions, why London, why law (I had a non-law
background), why DLA...at the end of the day,
we had drinks and canaps on the top floor with
some partners, but we were all so exhausted
by the end of it we could only manage one glass
of wine!
After completing an extensive application form,

I had to go through two rounds of interviews
and a further presentation day. The presentation
day involved a one hour interview, a 15-minute
presentation with Q&A and two written exercises.
The interview questions were quite tough, but the
interviewers made me feel as relaxed as possible.
There was a comprehensive application form and
an assessment day for the vacation scheme. There
was then the vacation scheme itself with one
day of this being dedicated to a full assessment
day. The assessment day included two exams; a
presentation and an interview. The interview was
relatively informal with standard questions about
my CV and commercial stories that interested me.
It really felt as though they wanted to see how
well I would fit into the firm, which made for a
pleasant interview experience.
An interview to get a summer placement,

followed by an interview at the end of the
placement. Then the next stage is an interview,
a written test and an assessment day where you
prepare a presentation and take part in team
assignments. Questions at the interview were not
designed to trick, but were designed to see what
your expectations of being a lawyer are, what
makes a good lawyer, how ambitious you are,
whether you have a good work ethic and whether
you have good communication skills.
First year trainee, Glasgow
DLA PIPER
Tips & Advice
Research and preparation are key. Speak to

your careers service who usually have feedback
forms from previous candidate experiences which
give an insight into the process. Practice a mock
interview with friends/family. Look up any recent
news/developments that the firm and the legal
industry have announced and also have an idea
whats going on in the business sector. Work
experience is usually a good selling point too. The
firm looks for more than good academics you
need to be well rounded and personable. Need
to have a good sense of humour and be able to
recognise your weaknesses no Apprentice
wannabes allowed!
Hard working, motivated but down-to-earth no
one who thinks they are Gods gift to law. Good
personal skills, able to be relaxed but professional
able to laugh!
The firm does not have a particular mould
of trainee. However, they do look for confident,
capable and commercially aware trainees. You
do not have to be the finished article but they
do look for serious potential. People require a
minimum of a 2:1. The firm looks for people with
a commitment to the law, a commitment to the
area where the firm is located and evidence of
researching the firm inside out.
73
We have a diverse group in our trainees at the

moment. We have people who did law degrees,
people who did law conversions, people who have
come straight through and are only 22 and people
who have been working and retrained and are in
their 30s. We do have a couple of people with 1sts
from Cambridge uni, but that is certainly not a
requirement! You do need a 2:1 to apply though.
Its diversity, its ambition, its global yet local

nature, its investment in its staff and its clients.
Most enjoyable interviews and assessment
day international scope, potential and positive
attitude, diversity, range of practice areas,
opportunities for secondment and working
abroad.
74
Lovely atmosphere when I was here on

vacation scheme, everybody was really friendly,
they provide exceptional training and great
opportunities, for example international
secondments and very high quality work, without
having to move to London.
I wanted to work for a firm with an excellent
reputation in commercial law both regionally and
nationally, and which also offered international
opportunities. DLA stood out in that respect,
particularly because of its blue chip client base
and its global network. Because I returned to law
after working for a few years, I was also looking for
a firm that could sponsor me during my GDL and
LPC and could offer a generous financial package
during the training contract.
I like the people, the work is challenging and
interesting and Im getting quality work outside of
London.
DLA Piper has around 90 training contracts available

each year throughout its eight UK offices, and receives
3,000 to 4,000 applications for those places. So, what
are the requirements for getting one of these training
contracts? One current trainee says that you should
be intelligent and have a wide range of interests.
Candidates need to be good with people, confident
and able to use their initiative, or in the words of
another trainee, the firm is down-to-earth and so are
its people.
day usually held in September and October. The

day includes a presentation, written exercises and a
further interview. The interviewers vary and might
include a partner, associate or a member of the
graduate recruitment team. Trainees said that the
interview questions were quite tough, but youre
made to feel as relaxed as possible. Additionally,
questions at the interview were not designed
to trick, but were designed to see what your
expectations of being a lawyer are.
The firm does not appear to recruit from particular

universities and a mix of law and non-law graduates
make up the trainee intake. Nonetheless, good
academic achievements are expected. In fact, DLA
Piper requires candidates to have a minimum of ABB
at A-Level and a 2:1 degree. As always, a keen interest
in the corporate world, a good dose of enthusiasm,
an eagerness to learn and a keen eye for detail are
very helpful.
You can expect to be asked about your educational

background and interests, and to be tested on your
commercial and legal knowledge. Make sure you
know your academic history in detail, and take a few
minutes to think about why you have applied, why
you are interested in law and what about DLA Piper in
particular appeals to you. One trainee also states that
evidence of researching the firm inside out will help.
After the interview, you can look forward to a tour of
the office with a current trainee.
The training contract at DLA Piper requires trainees

to undertake four six-month seats in any of the
firms departments such as corporate, employment,
pensions and benefits, finance and projects, IPT
litigation and regulatory, real estate, restructuring
and tax. The departments available will vary slightly
depending on the office youre training in. There are
opportunities to do a seat abroad, although these are
very competitive recent overseas secondments have
included Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore and Moscow,
as well as Dubai, and the firm has just announced
a new secondment to their Sydney office. The firm
also offers a number of UK and international client
secondments. Current DLA Piper trainees say that
they are given a large amount of client contact in all
departments so expect responsibility from the start
and exposure to high profile deals.
If all of this sounds alluring to you, choose the
office you want to train in and send off the online
application form. You can only apply to one office and
current trainees say it helps to show some affiliation
to the city you choose. If youre applying for a training
contract, the next stage is a 20 to 30 minute interview;
make it through this and youll attend an assessment
DLA PIPER
VacATION Schemes
For those interested in getting a first glimpse into the
firm, DLA Piper offers approximately 170 vacation
scheme places in the summer. These two-week
schemes take place across the UK between June and
August, and are designed to give students the chance
to experience work in two different departments. You
should be aware that you need to apply for a scheme
in the office where youd choose to apply for a training
contract.
You need to apply online, and if successful are invited
to an assessment day where youll take part in a
business game with fellow candidates. Get onto a
scheme, and youll find towards the end there is
another assessment day for the training contract
which involves various tasks and an interview with
two partners. One current trainee describes this
interview as formal with questions surrounding
scenarios, client situations, and what I had learnt on
the vacation scheme.
75
FIRM PROFILE
DLA Piper has grown from its regional roots in
Sheffield and Leeds to become one of the largest
law firms in the world. Formed in January 2005
following a triple merger between the UKs DLA,
Chicago-based Piper Rudnick, and Californias Gray
Cary Ware & Freidenrich DLA Piper became the
first firm with more than 1,000 lawyers on each
side of the Atlantic.
DLA Piper is a true giant in global law.

Not one to rest on its laurels, DLA Piper has
continued its expansion by acquiring entire
departments from rival firms it now has over
4,200 lawyers across 30 countries in 76 offices.
Make no mistake: DLA Piper is a true giant in
global law. Some of its newer offices include
Berlin, Miami and Wilmington, and the firm has
entered into exclusive alliances with numerous
firms worldwide including an alliance with
practices in South Africa, Zambia, Tanzania and
Egypt, and a strong best friends network with
firms across Latin America.
The firm also has a strong commitment

to corporate responsibility, with its staff
worldwide spending 156,000 hours on
pro bono causes in 2010.
The firms traditional concentration on mid-tier
work rather than big-banner corporate deals has
helped to maintain its worldwide growth. Unlike
many of its global counterparts, DLA Piper does
not principally target large-scale M&A and banking
work. However, this may be set to change after
the hire of ex-Linklaters Managing Partner Tony
76
Angel as Joint Global Co-Chairman and Senior

Partner. The firm boasts a roster of banking
clients, including household names such as
Barclays and Lloyds, and has also secured plaudits
for its private equity, real estate, IT, property and
media work.
In its history, DLA Piper has proved to be a
forerunner in various matters. Not only was
the firm one of the first to structure itself on a
corporate model, but it was also one of the first to
embrace the concept of lateral hiring. Additionally,
the firm pioneered the custom of publicly
releasing its annual profits and revenues, which
might not seem like a big deal today, but was
practically unheard of at the time. Unlike many
international rivals, the London office is not the
firms only focus in the UK; regional sites account
for 60% of turnover and DLA Piper has eight UK
offices in Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds,
Liverpool, London, Manchester and Sheffield.
The firm boasts a roster of banking

clients, including household names such
as Barclays and Lloyds.
DLA Piper regularly ranks in The Times Top
100 Graduate Employers, and its commitment
to diversity issues has seen the firm receive
acknowledgment for its support of women in
business. The firm also has a strong commitment
to corporate responsibility, with its staff
worldwide spending 156,000 hours on pro bono
causes in 2010. Initiatives include supporting
aid and educational programmes for women in
Central America, while back in the UK, the firms
Leeds offices has built up a strong reputation for
offering asylum advice.
Work for DLA PIPER

(advertisement)
TRAINING CONTRACT
WORK PLACEMENT
We have approximately 90 vacancies for training

contracts to commence in 2014 across our UK offices.
We welcome applications from students from all degree
disciplines who have a minimum of ABB at A Level (or
equivalent) and expect, or have achieved, a 2.1. degree
classification, but a strong academic background is not
all we look for! We seek enthusiastic and committed
individuals, whose strong communication and analytical
skills will enable them to deal with the intellectual
challenges of the job. We believe that our people are
the basis of our success therefore we do not want clones
and therefore consider each application on its own
merits. Each trainee is valued, each intake is diverse,
so it is up to you to show us what makes you a well
rounded individual.
The firm operates a formal summer scheme in all of

our UK offices. The schemes run for two weeks and
is designed to give candidates a thorough insight into
DLA Piper. Candidates will spend time in two different
departments and attend a number of workshops,
presentations and group exercises as well as a number
of social events. As part of the scheme candidates are
assessed for a training contract, therefore they should
apply to do a summer scheme in the office where they
wish to complete their training contract.
WHEN TO APPLY
The final deadline for applications for training contracts
commencing in 2014 is July 2012. We do not recruit
on a rolling basis, however we would encourage you to
leave plenty of time to complete your form before the
deadline.
SALARY
Starting salaries for trainee solicitors are as follows:
Scotland: 22,000 rising to 24,000 in the second year
Regions: 25,000 rising to 27,000 in the second year
London: 37,000 rising to 40,000 in the second year
VACANCIES
DLA PIPER
JOBS
DATES
June - August 2012
WHEN TO APPLY
The deadline for summer schemes in 2012 is 31 January
2012
SALARY
Scotland and the Regions - 225 per week ; London
250 per week
VACANCIES
Approximately 170 across the UK
APPLY
All applications should be made via the online form
Email: recruitment.graduate@dlapiper.com
Tel: 08700 111 111
Website: www.dlapipergraduates.co.uk
We recruit 90 trainee solicitors each year.
77
DWF
DWF is a fast-growing national firm with offices across the UK in Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London,
Manchester, Newcastle and Preston. DWF employs over 1,400 people and provides a range of legal
services to businesses and private clients.
PROS
Lots of responsibility and client interaction

Friendly and encouraging partners
Wide variety of tasks and opportunities to work
in different departments
Social and supportive environment
High trainee retention rate
Good hours and work/life balance
THE STATS
LOCATIONS

No. of Partners: 132
Trainee intake: 24
Trainees retained: 100% (2010), 100% (2011)
No. of applications per year: c. 1,000
Interview ratio: 7:1
No. of offices: 7
Birmingham Leeds Liverpool London Manchester
Newcastle Preston
BASE SALARY
NORTH WEST 2011
LONDON 2011

Corporate & Commercial Employment & Pensions
Finance & Restructuring Insurance Litigation Private
Client & Family Real Estate
78
CONS
Not enough newly qualified positions in the

departments trainees want
Discrepancies in workloads between
departments
No scope to do a seat abroad, though you can
go to any of the other UK offices
LONDON OFFICE
Capital House
85 King William Street
London EC4N 7BL
Tel: +44 (0)207 645 9500
www.dwf.co.uk
MANCHESTER OFFICE
1 Scott Place
2 Hardman Street
Manchester M3 3AA
+44 (0)161 603 5000
+44 (0)161 603 5050

Kate Hasluck
Graduate Programme Manager
Tel: +44 (0)161 838 0088
kate.hasluck@dwf.co.uk
DWF
QUOTES
LIFE ON THE JOB
The quality of work has been of a high standard

from the outset, and has included a real
interaction with the clients in various forms such
as interviews, meetings, conferences, seminars
and telephone calls! The partners are so friendly
and there is certainly no barrier to speaking to
them. In every single seat I have been in, Ive
worked directly with a partner. Theyve all actively
encouraged my progress which has been really
impressive. In terms of the nature of work, Ive
assisted in defending a multi-million pound
paraplegic case, to a major re-financing of one of
our property clients. The work load is varied but
Ive learnt so much along the way.
Trainee, Liverpool
Depending on the seat I am in at the time, a

typical day can involve anything from attending
Court to take notes of a hearing, to drafting
documents in the office, to attending client
meetings. There is obviously also an element
of admin type work but this generally doesnt
account for too much of the day.
Trainee, Manchester
In most seats trainees are given responsibility

from day one, with varying degrees of client
contact, depending on the practice group.
Trainees often work directly with partners and as a
result are given good quality work.
Trainee, Manchester
In most seats trainees are given responsibility for

a number of smaller files, with regular supervision,
and then also get involved in some of the larger
files that the supervisor and other members of the
team have involvement with. In the majority of
the teams within which I have sat, I have had lots
of opportunities to interact and correspond with
clients. Due to the open plan nature of the offices
at DWF, coupled with the fact that a large number
of the supervisors are partners, I have had a great
deal of contact with the partners.
Trainee, Manchester
No day is ever the same at DWF. Whilst in my

current seat in employment, I have had the
opportunity to work with several members of
the team. Much of this work includes drafting
ET1 Claim Forms and ET3 Defences, drafting
witness statements, schedules of loss, negotiating
COT3 Settlements, attending client meetings
(sometimes alone!). DWF gets involved in plenty
of business development events and the trainees
are expected to form part of that so an evening
may consist of client drinks or a trainee social pub
quiz!
Trainee, Manchester
You have an ongoing list of tasks to work

through such as preparing instructions to counsel,
instructing an expert, updating a client on the
latest position, drafting court documents, liaising
with the other side, negotiating costs, or attending
a hearing or conference with counsel.
Trainee, Manchester
Culture
Trainees often socialise out of work together,

including at weekends, and always support each
other in work, for example the previous trainee in
a seat will often help the current trainee in that
seat.
Trainee, Manchester
79
I would say that DWF is a very sociable firm.

Obviously this depends upon which department
you are in, but there are always plenty of team
nights out in the diary. In addition, the sports and
social committee is responsible for organising
plenty of events for example, parties at
Christmas, Easter and Summer, as well as nights
out to the Comedy Store in Manchester and Friday
Fridge, in-house drinks for all DWF employees
every last Friday of the month. It is a little more
difficult to coordinate all of the trainees (due to
different locations), however, we do try to do this
as much as possible.
Trainee, Manchester
There are usually seats available in all of the

practice groups at DWF, which is a full service
law firm, and a list of available seats is normally
produced a month or so in advance of the next
rotation. Trainees are then required to submit a
preference form, with the option to list up to five
preferences. Most trainees usually get either their
first or second preference, obviously depending on
the needs of the business. Trainees can do seats at
other offices than their home office but there is
no opportunity to do a seat abroad.
Trainee, Manchester
Trainees are very sociable, meeting for lunch, and

outside of work. Theres definitely a supportive
atmosphere as they tell each other what each seat
experience is like. Second year gets a bit more
competitive as people are choosing where they
want to qualify.
Trainee, Manchester
You are required to attend a number of breakfast

briefings to gain insight elsewhere in the firm,
other than where you are positioned. You are
offered regular e-learning on the IT systems and
there are loads of e-bulletins updating you on the
latest law and cases in your area.
Trainee, Manchester
Seats
The firm is unique as it offers four month

seats, which enables us to do six seats. Nearly
all departments offer seats with good quality
experience. Insurance tends to be a popular
choice amongst trainees and one that certainly
meets a trainees demands and needs. Everything
I asked for I got! Ive been quite lucky the
firm have really listened to what I wanted and
the type of work I was interested in, which has
been great and worked out perfectly when it has
come to where I would like to qualify. We also
had the opportunity to do seats in other offices
(nationally) including our new London office.
Trainee, Liverpool
We do 4 x 4 month seats with the aim of finishing
with an 8 month seat leading up to qualification.
You can do a seat in all departments, providing
that there is enough work to do there. You submit
preferences so that if your first choice isnt
available then you should hopefully get another
seat from your preference form...
Trainee, Preston
80
Formal Training
During the two week induction, the trainees

undertake the majority of the Professional Skills
Course. The rest of the PSC is then staggered
through the remainder of the two years, with
electives chosen by DWF in areas such as
commercial law and insurance law. These courses
tend to be taken seriously by trainees however
they also provide the opportunity for trainees
to get together and catch up! Various training
sessions (given by internal and external speakers)
take place before work and during lunch times,
and these give the opportunity to collect the
necessary CPD points.
Trainee, Manchester
DWF does a lot of internal training to update and
share legal knowledge both during breakfast and
lunch seminars, and during the working day. There
are also several non-legal courses which trainees
are encouraged to get involved in.
Trainee, Manchester
I would say that DWF is a very accessible and

approachable firm. On the whole, everyone is
friendly and happy to help. However, DWF usually
offer supervisors to trainees who are in the role
of senior solicitor or associate. I have found that
this works best, as sometimes partners are simply
too busy to find time to properly supervise the
work load of a trainee.
Trainee, Manchester
The level of supervision at DWF is very good. All
of the supervisors are either partners or associates
and they are all genuinely interested in you and
helping you develop. All of my supervisors have
taken a keen interest in giving informal training on
certain things during the seat. DWF are very good
at letting you observe, for example, advocacy, and
then giving you the opportunity to put what you
have learnt into practice.
Trainee, Manchester
The ability to receive informal training and the
accessibility of solicitors and partners differs
considerably between seats. I have found that
some departments are just too busy to provide
informal training, but solicitors and partners are
generally always approachable if you have any
queries.
Trainee, Manchester
Our office space is open plan which allows

everyone to get to know each other quickly. I think
our offices have the wow factor.
Trainee, Leeds
DWF have recently moved to a new office in
Manchester which is modern and well equipped.
The dress code is smart, although it isnt
necessary to wear a suit everyday unless
meeting clients, etc.
Trainee, Manchester
The offices are all very new and modern, with

the exception of Preston which is based in a lovely
old building. The firm have recently moved to
new offices in Spinningfields in Manchester which
are very nice. All of the offices are as open plan
as possible which is ideal for trainees as it means
that you get to meet many more people than
you otherwise might. The firm has a dress down
day on the last Friday of every month in aid of its
nominated charities. On dress down day there is
also a Friday fridge event at every office where
all staff are invited to enjoy a few free drinks with
their colleagues.
Trainee, Manchester
DWF
Green Initiatives
This is one of the firms values and it places a

lot of importance on it. Energy use is reduced as
much as possible, as is recycling and community
work.
Trainee, Manchester
One of DWFs four values is the environment
therefore ensuring we reduce our carbon footprint
is at the forefront of DWFs strategy. Initiatives
include subsidising a cycle to work programme
and recycling across all offices, now including
battery recycling.
Trainee, Manchester
We attend community days, assist in local
schools, plant trees, clear parks, and get involved
in the community. We do recycle but are not by
any means a paperless company.
Trainee, Leeds

upon qualification?
I feel like I have learnt a great deal during my
training contract, and qualification does not really
hold any fears for me as I know that I will receive
the support that I need.
Trainee, Manchester
81
I feel as if I am ready to qualify and have been

well prepared by the firm.
Trainee, Leeds

Hours
I usually work from 8.30am until 6.00pm with at

least 30 minutes for lunch. However, trainees are
not expected to work more than the usual 9.00am
to 5.30pm and are able to take up to an hour for
lunch if they wish. It all depends on workload in
your current seat.
Trainee, Manchester
DWF does well to maintain a good work/life
balance for all employees, from junior to a senior
level. Obviously work hours are department
dependent; however, I would say that my usual
hours are 8.30am until 6.30pm.
Trainee, Manchester
The number of hours worked per week differs
significantly between seats. In my previous seat I
was working approx. 9.5/10 hours a day, whereas
in my current seat I am working approx. 7.5 hours
a day.
Trainee, Manchester
Salary
The trainee salary is quite reasonable and

trainees see a decent increase in salary after
completion of the first year of the training
contract.
Trainee, Manchester
Trainees salary at DWF is comparable to those of
similar firms in the area.
Trainee, Manchester
82
Perks
We are invited to all networking events, for

example dinners, balls, and Professional 100
events. This is actively encouraged, which is not
the case at other firms.
Trainee, Leeds
Friday Fridge, Trainee Ball, and Breakfast Briefings
(free breakfasts!).
Trainee, Manchester
DWF are keen to get the trainees involved in the
business development side of things at an early
stage so there is often an opportunity for a few
drinks or dinner on the firm. The firm also pays for
subscription to the MTSG for every trainee, and
pays for tickets to both the winter and summer
balls for any trainee that wishes to attend.
Trainee, Manchester
PLUSES
The people, the opportunities, the quality of the

work and being included from day one.
Trainee, Leeds
The hours are very good and the other trainees
are easy to get along with.
Trainee, Manchester
People. Atmosphere. Offices. Ambition. Calibre of
clients.
Trainee, Manchester
MINUSES
Sometimes the hours.

Trainee, Manchester
Not enough NQ positions in the departments
that trainees want.
Trainee, Manchester
IT systems.
Trainee, Manchester
Guy Wallis and Jim Davies (the D and W of DWF)

both make an effort to come to the different
offices and meet the people, which I think gives
a personal touch to being an employee here.
The trainees have an annual dinner with Jim and
Andrew Leaitherland to discuss our thoughts and
suggestions on the future of the firm.
Trainee, Leeds

Two rounds of interviews firstly either the

vacation scheme round/first round interview. Then
there is the second round interview. There is also
a Super Friday, at which all of the candidates who
have made it to the final round meet and greet
the practice group partners.
Trainee, Manchester
DWF has a large and increasing number of
applicants for both vacation schemes and training
contracts every year. However, the firm only hires
a relatively small number of trainees each year
with the idea that all will be offered a job on
qualification, so getting a training contract with
the firm is quite tough.
Trainee, Manchester
I applied directly for a training contract. I had
two interviews and an assessment day. My
second interview was with a partner and HR. The
assessment day was friendlier than others I had
attended. There was a presentation, an aptitude
test, an interview and a group discussion.
Trainee, Leeds
Tips & Advice
DWF is a friendly, down to earth firm so try to be

yourself. Do not just rely upon legal experience to
prove you are capable of certain skills but use all

experience you have, however small. DWF likes
well rounded individuals as a work/life balance is
promoted here, so show that you are more than
just a lawyer.
Trainee, Leeds
DWF
Fun Facts
Being approachable, someone who can talk to

anyone, someone with a bit of pizzazz! Those who
are solely academic are probably not suited to
DWF.
Trainee, Manchester
DWF is looking for ambitious, enthusiastic and
talented individuals to hire. Applicants should
have good communication skills, be approachable
and friendly, and be relatively confident. DWF
does not, as far as I am aware, look to recruit from
any particular university, although having said that
a number of my intake attended the University
of Sheffield, but I imagine that was more of a
coincidence than anything else!
Trainee, Manchester
DWF is a friendly firm offering high quality work.

The offices were of a size where you could get to
know most people, and the focus was not just on
the work but also about feeling like part of the
team.
Trainee, Leeds
DWF has all of the advantages of a top law firm,
along with the approachability and friendliness of
a smaller firm.
Trainee, Manchester
I elected to join DWF because it is an ambitious
and forward thinking firm. It wants to grow and
expand, and to me that was very attractive. Also,
the firm has a real focus on its values, a key one
of which is its people. Trainees are thought of as
the partners of tomorrow rather that additional
support staff!
Trainee, Manchester
83

Trainees at DWF are required to undertake
six four-month seats at five of the firms city
centre locations in Leeds, Liverpool, London,
Manchester and Newcastle. Trainees can return
to their preferred department for their final or
even penultimate seat which allows up to twelve
months valuable pre-qualification experience so
be prepared to work hard during your training
contract as DWF looks to retain its trainees
and has maintained a 100% offer rate in 2010
and 2011! Although the firm serves clients
internationally, DWF has no overseas offices and
therefore does not offer seats abroad. Trainees
do however have the chance to complete a
secondment with a key client and rotate between
the DWF offices.
Those who are solely academic are

probably not suited to DWF as the firm
is interested in people with a bit of
pizzazz.
Competition is fierce as the firm only takes on a
small number of trainee solicitors each year with
up to 40 first and second year trainees spread
across its offices. Hence trainees get plenty of
hands-on experience and are given responsibility
from day one. So what does DWFs ideal trainee
look like?
All applicants need to demonstrate a strong
commitment to a career in law, enjoy working in
teams, and be up for a challenge! Their trainees
are driven to deliver consistent results for
clients. A solid record of academic achievement,
consisting of good A-Levels and a 2:1 degree is
normally expected. However, those who are
solely academic are probably not suited to DWF
as the firm is interested in people with a bit of
pizzazz. Candidates also need to be talented
84
organisers and possess commercial acumen,

on top of having good communication skills,
being approachable, friendly and confident.
Many of DWFs trainees do not come from a law
background so personal strengths and interests
are more valued than your technical knowledge
make sure to impress with your skills and
convince the firm why you want to work for them
specifically.
Be relaxed and show off your

knowledge of the firm, and
certainly dont be afraid to ask
questions yourself.
The recruitment process is transparent and
straightforward. First there is the online
application form which focuses on your
educational background, work experience,
language skills and other core skills.
The next stage is an interview with a partner/
associate and a member of HR. If successful,
you will be invited to an assessment day which
is set in a friendly atmosphere, and includes a
presentation, a written exercise and a group
discussion. There is also a second interview,
which will be with a number of partners. Dont
be intimidated by this as the firm really wants
to get to know you so try to be yourself. Do not
just rely upon legal experience to prove you are
capable of certain skills but use all experience you
have, however small. Be relaxed and show off
your knowledge of the firm, and certainly dont
be afraid to ask questions yourself. The final stage
is Practice Group Partner Friday, where all the
remaining candidates are given the opportunity
to meet and interact with the practice group
partners before the final selection is made.
DWF
FIRM PROFILE
DWF is an expanding national firm with offices
in Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London,
Manchester, Newcastle and Preston. The firm
operates internationally, utilising the strong
relationships its developed with firms around the
world, employing over 1,400 people, including 132
partners.
DWF provides a range of legal services to
businesses and private clients, and specialises in
banking and finance, business recovery, corporate,
insurance, litigation, people, private client and
real estate. In addition, the firm has developed
expertise in a number of specific areas; sector
focused teams include transport and logistics,
education, food and recruitment.
DWF works with household names and its client
list includes Allianz, Aviva, BUPA, Lloyds Banking
Group, RBS, and Liverpool John Moores University,
amongst others. DWF is a rapidly growing firm; net
profits were up 35% and turnover up 15% in the
last financial year.
The firm places a large emphasis on its values,

which centre on its people, clients, community
and environment. Its infrastructure is not just
client-facing, but is increasingly client-driven, and
each client has a dedicated client partner who is
responsible for ensuring high service levels. DWF
also offers a service for in-house lawyers to talk to
fellow professionals with InTouch. This group hosts
a number of social events that provide a platform
for networking and regular get-togethers for inhouse lawyers. Although the networking aspect is
important, these events are also designed to teach
and improve skills, and keep in-house lawyers well
informed.
Additionally, the firm is engaged in the local
community and gets involved by supporting young
people in education and helping vulnerable people
find work. Environmental sustainability is also high
on the agenda the firm is currently a member of
The Legal Sector Alliance on Climate Change and
has ambitions to achieve carbon neutral status by
2013.


Accounting
Banking
Consulting
Law
Other Industries
85
HERBERT SMITH
Regarded as the best litigation firm in the City, Herbies also sink their teeth into top corporate and
finance work. The firm has a unique approach to international markets setting up buddy alliances with
firms rather than sending in its troops on the ground.
PROS
Challenging, interesting, often

groundbreaking work
Supportive environment from other
trainees to partner mentors
Good track record on diversity and a mix of
backgrounds at the firm
Magic Circle pay without the hours
Great opportunities for secondments to
clients or abroad
Competitive but very friendly, social culture
CONS
You have to be proactive to snare the really

good quality work
There can be a fair amount of administration
work to do
Little responsibility or direct contact with clients
early on, though this does depend on the seat
Long hours and stressful periods
THE STATS
LOCATIONS

Partners: 276
Trainee intake: 200
No. of offices: 33
Abu Dhabi Amsterdam* Bangkok Beijing Belfast
Berlin* Brussels Budapest* Dammam* Dubai
Dsseldorf* Frankfurt* Hamburg* Hong Kong
Jakarta* Jeddah* London Luxembourg* Madrid
Moscow Munich* New York* Paris Prague*
Riyadh* Stuttgart* Shanghai Singapore Tokyo
Warsaw*
BASE SALARY
LONDON 2011

Capital Markets Competition, Regulation & Trade
Corporate Dispute Resolution Employment, Pensions
& Employee Incentives Environment, Health & Safety
Finance Intellectual Property Real Estate Tax
Trusts & Charities
*Associated offices
LONDON OFFICE
Exchange House
Primrose Street
London EC2A 2HS
Tel: +44 (0)20 7374 8000
http://www.herbertsmith.com

Graduate Recruitment
Tel: +44 (0)20 7374 8000
Email: graduate.recruitment@herbertsmith.com
86
LIFE ON THE JOB

The deals I have been exposed to are of a high

calibre and with great variation. I have worked
deals involving: oil and gas, high speed, wind
farms, nuclear decommissioning, the climate
change negotiations (pro bono) and the new
health bill. There is direct contact with partners,
but little with clients. Responsibility also varies
depending on the size of the transaction.
First year trainee
Drafting correspondence and sometimes more

formal documents, managing aspects of cases,
research, attending client meetings and client
calls, some administrative tasks (billing,
bundling, etc).
Second year trainee
There is generally a better quality of work the

more senior I get. In my first seat I did a lot of
business development work (e.g. researching
potential clients and proofreading journal articles).
In my second seat I was more involved in client
matters, but got stuck with quite dull tasks like
bundling and proof-reading. In my third seat Ive
been able to draft real legal documents and liaise
with clients, counsel and defendants directly.
Second year trainee
I have had extensive direct contact with partners

in my current department and have worked on
some incredibly exciting work. I have not yet had
a great deal of client exposure but I expect that to
change substantially when I move into real estate
for my next seat.
First year trainee
The quality of work is very high, both in litigation
and corporate which is reflective of the calibre
of clients. The level of responsibility given to
trainees is also very good, lots of client interaction
and, occasionally, last minute short-term client
secondments. At the very least, trainees will
interact with the other partys advisers on a daily
basis.
Second year trainee
HERBERT SMITH
QUOTES
It depends on the department you are in.

Litigation involves research, reviewing and
drafting witness statements, etc. The real
estate department has lots of client interaction,
reviewing leases, drafting rent review memos,
assisting in the creation of title reports and land
registry searches. In corporate you will draft IMAs,
parts of prospectuses and have lots of contact
with clients/other party advisers.
Second year trainee
I arrive circa 8am and leave on average around

8pm. There is often some legal research
on a particular point and also quite a bit of
document review for a couple of ongoing
matters. Sometimes I head down to court to
sit in on potentially relevant trials, and there is
the occasional education session. I usually have
breakfast and lunch at my desk and unfortunately
dinner a couple of times a week in the
same manner.
First year trainee
It can vary immensely but thats part of the
appeal. It can involve legal research, drafting,
helping with advice, dealing with documents,
training events, talks and lectures, and helping
with internal administration of matters.
First year trainee
87
Culture
The trainee support structure is fantastic. There

are about 200 trainees at any one time, although
about 30 of these will be abroad or at clients. The
trainees provide an excellent network of people to
answer your silly questions, help you out if youre
snowed under with work and listen to you when
things are bad. Socially as well, theyre fantastic.
Theres always someone whos up for a drink after
work, and people are good about arranging (and
attending) post-work drinks.
First year trainee
It is a very supportive environment (trainees
are assigned to partner mentors, as well as
receiving support from those in the group
a trainee sits in, and HR). It is generally a
friendly working environment. Trainees tend to
support one another but there is a high level of
competition, so this can be somewhat limited.
Trainees do socialise together depending on work
commitments.
Second year trainee
Its a collegiate environment; there is a large
population of trainees, and with a few exceptions
it is a mutually supportive body. I tend to socialise
with the other trainees in my department, but I
still catch up with trainees elsewhere in the firm
on a regular basis. The firm is loosely hierarchical;
partners are afforded a lot of respect, but
associates are generally on informal terms with
trainees. Everyone is courteous, and most
people smile!
Second year trainee
It varies from department to department, but
overall the culture at the firm is really good and
socialising in your department is encouraged by
partners heading up the groups. It makes for a
really good working environment and one where
its easy to develop relationships with peers. The
trainee network is strong, and this is undoubtedly
helped by the fact that we all spend a year
together on the LPC before joining the firm as
trainees.
Second year trainee
88
Seats
There are four seats at my firm and you can sit in

any department. Two are compulsory (corporate
and litigation) but there is sufficient choice as the
groups in each division differ somewhat. Seats
are on offer abroad and for client secondments.
Its a great training contract. I have also got my
first choice seats on the first two occasions and
most people seem pleased with the seats they are
allocated.
First year trainee
Trainees typically do four seats, each six months
long. We have a free choice of departments, and
groups within those departments, subject to
availability. I have had my first choice in each seat
to date. Sitting abroad is actively encouraged and
around 70% of our trainees do so at some stage.
First year trainee
Trainees complete four seats of six months each.
You can sit in corporate, litigation, real estate,
finance, EU/competition, employment, tax, etc.
You can also go on client secondment or go abroad
on international secondments to other offices of
the firm. I also went on a mini-secondment for
three weeks to Stibbe in Amsterdam, an alliance
partner of the firm. You have choices and can
apply but may not get your first choice. It tends
to even out though and if they cant give you your
first choice once theyll try and do so next time.
Second year trainee
Formal Training
There are lots of training events, both on the law

itself and on the soft skills such as presentation,
networking, time management, etc. Herbert Smith
takes training really seriously and, as well as the
compulsory sessions there is a full range of other
seminars and lectures to which trainees are also
invited.
First year trainee
There are lots of training options, some
mandatory, and most optional. Focus is shifting
from live lectures to podcasts and webinars.
Second year trainee
Whilst at times it can be difficult attending all the

training programmes, there usually is sufficient
time. Some of the courses are held on a rolling
basis so that it will be possible to attend the same
lecture on another date (or watch in DVD format).
The majority of training sessions cover the blackletter subjects and courses for softer skills, whilst
offered, are more difficult to get on.
First year trainee
Training is always available or easily arranged,

and more senior members of the team are
happy to explain new areas. The only hindrance
in this regard is a trainees own confidence in
approaching them with questions.
First year trainee
Partners at the firm are very accessible when
it comes to asking advice and posing queries.
Certain associates are excellent in this role too.
My supervisor (who is a partner) is always happy
to talk about career progression.
First year trainee
All my supervisors have been very conscientious
in providing feedback. Other solicitors are also
keen to help you improve. The firm also runs a
partner mentor scheme. The effectiveness of this
varies depending on the partner (and the trainees
willingness to make use of this) but by and large it
is quite successful. I have learnt a lot since joining
Herbert Smith with regard to the presentation of
work and also the importance of making my work
client friendly.
Trainee
Every trainee is entitled to choose a mentor

partner from somewhere else in the firm. You
also have your supervisor and a dedicated trainee
relationship partner in each group. Plus you
can always get guidance from HR who are really
friendly and will go out of their way to help you.
Second year trainee
HERBERT SMITH
A comprehensive training programme is

organised by a Learning and Development group,
which covers both legal and non-legal topics. Time
is usually made to attend the most important
programmes, but if this is not possible due to
urgent work commitments L&D are helpful when
trying to re-arrange. For non-compulsory training,
it is acceptable and encouraged to attend in lieu of
doing non-time critical work.
Second year trainee
Green Initiatives
There is a very strong environmental culture at

Herbert Smith. There is recycling within the office,
and many pro bono activities aimed at climate
change and other environmental issues.
Trainee
The firm always strives to recycle and now
recycles well over 65% of its waste. Computers
are shut down at night and lights turn off
automatically. The commitment is there, but it will
take a while to fully implement.
First year trainee
Automatic lighting and PC switch-off, and a paper
recycling box under every desk. All bottled water
is filled on-site in reusable bottles.
Second year trainee
The dedicated green team is very good: there
are energy saving light bulbs and recycling
stations everywhere. There is a very wasteful
attitude amongst lawyers, though. If a printer is
not working, lawyers re-send that document to
another printer without bothering to cancel the
initial print-job.
First year trainee
diversity
Herbies has a very good track record on diversity;

we have trainees from all corners of the globe and
of all sexual preferences!
Second year trainee
There are constantly invites to and mentions of
various religious seasonal events which all firm
members are invited to, as well as paternity/
maternity events.
First year trainee
89
We rank highly in the Stonewall index. There are

specific policies in place to ensure we retain a
diverse group of people. Flexible working is also
available for mothers.
Trainee
Diversity is a driver of the atmosphere
and personalities at the firm personality,
individuality, creativity are encouraged, and the
firm is constantly working to ensure the workforce
is diverse.
First year trainee

upon qualification?
We have specific diversity training. I think that

the firm is becoming more flexible in terms of
accommodating part-time work for women. I
know there is a big LGBT scene.
Second year trainee
I am only half way through my training contract,

but I feel I am receiving excellent training and
exposure to life as a junior associate, I feel I could
start practicing law now.
First year trainee
OFFICES & DRESS CODE
Qualification will be a leap, but I feel well

prepared to take it.
Second year trainee
Brilliant location on the edge of the City walking

distance to shopping and socialising of Shoreditch
and Spitalfields, walking distance to One New
Change and St Pauls . Nice office spaces. The
dress code is not too strict, individuality is by no
means suppressed and there is a summer dress
down policy throughout the warmer months.
There is also a dress down Friday policy.
First year trainee
I really like the location of my firm which is in
Liverpool Street. It is convenient for travel and
there are great places to eat, drink, socialise
and shop nearby. The facilities are good and the
canteen serves a decent range of food. There
are two people to each office with the PAs
sitting outside in a central area. Dress code isnt
as formal as I had expected with most females
eschewing suits unless they have client meetings.
Fridays are dress-down days although what you
can get away with varies from group to group.
Second year trainee
90
Dress code for gents is relaxed: Mon Thurs is

suits but no tie necessary unless meeting a client,
and Fridays are dress-down, so you can wear
chinos and a polo shirt. Office looks a bit tired
from the outside, but internally its spacious and
in good condition. The floors are gradually being
refurbished one by one. Main problem is the lifts
are very slow!
Second year trainee
I have the usual nerves but Im ready to start life

as an associate and Im excited about it. Herbert
Smith has prepared me well.
Second year trainee
Pretty well but given that most people would
have only spent six months in the group they are
qualifying into, its unrealistic to feel 100% ready
to be unleashed on clients.
Second year trainee

Hours
Corporate: 50-100. Litigation: 50-70. Real Estate:

50-60. Finance: 50-70.
Second year trainee
I have not been in at weekends (apart from

a casual hour one Saturday) and have never
been here past midnight. Although to many of
my friends that is a perverse indicator of job
satisfaction, it means that I do get sufficient down
time to myself. I am only in the office when there
is work that needs to be done. I work 55 hours
a week on average, though it has been as much
as 70 and as low as 40 (only really the case if I
have been away on a course, for example). The
work is interesting though, and I am rarely doing
donkey work, so the long hours do not bother me.
I expected to work this much in litigation.
First year trainee
At present, Im working somewhere between 40
50 hours per week. I have experienced particularly
busy times where this can be more like 80,
including weekends but this is rare. When it does
happen, youre never the only one in the office.
Its very much a team environment.
Second year trainee
Salary
The package is really good and the firms flex2fit

benefits package works really well.
Second year trainee
We get paid top-tier salaries which match the
Magic Circle, but we dont do Magic Circle
hours good deal! My only criticism is that the
trainee bonus scheme is neither guaranteed nor
generous.
Second year trainee
It seems like a lot at the outset, but the tax

stings you a lot and you dont end up with much
disposable income after rent, etc.
First year trainee
Its on par with all other good, non-US law firms.
Obviously more would be great, but the current
levels are decent.
Second year trainee
HERBERT SMITH
There are a lot of horror stories about insanely

long hours. I have not experienced these! There
is no culture of staying late to be seen; when
Ive finished my work I go home. I think there
are two groups of people who consistently stay
late, those who are busy with a real client matter
thats nearing a deadline (such as a court hearing
or a contract completion), and those who are
inefficient workers during the day!
Second year trainee
I dont think a trainee deserves more than this

it is generous and makes the job worthwhile.
First year trainee
Perks
I have attended a dinner at a Michelin-starred

restaurant to celebrate an arbitration victory.
The firm has a smart ideas scheme which pays
financial rewards to those who submit proposals
to improve firm processes, theyve earned me
1,000!
Second year trainee
Private healthcare for myself, my wife and son
is a good perk. They pay half my gym fees and
if I contribute 3% of my salary to pension, they
contribute another 5%. There is automatic life
insurance of four times your salary.
Second year trainee
The salary uplifts for those who go abroad on
secondment (and the rent-free flat) is a big perk.
We also have subsidised massage sessions every
now and again, as well as a subsidised bike
service day.
First year trainee
We have a great qualification leave policy we
can take up to four months unpaid leave. As
Herbert Smith does not have a gym internally we
have a great gym membership scheme with Virgin
Active.
Second year trainee
91
PLUSES
Great colleagues, A-list clients and a top salary.

Second year trainee
Top quality work, ambition, good familyorientated and sociable people, understanding of
work-life balance and scope for managing your
own workload.
Second year trainee
Range of both billable work and pro bono work.
First year trainee
High profile work, good environment and people,
good career potential and the firm is willing to try
new things.
First year trainee
Its a varied training contract with a real
opportunity to qualify into other departments,
apart from corporate. There is no trainee billable
hours target. There is no pressure on trainees to
feel they have to fill a specific quota. Trainees are
very friendly.
Second year trainee
MINUSES
The stigma of not being part of the Magic Circle;

its frustrating knowing you act for more FTSE 100
clients than three of the five Magic Circle firms,
but still seen as the chasing pack. Were not
chasing anymore, were overtaking!
Second year trainee
The hours can be long and expectations
are high.
First year trainee
The long hours and the stressful periods, and
times when you need a partner but theyre not
around.
Second year trainee
I never see daylight.
First year trainee
92
The canteen often serves up an unheard of

species of fish at meal times. It can be confusing
and add trepidation to that canteen visit at
7.30pm.
First year trainee
Fun Facts
The Apprentices Margaret Mountford and Alan

Watts come from Herbert Smith.
First year trainee
To celebrate their 100th anniversary our alliance
partners Stibbe had a special Herbert Smith/
Stibbe/Gleiz Lutz (our other alliance partner)
monopoly board made. The space which would
be Mayfair on a normal Monopoly board was
London.
Trainee

There was a very complex application form to fill
in, followed by an interview with two partners.
There was a case study followed by a less formal
chat, which included questions about what I had
done before, but in particular questions which
I felt were highly pertinent to me personally
(rather than the generic why do you want to be a
lawyer? type). I imagine they are designed for the
partners to be able to see how I think.
Second year trainee
I had one interview for vacation scheme and one
for the training contract. The interviewing style
was robust, challenging and abrasive. The first
question, with no preparation was So, Blackstone
wants to buy British Airways, talk us through
the deal.
First year trainee
The firm has a genuine reputation for not hiring

a specific type of person. This is reflected in the
partnership where people have a mixture of
styles and personalities. Clearly some skills will be
necessary, such as academic excellence, an ability
to think on your feet and a suitable personality
(i.e. friendly but strong). The firm has academic
requirements for entry.
Trainee
The interviews were quite intellectually

demanding but the partners interviewing me
were quite relaxed. I was asked about current
commercial issues that interested me, and then
I was pressed on some of the modules I was
studying at university at the time, and what about
them I enjoyed/disliked. I was questioned further
on the areas I found interesting which is where it
became very intellectually demanding!
First year trainee
Herbert Smith really does recruit a diverse range

of people. It is taking on more and more Chinese,
Indian and other Asian students, as its focus shifts
towards these countries. It has a healthy mix of
law/non-law graduates. HS has a wide recruitment
pool but it is still very keen on Oxbridge
applicants. Its intake is fairly typical of other large
City law firms, though perhaps with more of an
emphasis on Asian graduates.
First year trainee
Tips & Advice
Be well-rounded and have something to talk

about other than law. People at the firm tend to
come from all sorts of backgrounds and arent
only academically-minded. Candidates need the
ability to talk to the interviewers confidently and
honestly, but also have an interest in law and
specifically in the firm, and know why they want
to come to this firm. The firm recruits from all
universities and there is a 2:1 minimum degree
requirement.
Second year trainee
Be interesting and enthusiastic; Herbies doesnt
like academic bores. But dont be a clown. Top
tip: behave like a barrister (charismatic but
professional).
Second year trainee
Positive and proactive people skills are essential,
an ability to apply law to the facts, also an ability
to approach an issue pragmatically...
First year trainee
HERBERT SMITH
Questions consisted of; what are your strengths

and weaknesses? When you went travelling what
did you find most difficult? Have you ever failed
at anything? What is your favourite law module?
Discuss a particular essay? Why would you choose
Herbert Smith over other law firms? Tell us about
your past legal work experience. What do you do
to relax?
Second year trainee
I was completely won over during my interview

as I felt that there werent any preconceptions
about what a future trainee should be like or what
they should have done it really was on merit.
Broad-minded partners who were very fair, and I
have found that in general, this has been reflected
throughout my training contract.
Second year trainee
I really enjoyed the interview and Herbert Smith
has a great reputation for being fun.
Second year trainee
I felt at ease in the offices and thought it a diverse
and encouraging environment to be in, and one
that I definitely saw myself developing in.
Second year trainee
Reputation in litigation, the recruitment process
(open and accessible, and when I was given the
offer the partner who contacted me was very
warm and friendly. The firm arranged for a trainee
to take me out to lunch to talk about the firm once
I was made an offer).
Second year trainee
93

If you want to join Herbert Smith then you best
come armed with an AAB/2:1 minimum combo.
In fact, the academic scrutiny extends to the
point where even first-year [uni] results will be
looked at. Theres a healthy mix of law/nonlaw graduates and trainees all seem to agree
that there isnt a Herbert Smith type. But while
the firm does not seek to recruit from certain
universities, it is still very keen on Oxbridge
applicants.
Strong academics aside, to give yourself the best
chance possible of making the cut, demonstrate
your involvement with extracurricular activities.
You will need to be resilient and willing to work
long hours when necessary, and it certainly wont
hurt your chances to have command of a foreign
language. Be sure to show your enthusiasm for
the work, people skills and personality Herbies
doesnt like academic bores!
More left-field questions have included

what do you do to relax? and what was
the last book you read?
Recruitment is tough although not drawn out,
with the process concentrated into one intense
day. But before making it to the assessment day
and interview, applicants have to navigate the
firms application form and three online tests.
Your final and only day of assessment will
encompass a group task, as well as a case study
interview and competency based interview.
Each interview is conducted by a partner and
are more often than not described as friendly
and enjoyable. Thats not to say theyre not a
challenge as the interviewing style is said by one
trainee to be robust, challenging and abrasive.
Partners look to gauge a candidates commercial
awareness and their reasons for choosing law and
94
Herbert Smith in particular. While these standard

questions may be good ice-breakers, the firm
is keen to find out what makes you tick. More
left-field questions have included what do you
do to relax? and what was the last book you
read? One current trainee reveals that during
the hiring process interviewers seemed more
interested in finding out how I thought, rather
than what I thought. Hence the best advice for
future interviewees is to be yourself and let your
personality come through.
The academic scrutiny extends to the

point where even first-year [uni] results
will be looked at.
Successful applicants will ordinarily sit four
six-month seats. Litigation and corporate are
both mandatory, while trainees are free to make
requests for the remaining two seats on their
preference form. The likelihood of going on a
secondment abroad or to a client is said to be
very high, although the firm does not guarantee
all locations. The same trainee continues,
approximately a quarter of the entire trainee
population goes on secondment every six months,
and each trainee has four chances to apply, you
do the maths! In theory, it is meant to be rare
for one trainee to take part in more than one
secondment, although in practice it happens
fairly frequently. For a trainee with itchy feet,
the foreign secondments available are in Tokyo,
Singapore, Hong Kong, Moscow, Dubai, Brussels
and Paris.
Herbert Smith may sit outside the elite of the

Magic Circle, but it is second to none when it
comes to litigation. The firm is affectionately
known as Herbies in the legal press, but in direct
contrast to this, it has garnered a reputation for
fierceness in its linchpin practice.
The firms history can be traced back to 1882,
when it was established in London by Norman
Herbert Smith. By the 1990s, the firm had become
best known for its disputes practice, with its
corporate practice also well regarded in no small
part due to the wave of privatisation on which it
advised during the 80s and 90s.
The firm is affectionately known

as Herbies in the legal press, but in
direct contrast to this, it has garnered
a reputation for fierceness in its
linchpin practice.
The firm has a unique and unusual approach to
international markets; while it may not have as
many foreign offices as other international law
firms, Herbert Smith has built a global network
through its close relationships with overseas
firms as well as establishing its own network of
offices throughout Asia, Europe and the Middle
East. In 2000, Herbert Smith shrewdly augmented
its solid continental presence by establishing
formal alliances with German firm, Gleiss Lutz, and
Benelux firm, Stibbe in 2002. In the same vein,
Herbert Smith has built close relations to Wall
Street firms rather than establishing its own US
offices, consequently gaining referrals from the
likes of Cravath, Swaine & Moore, Simpson Thacher
& Bartlett, and Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton &
Garrison. These affiliations allow Herbert Smith
to operate in foreign markets, while avoiding the
substantial costs of setting up its own offices.
Herbert Smith is proud to be the Citys No.1 firm

for commercial litigation, though its quick to
emphasise it offers clients more than just services
in its mainstay practice. The firm has built up one
of the best corporate departments in Europe
and Asia, and gets high marks for its work in
transactions, projects, dispute resolution and real
estate. The banking division has grown in recent
years too, with the firms finance team developing
a strong reputation in debt finance, capital markets
and asset finance.
HERBERT SMITH
FIRM PROFILE
Herbert Smith believes clients need to consider the

litigation risks of every deal before they do it, and
therefore provides its litigation and M&A services
hand-in-hand. Numerous household names have
benefited from this model, including BP, Credit
Suisse, Coca-Cola, Eurotunnel, easyJet, Goldman
Sachs, RBS, Merrill Lynch and Standard Life, as well
as many governments, FTSE 100 and Fortune 100
companies.
The firm has numerous community

sponsorship programmes, which
includes supporting the National Portrait
Gallery, and its charity of the year
for 2011 WaterAid.
Finally, Herbert Smith has one of the best
reputations for diversity in the City, and also
welcomes part-time partners. The firm has
numerous community sponsorship programmes,
which includes supporting the National Portrait
Gallery, and its charity of the year for 2011
WaterAid. The firm is also not performing badly
on the sustainability front, and has implemented
green initiatives such as recycling all paper and
various other materials, and filling all bottled water
on-site in reusable bottles in its London office.
95

96
BOND PEARCE
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Lookin
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Hill Dickinson is an award-winning, full-service, international law firm. Hill Dickinson has a network of
offices in the North of England, London, Singapore and Piraeus, and has had over 200 years in practice.
PROS
Lots of responsibility and contact with high

profile clients for trainees
Almost daily contact with partners
Approachable colleagues and a social culture
Great support network especially between
trainees (both past and present)
Very structured and focused training on offer
CONS
Limited foreign secondment opportunities for

trainees in the North West offices
Pretty long hours when the work demands, but
rare and seat-dependent
No bonus until associate level
Not all firm decisions are communicated ahead
of time
THE STATS
LOCATIONS

Partners: 190
Solicitors: 262
Trainee intake: 18
No. of offices: 7
Liverpool London Manchester Sheffield Chester
Piraeus Singapore
BASE SALARY
LONDON 2011
NORTH WEST OFFICES 2011
HILL DICKINSON
HILL DICKINSON
LONDON OFFICE
No. 1 St Pauls Square
Liverpool L3 9SJ
Tel: +44 (0)151 600 8000
www.hilldickinson.com

Emma McAvinchey
Graduate Recruitment Advisor
Tel: +44 (0)151 600 8916
emma.mcavinchey@hilldickinson.com

Business services Health Insurance
Marine, Energy & Trade
97
QUOTES
LIFE ON THE JOB
I have had a high level of responsibility, attending

and conducting client interviews by myself for
taking witness statements. I have been involved
in a public inquiry, which involved travelling to
Stafford and being a point of contact for counsel
and the clients. In each seat I have reported
directly to a partner, which involves discussions
about work most days. In my first seat, I shared
an office with my supervisor. I have only been
involved in one transactional seat (corporate) and
the nature of the transactions was mainly share
purchase agreements and joint ventures.
Trainee, Chester
I am provided with a good level of responsibility,
with appropriate supervision. I interact with
clients on a day-to-day basis and interact with all
members of the different teams I have been in. I
have assisted with very high value work and find
the work that I am involved with very rewarding.
Trainee, London
The level of responsibility and interaction with
clients varies from seat to seat. If the opportunity
is there, you will be given the chance to interact
regularly with clients. In one seat I was daily on
the phone and in touch by email to various clients.
You will work closely with the partners in the
team who will usually be your direct supervisors.
Work is also undertaken with other more junior
members of a team.
Trainee, Liverpool
The quality of work assigned throughout the
training contract is very much dependent on the
seat you are in and the level of trust that those in
your team have in you.
Trainee, Manchester
98
Each day can vary depending on the seat you

are in and the work you are exposed to at any
given time. Within every seat trainees get a
lot of exposure to clients via client meetings
and networking events. Trainees are involved
in drafting documents, interviewing witnesses,
attending trial and using their initiative to progress
a case. Trainees also have a good social scene
with regular events, both within Hill Dickinson
and outside the firm with other networking
organisations.
Trainee, Liverpool
Telephoning clients with updates or requesting
them to provide certain information, drafting
witness statements, responding to client queries
by e-mail, discussions with my supervisor or
another member of the team about progress with
deadlines.
Trainee, Chester
I manage quite a few of my own files so I
spend most of the morning dealing with issues
arising on these. I undertake a large volume of
non-chargeable jobs for partners and other fee
earners. I spend quite a lot of time sorting things
out via telephone for other fee earners.
Trainee, Liverpool
Culture
Trainees do support each other. In the seat that I

started in March the previous trainees had made a
book of useful information, etc. that is passed on
from trainee to trainee. Trainees interact between
departments. Trainees do socialise together, both
at firm events and off the cuff events, such as
drinks after work or doing things at the weekend.
The firms culture is relaxed allowing trainees

to ask questions and advice of more senior
individuals. Trainees have a mentor upon joining
the firm so they can ask questions and seek advice
from these fellow trainees. Trainees can also learn
from each other with regard to finding out about
other practice groups they may want to complete
a seat in. Trainees regularly socialise together both
as a group and with other individuals at the firm.
There are a range of networking events in the
region and events organised by current trainees
for those who are about to commence their
training contracts.
Trainee, Liverpool
Seats
Trainees at the firm sit in four departments, over

6 month periods. The firms main departments
are professional risks, insurance, property and
construction, company commercial, marine,
employment and pensions and healthcare. In
the first seat, a trainee is placed into their seat
without choice. For their second, third and fourth
seats, trainees are give 3 choices for where they
wish to be placed. Preference is given to second
year trainees. Trainees can work abroad in
Singapore and Greece in the marine department.
Trainee, Manchester
Trainees do four seats at this firm. The seats

available can vary every six months, depending
on whether the department can afford to pay
for a trainee departments have to cover trainee
salaries. Usually the following are available: retail
property, corporate & investment property, family,
corporate, banking, insurance (mainstream),
insurance (fraud), professional risks, healthcare,
NHS litigation, commerce & technology, marine,
yachts, regulatory & crime, employment and
insolvency. Other seats which have been available
include: property (energy sector), private client
and commercial litigation. Some trainees have
also been seconded to clients for their entire seat.
There is an opportunity for one trainee per seat to
do a seat in our Singapore office.
Trainee, Liverpool
HILL DICKINSON
The firm is in a typical structure with partners,

associates, assistant solicitors and trainees. The
office is friendly and people are approachable
right through to partner level. The trainees
do support each other. We talk on the phone,
consulting those who have previously done a seat
that we are in. We have a central trainee intranet,
which provides useful precedents and information
provided by other trainees. We socialise together
on a regular basis, usually drinks on a Friday night
together with other more formal events from time
to time.
Trainee, London
Four seats each six months. All departments are

available to trainees and all requests are noted,
albeit you cannot be guaranteed to be allocated
all your first choices throughout the two years.
Trainee, Manchester
Formal Training
The firm holds various training events involving

trainees and often clients as well. The firm has
its own Business School and so the events tend
to be very structured and well-organised. Due to
the benefits gained from attending such events,
supervisors allow you time to attend. The firm has
held presentation events, allowing individuals to
enhance their presentation skills. We have had
speakers in to give informative talks about their
careers and advise on networking skills.
Trainee, Liverpool
The firms training programme is extremely well
organised. PSC courses are conducted in-house. In
addition, there is regular departmental training as
well as training which focuses on every day skills
such as team building and personal effectiveness.
Trainee, Liverpool
99
We have many talks and conferences,

both internal and external, which trainees
are encouraged to attend. Initial training is
comprehensive, with easy access to refresher
courses if required on an individual basis. We have
mid and end of seat appraisals with good feedback
on our progress.
Trainee, London
Green Initiatives
Apparently the powers that be are quite into

reducing our carbon footprint. We recycle paper,
but other than that Im not sure.
Trainee, Liverpool
It is fairly easy to achieve informal training each

trainee sits with a partner so there is opportunity
to pick up on things and learn new skills. It
depends on the partners and how busy they are,
but most of them are accessible and friendly and
there is a proper open door policy. Also, in every
department I have been to, there was always
someone who was willing to help and advise if
things got tricky.
Trainee, London
The firms solicitors and partners operate an
open-door policy, allowing individuals to ask
questions and learn from those at the top of their
field. Trainees share a room with their supervisors,
who are often partners of the firm, allowing them
to learn how these individuals communicate with
their clients and obtaining an insight into their
working processes. When working and sharing a
room with supervisors, it allows trainees to ask
questions and be involved in the case/transaction
on a day-to-day basis. Supervisors will often pass
files to trainees, allowing them to run a file and
obtain advice as and when necessary.
Trainee, Liverpool
Solicitors are more accessible than partners on
the whole, however there are always exceptions
and some partners are more than happy to
assist and some make fantastic mentors. In some
departments, associates are mentors; this can be
better because its not as long since they were
trainees. However, some associates seem to find
it difficult to manage their own work load and
delegate work efficiently which can sometimes be
a problem.
Trainee, Liverpool
100
I think we were among the first law firms to go

carbon neutral.
Trainee, London
The firm is carbon zero. A new DMS system
has been introduced with the view to the firm
becoming paperless in the future.
Trainee, Liverpool
diversity
The firm has an equal share of men and

woman in the London office and also has LGBT
representation.
Trainee, London
There is currently a three-year diversity plan
being rolled out by the firm to increase
awareness, etc.
Trainee, London
Liverpool office is new and very good, London

office is older and does not have as many
amenities, etc. Dress code is formal, suit and shirt,
tie is not always essential unless meeting with
clients, etc.
Trainee, London
The firm has new offices in Liverpool, which are
in the business district and enhance the firms
presence in the region. The firm has a formal dress
code and operates dress down days.
Trainee, Liverpool

upon qualification?
Through the variety of seats I have experienced
and through my time on secondment, I feel
prepared for qualification. Supervisors try to
prepare trainees by getting them involved in
all tasks which can be experienced within their
current seat.
Trainee, Liverpool
Very prepared.
Trainee, London

Hours
45 50 hours per week. Less than in comparison

to many of my friends at other firms.
Trainee, London
As with any law firm, if a deadline is looming
trainees are expected to stay and help out where
they can. However, there is no long hour culture
at HD.
Trainee, Manchester
HILL DICKINSON
Dress code reasonably casual. Most women

bring suit jackets and leave them in work should
they need them. Men always wear a shirt and
tie, but very few wear a jacket around the office.
Office is in a good location. Public areas look
impressive.
Trainee, Liverpool
Salary
It seems pretty good compared to other firms in

the North West.
Trainee, Liverpool
I think we are earning slightly less in comparison
to our competitors.
Trainee, London
Perks
All employees get their birthday off, which is a

nice perk. If your birthday falls on a weekend,
your supervisor is usually happy with you taking
a birthday day off on the Friday or Monday. The
firm also has links with local business, allowing
employees to have discounts and invitations to
events.
Trainee, Liverpool
This varies depending on the seat you are in and

how busy the team is at any given time. Generally,
the firms working hours for trainees are good
with trainees rarely working past 5.30pm/6pm.
However, trainees can experience longer working
hours when working on high-profile transactions
and cases, but these can be rare and seatdependent.
Trainee, Liverpool
Discounted tickets to football matches, odd free

tickets to football matches.
Trainee, London
I work from about 8.30 to 6pm. This surprised

me at first as I thought I would need to work much
longer hours, but there is quite a good attitude
in the firm about trainee hours and we arent
expected to stay late unless needed.
Trainee, Liverpool
Trainees are encouraged to get involved in cases

and transactions which are occurring within their
team at any given time. The open-door policy of
partners allows trainees to develop and learn from
those at the top of their field. The birthday day off
perk is also a bonus!
Trainee, Liverpool
PLUSES
Friendly people, the hours are not bad, the work

is interesting, opportunities to go abroad.
Trainee, London
101
Work/life balance, friendly approachable

attitude, the quality of work.
Trainee, London
MINUSES
Having to wait longer than most firms for the job

list to come out.
Trainee, Liverpool
Nothing that I can think of.
Trainee, London
Fun Facts
The firm is over 200 years old and acted in the

Titanic incident.
Trainee, London

The firm has an application form, which is used
both for their summer placement scheme and
training contracts. Individuals are asked a range
of questions and the firm requires the candidate
to be strong in every section. The application
form is used to select those individuals to go
on to the summer placement scheme in which
there is an assessment day at the end of the
week, or you may not be fortunate enough to get
on a placement scheme, but will still be invited
to an assessment day later in the summer. The
assessment day involves a 25-minute interview,
written assessment, individual and group
presentation. The day is very intense and nerveracking, but individuals should remember that the
firm is impressed by your application form, for you
to be asked to attend the day.
Trainee, Liverpool
102
There was just one assessment day with two

partners and the head of graduate recruitment
at the time. Each of the 3 interviewers directed
questions to me. There was no particular format.
Assessment day was as they always are, a long
day, but effort had been made to split it into
manageable chunks.
Trainee, Liverpool
One round full day assessment. I interviewed
with a panel of partners who are on the trainee
committee. Interview was as follows: meet and
greet, individual presentations on an unknown
topic with 10 minutes preparation. Group
discussion. Lunch. Individual 30-minute interview
with a panel of partners. Written assessment
drafting exercise and written essay. The
assessment day was hard work and challenging
with a variety of exercises as stated above.
Questions were asked about the legal market,
me personally, my attitude towards work,
the firm, etc.
Trainee, London
Tips & Advice
The firm requires good A-Levels and at least a

2:1 in your degree. It is getting more competitive
for individuals, with a wide range of people
from varying disciplines applying for training
contracts. The firm employs people from a range
of backgrounds and not just individuals who have
done the straight law route. Candidates need to
have lots of work experience and should have a
good understanding of the role of a lawyer and
the firm as a whole. Candidates should not just
have legal skills, but also possess other skills such
as communication and commercial experience.
Trainee, Liverpool
2:1 is required. A variety of characters are
employed.
Trainee, London
Hill Dickinson is a leading international law firm

and has been trading for over 200 years. I wanted
to work for the firm due to its strong presence in a
variety of legal areas and the ability for trainees to
work with individuals at the top of their legal field.
Trainees are exposed to a wide range of clients
including individuals, large corporations, highprofile cases and celebrity clients. Trainees are
also encouraged to become a part of the firm and
work on a variety of cases. I also found appealing
the firms desire to find appropriate and right
ventures allowing it to increase its presence in the
legal market, both nationally and internationally.
Trainee, Liverpool
Opportunities to work abroad and the

friendliness of the people when I met them in
person during my assessment day.
Trainee, London
A great top 50 law firm, with a good shipping
reputation.
Trainee, London
HILL DICKINSON


Accounting
Banking
Consulting
Law
Other Industries
103

As an award-winning law firm, competition for
training contracts at Hill Dickinson is strong and
applicants need to demonstrate a strong academic
record, commercial awareness and enthusiasm for
law in order to be successful. It is, however, not
essential to have studied law at uni as evidenced
by a current Hill Dickinson trainee who states
that the firm employs people from a range of
backgrounds and not just individuals who have
done the straight law route. Work experience and
a good understanding of the role of a lawyer and
the firm as a whole is definitely an advantage. Hill
Dickinson is specifically looking for trainees with
personality, so dont be afraid to be yourself at the
interview stage.
Interviews are said to resemble more

of a discussion than a high-pressure
Q&A session
At Hill Dickinson trainees generally undertake four
six-month seats in any of the firms departments
including professional risks, insurance, health,
employment, corporate, commercial, litigation,
marine, regulatory, property, private client, family
and insolvency. There is also the opportunity to do
a seat in either the Greece or Singapore office, or
to go on a client secondment.
Throughout the two years, training is said to
be very varied and structured, especially since
the introduction of the Hill Dickinson Business
School. Current trainees told us they are given a
high level of responsibility early on so dont be
surprised to find yourself interacting with clients
104
on a daily basis and attending meetings. Trainees

also mentioned that the firms partners operate
an open-door policy to allow trainees to learn
and work closely with experienced lawyers at the
top of their field. This means that though you will
have lots of individual responsibility, you wont be
alone and there is always someone willing to help
and explain something more clearly.
Throughout the two years, training is

said to be very varied and structured.
The hiring process is pretty straightforward
and the firm has an application form which is
used both for the summer placement scheme
and training contracts. Individuals are asked
a range of questions and the firm requires
the candidate to be strong in every section,
according to one trainee. If successful, you will
be invited to an assessment day. This usually
involves a presentation for which you will be
given ten minutes to prepare, followed by a group
discussion, an interview with a panel of partners
and a final written assessment where you will have
to write an essay and complete a drafting exercise.
Current trainees have said the assessment day will
be hard work and challenging, but to remember
that if you are there, the firm is impressed by
your application form. Also, interviews are said
to resemble more of a discussion than a highpressure Q&A session and the nail-biting wait
afterwards is said to be short a definite plus!
International firm Hill Dickinson has its roots in

insurance and transport, with a growing profile in
markets such as retail and financial services.
The firm traces its roots back to 1810 and has
a long history in shipping. As a major Liverpool
shipping firm in the early 1900s, Hill Dickinson
gained a lot of work in the aftermath of the
Titanic disaster for its client, the White Star Line.
The firm now has offices in London, Manchester,
Chester, Sheffield, Greece and Singapore as
well as Liverpool. The overseas bases focus on
international marine work, and provide greater
access to the firms clients in the Korean and
Japanese markets.
Besides shipping, the firm is well known for its

excellent insurance practice and commercial
property. Furthermore, Hill Dickinson boasts one
of the largest health care and critical negligence
practices of its kind in the UK. Other notable
practice areas are corporate, commercial, private
client and property litigation, and the firm has
represented the likes of Wayne Rooney and
Steven Gerrard.
HILL DICKINSON
FIRM PROFILE
The summer of 2010 saw even more expansion as

Hill Dickinson acquired the Liverpool and Sheffield
offices of Halliwells in July, along with their 125
employees. And not only was 2010 the firms
bicentennial, but they also ended up winning the
National Law Firm of the Year award at the Legal
Business Awards.
Review your placement or

internship experience
go to www.insidebuzz.co.uk/review
105
Where will
your talent
take you?
Hogan Lovells is one of the worlds top 10 legal practices. Our global reach
and exceptional breadth of practice ensures a broad, enriching experience
for graduate trainees. With a spectrum of practice areas to explore,
a prestigious client list and a positive, open culture, our focus is to enable
trainees to become lawyers, and lawyers to become leaders.
To see how we help graduates transform ambition and potential into a
world-class career, visit our website at:
www.hoganlovells.com/graduates
Join us on Facebook
106
Hogan Lovells or the firm refers to the international legal practice comprising Hogan Lovells International LLP, Hogan Lovells US LLP, Hogan Lovells Worldwide Group (a Swiss Verein), and their affiliated businesses,
each of which is a separate legal entity. Hogan Lovells International LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC323639. Registered office and principal place of business:
Atlantic House, Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2FG. Hogan Lovells US LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in the District of Columbia.
The word partner is used to refer to a member of Hogan Lovells International LLP or a partner of Hogan Lovells US LLP, or an employee or consultant with equivalent standing and qualifications, and to a partner, member,
employee or consultant in any of their affiliated businesses who has equivalent standing. Rankings and quotes from legal directories and other sources may refer to the former firms of Hogan & Hartson LLP and Lovells LLP.
Where case studies are included, results achieved do not guarantee similar outcomes for other clients. New York State Notice: Attorney Advertising.
Hogan Lovells 2011. All rights reserved.
Deep seeded London roots, a well developed international network, solid growth and jovial staff,
make Hogan Lovells a serious alternative to the Magic Circle and a contender for the title of the Citys
friendliest firm.
PROS
Variety of the work, clients and practice areas

Friendly atmosphere and approachable
colleagues
Good quality of work and high level of
responsibility for trainees
Work/life balance is respected where possible
Excellent training, both legal and soft skills
Trainee salary is amongst the best in the City
CONS
The uncertainty of the hours, and you are

expected to work weekends when busy
Sometimes no transparency over decisions
Solicitors and partners are very busy which can
make it hard to receive informal training
Oxbridge bias in recruitment
The bonus programme is a bit obscure
THE STATS
LOCATIONS

No. of offices: 43
Abu Dhabi Alicante Amsterdam Baltimore Beijing
Berlin Brussels Budapest* Caracas Colorado Springs
Denver Dubai Dsseldorf Frankfurt Hamburg
Hanoi Ho Chi Minh City Hong Kong Houston Jeddah
London Los Angeles Madrid Miami Milan
Moscow Munich New York Northern Virginia Paris
Philadelphia Prague Riyadh Rome San Francisco
Shanghai Silicon Valley Singapore Tokyo Ulaanbaatar
Warsaw Washington DC Zagreb*
*Associate office
BASE SALARY
LONDON 2011

Competition & EU Law Consumer Corporate Dispute
Resolution Employment & Employee Share Incentives
Energy, Power & Utilities Finance Financial Institutions
Financial Markets Industrials Intellectual Property
Life Sciences Pensions Projects, Engineering &
Construction Real Estate Tax Technology, Media &
Telecommunications
HOGAN LOVELLS
HOGAN LOVELLS
LONDON OFFICE
Atlantic House
Holborn Viaduct
London EC1A 2FG
Tel: +44 (0)20 7296 2000
www.hoganlovells.com

Email: recruit@hoganlovells.com
Tel: +44 (0)20 7296 2000
107
QUOTES
LIFE ON THE JOB
I have been pleasantly surprised at the amount

of responsibility it is possible to take on at Hogan
Lovells. Obviously, there will always be some
more menial tasks, but where possible the vast
majority of lawyers try to get trainees involved
in more complex and interesting work, and
where possible allow trainees to handle a small
area of the transaction themselves. Partners are
very approachable and often work directly with
trainees.
First year trainee
Of course, this depends on the department.
However, my experience is that lawyers make an
effort to provide trainees with interesting work
when possible. I have found that my colleagues
pay attention to my skills and give me things to
do which correspond with my level of knowledge.
I have been able to take on a reasonable level of
responsibility. I often work directly with partners,
who generally take the time to engage with
trainees and provide any support we may need. I
speak to clients over the phone quite frequently,
and also send out emails directly to clients.
Second year trainee
High quality work for high quality clients. We
used to seem to do day-to-day work for really
big clients, but then miss out on the really big
mandates when theyd turn to the Magic Circle.
However, since the merger we appear to be
getting the mandates for some really top-end
work, especially from our US-based clients.
Junior solicitor, Corporate
108
My work comprises a pleasing balance between

large scale, complex litigation where I work as
part of a team and slightly smaller matters where
I am expected to run them fairly independently. I
interact with clients on a daily basis and find the
environment in my team to be one where I am
encouraged to take as much responsibility as I feel
able to, but always with the support and guidance
from the more senior members of the group.
The first task of the day is checking all emails and

correspondence and making sure you are up-todate on what you have to do that day. There could
be one or two training sessions on most days in
the first few weeks, but mostly you are left to get
on with work due or receiving emails for work that
is available if any trainee has the time. The day is
usually full and you may be working on one large
job or many different smaller pieces of work on
any given day.
First year trainee
Given the variety of the work which is
undertaken by the firm, it can be hard to
characterise a typical day. Any given day will,
however, usually involve a combination of
research and ongoing transactional work, such
as drafting and correspondence with clients
and the other side. Throughout the day there
is considerable opportunity for feedback and
discussion of the work, so that although you may
be afforded considerable responsibility, you are
never left to fend for yourself entirely and there is
always ample support if needed.
Second year trainee
Culture
The working environment is relaxed, but

professional and most people I have encountered
are friendly. There are also a lot of support staff
from PAs to the library whose advice and help
is often invaluable to a trainee. There isnt a
culture of working late just to put in face-time
and most supervisors will tell you to go home at a
reasonable hour if you dont have any urgent work
to do.
First year trainee
I feel very much at home at Hogan Lovells and
I support the values and ethos that the firm
promotes. There is, of course, a hierarchy to
the firm, and to my department, but I find that
this gives a helpful structure to the way we put
together a team for a particular piece of work,
and I like the fact that I know where I fit in.
Senior lawyers are generally very approachable,
supportive and keen to pass on their knowledge
and expertise. My department is friendly, with
lots of different personalities and also a good mix
of male/female members. I enjoy socialising with
my fellow solicitors and the PAs as well and I have
made some very good friends across the firm.
Trainees as a body are very sociable with each

other. Regular Friday night drinks, etc. The trainee
body as a whole is supportive and this is highly
encouraged. I often find that some of my fellow
trainees make my life considerably easier. The firm
prides itself on a friendly culture and this largely
seems to be the case, with more senior people
being generally approachable and sociable. I feel
that I am treated in a respectful manner and that
senior people make an effort to be welcoming and
positive. That said, it is a large corporate law firm
and not always as warm and cuddly as all that.
First year trainee
HOGAN LOVELLS
Day to day tasks for trainees can vary greatly. It is

the case that the less glamorous tasks involved in
transactions can be pushed down to trainees, but
equally, in order to be trusted by fee earners to
take on more meaningful tasks, each trainee must
prove that he/she is capable of doing such less
glamorous tasks to a high standard. Failing to put
together an appropriate court bundle for example
is unlikely to inspire an associate or partner to
allow you to draft pleadings. Nevertheless, to
the extent that trainees consistently perform
well, good quality work, such as drafting
witness statements or meeting with clients is
forthcoming.
Second year trainee
Seats
All trainees do four seats, at least one of which

much be a corporate or finance seat, and a
contentious seat. There have been significant
attempts to lower trainee expectations of choice
and ability to select the seats they want, although
on the whole I think most trainees got almost
all the seats they wanted. Obviously sometimes
some departments are less popular than others
and some trainees will have to sit somewhere
they havent requested, but this is a minority and
in reality, if you apply to a City firm like Hogan
Lovells you should expect (and want to, or else
why apply to such a firm) to have to sit in finance
and corporate seats.
First year trainee
Trainees have four seats. One of these seats
is required to be in dispute resolution, and one
seat is required to be in corporate/finance. You
can apply to sit in all departments, but there are
sometimes restrictions as to when you can sit
in specific departments (for example, tax do not
accept first seat trainees). There is an option to
apply for a secondment abroad but there are
limited spaces currently there are only 8 seats
available in foreign offices. You can also apply for
a client secondment, of which there are between
20 30.
First year trainee
109
Lots of choice HR has a meeting with each

trainee to gauge their preference for seats. This is
quite rare at large firms. Secondment seats can be
slightly uncertain. Current secondments abroad
on offer include: Singapore, Hong Kong, Paris,
Frankfurt, Brussels and Dubai.
First year trainee
Partner/solicitor relations
Partners at Hogan Lovells are approachable. The

partnership tries to ensure the firm is kept up-todate on decisions, particularly the individuals the
decision might affect. There are several working
groups within the firm that are involved in
different decisions.
Newly qualified solicitor, Litigation
From a work perspective, I have regular
dealing with the partners in my team and I think
that we work very closely together. Again, in
these situations I find the partners to be very
approachable. However, I do feel that there could
be better communication regarding firm-wide
decisions.
Newly qualified solicitor, Employment
Doors are always open, and theyre always
approachable on the whole. People are pretty
respectful of partners though, banter is pretty
minimal.
Formal Training
There are a lot of training programmes organised

by the firm. Some are required by the SRA (such
as the Professional Skills Course) and others are
internal, although the amount of the latter can
depend on the department you are in. There
are also a lot of voluntary training courses, such
as IT training, that you can attend. The training
is usually well-organised and scheduled well in
advance so that you can schedule work in around
it. My supervisor has always told me to attend
training, no matter how busy we may be with
client work, so attendance is taken seriously.
First year trainee
110
There is plenty of training available and it is

encouraged, supported and taken seriously.
Having said that, I tend to find learning on-thejob more useful than more structured training
sessions. Hogan Lovells puts on some brilliant soft
skills training for its associates and the group level
training and know-how sessions that take place
monthly are really useful for keeping up-to-date
and sharing knowledge.
Training is organised either within the team
through group meetings, or individually by signing
up for external courses. We are always given the
time and funding to train externally as long as
these do not encroach on fee earning work.
Training is taken very seriously, and you are
expected to attend, unless there is a genuine need
to be elsewhere. Sometimes this does mean that
it is difficult to balance your work with training.
Second year trainee
Ive always found it easy to speak to solicitors/

partners for advice, if needed. Each trainee has
a contact partner in the firm (usually not in their
department) and mine has been very pro-active
in keeping in touch and willing to offer very useful
advice, which has been great.
Second year trainee
Varies greatly depending on your supervisor,
which is probably inevitable. There is a lot of
emphasis put on being able to approach more
senior people and constantly pushing yourself and
learning new things. Both of my supervisors, so
far, have been excellent mentors. They have been
accessible and always made time to explain things
to me and clarify areas I didnt understand.
First year trainee
The firm is very busy so informal training is not

as strong as the formal sessions. It can sometimes
be difficult to pick up new skills when solicitors
and partners are frequently working on their own
work or on the telephone. Informal training is
more by osmosis. The solicitors and partners are
willing to help with specific problems. Feedback
could be stronger; there are half-seat and end of
seat appraisals, but in between there is very little
comment on progress.
First year trainee

upon qualification?
Fairly, but still fairly anxious about the transition
from trainee to associate. I hope to go on client
secondment in my last seat which I hope will help
to prepare me for qualification.
Second year trainee
I am only a month into my second seat, so I cant
really say. All the junior associates always say
that the leap from trainee to real lawyer is scary
regardless of how your training contract has gone,
so I will be bracing myself!
First year trainee
I have felt as though partners and associates have
made a genuine effort to involve me in more than
trainee tasks and therefore feel well prepared for
qualification.
Second year trainee
I think the firm rewards and promotes fairly

and, though at one year PQE, I am still on a
fairly structured career progression. Certainly, I
think, partnership is obtainable for those who
really want it. More interesting is the question of
how many associates actually do want to make
partner!
HOGAN LOVELLS
My supervisor has definitely taken the time to

explain things thoroughly and also given a fair
amount of responsibility to me as a first seater. I
have been impressed with the dedication when,
frankly, sometimes it feels like were getting
in the way.
First year trainee
WHERE DO YOU SEE yourself over the

course of the next 5-10 years?
I hope very much Ill still be at Hogan Lovells in 10
years time.
I see myself still at Hogan Lovells and having
become a senior associate within the next 4 7
years.
Pro bono
The firm places real emphasis on pro bono work

and encourages and supports all its lawyers to
take part. There is no minimum quota (which I
think is good), but I do think that the firm should
allow hours spent doing pro bono work to count
towards your bonus hours requirement, which
is currently not the case. I have taken part in
mentoring schemes, citizens advice bureau work,
and a variety of one-off smaller matters.
Pro bono hours only count towards billable once
you have passed your target. There is also no
minimum quota for pro bono. I have undertaken
a variety of pro bono projects including managing
a case for race discrimination for a claimant
who was subjected to racial harassment by his
employer, a prominent city council.
CAREER PROSPECTS
It appears to be reasonably easy, if you put in the

effort yourself.
111
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112
Green Initiatives
Its almost impossible to go completely paperless

at a law firm but Hogan Lovells do encourage
recycling. Everyone turns off their lights when they
leave the office at the end of the evening and the
lights in corridors, etc. operate using a movement
sensor.
First year trainee
Recently got rid of paper cups, we now have to
use our own mugs! Paperless is far from being a
reality, but increasingly aspired to.
Second year trainee
The London office recently announced that it has
cut its carbon footprint considerably.
diversity
Numerous official groups and committees exist

within the firm to promote diversity in all respects.
The firm holds a diversity awareness month that
involves talks and presentations from outside
speakers on diversity issues.
First year trainee
Hogan Lovells is very committed to diversity
and there is a huge effort to promote diversity
in the workplace with seminars and the recent
Diversity Month. Although this is admirable, how
far this actually filters through to the working
environment Im not sure I think the makeup of
the firm in respect to ethnic minorities and LGBT
is probably rather similar to most City law firms
and rather underrepresented. Women, however,
are well represented noticeably so at trainee
level and I do think HL makes significant efforts
to accommodate flexible working.
First year trainee
In keeping with the feel of the firm, diverse

backgrounds, including mature career changers
and young parents are actively encouraged to
apply and are being hired. HR is also actively
seeking to widen access to less-privileged state
school kids here in the area (EC1) by doing workshadowing and training classes.
Second year trainee
HOGAN LOVELLS
Hogan Lovells commits a lot of time and effort

to pro bono work, with all fee earners being
encouraged to volunteer for pro bono matters. Pro
bono work is considered as part of the appraisal/
bonus review.
The building is fantastic, especially if you have

an outwards-facing office as there are generally
great views (if youre high up). The client areas
on the top floors are amazing. The client rooms
have amazing cookies. The dress code is not
intimidatingly smart; think shirts with no ties for
men and dresses and cardigans for girls. We have
a dress-down Friday, too.
First year trainee
The office is really nice to work in, quite spacious
and have you seen the water feature?! Its located
near some nice pubs in Smithfield and some good
restaurants nearby as well. We also have a pastry
chef in house somewhere who cooks up amazing
French pastries and fresh cookies on the client
floor (which makes going up to the 11th quite a
nice little excursion). Dress code is standard for
men: suits (without ties in finance, possibly with in
litigation). We also have dress down Fridays with
jeans being the norm and a couple of hoodies
sometimes make an appearance in the less formal
departments.
First year trainee
A nice and fairly spacious building complete with
a canteen that at least tries hard, and a subsidised
Starbucks, gym, yoga/aerobics studio and, best
of all, sleeping pods. The dress code is generally
quite smart, although post-merger there is now
casual Friday!
First year trainee
113
Location is very good: on Holborn Viaduct, so

very central and within short walks to Farringdon
and Chancery Lane tube stations. There are
many bars and pubs around. Facilities are great:
gym, canteen, cafe, in-house laundry service,
beautician, etc. Office space is okay, the rooms are
not massive, but adequate, and probably standard
size for City firms.
First year trainee

Hours
Hours fluctuate greatly week by week.

Sometimes you will be able to leave the office at
5.30 and other times you will be coming in on the
weekend. There is a lack of certainty regarding
hours and it is not really possible to predict what
your week will be like.
First year trainee
During my training contract, I probably spent
an average of 40 45 hours a week in the office,
billing around 2/3 of that time. Since qualification,
I have been on client secondment, so have not
been involved in any billing, and my hours are
typical office hours. I think the average number
of hours is fine and still allows me time to see my
family and friends. Hogan Lovells is very flexible
with hours, having quite a high number of parttime employees, including solicitors. They have
also recently introduced flexible benefits.
I probably average around 50 hours a week,
although this fluctuates a lot. This is about what
I expect (though I definitely over-estimated my
ability to cope with the kind of hours this job
entails!).
Second year trainee
114
On average, I work 50 55 hours a week, but

thats because Ive been in finance seats and
they are notoriously tough on the hours. I am
not working any more than I expected, mostly
because I am quite realistic about the working life
in a City law firm. I think its a little naive to think
that being a solicitor isnt tough on the old social
life. However, as Im quite a last minute arranger
of social events, the peaks and troughs in the
working hours dont bother me at all.
First year trainee
Salary
Pay is good, and in line with pretty much all the

other firms in the City (apart from the US firms,
but I think they pronounce work-life balance as
work-work balance, so I count myself lucky not to
be at one of those). However, its a fact of life that
we could always do with a bit more lolly.
First year trainee
The salary as a trainee is amongst the best in
the City and that is not to mention the subsidised
Starbucks, staff canteen and free gym.
Second year trainee
The bonus package is a bit obscure and I dont
think its very competitive.
In real terms, I think we have a great salary! Its
in line with most other top City firms, as far as Im
aware. I dont know how you could complain!
First year trainee
Perks
Corporate events with spaces are often offered

to anyone in the firm on a first-come, first-served
basis (e.g. international football games). Free gym
in the building is pretty cool (it runs classes) and
we have a subsidised canteen that does a huge
range of amazing food (think crispy pork crackling
and apple sauce at lunchtime).
First year trainee
We have in-house treatments available such as

massages at reasonable rates and discounts on
things like holidays and theatre tickets through a
lifestyle management company.
First year trainee
Free GP service near to work invaluable!
Dentists discount also near work. Starbucks in
the canteen.
Quite a few free dinners and the occasional
champagne trolley...
Second year trainee
PLUSES
Impressive client list. Good level of mentoring

and support from supervisors (generally).
Facilities.
Second year trainee
The people are incredibly friendly. The work is of
a very high quality. The general ethos of the firm is
one that I greatly admire and agree with.
First year trainee
The friendly atmosphere, the location (not
overwhelmingly full of city-types), the people and
the cookies.
First year trainee
Friendly atmosphere. Relatively good hours with
no face time. Large amounts of responsibility and
client contact from day one.
The commitment to good citizenship work on
pro bono matters is taken into consideration on
seat assessments.
First year trainee
Not sure how many trainees will be retained at

the end of the training contract/there may not
be jobs in the seats we want. Clearly this is not
limited to my firm but recent retention figures
here have not been great.
First year trainee
Perception as being outside the Magic Circle.
First year trainee
Pay/bonus structure, transparency of such
processes.
Generally being a trainee and getting things
wrong!
First year trainee
Fun Facts
The firm has a pendulum statue in its central

atrium that is always rumoured to induce seasickness in the unfortunate inhabitants of the
offices which overlook the atrium.
Second year trainee
The BlackBerries dont work as telephones. It is a
mandatory requirement to eat lots of cake.
First year trainee
We have a secret door to the fancy wine bar
downstairs. I also found the stairs when I arrived
I think, half the people in the office dont know
where they are.
First year trainee
A beautician comes to the firm on Thursday
so you can have a manicure on the premises!
Brilliant.
MINUSES
You are expected to work long hours and

weekends if necessary.
First year trainee
115

It was just the one assessment day, after the
application form. I interviewed with two partners
and there was also a group exercise and a verbal
reasoning test. There were some tough questions
but I never felt that I was being grilled for the
sake of it I came out feeling Id enjoyed the day
irrespective of how Id done.
Second year trainee
There was one assessment day which comprised

of a critical thinking test, a group exercise and an
hour interview with two partners. The assessment
day was actually very good, and one of the
reasons I chose this offer over other firms. They
approach the recruitment process as a two-way
street, and I very much felt that they wanted to
impress me, as well as the other way round. I was
asked a general mix of questions at interview,
between commercial current events and law, as
well as about myself and interests.
Second year trainee
After handing in the application form, you may
be brought in for an assessment day. You have
a critical thinking test, a group exercise and
an interview. Thats it. I was interviewed by a
partner in litigation. I was asked questions about
the Northern Rock crisis which was occurring at
the time, the sub-prime mortgages in the US,
my degree and my dissertation. It was all very
friendly and relaxed, the partner basically taking
the time to assess whether I was sharp and had an
understanding of the commercial world and also
to see whether or not I would fit in with people at
the firm.
First year trainee
I did a vacation scheme interview with a partner
and also a verbal reasoning test. I then did a
vac scheme followed by another very rigorous
interview with one partner which lasted well over
an hour.
First year trainee
116
Tips & Advice
At least a 2:1 is required and the firm looks

for intelligent candidates, who have a genuine
interest in City law and have an understanding of
the kind of work the firm undertakes.
First year trainee
Make sure you come across as friendly and in
no way attempt to play the arrogant City lawyer
role. Its not what Hogan Lovells are looking for.
First year trainee
It goes without saying that candidates should
have the usual strong academic background.
However, candidates should also be aware
that most people applying will be from similar
universities and backgrounds, and that outside
interests are a key way to distinguish yourself
from the competition. Joining clubs and teams
at university is a great thing to talk about at
interview and will help you stand out from the
crowd. Candidates (and trainees) arent expected
to know everything from day one. What is
expected, however, is a willingness to learn
and an aptitude to ask the right questions at the
right times.
Second year trainee
I think they look to hire candidates who will not
only make good solicitors, but who will make
good corporate solicitors. The commercial edge
is important, based on the fact that the majority
of our clients are banks or corporates, and expect
their legal advice to be tailored to their business.
The firm will expect a very good academic
record... I dont think non-academic achievements
should be underestimated though: I spent a
good deal of my interview discussing where I had
travelled and my experiences working abroad.
First year trainee
The people I met during the selection process

and the broad range of practice areas and
calibre of work (as I didnt know what I wanted
to specialise in). I felt that the way I was treated
by the firm during the selection process was,
hopefully, indicative of the way I would be treated
as a trainee and I was right!
Breadth of service. I signed up when I was still

studying at uni and had no idea what area of law
I wanted to practice. Hogan Lovells is surely the
broadest top 10 firm in terms of practice streams
and is very good for niche areas like IP.
HOGAN LOVELLS
I dont think Hogan Lovells has a type which

is one of its great strengths. Having said that,
it tends to take people who arent pompous or
arrogant (no matter how clever they may be)
and instead generally selects people who are
interesting, relaxed and friendly and who wear
their intelligence comfortably and who can get
along well with other people.
I chose Hogan Lovells because it had an excellent

international reputation and a friendly and downto-earth team atmosphere.
First year trainee
The breadth of practice, the international
opportunities available, the amazing training
offered, the people when I came here, the
womens football team, and the food.
First year trainee
Review your placement or

internship experience
go to www.insidebuzz.co.uk/review
117

Hogan Lovells is one of the most applied to
law firms in the UK, receiving around 1,500
applications each year. This gives the firm the
luxury of being able to pick from the cream of
the academic crop. As they look for academic
consistency over a long period, candidates
need to demonstrate strong A-Levels and have
at least a 2:1 consistently throughout their
degree. Determination, ambition, an interest in
commercial issues, and a true desire to practise
law specifically at Hogan Lovells, are definite
prerequisites. Yet, one of the firms main strengths
is that it does not have a type and looks to
recruit candidates from all backgrounds, both law
and non-law graduates. According to one trainee,
Hogan Lovells generally likes well-rounded
individuals who are professional, intelligent and
have good interpersonal skills.
Outside interests are a key way

to distinguish yourself from the
competition.
Hogan Lovells looks to recruit people who
will perfectly match the firms culture, which
is described as friendly, hard-working and
committed. The firm boasts an impressive client
list and thus excellent communication skills are
required to ensure smooth client interaction.
One trainee advises that candidates should also
be aware that most people applying will be from
similar universities and backgrounds, and that
outside interests are a key way to distinguish
yourself from the competition. If you have been a
member of a club or team at your university, make
sure to mention it in your application to help stand
out from the crowd.
The recruitment process is transparent and known
to be tough, but fair. It involves submitting a
rather lengthy online application form, comprising
118
a dozen or so questions. This will be followed by

an assessment day, which will test your analytical
skills and critical thinking via a 45-minute Watson
Glaser test. There will also be a group exercise
which forms a pivotal part of the hiring process
since it is aimed at testing both your commercial
awareness and your team spirit. It is certainly
important to make an effort by getting involved
in the team work, whilst also being clear in
expressing your own opinion.
Hogan Lovells looks to recruit people

who will perfectly match the firms
culture, which is described as friendly,
hard-working and committed.
Next up is the final hurdle which consists of an
interview with one or two partners, and a member
of the HR team. The interview lasts around 45
minutes, focusing on your CV as well as legal
and business issues. As one trainee puts it: the
interviewing partners are trying to decide whether
they would be happy to work closely with you
and find out more about your personality, as well
as your knowledge of current affairs. Although
you will have to face demanding questions, the
interview is not designed to be a hostile or
intimidating atmosphere. Instead, the firm is keen
to not make the process more formal or stressful
than it would otherwise need to be. Candidates
are not expected to know everything, but show
a willingness to learn and an attitude to ask the
right questions at the right times.
A final note: You will also be given the chance to
have a chat with current trainees over lunch to
find out what it is really like to work at the firm, so
make sure you think of a few questions you may
not have dared ask the partners!
A vac scheme at Hogan Lovells will give you the

opportunity to work in three of the firms practice
areas and you will definitely not be asked to
make tea or coffee for your supervisor as youll be
too busy working! Students are expected to attend
meetings, conduct some legal research and do
some drafting. You may also be asked to interact

with clients and the workshops/training on offer
will have you expand your presentation, advocacy
and corporate knowledge and skills. Schemes run
exclusively in the summer (June) and you have to
apply by the end of January.
HOGAN LOVELLS
VACATION SCHEMES
119
FIRM PROFILE
Take two judicial giants one US, one UK meld
them together and what do you get? Hogan
Lovells: a transatlantic behemoth with 2,500+
lawyers, 43 offices across the globe, and revenues
of $1.8 billion. Formed following the merger
of Hogan & Hartson and Lovells on 1st May
2010, Hogan Lovells advises many of the worlds
largest corporations, financial institutions and
governmental organisations. The firm regularly
acts on complex, multi-jurisdictional transactions,
as well as large commercial disputes.
Due to the nature of its conception, Hogan Lovells
roots can be traced down two separate paths...
Frank J Hogan opened his practice in 1904, quickly
rising to prominence for his work in the Teapot
Dome scandal of the 1920s (during which US
government officials were convicted of accepting
bribes from big oil companies). As a result of his
successes in high profile political cases, the firms
founder garnered a reputation as Americas leading
trial lawyer. Frank was joined by Nelson T Hartson
in 1925, and they eventually went into partnership
together in 1938, forming Hogan & Hartson.
The firm excelled in numerous fields over the
years, expanding into North and Latin America,
Europe, the Middle East and Asia. In 1970, Hogan
& Hartson notably became the first major firm to
establish a separate practice devoted exclusively
to pro bono legal services. And by the time of the
firms merger with Lovells, Hogan & Hartson had
grown into the largest firm based in Washington,
with 26 offices worldwide.
Lovells history stretches back even further than
its fellow progenitor to 1899, when John Spencer
Lovell set up his own legal practice. He was later
joined by Reginald White, and then in 1924, by
Charles King. Together the three formed Lovell,
White & King and moved the office to Holborn
Circus. In 1966, Lovell, White & King merged with
Haslewoods, a firm with an illustrious history
and revered clients such as the Treasury Solicitor
120
and Lord Nelson. In 1988, the firm joined forces

with Durrant Piesse, a banking and financial
powerhouse, forming Lovell White Durrant. But
the firm was by no means finished there not by
a long way! In 2000, it merged again, this time
with Germanys Boesebeck Droste, and Dutch
firm, Ekelmans Den Hollander. After this period
of expansion, the firm took the decision to cut its
name to simply Lovells.
A transatlantic behemoth with 2,500+

lawyers, 43 offices across the globe,
and revenues of $1.8 billion.
The turn of the millennium brought further
alliances throughout Europe, helping Lovells to
develop and expand across the Continent. New
outposts opened in Hungary, Italy, Singapore,
Shanghai and Madrid. Before the Hogan & Hartson
merger, Lovells insatiable thirst for growth
stretched to the Middle East, and in 2007 the firm
opened a new office in Dubai. In 2009, Lovells
opened an office in Hanoi, Vietnam, and began to
focus on developing its real estate practice in the
Middle East. Then, on December 15th of that year,
the firm announced its agreement to join forces
with Hogan & Hartson.
The strengths of this newly formed firm are
extensive, and include banking and finance,
corporate, capital markets, dispute resolution,
insurance, real estate, IP, government regulatory
and project finance. Hogan Lovells litigation
department is one of the best around, and the firm
also boasts an eminently well respected real estate
practice. Hogan Lovells enjoys a strong reputation
with the banks and financial institutions in London,
and can name Barclays and JP Morgan among its
clients, as well SAB Miller, ITV, BBC and the Royal
Mail.
Work for HOGAN LOVELLS

(advertisement)
TRAINING CONTRACT
Our recruitment and training philosophy is very simple:

our continued success as a firm depends on our ability
to attract and retain the brightest and most able
people. We require every prospective trainee solicitor
to undertake the accelerated LPC at BPP London. The
course will prepare you for practice in the City.
Our two-year training contract is split into four sixmonth seats. As a trainee, you will move around four
different practice areas during this time, to gain as much
experience as possible - one of your seats will be in
either our corporate or finance group, and another in
one of our litigation teams. You will also have the option
of spending time in the second year of training on
secondment to one of our international offices or to the
in-house legal team of a major client.
As a trainee at Hogan Lovells, you will be offered as
much responsibility as you can handle relating to client
work as well as a comprehensive legal skills training
programme, regular reviews and appraisals.. After
qualification continuous training and development
remain a priority - we enable the brightest minds
to deepen their professional and business expertise
throughout their career, which enhances the quality of
advice we provide to clients, our reputation and your
ability to make the very best of your expertise
We are looking for graduates whose combination of
academic excellence and desire for specialist knowledge
will develop our business and take it forward. We expect
applicants to have achieved excellent academic results
from GCSE (or equivalent) onwards, with at least a good
2:1 (or equivalent). The right personal qualities are as
important as the right qualifications. You will be happy
working in a team and collaborating with others, yet full
of initiative and capable of independent action. You will
excel at both clear and lateral thinking. You will have a
strong sense of the big picture, and a very keen eye for
detail. Above all, you will have a single-minded ambition
to succeed in a top law firm.
WHEN TO APPLY
The deadline from law students is 31 July 2012 and 30

March 2012 for non-law final year students.
SALARY
Our current starting salary for trainee solicitors is

38,000, rising to 43,000 in the second year of training.
VACANCIES
HOGAN LOVELLS
JOBS
We recruit up to 75 trainee solicitors each year across

two intakes (February and August). From October 1 2011,
we are recruiting for the August 2014 and February 2015
intakes.
HOW TO APPLY
http://graduates.hoganlovells.com/
VACATION PLACEMENTS
We offer up to 50 vacation placements for penultimate

year law students over two summer schemes. Each scheme
is carefully designed to offer students the opportunity to
gain exposure to life and work in a City law firm. During the
three-week programmes students gain a broad insight into
the work of the firm, as their time is split between three
of our business areas. Students get involved in real work
with real clients in much the same way as our trainees. This
includes drafting, attending meetings, doing legal research
and, where possible, attending court. To complement this
there is a comprehensive programme of talks, workshops
and social events.
We also hold a one-week vacation scheme and open days
for first year law students and events for final year non-law
students throughout the academic year. Information on
the dates and application deadlines for these events can be
found on our website at
www.hoganlovells.com/graduates.
DATES
Various - see our graduate recruitment website

for full details.
WHEN TO APPLY
All applications open on 1 October 2011. For details on the

application deadlines, please see our graduate recruitment
website.
SALARY
Summer vacation scheme students are paid 300 per week.
VACANCIES
We offer up to 50 places on our summer vacation

schemes.
HOW TO APPLY
http://graduates.hoganlovells.com/
121
INCE & CO
Maritime couldnt be more deeply ingrained within Ince & Co. The firms ten international offices cast a
wide net, serving global clients in shipping, international trade, energy, insurance, commercial disputes,
business and finance and aviation.
PROS
Varied and interesting work

Trainees often work directly with partners
Reasonable working hours
High level of camaraderie between the trainees
Excellent reputation in maritime law
THE STATS
LOCATIONS

London Partners: 58
London Senior Associates: 20
London Trainee intake: Up to 15
London Trainees retained: 14 out of 15 trainees in 2011
No. of offices: 10
Dubai Hamburg Hong Kong Le Havre London
Monaco Paris Piraeus Shanghai Singapore
BASE SALARY
LONDON 2011
1 year PQE 64,960
2 years PQE 69,020
3 years PQE 76,125

Aviation Business & Finance Commercial Disputes
Energy & Offshore Insurance & Reinsurance
International Trade Shipping
122
CONS
Little communication about partnership

decisions
Sometimes conservative and old-school
attitudes
Not always knowing where your work is
coming from
LONDON OFFICE
International House
1 St Katharines Way
London E1W 1AY
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7481 0010
www.incelaw.com

Email: recruitment@incelaw.com
INCE & CO
QUOTES
LIFE ON THE JOB
There is a high quality of work. You often work

directly with a partner who will give guidance but
then you do the research and write the advice.
Day-to-day case handling is common-place from
the start. However, trainees are normally also
required to get involved in one of the bigger cases,
on a disclosure exercise or similar, which can take
weeks, and in which case you will do little else.
There is little interaction with clients, though
it depends on the partner and cases you get
involved with.
Second year trainee
Work is generally very good trainees get a lot of
client contact and are usually always welcome to
attend meetings with Counsel/witnesses/clients,
etc. There is a lot of direct contact with partners,
often trainees work on a case with only a partner
and no other assistants. The work is high quality,
in large multi-jurisdictional international disputes.
Second year trainee
Very rewarding and increasing as I become more
experienced. There is a good level of interaction
with the clients. I am mostly involved in collision
work, which I find fascinating.
Second year trainee
The quality of work is great. Unlike what I hear
about other top firms, trainees at Ince & Co
are not treated like we are only good for doing
admin, where we having to wait several years
before getting the opportunity to do something
decent. From the very first week I was sitting in
on client meetings, drafting documents, working
directly with partners and generally getting given
responsibility.
First year trainee

It can involve a whole range of tasks drafting
updates to clients, team meetings to discuss
strategy, considering and reviewing experts
reports, liaising with foreign lawyers, research on
technical legal points.
Second year trainee
I have had the opportunity to work on some
smaller cases. I have drafted submissions and
skeleton arguments in arbitrations and regularly
have the chance to prepare discrete advices on
legal problems arising from, for example, charter
parties and shipbuilding contracts.
Second year trainee
There isnt really a typical day. Sometimes I
think I know what Im going to be doing, but
then we might receive urgent new instructions
which will take up several hours in terms of initial
consideration, asking for further information,
liaising with clients/foreign lawyers, etc.
First year trainee
It is impossible to generalise. The work I do
depends entirely on the cases I am involved in and
the stage that those cases are at. I might spend an
entire day putting bundles together and be in the
office until very late; I might spend the entire day
researching a point of law.
First year trainee
Culture
There is a high level of camaraderie between the

trainees there are frequent emails going round
asking for help and making useful suggestions.
We do socialise together as well. One reason for
the collaborative nature of the trainees is that the
firm hires on merit and does not hire for specific
positions in specific departments, so there is no
immediate competition the firm will find space
for you if it wants to keep you.
Second year trainee
123
The culture is friendly but hard-working. Trainees

are a good group and especially important in first
year, and often eat lunch together in the breakout room. Socialising is organised by the firm
monthly firm-wide drinks, May Ball, Christmas
Party, quiz night, and a few other events. Trainees
sometimes organise drinks together on a Friday
and have bi-annual social events (e.g. crazy golf).
Second year trainee
Great firm for social aspects. Lots of sporting
activities and everyone gets involved. Ince drinks
on a Thursday evening once every month is a great
chance to mix with partners and support staff.
First year trainee
Most of the partners were trainees at the firm,
and the majority of the support staff have been at
the firm for over ten years, so there is a family feel
to the firm. There is a lot of knowledge sharing
in the firm, usually by popping into partners/
assistants offices and discussing an issue. The firm
is very sociable.
Junior solicitor
Seats
We do four seats, sitting in different business

groups. There is a lot of flexibility as there are no
specific departments and as a trainee you can
work for anyone within the firm. Therefore, a lot
of choice is available, because you can pursue
the work that interests you. That said, when big,
document heavy cases come along the flexibility
also means that you can be asked to get involved,
regardless of the seat that youre in. You can
do a seat abroad one trainee is currently in
Hamburg. There are fewer opportunities further
afield such placements tend to be for NQ or 1
2 PQE solicitors for two to three years, though one
trainee is going to Shanghai this year.
Second year trainee
Ince doesnt really do seats in the traditional way.
Rather you change partners every six months but
you take all your work with you. This is great as
you actually see your cases develop.
First year trainee
124
Trainees spend six months each in four different

strands of the firms practice. However, trainees
continue working on the same cases when they
change seats, so you dont only do work in the
area of the strand in which you are sitting. You can
sit in any strand. You can express a preference,
which seems to be taken into account. When
I said I was interested in energy work, I spent
the next six months in the energy & offshore
strand. You can do a seat abroad; Im currently on
secondment in Hamburg.
Second year trainee
Different partners have different styles some

are more closely involved in the running of
the case than others. Partners are generally
available and supportive, and also understanding
of solicitors situations e.g. too much work/
family considerations... Solicitors could be better
informed about certain strategic firm-wide
decisions, although progress is being made here.
Mid-level solicitor
The partners are generally very friendly, sociable,
and approachable. However there is very little
consultation on firm-wide decisions and the
solicitors tend to be among the last to be informed
of such decisions.
Junior solicitor
Formal Training
There are lots of training sessions organised and

you can put yourself forward for extra training if
required. There isnt always time to attend, but
the firm is flexible and understands that billable
work sometimes must come first. The training
sessions relate to both pure law and also practical
skills. As the nature of the practice is niche and
most havent studied shipping at law school, a
large amount of effort is put in to bring knowledge
up to a good level.
Second year trainee
Tonnes of training lectures get organised which

is great. The flexibility of our training is a blessing
and a curse. As we are encouraged to get work
from whatever strand we want (as opposed to
just the strand we sit in) we can work for many
partners at any one time. The positive is that you
arent stuck for six months doing something you
are entirely disinterested in. The negative is that
as you are in charge of your workload, no one else
knows how busy you are, which actually makes
it harder for you to say no if a partner asks you
to do some work. What I mean is, you have no
supervisor able to vouch for you and say you are
at full capacity.
First year trainee
I think that partners and solicitors throughout

the firm are very approachable. This means that
I am not afraid to ask the stupid questions. I am
given as much support as I need and I feel that
I am frequently encouraged. In terms of lessons
and skills I have learnt I have developed a huge
amount during my training my case handling
skills have developed and I feel confident drafting
and undertaking legal research.
Second year trainee
Solicitors and partners are normally happy to
explain things if asked, but partners can obviously
be very busy. Normally I get feedback on work, or
if not can easily compare the draft I did with the
one sent out to the client.
Second year trainee
We have a partner as a mentor and a second

year trainee as a buddy. There are many people
you can ask for support. The firm is fine on this.
Although I think it can largely depend on who you
get assigned to, but this is true of anywhere..!
First year trainee
INCE & CO
You learn a lot on the job and through legal

research on various cases, since shipping law is
quite legal and involves knowledge of various
concepts. There are regular lunchtime lectures;
especially in first year. A trip to Brookes Bell (ship
consultants) in Liverpool in first year was good as I
got to see merchant ships in the flesh and drive a
simulator! NQs do a proper shipping law course.
Second year trainee
Partners are generally very good at giving you

tasks that will improve your legal abilities and
providing you with guidance on those tasks. There
is perhaps less scope for seeking guidance on
particular issues of your choosing.
First year trainee
The offices are very nice and kept in good

condition. I think the facilities are good too. The
views are phenomenal!
Second year trainee
Dress tends to be on the conservative side, and
there are no dress-down Fridays. Err on the side of
caution.
Second year trainee
Office space is great, I love it amazing views
over London (you can see the Thames, Tower
Bridge, Tower of London, Mayors office, London
Eye, Shard, Gherkin and much more!). Not right
in the centre of London which is occasionally
irritating but not a big deal. Some people say the
rooms are a little small but it varies and I dont
agree, I think they are more than adequate!
First year trainee
The office is absolutely lovely: spacious, great
views. Would be nice if it were a little nearer
shops, etc., but then we wouldnt have the views.
The lunch facilities in the building are alright, but
a little more choice would be nice. I wear a suit
and shirt every day, and probably wear a tie about
half the time, depending on whether I feel like it.
Obviously I would always wear a tie for anything
involving external people. Dressing-down seems
to become more acceptable once youre a little
more senior.
First year trainee
125
CAREER PROGRESSION
The firm has a relatively high ratio of partners to

assistant solicitors, and it is easier to make partner
than at my previous firm. At four or five years
PQE you are expected to pass prospects, after
which you are expected to participate in strategic
decisions, more client-focused or industry-focused
marketing and to work more independently on
cases. At five to seven you can be considered for
senior associate status. Partnership applications
can be made from seven years PQE.
Mid-level solicitor
Theres reasonable career progression. Hard
work, getting on well with people, and good client
relationships all pay off.
Mid-level solicitor
Difficult unless you have serious support in the
partnership. If you have been offered good work
to sink your teeth into and with which to prove
yourself from an early stage then you will probably
be fine, if not then you will pay the price at a later
stage.
Mid-level solicitor
Where do you see yourself over the

course of the next 510 years?
Hopefully still here as a senior associate.
Mid-level solicitor
Hopefully, partner!
Mid-level solicitor
Very happy to stay at my firm, although I would
like to work for a wider spread of partners and get
out of the office a bit more. My career provides
me with interesting work, and a great work-life
balance (four days per week), while earning
enough money to support my family comfortably
and build savings for the future. I am not currently
interested in partnership, as being on the
partnership track would involve sacrificing a lot
of the focus and time which are devoted to my
private life.
Mid-level solicitor
126
Pro bono
The firm supports challenges for charity (e.g.

the marathon team). It also sends trainees and
solicitors to read with school children at lunchtime. But I am not aware that it does any pro bono
work in the sense of working for free for certain
clients who do not have the means, or for good
causes.
Mid-level solicitor
The firm runs a reading scheme with which I was
involved whilst more junior. It was very rewarding
to work with the pupils. I am not aware of any
other pro bono schemes.
Senior solicitor
Green Initiatives
Lights are sensor controlled and paper is recycled

but, like most law firms, we do get through a lot
of paper.
First year trainee
Energy use all of the lights in the office are on
sensors so when there is no movement because
there is no one in a particular area of the building
the lights go off. The air conditioning and heating
is also turned off at certain points of the day in
certain areas of the building. Recycling every
room has a large recycling bin which is used
regularly and changed by General Office. We are
encouraged to recycle everything in the kitchen as
well. We do most of our correspondence via email
and we are reducing the amount of paper that
we use.
Second year trainee
Were not too bad on recycling, but it would be
fair to say that the paperless office is some way
off yet...
First year trainee
Many of the firms partners appear to have no

difficulties taking significant periods of maternity
leave, gay people appear to have no difficulty at
all in being accepted and there are lawyers of
many nationalities working in the firm. There are,
perhaps inevitably, more men than women at the
most senior levels of the firm.
First year trainee
Last year the firm had the lowest ratio of female
to male partners out of the top 50 firms! Whilst it
is a male dominated firm at the top, there are a lot
of female solicitors and they are recruited equally
to men retention is also equal. I dont think the
maternity benefits are as good as they could be.
Second year trainee
If youre good, youll get recruited and retained.
If youre not, you wont. I cant imagine that any
other issues come into it. There is a very good
ethos re. maternity leave and understanding re.
child care. Its a good firm to work for.
Senior solicitor

upon qualification?
Very prepared I feel that I am being encouraged
to think like a solicitor, not a trainee. Of course it
will be a challenge, but Im looking forward to it
(fingers crossed!).
Second year trainee
Well prepared as the training here is good and
focused on the practical running of cases, rather
than being a bundle monkey.
First year trainee
Im still well over a year from qualification, but
I do feel so much better prepared than I did
even a few months ago. Id say Im still a fair
way off in terms of just knowing the key areas
of law, without really needing to research much,
but do feel well-prepared in terms of thinking
commercially and communicating with all the
parties involved in a case.
First year trainee
Hours
My hours are quite long at the moment on

average 12 hours a day (not all billable). I am
certainly not expected to work more, unless a
case becomes exceptionally busy. It is acceptable
for me to work fewer hours, though it really
depends on the amount of work required. I am
not dissatisfied with these hours as the work is
interesting, though I would like to be able to leave
the office at 5.30 once in a while!
Second year trainee
INCE & CO
diversity
Im in the office approx. 9.25am 6.15pm on a

good day. Not uncommon to stay until about 7pm.
Staying after 8pm is unusual. You get a free taxi
home if you stay after 9pm. Its rare to work at
weekends Ive done so a few times but not all
weekend.
Second year trainee
I probably work around 55 60 hours per week.
I work about the same hours as what I expected.
In my experience however, I would say that
my working hours at Ince & Co are very good
compared to other firms. We get some work/life
balance.
Second year trainee
It is a wonderful place to work if you have
external responsibilities. I billed 120 hours last
month. I spend 40 hours in the office a week.
Holiday can be bought and sold and tied over into
next year.
Mid-level solicitor
I spend around nine hours a day in the office on a
normal day; however it is not uncommon to spend
many more hours than this. The firm has a dont
be in the office when youre not busy culture,
so when things are quiet you can get out at 5.30
without feeling awkward.
Junior solicitor
127
Salary
Salary has not gone up much in the past two

years. Bonus scheme kicks in when youre above
1,500 hours billable per year.
Mid-level solicitor
Bonus is great if you do lots of hours, not so great
if you just make the threshold.
Mid-level solicitor
Its great the firm wants to look after you, which
is nice! Pension scheme is favourable and the new
flexible benefits mean you can buy or sell holiday
depending on your plans that year!
First year trainee
It seems to be pitched at the same level as similar
firms not a bad deal when you consider the
hours and the quality of the training.
First year trainee
BONUS
7,500
Mid-level solicitor
7,000
Mid-level solicitor
Perks
Cab home if you work past about 9.30pm is

pleasant; certainly preferable to the Tube. There
are usually plenty of marketing events going on
which you often get to attend, even as a trainee. A
lot of partners will organise case drinks/dinner for
the team working on a particular case, especially
if its a bigger case that has taken up a lot of
peoples time.
First year trainee
Bonus cheque for getting married!
Second year trainee
128
The chef who works here used to work at

Claridges we regularly have in house meals with
clients or as part of training and they are amazing.
We have lots of great events such as a quiz night,
monthly firm drinks (Ince drinks), May Ball,
Christmas party and marathon party. We also get a
free dinner/taxi home after a certain time. One of
our best perks is the Well Woman (or man!) check.
This is worth a lot of money and for me, my health
is invaluable.
Second year trainee
You have the option to buy or sell five days extra
holiday (so up to a maximum of 30), which in my
opinion is awesome.
Second year trainee
PLUSES
Work/life balance we have a great balance at

Ince & Co and we are encouraged to work hard
and play hard.
Second year trainee
The people. Good work to pay ratio, and people
realise you have a life outside of work.
Second year trainee
Great people. Very talented lawyers. Clients from
all over the world. A real culture of learning.
First year trainee
The general culture and ethos. Quality of work
and reputation our partners are known as being
amongst the best in the world in their fields. Its
friendly and not a corporate treadmill.
Senior solicitor
One feels safe here and sheltered from the
outside world, people are friendly, work can be
very good, hours are very good, and the money is
comparable with the bigger firms out there.
Mid-level solicitor
Perhaps the document work it is sometimes

a bit of a drag (i.e. a big document review!),
but this is part and parcel of working in a large
litigation firm.
Second year trainee
Never knowing where your work is coming from
or when you will be given it!
Second year trainee
Larger cases can mean more boring tasks for
the junior members of the team. The lack of
departments means that some lawyers are much
busier than others and the amount of work that
trainees have differs massively from time to time.
First year trainee
Bad work/life balance at times, lack of
involvement in policy decisions, old-school
attitudes.
Mid-level solicitor
Fun Facts
When the ex-managing partner at Ince was a

trainee, one of his duties was to go round and
stoke the fires in each partners room.
First year trainee
We have lawyers who speak, to varying degrees
of proficiency, Bulgarian, Catalan, Croatian, Malay,
Tamil, Uzbek and Welsh.
First year trainee
At work events there are plenty of free drinks! (It
just didnt occur to me how cool this actually was
till I experienced it!)
First year trainee
The offices were the setting of a recent Spooks
episode.
Second year trainee

Training contract interviews can last about four
to five hours and consist of two interviews, the
final one with two partners who will go through
the in-tray exercise with you. The in-tray exercise
is tough!
Second year trainee
INCE & CO
MINUSES
I did a vac scheme at the firm. Therefore I had

one initial interview with HR and a partner. This
was very general and I was also required to do a
written test. A few weeks after my vac scheme
I had an (automatic) interview for a training
contract. This was with two partners who tested
me on an in-tray exercise. I was also required to
do a drafting test and a spelling/grammar test.
The interview is known for being quite tricky.
Second year trainee
I had an HR interview with a test, then an
interview with two partners. Interview is very
focused on an in-tray exercise. The partners want
to test how you think, and how you react to
different situations. They put you under pressure.
Second year trainee
Ince is a hard place to get hired at. There are a
large number of applications and the firm is very
selective. There is only one interview round but it
involves a number of elements, and is a long and
gruelling process.
First year trainee
Tips & Advice
Do your research! Really look into shipping if

you say youre interested you need to give good
reasons why (although not having a specific
interest in shipping wont hold you back). You
need to be able to think on your feet, demonstrate
good English skills, you need a 2:1, etc.
Second year trainee
129
Ince is more holistic and will look at the

individual rather than necessarily just the grades.
You really need to have researched the firm.
First year trainee
An interest in shipping or insurance would help.
Knowing about the firms ethos, offices, big cases,
etc. definitely a bonus. The firm doesnt appear
to have favourite unis, but can afford to be quite
picky.
Mid-level solicitor
Interesting background, maritime experience or
fluency in language of one of the foreign offices
is a definite plus; links with shipping/insurance
world.
Mid-level solicitor
The firm does not look to any specific university,
although almost everyone will have a good 2:1 or
first. Some trainees will have had other careers,
and/or done postgraduate study. A background in
shipping is not essential, but can help.
Second year trainee
I chose Ince & Co because of its outstanding

reputation, unrivalled training contract, work/life
balance and interesting niche practice areas.
I have been proven entirely right in choosing Ince.
Second year trainee
I liked the atmosphere of the firm when I went
for interview. The firm is international and the
work is accordingly varied. The size of the firm
also appealed. Trainees are not just numbers here,
everyone knows everyone else.
Second year trainee
I wanted to do litigation, and I admired the
fact that most of the partners has trained with
the firm.
Junior solicitor
It is the best at what we do. Its reputation is
unrivalled. It is an extremely pleasant place to
work.
Mid-level solicitor
They are the top dog in the shipping law world.
First year trainee


Accounting
Banking
Consulting
Law
Other Industries
130
If you want to join Ince & Co, brace yourself;

landing a position at the firm is far from easy
and a top degree from a renowned institution
is a must. Current solicitors say that knowing
about the firms ethos, offices and big cases
is definitely a bonus and that an interest in
shipping or insurance would help. Candidates
need to demonstrate confidence, ambition and
commercial awareness, and fluency in a language
of one of the foreign offices is a definite plus. Topdrawer communication skills are also helpful. As
one solicitor puts it, Ince looks for independent
thinkers who are also able to work well in a team.
Ince & Co takes pride in its training programme
which is a bit different compared to most other
law firms. There are no specific departments
so trainees do four six-month seats sitting with
different partners but take work from any of the
firms strands shipping, energy and offshore,
insurance, business and finance and aviation.
Trainees can take their work with them and
continue to work on the same cases once they
move seats. This means that it is much more
flexible and you are free to pursue the work
that interests you, working for a range of people
throughout the two years.
Vacation Schemes
INCE & CO

There are two vacation schemes up for grabs at
Ince & Co, both of which run for two weeks during
the Easter and summer period. With only fifteen
places to fill in total, youre right to think that its
going to be tough to snap one up. However, if
youre one of the chosen ones, you can expect to
sit with a partner and work on live cases, which
could even involve attending client meetings,
hearings and going to court.
While youll get a chance to delve into some real
legal work, you will also be able to tour the Royal
Courts of Justice and go to in-house lectures. You
usually need to apply by the end of the year for
the vac schemes, so keep an eye open for the
deadline.
The recruitment process is pretty straightforward.

After submitting an online application, candidates
can expect a brief interview with HR and will need
to complete an in-tray exercise and two written
tests. This will be followed by the main interview
with two partners. The interview can be quite
lengthy and is comprised of questions designed
to see how you react and think. There will also
be a discussion of the earlier in-tray exercise.
Interviews are generally described by solicitors
as being fair, informal and a fairly low stress
experience. However, be prepared to think on
your feet, show initiative, deliver your answers
decisively, and then justify them.
131
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132
Ince & Co ranks in the upper echelons of maritime

law in the UK. Shipping and trade represent its
mainstay practices, but the firm casts a wide net
and also serves clients in energy and offshore,
insurance, business and finance, commercial
disputes and aviation. Ince & Co provides advice
to a menagerie of businesses, ranging from
international corporations to smaller companies,
sole traders and individuals.
Maritime couldnt be more deeply ingrained
within Ince & Co, as even before founding the firm
in 1870, Francis Ince was working as a shipping
lawyer. The firm expanded from its Victorian roots
by employing either family members or those who
could provide significant capital. But in 1940 the
firm broke with tradition and began hiring new
young partners to help expand the business. In
keeping with the progressive ethos of the 60s, the
firm opened its doors to foreign lawyers for the
first time. In 1979 the firm cut the ribbon on its
first international office in Hong Kong. Singapore
followed some time later, in 1991, and the firm has
since opened offices in Dubai, Hamburg, Le Havre,
Paris, Piraeus, Shanghai and Monaco.
Ince & Cos structure is a little different from its
peers; instead of splitting lawyers into practice
areas, the firm is divided by sectors. In practice,
this means any lawyer can be called upon to serve
in any area. Consequently, the firm develops
generalists rather than individuals pigeonholed
into particular specialisms.
Ince & Cos shipping practice is considered by many
as the best in the industry. It handles every aspect
of maritime law, including collisions, salvage,
charter party, carriage of goods, ship finance, workout, general average, personal injury, pollution
and even piracy. The firms second cornerstone
practice is insurance and reinsurance, which has
built a reputation as one of the strongest in the
world. The client base encompasses all manner
of insurance buyers, as well as many of the
most discriminating insurance and reinsurance

companies and Lloyds syndicates.
INCE & CO
FIRM PROFILE
Aside from these two heavyweight staples, Ince
& Co has a further five practice areas that arent
to be scoffed at: aviation, business and finance,
commercial disputes, energy and offshore, and
international trade. In the aviation legal sector, Ince
& Co holds considerable clout, with a reputation
garnered through years of demonstrating its indepth understanding of the industry, knowledge of
aviation technology, the current commercial issues
and first-hand experience.
The firm develops generalists rather

than individuals pigeonholed into
particular specialisms.
The dispute resolution practice is one of the largest
in London. It handles a wide range of domestic and
international disputes, involving matters such as
business sale and purchase, design, engineering
and construction, D&O liability, financial
instruments, fraud, insolvency, bankruptcy,
JV and agency agreements, manufacturing and
supply contracts, partnerships and shareholders
agreements, product liability, property, technology
and telecoms.
In energy, Ince & Cos lawyers have been providing
contract drafting and negotiating, asset and project
finance, insurance, and dispute resolution for many
years. The firm has expertise in various areas,
including construction and operation of pipelines,
offshore structures, rigs, FPSOs and other vessels,
drilling and offshore services, transportation, and
refining oil and gas. In looking for evidence of Ince
& Cos prestige, you need look no further than
its client list; major names such as Ace Aviation,
Gard Services, Nordisk, Transocean and Vitol rank
amongst its roster of clients.
133
As a trainee at Jones Day, you

get greater responsibility and
independence. To find out more
about a major global law firm
with a different approach to
developing its trainees, visit
www.jonesdaylondon.com/recruit.
134
Jones Day is a true US heavyweight, with its sizeable glove taking jabs at most major areas of law. With
2,500 lawyers and 35 offices across five continents, Jones Day is one of the largest law firms in the world
and amongst the highest-grossing in the US. The firms London lawyers, of whom 98% are UK qualified,
boast a globally recognised M&A practice.
PROS
Has a unique (non-rotational) training

programme where trainees choose and seek
out their own work
Early responsibility and lots of independence
and choice over your work
You can work for any department at any time
Informal and friendly atmosphere with great
trainee solidarity
Everyone has their own office in London,
including trainees
THE STATS
London Partners: 50
London Associates: 100
London of Counsel: 14
London Trainee intake: 15
London Trainees retained: 80%
BASE SALARY
LONDON 2011
6-12 months 41,000
12-18 months 45,000
18-24 months 50,000

Antitrust & Competition Law Banking & Finance
Business Restructuring & Reorganisation Capital Markets
Corporate Criminal Investigations Employee Benefits
& Executive Compensation Environmental Health &
Safety Government Regulation Intellectual Property
International Litigation & Arbitration Investment Funds
Issues & Appeals Labour & Employment Mergers
JONES DAY
JONES DAY
CONS
Expect to be thrown in the deep end

Lack of communication on firm-wide decisions,
although the firm is currently addressing this
Promotion can be slow
Will primarily suit those who are pro-active
and prepared to seek out their own work from
different departments and manage their own
workload
& Acquisitions Private Equity Product Liability & Tort

Litigation Real Estate Securities & Shareholder Litigation
Tax Trial Practices
LOCATIONS
No. of offices: 35
Atlanta Beijing Boston Brussels Chicago Cleveland
Columbus Dallas Dubai Frankfurt Hong Kong
Houston Irvine London Los Angeles Madrid
Mexico City Milan Moscow Munich New Delhi
New York Paris Pittsburgh San Diego San Francisco
So Paulo Saudi Arabia Shanghai Silicon Valley
Singapore Sydney Taipei Tokyo Washington, DC
LONDON OFFICE
21 Tudor Street
London EC4 Y0DJ
Tel: +44 (0)20 7039 5959
www.jonesday.com/recruit

Diana Spoudeas
Manager Trainee Recruitment and Development
Tel: +44 (0)20 7039 5959
Email: recruit.london@jonesday.com
135
QUOTES
LIFE ON THE JOB
The quality of work is impressive, and

responsibility is possible from the off. Partner
contact is constant and the way the firm works is
truly non-hierarchical. The deals and transactions
are always well explained when a trainee
undertakes a task, no matter how trivial that task
may be. There is also the opportunity for plenty of
client contact.
First year trainee
It is possible to take on as much responsibility
as you wish. The opportunity is certainly there to
take on work at a level you might be surprised to
experience at other firms. The non-hierarchical
structure is at the heart of the training scheme in
that we work consistently with partners directly,
and grow in confidence by doing so.
First year trainee
We get great client interaction from an early
stage and with that comes a great deal of
responsibility. You are not treated as a bottom of
the pile trainee, and genuinely get to feel part of
a team you can contribute to.
Second year trainee
I get a lot of high quality work, which is both
interesting and challenging. From relatively early
on in my training contract I was entrusted with
meeting with clients and answering their queries
directly. Jones Day is great in that it allows you the
room to develop and learn, whilst providing the
necessary support and supervision.
Newly qualified solicitor
I have been at the firm for many years and am
given enormous responsibility and freedom to
pursue my own career path, within the supportive
system of a firm. I am lead contact for several
clients and have a diverse range of interesting
work.
Senior solicitor
136
Visiting the fee earners in their offices registering

an interest in working for them/their department.
Taking notes on tasks given, completing the work,
gaining feedback and making amendments.
First year trainee
Conference calls, drafting/reviewing documents,
now (18 months in) supervising more junior
trainees for basic tasks, liaising with clients,
associates, partners, attending meetings.
Second year trainee
Getting up-to-date with client and general law
developments of the day finish overnight work
from the US, address new projects, internal
meetings, providing training in-house, drafting
client newsletters, writing articles.
Senior solicitor
Varied. Some days I will be focusing solely on a
large litigation case, either conducting research or
doing case analysis. Others I will be focusing on
a large number of smaller cases, drafting letters,
applications, witness statements and emailing or
otherwise communicating with clients.
Every day varies especially as we have a nonrotational system, you can be doing property one
day, litigation the next.
Second year trainee
Culture
Trainees help each other out with finding work

if they know someone to be busy, indicating
which partners and associates have helped them
produce good work and who are consequently
good to work for. Trainees socialise as a whole or
in smaller groups on an ad hoc basis.
First year trainee
It is great to be part of a medium-sized firm as it

enables you to know people across the different
departments. Trainee intake is relatively small
(between 8 12 typically) which means you get to
know each other and make solid friendships.
Second year trainee
Jones Day has partners which head up the
different departments much like any law firm. I
work very closely with my supervising partner in
all the work that I do and the other associates are
all very supportive. As well as being good work
colleagues, a number of the members of the firm
are also my friends, and we regularly meet up in
the pub for a pint on Friday evenings.
Because of the seat structure there is great
trainee solidarity and one can always go to a
fellow trainee to ask any number of questions or
float ideas.
First year trainee
I work very closely with my supervising partner

who respects my opinion and values the input I
am able to give. The partners as a whole at the
firm keep us involved with updates as to new work
and marketing events.
The patchy communication of firm-wide

decisions and the lack of involvement of people
in those decisions are probably the worst things
about the firm.
Senior solicitor
JONES DAY
The culture is extremely informal (in a good

way). There is genuinely no social hierarchy, which
means partners to secretaries are treated equally
and all have banter with one another. There is, of
course, a professional hierarchy. Trainees support
each other, especially because the non-rotational
system gives trainees the ability to concentrate on
their preferred areas throughout their contracts.
So a trainee with a corporate focus will know who
to call if they have a litigation related question,
and vice versa.
Second year trainee
No information about firm-wide decisions.

Senior solicitor
[NB. Since April this year, the firm has taken
proactive steps to involve all Associates in
Business Development (BD) and Marketing.
Regular meetings and presentations from our BD
Partner and BD team to Associates have taken
place and Associates are involved in individual
BD initiatives. In addition, all Associates were
allocated a significant budget for a client event
which they led and at which over 80 of their
nominated clients have since attended. Further,
steps have been and continue to be taken to
ensure we communicate transactions and deals
both internally and to the press and to mention
Associates in press releases. We are also now
actively communicating to our Associates details
of new lawyer arrivals, general growth plans and
new business won.]
Seats
There is no formal rotational seat system. This

means that we are able to try every department
and hence make an informed decision as to where
we should qualify. The choice is huge and you can
shape your training contract to a certain extent.
First year trainee
We do not have a seat system, which I think
works really well as it allows us to be more flexible
in our approach to the departments and gain a
real understanding of a department over a long
period of time, rather than it being a forced 4 or 6
month seat.
Second year trainee
137
We do not operate a seat system. The nonrotational system allows us to gain an insight and
experience in all departments, or as many as we
choose (so long as we gain experience in at least
three areas). Recently, it has become possible to
go to Dubai on secondment for 6 months.
First year trainee
Every piece of work you receive is a form

of training as long as you receive feedback.
Associates and partners are incredibly accessible
and you benefit from having any number of
mentors at one time. Drafting, research skills and
due diligence have been a focus area recently in
my training contract.
First year trainee
Formal Training
Most people are willing to help with whatever

issue you have. Its easy to approach all associates
and partners and they are willing to give advice.
First year trainee
PSC course is completed throughout the training

contract; this aims to introduce the topics as
they have become more meaningful rather than
in isolation at the start of the job. A one-on-one
training session for the legal databases is given.
First year trainee
Very well organised, taken very seriously,
attendance is mandatory. Skills taught are both
legal and non-legal.
First year trainee
Training programmes are organised and taken
seriously. Generally, there is time to attend the
events, although of course work can occasionally
get in the way. The seminars are generally good,
although of course different topics are more
relevant to different trainees.
Second year trainee
Enough time to attend legal training and what
there is, is very good, but there is little budget to
attend outside seminars/events.
Senior solicitor
I find the informal training by far the more

important element. Literally all of the firms
lawyers are very accessible, and partners will take
the time to discuss transactions with trainees and
provide advice regarding career development
and other issues. I have also learnt a lot from
observing partners or senior associates negotiate
documents and deal with clients and other
lawyers, both in terms of legal skills and soft
skills.
Second year trainee
138
My supervising partner sets aside a lot of time to

teach me new areas of law. I have also learnt a lot
about client management from being so closely
involved in this aspect of the job.
Career Prospects
I became a partner at 6 years PQE (and

subsequently ceased to be one when I went parttime), but it is now a longer process.
Senior solicitor
Not at all easy to move. Promotion is very slow
and in order to be promoted you have to know the
US partners very well.
Senior solicitor

course of the next 5-10 years?
Hopefully making partner.
I see myself continuing as I am.
Senior solicitor
In-house opportunities.
Senior solicitor
It counts as billable hours and there is a

dedicated pro bono partner.
Pro bono is encouraged but not compulsory or in
any quota.
Senior solicitor
The office is very good and new, with each

associate (and trainee) getting their own office.
The dress code is fairly relaxed with the last Friday
of every month being a charity-donation based
dress down day.
Green Initiatives
Glass bottles, recycling bins, cycling schemes,

sensor lights.
First year trainee
Printers and air-conditioning are turned off
overnight, paper is recycled.
Second year trainee
Diversity
The maternity leave policy is not very generous,

but flexible arrangements for working with a
family are very good. In terms of ethnic minorities,
I think we do pretty well.
Senior solicitor
It is great to have your own office with no

distractions. It makes you a more independent
worker and forces you to increase your confidence
as interaction with the rest of the office is not
automatic.
First year trainee
The key difference regarding the office is that
every trainee has his own office (mine happens
to be particularly spacious). Otherwise, facilities
are fairly standard, I suppose. Dress code is
comparatively informal, most dress down on
Fridays, and quite a few partners can be spotted
in jeans even during the week. Clearly, business
attire is obligatory for client meetings, etc., but the
atmosphere internally is fairly relaxed.
Second year trainee
JONES DAY
Pro Bono

HOURS
I probably work over 60 hours per week, but

then Ive voluntarily focused on M&A and other
corporate areas that bring these hours with them.
I did expect to work hard and long hours, and Im
not overly troubled by it.
Second year trainee
Currently less than expected, but I assume
this will increase in the near future. Currently
averaging approximately 48 hours per week.
First year trainee
I generally get to work around 8 9am and leave
at 7 8pm. The hours are not bad, although some
weeks can be harder than others.
Very flexible with part-time work. There is the
possibility to purchase additional holiday. I work
7 hours a day, but this increases for specific
projects.
Senior solicitor
Salary
The firm does not contribute to trainees

pensions. Subsidised gym membership is at a local
(but quite rubbish) gym.
First year trainee
139
Trainee compensation is quite good, and the sixmonthly jumps from 39 41 45 50 thousand
certainly make a positive difference.
Second year trainee
For a newly qualified it is very good.
I feel I am well paid for what I do.
Senior solicitor
Perks
Really good in-house catering! Dinners and taxis

expensed post 9pm.
First year trainee
Subsidised gym membership.
First year trainee
Childcare vouchers are very useful.
No pension contributions. Bad gym offers

compared to other law firms.
First year trainee
Work can be unpredictable.
Lack of communication.
Senior solicitor
Fun Facts
There is an old water tower structure which is a

historically protected piece of architecture from
the old building, which used to sit on 21 Tudor
Street on the fifth floor.
One of the security guards is also Davinas body
guard on Big Brother.
First year trainee
Pluses
The training system and colleagues.

First year trainee
Own office, and can work for any department at
any time.
First year trainee
Great work, good pay and reasonable hours.
The people and the range of interesting work.
Senior solicitor
The team I am working in is excellent.
Senior solicitor
Minuses
Sometimes feeling a little out of your depth with

the work you are entrusted with.
First year trainee
140

I did a vacation scheme so I had one interview

for my training contract. I was interviewed by two
partners. It was a fairly informal Q&A session,
and I did not feel under pressure. I was asked
questions about my personality, skills, character
and work ethic.
First year trainee
One interview for the vacation scheme with a
partner. A mid-scheme interview with a partner
and a final interview with two partners. The
vacation scheme is like a mini training contract; go
out and find work from any department.
First year trainee
I am on the recruitment panel, and for trainees

this is two interviews with two people in each,
for lateral hires the arrangements vary. We have
traditional interviews, we do not have assessment
days, etc.
Senior solicitor
Tips & Advice
Being personable is the most important attribute.

Having drive and ambition is also valued. Attention
to detail is key and academia is a must. At least a
2:1 at degree level is the norm, though many have
first class degrees.
First year trainee
The unique training system and the people I met

at the firm really sold it to me. It was important
for me to feel like I would be working with likeminded and amiable people where intimidation is
not welcome.
First year trainee
JONES DAY
Two interviews (one before vac scheme, one at

the end of vac scheme). First interview with one
partner, second interview with two partners. No
particular format, no assessment day. Questions
ranged from details of degrees and extracurricular
activities to questioning my resolve to become a
lawyer (I did not do a law degree).
Second year trainee
Friendly nature, dont feel like a statistic, good

pay, good range of work, the ability to work for
different departments simultaneously.
First year trainee
A combination of the good pay, friendly
and informal atmosphere, and the levels of
responsibility given to trainees.
Second year trainee
The great time I had on the vacation scheme.
Salary, non-rotational training contract, and one
office per person.
First year trainee
Candidates should be enthusiastic and outgoing,

as the training system requires trainees to take
initiative and approach lawyers for work. 2:1
minimum is required, I believe.
Second year trainee
Be prepared and carefully compile your CV. Know
it backwards.
The most important advice is to be interested in
the firm and convincing about why you want to be
a City lawyer, and make sure you show something
of your personality.
Senior solicitor
Personable individuals who are organised,
confident and able to take charge (important
for the non-seat training contract). Academic
requirements 2:1 and must pass the LPC.
First year trainee
141

Top US firms normally take their pick of the
academic elite; however, Jones Day sees past
the CV its primary focus is on finding capable
trainees with character and personality, who can
also hold their own when faced with clients. Due
to the nature of the training contract at Jones
Day, trainees need to take initiative and approach
lawyers for work; therefore being personable is
the most important attribute according to current
trainees. That said, a solid academic record is still
important a 2:1 at degree level is the norm,
though many have first class degrees.
Jones Days training programme sets it apart
from the Magic Circle and its US rivals. The
firms unique, non-rotational seat system allows
trainees to gain experience simultaneously in
many different practice areas. Trainees are not
assigned to one specific partner or department,
but instead must seek out assignments on their
own. This means that trainees get to choose to
take work from as many, or as few, departments
as [they] wish, providing they gain some
experience in a minimum of three areas. The
flexibility of this approach enables trainees to try
every department and hence make an informed
decision as to where [they] should qualify. For
those interested, there is the possibility to go on
secondment to the firms Dubai office.
The firms annual intake is made up of 15 trainees
a selling point to many as it allows for plenty
of responsibility and the chance to shine. As one
trainee states, it is great to be part of a mediumsized firm as it enables you to know people across
the different departments... which means you get
to know each other and make solid friendships.
To apply, you will need complete the firms
online application form and attach your covering
letter. If youre successful you will be invited to
interview. There are two rounds, both with two
partners, and you need to impress in the first
142
interview to make it to the second. While theres

no assessment day or tests, the interviews tend
to be quite lengthy. The partners do not rely on
a set of predetermined questions; instead they
try to establish a relaxed, in-depth conversation
about a topic of mutual interest. The most
important advice is to be interested in the firm
and convincing about why you want to be a City
lawyer.
Vacation Schemes
Jones Day certainly makes sure that work

placement students feel comfortable at the firm
youll be given your own email address and
will either have your own office or will share one
with another student on the scheme. As with
the training contract, you get to choose which
departments you receive work from and can try
as many as you like. Throughout the scheme, two
mentors will ensure you get the support you need.
Completing a work placement scheme will
significantly boost your chances of getting that
coveted training contract; 90% of current Jones
Day trainees did so. Youll have an interview at
the end of the scheme for one. Non-law students
can apply to spring and winter placements, both
of which offer 15 places. With 30 posts to fill,
summer schemes are designed for law students in
their penultimate or final year.
Jones Day recruits on a rolling basis so places on
its schemes and for training contracts may fill
before application deadlines close and before
individual applications are concluded. So dont
wait until the final deadlines to apply: the early
bird really does catch the worm!
JONES DAYCHANCE
CLIFFORD
@insidebuzz
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143
PROFILE
Jones Day is a true US heavyweight, with its
sizeable glove taking jabs at most major areas
of law. Armed with 2,500 lawyers and 35 offices
across five continents, Jones Day is one of the
largest law firms in the world and amongst the
highest-grossing in the US.
Founded in 1893, by Judge Edwin Blandin and
William Lowe Rice, Jones Day made its name by
representing Midwestern manufacturers and
transportation companies from its Cleveland base.
It was one of the first firms to adopt a corporate
management structure, and the 100+ years since
have brought steady growth, a slew of domestic
and international offices, and acclaim. The firms
involvement in numerous high-profile political
scraps helped cement its reputation, and in one
example of its eminence, the firm represented
US automaker Chrysler in its massive bankruptcy
case.
In the UK, Jones Day burst onto the London legal
scene in 1986, courtesy of a merger with Surrey &
Morse. In 2003, the firm dramatically expanded its
London presence through a merger with mid-tier
City firm Gouldens. The firms London lawyers,
of whom 98% are UK qualified, boast a globally
recognised M&A practice. The firm also specialises
in capital markets, private equity, banking and
finance, business restructuring, investment funds,
litigation, intellectual property, tax and real estate.
In real estate, where the old Gouldens was always
a leader, the firm still acts for what was once that
firms largest client, Pillar Properties (now part of
British Land). The firms private equity practice
has won work from a number of major players,
including Morgan Stanley, WL Ross & Co one
of the most profitable restructuring focussed PE
houses in the US and Riverside, the most active
private equity house in the US.
144
Jones Days European network includes more

than 400 lawyers working in Brussels, Frankfurt,
Madrid, Milan, Moscow, Munich and Paris. The
firm opened an office in Dubai in March 2009,
serving clients on energy, finance, arbitration
and M&A matters. Most recently, Jones Day
established associate offices in Riyadh, Jeddah
and Alkhobar in 2011 in association with Alsulaim
Alawaji & Partners Law Firm, a Saudi practice
established in 1990. Additionally, the firm opened
a brand new Boston office in January 2011.
Jones Day is a true US heavyweight,

with its sizeable glove taking jabs at
most major areas of law.
With Chinas economy growing at a record pace,
many global law firms are vying for a multiple
presence in China and Jones Day is no exception.
The firm possesses one of the largest Asian
practices of any full-service international firm,
with more than 200 lawyers and offices in Beijing,
Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei
and Tokyo.
Jones Day has a bigger commitment to pro bono
than most of its English counterparts. All Jones
Day lawyers worldwide are encouraged to get
involved and live up to the exemplary work of the
US practice, and time spent on pro bono matters
counts towards billable hours. In London, the firm
acts for the Royal Academy of the Arts and has
provided support to the Waterloo Legal Advice
Centre for decades. Jones Day solicitors also work
with the community by providing advice to small
local charities and individuals who cant afford
legal representation.
Work for JONES DAY

(advertisement)
TRAINING CONTRACT
WORK PLACEMENT
We look for candidates with either a law or non-law

degree, who have strong intellectual and analytical
ability and good communication skills and who can
demonstrate resourcefulness, drive, dedication and
the ability to be a team player. Candidates should have
obtained or be predicted at least a 2.1 degree in any
discipline. The firm operates a unique, non-rotational
system of training which is designed to provide freedom,
flexibility and responsibility from the start. Our trainees
work across different practice areas concurrently and are
encouraged to assume their own workload. This allows
for early responsibility, faster development of potential
and the opportunity to compare and contrast different
disciplines alongside one another.
Our work placement scheme will show you what its like
to be a trainee with us and will give you valuable insight
into our unique, non-rotational Training System. You
either will have your own office or share with another
person on the scheme. You will have your own email
address and phone number. You can take work from
any department at any time and from any lawyer, which
means that you gain the flexibility to see a wide range
of practices and to meet lots of people within the Firm.
We want you to get involved in real work. We dont
just give people on the work placement scheme a series
of workshops and seminars (although you will have
the opportunity to participate in a negotiation skills
workshop and a presentation skills workshop during
the scheme). In terms of the work you will carry out,
you can expect to be involved with research, drafting,
preparing documents, client meetings, and visits to
court. You also will have plenty of opportunity to get to
know people in the Firm on a social level as we organise
lunches, dinner, drinks, and sporting events. If you have
a place on our December placement scheme, you will
have the chance to participate in our regular, Jones Day
Christmas event.
WHEN TO APPLY
The final deadline for applications for training contracts
commencing in September 2014 is 31 July 2012.
However, to ensure an early interview date, we would
encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as we
recruit on a rolling basis.
SALARY
DATES
Our current starting salary for trainee solicitors

is 39,000. Salaries rise at six monthly intervals
throughout the training contract. 6-12 months: 41,000;
12-18 months: 45,000; 18-24 months: 50,000; NQ:
70,000 (London 2011-2012)
We run placements for non-law students and graduates

and post graduates of any discipline in Winter and
Spring and for law students over the summer. Please
refer to the website for further information.
VACANCIES
WHEN TO APPLY
We recruit approximately 15 trainees every year.
For our Winter scheme please apply by 31st October

2011. For our Spring scheme please apply by 31st
December 2011. For our Summer scheme please apply
by 31st January 2012.
APPLY
Apply online via our website
Name: Diana Spoudeas: Manager Trainee Recruitment
and Development
Email: recruit.london@jonesday.com
Tel: 0207 039 5959
Website: www.jonesdaylonson.com
JONES DAY
JOBS
SALARY
You will be paid 400 per week.
VACANCIES
We offer up to 60 places over the year.
145
In our own
words
Rewarding
Empowering
Inspiring
Challenging
Just some of the words to describe the
experience of working at Kirkland & Ellis.
As a trainee solicitor in our London office, youll
get hands-on experience of working on high profile
deals with some of the worlds leading companies,
and be given the support to enable you to become
the best lawyer you can be.
To learn more about training opportunities in our
London office, go to kirkland.com/ukgraduate
Graduate careers in law
146
Chicago-based Kirkland & Ellis employs more than 1,500 lawyers and is amongst the worlds top-grossing
law firms. Kirkland has cemented its status and global position through its four key practice areas:
corporate and tax, intellectual property, litigation, and restructuring.
PROS
Strong team ethic among the trainees

Partners and associates are very approachable
and happy to help trainees
Good exposure to a variety of work, and
early responsibility that is both challenging
and rewarding
Very decent salary
Structured, regular training in all departments
Amazing views from the office in the Gherkin
CONS
The hours, the hours... especially during

busy periods
There doesnt tend to be a great amount of
socialising, due to the nature of the work
making it hard for everyone to attend
THE STATS
LOCATIONS

Partners: 45
Associates: 67
Trainee intake: 10
Trainees retained: 100% from the first intake of 6 in 2009
No. of applications per year: Approximately 800
No. of offices: 10
Chicago Hong Kong London Los Angeles Munich
New York Palo Alto San Francisco Shanghai
Washington DC
BASE SALARY
LONDON 2011
LONDON OFFICE
30 St Mary Axe
London EC3A 8AF
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7469 2000
www.kirkland.com

Kate Osborne
Graduate Recruitment Specialist
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7469 2000
Email: lontraineerecruit@kirkland.com
Antitrust & Competition Capital Markets Corporate

Debt Finance International Litigation/Arbitration IP
Private Funds Restructuring Tax
147
QUOTES
LIFE ON THE JOB
This varies from department to department.

I have had little client contact, although I have
occasionally been taken to meetings and effort has
been made in this respect. I have been exposed
to a broad range of transactions, mainly focussing
on private equity as this is the firms specialism.
The level of responsibility you are given is very
rewarding and you are really challenged to be
your best.
Trainee
The majority of trainees sit with partners so
there is a lot of contact between partners and
trainees. Due to the size of the firm you are given
early responsibility and exposure to good work.
Client interaction is seat dependant.
Trainee
Everyone is approachable, even partners
although most of the work comes from the senior
associates. There is some client contact, but this
could be improved. You do get exposed to lots of
different transactions.
Trainee
You get as much responsibility as you can handle
I enjoy the variety and difficulty of the work.
I like a challenge so getting really involved in
projects is the ideal way to learn.
Trainee
Quality of work can be extremely high. You
frequently find yourself working on tasks usually
carried out by junior associates at other firms.
Trainee
Review of documents, drafting documents,

liaising with opposing counsel and the client, etc.
Trainee
148
I will be involved in conference calls, research,

and discussions with my supervisor. I will often be
asked to undertake drafting tasks as well.
Trainee
Work usually involves a mix of research, sending
e-mails, drafting, and some admin type tasks (but
this is a minor, rather than major component of
the day).
Trainee
Culture
Trainees attempt to socialise together as much

as possible, work permitting. The firm is often
quite generous at subsidising trainee social events.
There is a strong team ethic among the trainees
if youre swamped with work theres always
someone whos prepared to help out.
Trainee
I have found that the trainees tend to support
each other and people are often willing to help
out another trainee if they have capacity. Due to
the small number of trainees there doesnt tend
to be a great amount of socialising. The firm has
a good budget for trainee events but we find that
it is rare that everyone can attend. The firm tends
to have social events once a month these can
be anything from quiz nights to pumpkin carving
competitions.
Trainee
The firm has a very open door culture and is a
friendly place to work, despite the fact that people
work very hard here. There tends to be a good
relationship among the trainees, although the
social life is lacking as there are very few of us and
we find it difficult to find the time to meet up.
Trainee
Trainees support each other and the firm allows

a budget for a trainee night out on occasion. There
is an open door policy in the office, and trainees
manage their own time without having to worry
about the coat over the chair mentality.
Trainee
Seats
Four seats in any of the following: corporate,

banking, funds, arbitration, restructuring,
competition, and tax. The firm does its best to
accommodate the first choices of each trainee.
You can do a seat abroad. So far trainees have
done seats in New York and Hong Kong but
there is an option of Munich, as well as other US
offices.
Trainee
Trainees do four seats. You can sit in arbitration,
corporate, funds, restructuring or banking.
Every trainee must do a seat in corporate. IP,
competition and tax are by request, and to date
no trainees have sat in these departments. Given
that there are six trainees in each year, choice is
varied. 2010 abroad seats were in New York and
Hong Kong. The 2011 seats abroad have not been
announced to date. Trainees go abroad in their
third seat.
Trainee
Typically, there are four rotations. The firm

focuses on private equity so the departments we
have are: 1) Corporate; 2) Banking; 3) Funds; 4)
Restructuring; 5) Litigation/Arbitration; 6) Tax and/
or 7) Intellectual Property.
Trainee
There are four seat rotations at K&E. Seats in
the firms corporate department, as well as a seat
in either litigation/arbitration or restructuring
are compulsory. Optional seats include: banking
and private funds, as well as seats in tax and IP
upon request (depending on business need).
As the number of trainees is very small, there is
a great degree of choice involved. Personally, I
got all of my chosen seats, even in the order in
which I wanted to do them in. My fellow trainees
experiences were largely the same. Third seat
trainees can do a seat abroad in either Hong Kong
or New York (depending on business needs). In my
year, two of the six trainees went abroad.
Trainee
The structure is: equity partners, salaried

partners, associates, and then trainees. Trainees
do support each other and this varies across
departments. Trainees socialise when possible
and the management are keen to encourage
socialising. There was a trainee Christmas party,
and other events which include associates/
trainees are in the pipeline. The firm is working
hard to improve social outings but given the
nature of the work, people are busy and this
makes it difficult for everyone to attend. The level
of social activities varies within each department.
Trainee
Formal Training
When you first join the firm as a trainee you

attend around three training sessions a week, and
people make the effort to ensure you can attend.
The training sessions are helpful in giving you an
introduction to each practice area and introducing
you to the teams. It is also helpful to have
materials on which to refresh your thinking.
Trainee
Training takes place at lunch a few times during
the week in the first six months in the office.
The sessions are for all the first year trainees,
and allow for close contact with partners
and associates. Rather than a lecture/class
atmosphere, the feel is more like a seminar where
you can really interact with and question the
person giving the training.
Trainee
149
The training programme, whilst new, is extensive

and very well planned. Understanding of what the
various departments do and basic legal concepts
are taught, as well as the skills necessary to be an
effective trainee.
Trainee
When we started there were four lunchtime
training sessions a week which were compulsory.
Now there tends to be a more sporadic training
programme. The firm encourages trainees to be
more involved in the training they receive and we
are able to request training sessions on anything
we feel the need for.
Trainee
All of my supervisors have been easy to approach

when Ive had questions and I feel free to ask
questions whenever I need to. The firm generally
makes an effort to give the trainees varying work,
and especially so if you ask.
Trainee
Very easy to receive. The firm operates an
open-door policy and it is possible (and even
encouraged) for trainees to approach associates/
partners and ask for mentoring on specific areas.
Trainee
There is no hierarchy at the firm so you can
approach anyone and everyone. All the lawyers
are knowledgeable and happy to share that
knowledge.
Trainee
Associates are great at explaining things and
really do take the time to help out. Partners are
approachable and will explain things too.
Trainee
150
The office is a fantastic place to work and is

modern with amazing views. The dress code is
pretty relaxed smart casual. You will be required
to wear a suit for meetings but thats generally it.
We also now have casual Fridays where jeans are
permitted.
Trainee
The office is pretty cool and the facilities are
great. Support departments really make the effort
to make life easy. The dress code is smart but
no ties unless youre meeting a client. Friday is a
dress down day every week.
Trainee
The office is really nice, being based in the
Gherkin. The offices are all extremely spacious and
clean. The dress code is pretty relaxed and there
is no requirement to wear a suit unless you are
attending a client meeting.
Trainee
The firm is in the Gherkin and has beautiful
expansive views of the City. There are not many
facilities in the building (such as dry cleaning) but
there is good access to all amenities close to the
building. The dress is smart.
Trainee
Green Initiatives
Recycling has been greatly improved and efforts

are made to ensure lights are on motion sensors.
However, the firm could improve in this area.
Trainee
We have recycling and confidential bins for paper
and recycling bins in the kitchen for food and the
like.
Trainee
There are events on womens leadership. I myself

am from an ethnic minority background and feel
very much at home with everyone.
Trainee
The firms diversity policy seems to be working in
that there are a great number of female lawyers...
Trainee
The firm is eager to ensure diversity amongst the
employees and ensures that every individual is
given the support they need.
Trainee

upon qualification?
Quite prepared due to the exposure we get very
early on in our training.
Trainee
Very in order to be an effective lawyer,
one needs to have been heavily involved in
transactions and projects, and our firm ensures
this is true of all trainees.
Trainee
Not fully prepared yet but getting there!
Trainee

Hours
Hours are long during busy periods but that

usually happens due to closing of a deal at other
times, hours are fairly flexible.
Trainee
I work an average of 45 50 hours a week and

this is no more than expected.
Trainee
Usually the hours are 10 12 hours a day and
this can increase within departments, especially
when its busy. But everyone works hard, so youre
rarely left by yourself finishing work.
Trainee
I work approximately 60 hours a week, though
this is the same across all City law firms so I do not
feel like it is particularly unfair.
Trainee
diversity
Salary
We are extremely well remunerated.

Trainee
The salary is standard for a trainee in the City.
Trainee
Best in the field for trainees.
Trainee
Im pretty happy with the pay and think it is fair.
Trainee
Perks
Access to the bar at the top of the Gherkin is a

good perk! The firm ensures you get a car home if
you work past 9pm, which is a great benefit.
Trainee
Breakfast (continental, cereals, bagels, pastries
depending on the day of the week).
Trainee
Access to the bar at the top of the Gherkin is cool
its a great place to take friends and family. The
office is closed on Christmas Eve, whereas most
other firms are open this helps to stretch the
holiday allowance a little further!
Trainee
151
The firm pays for dinner and taxis when

working late.
Trainee
Interest free loan for an underground
season ticket.
Trainee
PLUSES
I enjoy the atmosphere and flexibility here.

People generally recognise that you work very
hard and encourage you to get out when you can.
It is also possible to work from home on occasion
if need be.
Trainee
The kind of projects I get involved in and the type
of work I get. I also enjoy the interaction I get with
all parties to a transaction.
Trainee
The responsibility, the quality of work, the great
views from the windows...
Trainee
MINUSES
Hours.
Trainee
The hours whilst they are the same across all

City firms, it can be a bit tiring doing the numbers
of hours I do.
Trainee
Fun Facts
Our office is in the Gherkin.

Trainee
152

When I applied there was only one round of
interviews, which consisted of four consecutive
interviews with different people, each 30 minutes
long. The people I spoke to were very engaging
and I enjoyed my interviews.
Trainee
The process is relaxed and everybody is friendly.

There are four interviews, usually one with HR and
then three with a mix of partners and associates.
The interview was formal, but it was an honest,
relaxed, and very fair process.
Trainee
I had to go through four rounds to be selected
which included a phone interview, informal
meeting, two week vacation scheme and a two
hour interview. This was because the formal
procedure hadnt been put in place by this point.
The interview was with four different individuals
from the firm: two partners, one mid-level
associate and HR. It was more like an informal
chat than an interview. Everyone was extremely
friendly and genuinely interested in you rather
than trying to hurry you out of the door. My
interview was only meant to last two hours but
ended up being three. The standard questions
such as why law, why this firm, why a US firm
were asked as well as questions about my CV.
Trainee
I did not do a vacation scheme I applied directly
to the firm and had a number of interviews with
HR, associates and partners. I was asked questions
about my background and what I could bring to
the firm.
Trainee
Be yourself, be enthusiastic, and be prepared to

work long hours. You must be ready to take the
initiative this is a relatively small firm with no
place to hide!
Trainee
The firm tends to recruit from Russell Group
universities. I would advise potential candidates to
use their initiative and research the firm and the
areas in which we specialise before applying.
Trainee
As clich as it is to say, there is no type at this
firm. There is a range of different backgrounds
represented. The firm is looking for people
who appreciate the commercial nature of its
business and who can grasp the key factors in a
transaction.
Trainee
They look for confident and charismatic
individuals who are independent workers.
Candidates need to be approachable and smart
and have an interest in corporate law. The firm
targets Oxbridge and other top 20 universities.
The trainee intake is diverse and there is a mix of
law/non-law graduates.
Trainee
Make sure you do your research there is

nothing worse than an applicant who does not
know much about the firm and/or who has
blanket applied. Candidates have to be highly
motivated and bright.
Trainee
After a very rewarding vacation scheme,

I knew this was the firm for me due to the
friendly atmosphere and motivation of the
attorneys here.
Trainee
Its flat, open structure and collegiate
atmosphere.
Trainee
Tips & Advice
My firm offers great quality of work and allows

for the trainee to learn a great deal, which was
and is my top priority as a trainee.
Trainee
The people and the general atmosphere
of the firm.
Trainee
Go online for
more quotes on
Kirkland & Ellis
and other law firms
153

Kirkland & Ellis is highly regarded as one of the
most successful American law firms in the City and
in turn looks to recruit confident and charismatic
individuals who are independent workers and
who are ready to take the initiative. The London
office is duly situated in one of the most iconic
buildings in the City the Gherkin. The firm only
takes on a select number of trainees each year
with up to ten training contracts available.
Interviews are said to be formal, but

honest, relaxed and very fair.
Trainees are generally very satisfied with their
training which involves great exposure to highquality work and as much responsibility as you
can handle. As one trainee tells us, you may
frequently find yourself working on tasks usually
carried out by junior associates at other firms.
There is close and continuous contact between
partners and trainees, and the very open-door
culture makes Kirkland & Ellis a friendly place to
work.
154
The structure of the training contract resembles

that of most other law firms in the City, consisting
of four six-month seats typically in corporate (a
compulsory seat), banking, restructuring, funds,
IP, tax or international litigation/arbitration. As
the number of trainees is very small, there is a
great degree of choice involved and trainees are
particularly drawn to the fact that secondments
can be completed in the firms international
offices trainees have been to New York and
Hong Kong.
Due to the small intake, Kirkland & Ellis can be
very selective in picking its candidates so the
recruitment process is suitably competitive and
extensive. The firm looks for confident, intelligent
people that will fit in quickly and easily, and have
an interest in the work the firm does. When
you apply youll go through several rounds of
interviews with a mix of partners and associates.
Interviews are said to be formal, but honest,
relaxed and very fair. The firm has a tendency
to recruit from Russell group universities and
current trainees recommend that potential
applicants use their initiative and research
the firm and the areas in which we specialise
thoroughly before applying.
1,000s of reviews from current

employees on: satisfaction with
work, company culture, career
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perks, diversity, the interview
and more...
Company specific application
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Service, Coca-Cola, Credit Suisse, Deloitte,
Deutsche Bank, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Ernst &
Young, FSA, GlaxoSmithKline, Goldman Sachs,
Google, Grant Thornton, HSBC Holdings,
IBM, J.P. Morgan, John Lewis Partnership,
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PricewaterhouseCoopers, Procter & Gamble,
Sony, Teach First, The Boston Consulting
Group, Unilever, Virgin Group and more...

155
FIRM PROFILE
Chicago-based Kirkland & Ellis employs more
than 1,500 lawyers, ranked seventh for average
profit per partner in the US in 2010, was ranked
in the top 10 of the Legal Business Global 100 in
2011, and is amongst the worlds top-grossing law
firms. Kirkland has cemented its status and global
position through its four core areas of expertise:
corporate and tax, intellectual property, litigation,
and restructuring. In the City, the firms office in
the Gherkin is home to approximately 120 lawyers.
Kirkland is known for its doggedly

aggressive approach, and while
settlement is always an option, this
is a firm that is ready, eager and
confident to go to trial.
Kirkland & Ellis was founded in 1909 by Stuart
Shepard and Robert McCormick. As the grandson
of the founder of the Chicago Tribune, McCormick
eventually left the firm to become the newspapers
publisher. However, as a result of his outspoken
editorial policy, he soon required a defamation
defence team in steps the eponymous
Weymouth Kirkland, who had joined the firm in
1915. Together with a young associate, Howard
Ellis, the duo played parts in many prominent
trials, setting the firm on course to become one of
the most powerful litigation practices in the US.
In the 90s, Kirklands largest private equity clients,
the likes of Bain Capital and Madison Dearborn,
were starting to invest their vast chests in assets on
the continent setting up their own London offices
and European funds. So in 1994, Kirkland & Ellis
followed them to the City to assist in structuring
their investments. Even before the firm added
156
UK law capability to its London practice in 2001,

Kirkland would advise these American institutions
on their deals, calling on local lawyers to help
out where necessary. Additional offices followed,
with the firm opening its second European office
in 2004 in Munich, and expanding to Asia with
a Hong Kong office just two years later, before
cracking the bubbly again in Shanghai in 2009.
Half of Kirklands lawyers are litigators, so it
probably shouldnt come as any great surprise
that their work accounts for half of the firms
revenue. Kirkland is known for its doggedly
aggressive approach, and while settlement is
always an option, this is a firm that is ready, eager
and confident to go to trial. The firm boasts an
impressive private equity practice, with some 300
lawyers practising in the US alone. And while the
firms M&A practice may get overshadowed by the
renowned PE team, it doesnt invalidate the fact
that it does top-notch work. Some of Kirklands
high-profile clients include Bain Capital, Motorola
and General Motors.
In 1982, the firm established the Kirkland & Ellis
Foundation, for the purpose of providing financial
support to not-for-profit, charitable and lawrelated organisations serving a wide range of
communities, initiatives and people. Although
focussing predominantly on groups that help
improve legal services, the foundation actively
seeks to partner with organisations committed
to enhancing quality of life through improved
health care, educational opportunities, cultural
awareness, emergency relief and humanitarian
efforts, youth programs, public policy and
community outreaches.
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TRAINING CONTRACT
VACATION PLACEMENTS
The majority of our applications for training contracts

come from penultimate-year law students and finalyear non-law students. However, graduates and
post-graduates are also eligible to apply. Academically,
you will have an excellent all-round record. Trainees
generally come to us with an expected or achieved 2.1 in
any discipline. So beyond your qualifications, you really
need the right personal qualities to succeed with us.
First and foremost, you must have a clear ambition to be
an outstanding lawyer in one of our practice areas. Youll
need the drive, determination and work ethic to thrive
in a true meritocracy. A confident, inquisitive team
player, you will also come to us with plenty of initiative
and ideally some prior understanding of the work we
undertake in our London office.
A vacation scheme is the perfect introduction to life in

our London office. For two weeks over the summer, you
will experience a mixture of hands-on work and practice
overview sessions designed to give you a clear idea
of what we do and how we do it. Youll be allocated a
supervisor and mentor who will support and guide you
throughout the fortnight. Plus youll have the chance to
meet partners and associates in a more informal setting
at various social events. By the end of the scheme, we
hope youll have learned enough about us to make up
your mind about whether were the right firm for you.
From our perspective, if you make a good impression at
this stage, it could be the start of something much more
long term.
WHEN TO APPLY
By 31st January 2012 for vacation scheme applications.
For a 2014 training contract, the deadline is

31st July 2012.
SALARY
JOBS
Work for KIRKLAND & ELLIS

INTERNATIONAL
WHEN TO APPLY
SALARY
The remuneration is currently 350 per week.
HOW TO APPLY
Online at www.kirkland.com/ukgraduate
VACANCIES
We offer up to 10 places for graduates from
any discipline.
157
LATHAM & WATKINS

A global leader in finance and litigation, Latham & Watkins is one of the largest and most popular firms
in London amongst lawyers. The firm practices in all major jurisdictions worldwide and employs more
than 2,000 solicitors across its 31 offices.
PROS
High quality of work and youre given lots of

responsibility very early on
The partnership always keeps you informed of
whats going on, and all levels are involved in
decisions through committees
Very good salary
Frequent and well-organised formal training
Pro bono work counts towards billable hours
Sociable, supportive environment with very
little hierarchy
THE STATS
No. of lawyers in London: 220+
Partners: 52
Associates: 205
Trainee intake: 28
London Trainees retained: All 14 that qualified in 2011
were offered full time roles
BASE SALARY
LONDON 2011
DEPARTMENTS
Corporate Environment, Land & Resources Finance
Litigation Tax
PRACTICES
Africa Practice Antitrust and Competition Banking
Benefits and Compensation Capital Markets China
158
CONS
Expect long and demanding hours at times

Only 20 days of holiday per year
Youre always on-call
No canteen or gym in the offices
1900 billable target can be stressful
Practice Cleantech Climate Change Communications

Corporate Governance Derivatives Emerging
Companies Employment Law Energy Environmental
Litigation Environmental Regulatory Environmental
Transactional Support Export Controls and Economic
Sanctions Financial Regulatory Gaming, Hotels &
Hospitality Government Contracts Government
Relations Health Care and Life Sciences India Practice
Insurance Coverage Litigation Intellectual Property
Litigation International Dispute Resolution International
Tax Investment Funds Islamic Finance Israel Practice
Land Use Latin American Practice Life Sciences Media
and Entertainment Mergers & Acquisitions Outsourcing
Private Equity Private Equity Finance Pro Bono
Product Liability, Mass Torts and Consumer Class Actions
Project Finance Public and Tax-Exempt Finance Public
Company Representation Public International Law Real
Estate REITS Restructuring, Insolvency and Workouts
Scandinavian Practice Securities Litigation and
Professional Liability Structured Finance & Securitisation
Supreme Court and Appellate Tax Controversy
Tax-Exempt Organizations Technology Transactions
Transactional Tax White Collar and Government
Investigations
No. of offices: 31
Abu Dhabi Barcelona Beijing Boston Brussels
Chicago Doha Dubai Frankfurt Hamburg Hong
Kong Houston London Los Angeles Madrid
Milan Moscow Munich New Jersey New York
Orange County Paris Riyadh Rome San Diego San
Francisco Shanghai Silicon Valley Singapore Tokyo
Washington, D.C.
LONDON OFFICE
99 Bishopsgate
London EC2M 3XF
Tel: +44 (0)20 7710 1000
www.lw.com

Graduate Recruitment
Tel: +44 (0)20 7710 1000
Email: london.trainees@lw.com
LATHAM & WATKINS
LOCATIONS
QUOTES
LIFE ON THE JOB
Ive had a lot of contact with clients, visiting

various client offices and hosting meetings and
social events when they visit us here. Working
with partners is also rewarding and they are
always keen to keep you involved as a trainee for
the learning process, as well as to help them out.
The deals Ive been working on have ranged from
$450 million to $5 billion, but Ive had a lot of
responsibility on all of them. There are obviously
times when someone has to do some proofing
(which is usually a trainee as we dont really have
paralegals) but it is all part of the learning curve.
First year trainee
Contact with partners is very frequent and
expected. Interaction with clients is very
department specific (this is more likely in finance
and corporate than, say, tax). All transactions
have been of a very high value and complexity,
including work on the largest LBO of 2010. There
is also a great exposure to pro bono work, and
you are encouraged to engage in and assist with
business development opportunities.
Second year trainee
Very satisfied I wanted to gain the benefits of a

small trainee intake with large-scale international
cases and transactions. My responsibilities
mirror those of a trainee at a niche firm with an
incredible degree of client contact, even in my first
seat where I was actively encouraged to develop
good relations with clients. For my first seat I sat
with and worked directly with a partner, allowing
me to gain direct insight into the role of a partner
on large international deals. The transactions
involve multibillion dollar companies with complex
commercial issues that span multiple jurisdictions.
There is rarely a day in which I am working in the
GMT time zone.
First year trainee
I think junior lawyers get great work at Latham.
You certainly get as much responsibility as you feel
able to take on. Due to the smaller team size, even
on the larger deals you will be expected to take
the lead on certain chunks (if not the majority)
of the deal, and there is a lot of client interaction
even at a junior level.
Newly qualified solicitor, Corporate
159
After a catch up with my supervisor in the

morning to talk about overnight developments
and/or the football, my days are rarely the same
but can involve; reviewing documents, contacting
lawyers on the other side regarding arrangements
for meetings, completion, etc., attending meetings
at our offices or another law firm, drafting and
proofing agreements, talking to a partner whos
on business in Dubai/Paris/wherever and doing a
quick bit of research or drafting for them, creating
bibles and managing documents. Obviously all
of that is broken up by several tea breaks, banter
with my supervisor and lunch with some of the
other trainees.
First year trainee
Getting in at 8.30am and getting through e-mails
that arrived overnight. Working through the
enquiries or amendments to documents and
negotiating with other solicitors until lunchtime
when things go suddenly dead. Work picks up
again at about 2.00pm, goes into overdrive at
around 5.00pm and gradually dies down past
7.30pm.
I work on ongoing client work, maybe do some
research or pro bono, lunch with the trainees
and more client work in the afternoon which may
involve drafting documents, diligence, calls, etc.
Second year trainee
Culture
The size of the trainee intake dictates that you

do become a close knit group that socialises with
one another. Like with most work places, you can
choose to get involved on a social front as much
or as little as you choose. There is also, particularly
with employment, corporate and finance, a lot of
department social activities...
Second year trainee
160
It is a friendly and very supportive office

where partners and associates work very well
together. The 360 degree review process, where
supervisors and supervisees get to review each
others performances, with consequences for
promotion and pay, is very helpful. The partners
are generous and host monthly drinks at
department/office level.
Latham is very friendly with a very supportive
atmosphere. There is quite a flat structure and it is
easy to approach just about anyone. The trainees
get along very well and we arrange a large amount
of social activities.
Second year trainee
The working environment is very informal, and
you are more or less left to your own devices
when working on a task (although there are
usually clear instructions, and work is checked
by your supervisor before it goes to the client).
Social events organised at a firm level are rare,
but trainees are good at meeting up every week/
fortnight for a drink, and work permitting, a night
out. Trainees in the same department tend to help
one another when there are important and tight
deadlines to meet.
First year trainee
Seats
There are four six month seats, including the

option of an overseas seat (in Europe, the Middle
East or Asia). Finance and corporate departments
are mandatory. Contentious seat is also required,
but restructuring, competition and employment
all count. The firm does not have as many niche
departments as some larger UK firms so the
choice is narrower. That said, the firm tends to be
quite flexible about seat choices.
Second year trainee
Four seats, can sit in most departments. Youre
more or less free to choose but there is a lot of
competition for smaller departments...
First year trainee
All firm-wide decisions are made by committees

which are made up of partners and associates,
so everyone is involved with big decisions from
the beginning. Generally everyone is very well
informed about what is going on and everyone is
able to contribute.
Partners and solicitors, including junior solicitors,
work very closely together. All levels are involved
in decision making such as reviews, hiring, work
allocation, business development, etc.
The partnership keeps us informed of firm-wide
decisions it is very transparent. Solicitors are
encouraged to contribute to the decisions and
to even initiate business/networking events or
procedures.
Formal Training
Theres one month of training at the beginning of

the TC but on the whole, training tends to be more
on the job than formal. The finance department
organises induction training at the beginning of
each new seat. Certain departments organise
internal training but little of it is specifically geared
towards trainees.
Second year trainee
Every lunch time theres something going on that

you can attend and different departments giving
presentations or external training on various
topics. Its quite flexible and you can attend as
few or as many as you like. They always ask for
feedback and so will take any ideas you have into
account (e.g. I couldnt attend a session one day
that I thought would be useful, so they organised
to have the same session again a couple of months
later so we wouldnt miss out). Its useful as a
trainee to see whats going on in other areas of
law as you know it wont be long before you have
to transfer your brain to another department.
First year trainee
LATHAM & WATKINS
Trainees sit in four six month seats during their

training contract. I have sat with the banking
team, the restructuring team, the tax department
and by fourth seat will be in the corporate
department. I was lucky enough to choose all
these departments. If you choose to request a
seat abroad, you have a high chance of being
able to.
Second year trainee
Training sessions mostly consist of lunchtime or

morning seminars given by partners/associates.
Attendance levels are fairly high. External trainers
are sometimes brought in for non-legal topics like
accounts, or for soft skills.
There is more on the job training than formal
training, which I think is much more beneficial.
There are formal sessions for each department,
firm-wide and for trainees.
Second year trainee
All solicitors are very accessible and always willing

to discuss work there is a real emphasis on
developing the skills of the junior lawyers.
First year trainee
Very accessible you just need to go into
someones office and discuss issues with them.
Associates are very good mentors in providing
candid insight into partner/firm expectations and
giving practical advice. Partners are very good
at dispensing insight into the bigger picture of
transactions and giving broader career advice.
First year trainee
161
Associates and partners in my team are excellent

at taking the time to explain if you ask them to.
I have learned a lot from watching and working
alongside them.
First year trainee
Office space and location are ideal. Dress code, as

with most American firms, is relaxed as compared
with UK law firms.
Second year trainee
The partners are very accessible for questions

and guidance. Most departments run weekly
informal training in their teams to cover recent
developments, key issues, etc., which everyone
in the team contributes to. There is a formal
mentoring programme, with a budget for
lunch every month with your mentor (normally
someone a few years above), and while its
generally not followed every month, it is popular
and helpful. There is also a global committee
of associates, who are available to answer
performance, promotion, relocation, pay, etc.
concerns.
Career Progression
Dress code is very relaxed like the atmosphere

of the office generally. The office could do with a
revamp but is spacious (nearly all attorneys have
their own office). Facilities are good, location
excellent.
Second year trainee
Offices are in the City, excellent conference room
facilities, and good offices (each attorney has their
own) with full kitchen facilities, drinks machines,
and a fresh fruit bowl on each floor. Various
gyms are close, cafe inside the building. Dress
code is quite casual, no ties, etc. except for client
meetings. Dress down on Fridays.
Nice offices, particularly the floors that have
been renovated more recently. Great location
close to Bank, Moorgate and Liverpool Street.
There is no canteen, and the coffee shop on the
ground floor can be convenient but is overpriced.
The dress code is very relaxed jeans on Fridays
but smart casual every other day of the week. I
can count on one hand the number of times I have
worn a suit.
Second year trainee
162
It is very structured, you progress each year

post qualification. Everyone is reviewed twice
yearly. You are eligible for partnership after you
are 8 years qualified. Most senior associates are
promoted to partner or counsel.
It is not easy to become a partner. There are
annual reviews, which reveal how you have been
performing as an associate and as a supervisor,
that count towards your eventual call to be a
counsel, partner or to leave the firm.
Where do you see yourself over the course

of the next 5-10 years? What doors has a
career in law opened for you?
Hopefully I will still be working here in the
next 5-10 years. This career has presented me
with interesting and challenging work, and the
opportunity to work for great clients in a number
of overseas locations.
Possibility of moving in-house, with global
corporates, or to a more specialist firm.
Pro Bono
The firm is extremely committed to pro bono

work everyone is encouraged to do it and
it does count towards billable hours. There is
no minimum quota. I have worked for various
organisations such as local arts projects, womens
therapy centres, and human rights projects.
Recruitment has special events focussed on racial

diversity, and there is an LGBT social committee
and Women in Business committee which runs
training and social events.
Green Initiatives

upon qualification?
Lights are automatically switched off when not in

use for a period of time. There are three recycling
bins for various materials in the kitchen, and
paper recycling bins for every attorney in
the office.
First year trainee
The lights are movement sensitive after 6pm,
there are a number of different recycling bins
provided in each kitchen area, and we are
encouraged to go paperless and recycle the paper
we do use.
We have recycling bins. Lights automatically go
off at night: cue ridiculous arm-waving to trigger
the sensors so the lights come back on.
Very as I feel I have been treated like a first-year

associate since my first seat.
First year trainee
As prepared as a trainee can be.
Second year trainee
Relatively prepared, and I know there will be
support when I need it.
Second year trainee
Its a long way off, so hopefully a lot more
prepared than I am now!
First year trainee
Diversity
Maternity leave seems to be good as there are

quite a few people away at the moment, and who
will be returning at various points throughout
the year. There arent many female partners but I
think thats standard across the City, and hopefully
with trainees being female-heavy all over the legal
world, the amount of female partners will increase
in the next few years.
First year trainee
We have a very good tradition of diversity
and equality. Training is provided to all new
recruits on diversity issues, and we have a strong
representation of ethnic minorities, women and
LGBT employees at the firm.
LATHAM & WATKINS
Pro bono is encouraged a lot, and pro bono hours

are treated as normal billable hours. In the UK, its
mainly work on corporate issues and data privacy
and e-commerce aspects.
Hours
On average 40 45 hours a week and can be

significantly more during closings/filings, but when
these are over trainees are at liberty to leave at a
very decent time.
First year trainee
Between 30 60, and sometimes including
weekends, depending very much on the
department and workflow. Hours are one of the
toughest things about the job, but I am working
roughly the amount that I had expected.
Second year trainee
Long hours but thats expected and I enjoy it.
Second year trainee
163
Its very up and down. On a quiet week about

45. On a very busy week about 70.
First year trainee
Associates have a target of 1900 billable hours
per year (pro bono work counts towards your
target hours). People work hard but I guess no one
comes here expecting otherwise. Can be quite
flexible if things are quiet, no one will expect you
to put in face time for the sake of it, but of course
flexibility works both ways and youll need to be
flexible with your evenings, weekends, holidays...
Salary
Base salary is very good. Bonuses are also good,

although I dont think theyre as high as Magic
Circle firms. Bonuses are hours based (primarily),
and are only paid if you hit 1900 billable hours in
the year.
Its one of the highest in the City, but it will never
feel like enough when youre in the office on a
Sunday!
First year trainee
Remuneration is good, but would be nice if
trainees got a bonus.
First year trainee
The bonus is very hours-related. Other
contributing factors to the bonus payment are
quality of work, and quality of supervision (this is
where the reviews from your supervisees count).
It is very transparent.
Latham pay is top-end cant complain.
164
Perks
A box at the O2, complimentary fresh fruits

in the kitchen every day, complimentary firmwide breakfast at the end of each month, and
complimentary pizza lunch for attorneys at the
start of each month.
First year trainee
Free tickets to almost any event at the O2.
Associates take a paternal role and take their
trainees to lunch at least a few times per week,
and taxis and meals after work are paid for.
First year trainee
Access to the O2 box for client events. Trainees
are encouraged, where possible, to attend client
events (for example, closing dinners and drinks
and nights at the O2).
Second year trainee
Generous expenses policy (for travel, relocation,
etc.), and excellent business development team
and events (box at O2, Wimbledon, polo, National
Portrait Gallery events, etc.).
Pluses
My colleagues, the laid-back culture, the

independence, working really hard when there is a
need to and taking it slow when there is not, being
treated as an adult and a real team player.
First year trainee
The people you work with are generally
extremely friendly and inclusive.
First year trainee
Client contact is of a genuinely good standard.
There are international opportunities to work
abroad, both during UK seats that require it,
and for entire seats in Europe, the Middle East
and Asia. Ability to choose each seat. There is an
excellent balance of guidance and autonomy from
supervising associates and partners.
First year trainee
Not everyone in the OC office sings the theme

tune to The OC at any given moment. Sad really.
First year trainee
Quality of work, small and friendly teams.

Minuses
Hours, only 20 days of holiday, can be stressful

with the hours and the responsibility.
Second year trainee
The lifts, lack of amenities, the cafe on the
ground floor and sharing the building with
Deutsche Bank and other firms.
First year trainee
Always being on-call.
First year trainee
Not much holiday, the compulsory blackberry,
the sandwiches at training sessions.
First year trainee
Hours can be demanding at times.
First year trainee
Fun Fact
Academies for first, third and fifth years are held

usually in the US and are attended by attorneys
from all offices. Great fun!
Second year trainee
All decisions are made by committees which
are made up of associates and partners i.e. your
bonus is decided by a committee of your peers.
All trainees and associates get two computer
screens. Makes a huge difference and couldnt go
back to one screen!
First year trainee
Latham attorneys were consulted by Oliver Stone
when he filmed Wall Street 2.
First year trainee
LATHAM & WATKINS
The people, the social life, the responsibility, and

the pay.
First year trainee
There are a total of three rounds of interviews

mainly with partners, but involving some
associates. The interview was more like an
informal conversation in which the interviewer
appeared to generally want to know about who
I was, and whether I had the soft tolerance and
easy-to-work-with attitude that would allow me to
contribute effectively to the firm.
First year trainee
Two interviews each with two interviewers, one
on my CV, and one on commercial awareness. The
best way to get into the firm is through a vacation
scheme and the application and interview process
is similar. You will also have interviews at the end
of the vacation scheme.
Second year trainee
Having done a vacation scheme the interviewing
wasnt rigorous and there was no assessment
day, but it was definitely selective. They will see
through rehearsed answers.
Second year trainee
I submitted a CV and covering letter, was
interviewed for a vacation scheme and at the end
of the vacation scheme I was interviewed for a
training contract. I interviewed with a number of
partners, associates and members of the HR team.
The interviews for both the vacation scheme and
the training contract were very informal and I was
made to feel very relaxed and welcome.
165
Very straightforward application process

application form, no assessment days. One round
of training contract interviews three 30 minute
interviews with two people (both associates and
partners) back to back. No purposefully difficult
questions intended to trip you up.
Second year trainee
Tips & Advice
People with personality! (And the obvious

grades, work experience, etc.). There are people
here from a wide range of backgrounds and
different unis so definitely apply even if you didnt
go to a top ten (or whatever scale they use now)
uni. If you have any blips on your CV, as long as
you can explain them then theres no reason not
to apply.
First year trainee
Independent, driven and bright candidates
should apply, and candidates should not be cocky
or smug about their achievements, however
brilliant they may be. No particular universities,
a high 2:1 should be a minimum unless there are
mitigating circumstances.
First year trainee
Latham looks for a strong academic background,
but also a well-rounded person. Generally
candidates should be personable and easy to get
along with. An interest in corporate law, and a
genuine interest in the firm, not just because it
pays particularly well.
The firm looks for a good fit and whether they
genuinely want to work for the firm. New hires are
also expected to hit the ground running, so they
pay attention to past experience in the relevant
area and technical ability.
166
Relaxed atmosphere, high profile work, lovely

people and the pay.
Second year trainee
Small trainee intake, ability to take on as much
responsibility as I can manage, international
reputation and offices, and the pay.
First year trainee
Great reputation, fantastic work and friendly
atmosphere. The relatively small departments,
teams and intakes, which means better quality
work, less time spent on trainee tasks and feeling
like you are actually a valuable part of the team.
Second year trainee
A relaxed interview process, friendly partners and
associates, and a very fun vacation scheme.
Its a firm going places.
The London office launched its UK trainee

programme in 2006, and has since ramped up its
recruiting from at least 10 trainees in 2008, to
more than 15 in 2010, and 28 in 2011. Due to this
small intake, competitiveness amongst trainees is
rare and exposure to some of the worlds largest
deals is high. During the training contract trainees
do four six-month seats, with the compulsory
ones including corporate, finance and litigation. If
you fancy going abroad, there are also plenty of
opportunities to do seats in Hong Kong, Singapore,
Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Riyadh, Brussels or Moscow.
While a stellar academic record is a must,
Latham & Watkins trainees come from a broad
spectrum of universities and are carefully vetted
with an emphasis on personal qualities and
potential, rather than just strong CVs. Embracing
responsibility and displaying initiative are not the
only recipes for success as a trainee the firm
specifically wants people who are intelligent,
hardworking and independent, but most of all,
down-to-earth with good interpersonal skills. The
firm looks for a good fit so a genuine interest in
Latham & Watkins and in corporate law is a must.
If you fancy going abroad, there are

also plenty of opportunities to do seats
in Hong Kong, Singapore, Abu Dhabi,
Dubai, Riyadh, Brussels or Moscow.
Its also a definite bonus to undertake a vacation
scheme as Latham & Watkins aims to recruit most
of its trainees through its Easter and summer
schemes. However, there are a couple of places
available outside of these schemes, which can
be earned through the application form and
interview process.
The hiring process is straightforward: submit
an application form and, if successful, youll
be invited to three rounds of interviews. Each

interview is with a partner and an associate
and will mainly focus on your application form
and your commercial awareness. Trainees
describe interviews as very informal, relaxed
and welcome, a welcome contrast to the
confrontational style some firms are known for.
During the half-day assessment, candidates meet
six associates/partners over three 30-minute
interviews. There is also a presentation on the
firm with details of what candidates can expect
during their training contract, followed by a lunch
with the trainees.
LATHAM & WATKINS
Vacation Schemes
The best way to get into the firm is through
a vacation scheme claim several trainees and
unsurprisingly the vac scheme hiring process is
similar and as competitive as it is for a training
contract. The firms London office offers twoweek summer and Easter placements to 30 law
and non-law students. You will usually get to sit
in two departments of your choice and could get
involved with transactional work, pro bono issues
or client meetings. Expect regular presentations
by various associates to give you an idea of the
firm and what life as trainee is like. At the end of
the scheme, everyone is offered an interview for a
training contract.
Lateral Hires
Lateral associate candidates are ordinarily
screened by two partners and are then brought
in to meet a further 10 to 12 lawyers. The second
interview generally lasts 2.5 hours, and is made
up of a cross-section of partners and associates
from each of the departments within the office.
All interviewers write reviews on the candidate,
which are given detailed consideration before a
final decision is made.
167
FIRM PROFILE
Since its inception in Los Angeles some eighty
years ago, Latham & Watkins has spread its wings
and become one of the largest international law
firms around, with London and New York its main
business centres. Latham practices in all major
jurisdictions: the US, EU, Middle East and Asia, and
regularly represents companies doing business in
Latin America, Africa and the emerging markets.
A global leader in corporate, environmental
law, finance, litigation and tax services, Latham
employs more than 2,000 lawyers across 31 offices
worldwide. To its credit, Latham & Watkins became
the first US-heritage firm to generate revenues over
$2 billion (in late 2007).
Latham & Watkins was established in glitzy LA in
1934, by Dana Latham and Paul Watkins. The firm
didnt make it to the City until 1990, opening in
London with a relatively low profile at first, and
focussing on project finance. Lateral hires in London
took the office to over 130 lawyers, bolstering
its ranks in banking and finance, competition,
corporate, employment, litigation, outsourcing, and
tax law. Meanwhile, Latham busily planted seeds all
across Europe, and offices sprouted up in Brussels,
Frankfurt, Hamburg, Milan, Moscow, Munich,
Paris and Rome. And after opening two offices in
Spain (Barcelona and Madrid) in 2007, Latham
is now one of only a handful of US firms to have
a strong presence there. More recently, the firm
has focussed expansion on the Middle East, after
recognising the region as a growing market. New
offices have opened in Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai and
Riyadh.
Latham is the only global law firm with no
headquarters. And while it was founded in LA, the
offices in NY are now larger. The firms chairman
is based in San Francisco and the executive
committee members are spread around the world,
including two in London. This means that no office
reports to another, and that London has as much
autonomy and power as any of the US sites.
Latham & Watkins practice was built on the back
of investment banks in the US and it used those
168
links in establishing a strong office in London. The

firms five key practices are corporate, finance,
litigation, tax and environment, and land and
resources. Within these departments, Lathams
main operational areas are banking and finance,
capital markets, restructuring and insolvency,
M&A, international arbitration, structured finance,
litigation, real estate and tax. The importance of
the London office means that lawyers based there
are often involved in some of the firms major
international deals. Lathams UK clients include
large investment banks and financial institutions,
UK and international corporates, private equity
houses and governments. London lawyers work
closely with teams from other offices, especially in
Europe, and the City office is full service.
The sense of unity and partnership at Latham &
Watkins means that every new partner wishing
to defect from another firm has to go on a world
tour, being interviewed by as many as 100 Latham
lawyers before joining. Furthermore, lawyers who
sit on firms associates committee have a say over
who is promoted to partner from within. Partners
are paid on work they generate not just for
themselves, but for their colleagues as well rather
than on hours billed or seniority. This gives them an
incentive to share their work with other partners
and solicitors. This approach is popular with the
firms lawyers and means that staff satisfaction in
the London office is high.
Latham & Watkins actively encourages pro bono
within its ranks. In 2010 alone, Latham provided
almost 200,000 hours of pro bono legal services,
valued at $91 million to local communities around
the globe. Some of the local causes the firm is
involved with include assisting Human Rights Watch
facilitating funding agreements for Hand in Hand
(a charity that battle poverty), and lending support
to Straight Talking a UK charity with the twin
aims of reducing the rate of teenage pregnancy
and fostering education. Latham also fights for the
disadvantaged by representing pro bono clients in a
number of trials and hearings.
LATHAM
TROWERS
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169
Know it all
Choosing to train as a lawyer and how to
be chosen by Mayer Brown.
We know how important the first steps in your career are, which is why we want
you to know as much as you can about the realities of life as a trainee solicitor.
If law is for you, we want you to know what we look for in a trainee.
Know more by contacting our London Graduate Recruitment team:
E graduaterecruitment@mayerbrown.com T +44 20 3130 8524
Mayer Brown values diversity and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
Americas
170
Asia
Europe
www.mayerbrown.com
Mayer Brown is a global legal services organisation comprising legal practices that are separate entities (the Mayer Brown Practices). The Mayer Brown Practices are: Mayer Brown LLP, a limited liability partnership established in the
United States; Mayer Brown International LLP, a limited liability partnership (regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and registered in England and Wales number OC 303359); Mayer Brown JSM, a Hong Kong partnership, and
its associated entities in Asia; and Tauil & Chequer Advogados, a Brazilian law partnership with which Mayer Brown is associated. Mayer Brown and the Mayer Brown logo are the trademarks of the individual Mayer Brown Practices in
their respective jurisdictions.
Mayer Brown is one of the largest law firms in the world. While the firms expertise encompasses a
broad range of areas, Mayer Brown is particularly renowned for standout practices in corporate, finance
and litigation, and advises many leading FTSE and Fortune 500 companies.
PROS
Interesting, rewarding work with lots of

exposure to high profile deals and clients
Sociable, friendly team atmosphere especially
at the trainee level
Recruits from a wide range of universities
Solid training at a department and
firm-wide level
Work hard, play hard atmosphere
CONS
Be prepared to put in the hours and work late

Solicitors do not get to participate in firm
decisions, and theres sometimes a lack of
transparency over decisions
Not enough foreign secondments for everyone
to get a chance to go
THE STATS
LOCATIONS

London trainee intake: 20-25
London trainee retained: 60% (2011)
No. of offices: 21
Bangkok Beijing Berlin Brussels Charlotte Chicago
Cologne Frankfurt Guangzhou Hanoi Ho Chi
Minh City Hong Kong Houston London Los Angeles
New York Palo Alto Paris Shanghai Singapore
Washington, DC
BASE SALARY
LONDON 2011

Corporate Competition Construction Banking &
Finance Financial Services Regulatory & Enforcement
Intellectual Property & Information Technology Insurance
&Reinsurance Litigation & Dispute Resolution Pensions
& Employment Real Estate Restructuring Bankruptcy &
Insolvency Tax
MAYER BROWN
MAYER BROWN
LONDON OFFICE
201 Bishopsgate
London EC2M 3AF
Tel: +44 (0)20 3130 3000
www.mayerbrown.com

Jacqui Bernuzzi
Graduate Recruitment, London
Tel: +44 (0)20 3130 8524
graduaterecruitment@mayerbrown.com
171
QUOTES
LIFE ON THE JOB
I have been extremely lucky in the sense that

I have sat with supervisors who have been
extremely keen to get me involved with the work
of the department and I have had a high level
of responsibility. Although initially daunting, I
have learned many valuable skills and feel much
more confident about the work I produce. I have
had direct contact with clients and partners and
there is an open-door policy at the firm which is
generally adhered to.
First year trainee
You get a sense that you are learning from some
of the best in the business its amazing how
much you learn from observation and not just
from the tasks set. I have been given all kinds of
demanding work such as drafting agreements
and attending hearings. Getting to meet and
interacting with clients is particularly exciting as
you get to see how the work undertaken behind
the scenes (including the more mundane tasks
such as bundling or document management)
still has a positive effect on the outcome. Seeing
a clients satisfaction with the firms work and
knowing you played a part in that, especially
when working as team with other lawyers and
departments, is very rewarding.
Second year trainee
The work at this firm almost always involves an
international aspect. You would think that this
would mean trainees do not get to perform some
of the more responsible tasks on a deal or case.
At this firm, the responsibility you are given can
seem daunting and show an over-estimation of
your skills. But, with the excellent support and
guidance from supervisors and other lawyers,
you soon start to feel like a true corporate lawyer
yourself. Client contact is brilliant and direct
contact with partners is routine.
First year trainee
172
The quality of work depends on the

department you are in, what seat trainee you
are and how capable and enthusiastic you prove
yourself to be.
Second year trainee
Ive been helping to prepare for trial. I worked on

the same matter as a trainee, so I was confident I
knew what I was doing, although my responsibility
stepped up a gear as I now had to delegate tasks
to trainees. So a typical day recently would involve
me preparing the trial bundles, and overseeing the
preparation also done by the trainees. I would also
arrange for the bundles to be filed at court and
draft various letters to court and to the other side.
I would also have daily discussions with Counsel
and the other Mayer Brown team members,
reviewing documents which have been drafted by
Counsel and giving my feedback/comments.
I currently sit in the corporate department, and
work mostly with public company transactions. A
lot of the work I do is document-based, and can
involve reviewing, proofreading and/or drafting.
I also have research tasks fairly regularly. Often
the day will be broken up by at least one client
call, which I will be involved with alongside the
partner and/or associate. Around closing time on
a transaction the pace really ramps up and there is
a lot of administrative work to be done, ensuring
that all the required documents are in the right
place, have been signed by the right people, and
nothing has been missed.
First year trainee
It generally involves flitting from task to task

without time for a break. As you get through your
work you are always watched over in a positive
way by your supervisor. You interact constantly
with your department, the secretaries and the
firm as a whole depending on the nature of the
transaction/case you are dealing with.
First year trainee
Culture
The firm has a real work hard, play hard culture.

Trainees are as involved in societies and events
as any other member of the firm. Naturally, we
all support each other and if anyone is getting
swamped then the rest of us in that department
will pitch in to try and clear the workload. We do
try and organise going out together, but naturally
the job does not always allow us all to get out of
the office in time to enjoy these events!
First year trainee
The firms culture differs from department
to department. However, overall it is not very
conservative. There are a number of formal firm
events (e.g. Christmas party, quiz, summer fete,
football tournament, etc.) and departmental
events (drinks, etc). However, solicitors regularly
socialise together after work as everyone is very
friendly. In particular, we tend to socialise with our
peer group across the firm as many of us attended
the same law school (Kaplan) before starting our
training contracts.
The firm has a very down-to-earth feel.

Everyone is very friendly and theres a distinct
lack of arrogance amongst partners (lots of whom
trained at the firm and are very good friends
themselves and still very young at heart). Trainees
definitely support each other and enjoy socialising
together.
First year trainee
MAYER BROWN
No day at Mayer Brown as a trainee is ever the

same. I have been asked to assist with a number
of different tasks during my time here, but
typically my work on a day to day basis will include
drafting and amending legal documents, research,
attending meetings, file management and proofreading.
First year trainee
Seats
Mayer Brown has a four-seat system: one

seat must be contentious (commercial
dispute resolution, construction, insurance or
employment); one seat must be transactional
(finance, corporate or real estate); one seat
must be a client or international secondment;
and then each trainee has a free choice for their
other seat. Trainees at Mayer Brown can sit in any
department, depending on the amount of places
available in each department and the demand for
the seat which changes with each seat rotation.
HR makes sure to take into account whether
trainees received their first or second choice in
the previous seat allocations when allocating
seats this usually means nearly all trainees end
up with their first or second choice every time.
International secondments are currently: New
York (finance), So Paulo (finance) or Hong Kong
(finance and corporate).
Second year trainee
We do four seats of six months each. There
are several core departments and niche seats a
trainee can apply to sit in: corporate, finance,
commercial dispute resolution, real estate,
insurance, construction, competition, IP, and tax.
Plus, we have to complete one secondment as
part of the training contract and you can choose
between international or client secondments.
Choice depends on which seat you want. The core
seats are the easiest to get into as they use the
most trainees. There is competition for some of
the niche seats and international secondments
and although most trainees will probably get
their first choice at some point throughout
their training contract, they may not be able to
complete their first choice at the desired time.
Second year trainee
173
Firm-wide decisions are communicated, but

sometimes not as quickly as they should be.
Solicitors contributions depend on the types of
decisions being made. If a new procedure is being
introduced which affects solicitors, they usually
get an opportunity to put forward suggestions.
Decisions havent been very transparent in
recent years. I think the firm was aware of how
strongly people felt about this and the lack of
communication at times. I think the firm is now
making a concerted effort to be more transparent
and communicate with us more.
On a firm level, the partners do not tend to
communicate too well with the rest of the firm.
There have been various initiatives to solve this,
but they have not been too successful. On a
departmental level, the partners in Corporate
make a good effort to communicate with the
department through departmental update
meetings every two weeks. There is a liaison
group between partners and associates in the
department, which allows associates to raise any
issues they may have. This has proved quite useful
in escalating common concerns.
Formal Training
The majority of the trainee training programme

is organised in-house and consists of the
compulsory PSC training and also departmental
training. On the PSC training I have attended
courses amongst others on professional conduct,
finance and business skills, advocacy, managing
client expectations, presentation skills and an
introduction to the City. You will see that all of
these courses are transferrable to life after being
a trainee and it is clear to me that the firm takes
the training of its trainees very seriously, always
ensuring that the training we receive is relevant to
our entire professional career.
Second year trainee
174
The PSC sessions are held throughout the two

years, which is helpful as there is no feeling of
information overload. Departmental training is
also offered throughout each seat for trainees
currently sitting in that department.
First year trainee
At associate level, there is a mixture of
competency training appropriate to your level of
PQE and technical training on your specialism.
Both are good. They are organised by the training
team, which is quite good at scheduling them so
that they dont clash. There are also a number
of interest group meetings, which are designed
to share know-how amongst fee-earners. There
has recently been a major drive to improve
attendance at training sessions.
The firm has a very good training programme.
In addition to attending PSC training, I have also
attended numerous introductory training sessions
at the beginning of each new seat. Training is
generally very organised by the training team and
they are always keen to hear our feedback on
the sessions. My only criticism is that sometimes
it is difficult to attend the sessions due to work
commitments and I have often had to work
through my lunch during day-long training
sessions so that I am able to meet deadlines.
First year trainee
Informal training is more limited. Partners and

associates are generally accessible, but mentoring
is limited and a more efficient and effective
mentoring system could be set up both with
junior associates and senior associates/partners.
Through building bonds, I have learnt skills more
related to the structure and politics of the firm
and how to make yourself stand out.
First year trainee
Each associate is given two mentors. You meet

with them regularly and they make sure that
you are getting a variety of work and are not
struggling in any way. My mentors have been
really excellent.
Junior solicitor, Banking
Informal training is there if you want to look
for it. There are a range of resources available
to everyone (PSLs, Information Centre, online
resources). Partners can make good mentors if
they have time but they are often very busy.
CAREER PROSPECTS
Moving up the ranks varies by department in

some departments it seems more lockstep, in my
department (banking/finance) it is very opaque
and this is difficult for a junior person as it is not
clear that you will be able to progress.
You can take on as much responsibility as you
want. If you do so, you are rewarded in terms
of reputation, pay and good reviews, together
with gaining good experience. However, seniority
(as with all firms) does still come in to it e.g.
associates are promoted to senior associate at
around four years PQE, and partners are rarely
made up before 8 or 9 years PQE.

I hope to be a senior associate in the litigation

practice.
Within 5 10 years I will have hopefully

established a name for myself in the department,
the firm, and in the market place generally. There
are quite a few partners in litigation who trained
with the firm so there is definitely a feeling that,
with the litigation partners at least, trainees will
go on to become the partners of the firm in the
future.
MAYER BROWN
Solicitors and partners are all approachable,

friendly and helpful throughout the firm. There
is a good open-door policy and someone will
always be able to assist with a query, so there
is no need to feel lost or in the dark about
anything!
Second year trainee
Hopefully still here (as partner).

Pro bono
Many people contribute to pro bono and there

are a lot of charity events to raise money for our
charity of the year.
There is definitely a strong devotion to pro
bono work at Mayer Brown. We have a partner
who focuses solely on pro bono work, and she
sends emails to the firm with details of various
schemes that you can get involved with. I have
done sessions at the RCJ Advice Bureau and the
Mediation Advice Clinic, for example.
Green Initiatives
All of the lights are on timers, so they will go off

if there is no one moving in the office. All of the
paper is recycled and you are encouraged not to
print unless you really have to. There is a cycle to
work scheme and we are encouraged to use public
transport where possible.
First year trainee
Battery recycling. New recycle bins in the canteen
to separate the rubbish. Giving out free jute bags
to bring down at lunch to avoid paper bags (no
longer available) and receiving loyalty points for
doing so.
Second year trainee
175
The firms new office is incredibly energy

efficient, for example all lights are controlled by
movement sensors; the lifts are controlled by
a computer which calculates how many people
require a lift and to which floor and then allocates
a lift according to size or floors requested; and
the office has a grass roof to soak up rainfall and
excessive run-off. The firm has a green initiatives
committee which has implemented many changes
to encourage energy efficiency and recycling. All
paper is recycled as well as cans, glass, cardboard,
plastic, batteries and clothing.
Second year trainee
diversity
Lots of good female role models at the firm. You

feel people get where they are on merit. Its an
international firm, so the lawyers there reflect
that.
First year trainee
There is truly a diverse mix of cultures and sexes
at the firm. There are a lot of female partners and
the firm generally has a real multi-cultural feel
about it. I recently had a child and was told to take
paternity leave whenever I needed it, regardless
of the deals that were happening. They were very
accommodating!
First year trainee
I am on the diversity board and the firm takes
this very seriously. We are currently organising the
firms first LGBT event.
The firm prides itself on this. It actively supports
diversity programmes, including a womens
network, access to education and helping
minorities pursue careers in law.
First year trainee
176
The office is just by Spitalfields market near

Exchange Square. The office is only a couple of
years old so its very modern and quite impressive.
The dress code is business casual Monday
Thursday with a firm-wide dress down every
Friday.
First year trainee
The office is fantastic and new and well located
(near Spitalfields market). It has a very impressive
client floor. We have a huge auditorium, a staff
restaurant and an in-house Starbucks. The dress
code is smart/casual and we have a dress-down
summer (usually 6 8 weeks of jeans) and this is a
real highlight.
The office is very big more space, floor to
ceiling glass windows, on-site canteen, large
auditorium for seminars/client events. The
meeting rooms at the top of the building have
some amazing views over the City. Facilities are
very good excellent support staff (reprographics,
IT, Information Centre, etc.). There are also shower
rooms as a lot of people cycle to work.
The office is great. Brilliant location, good
facilities, comfortable offices and stunning views
especially from the eleventh floor. Dress code is
smart, but not necessarily suits every day. Dress
code is left to the individuals discretion. Every
Friday is dress down and we also have dress down
summer for two months of the year when/if the
weather gets warm.
Second year trainee

upon qualification?
Very confident. I believe I have gained the skills I
need to be an NQ and where in doubt I know that
there is always someone I can call upon either
partners, senior associates or the training team.
Second year trainee
I feel more confident every day. Especially

if I qualify here as I know there is a brilliant
camaraderie and support network to guide you
through those early stages.
First year trainee
I feel very prepared as my training contract
has progressed I have been given work with more
responsibility and now feel like I am treated like a
junior associate by my supervisor.
Second year trainee

Hours
It is a big City firm so there are bound to be some

long hours. Having said that, the firm does what
it can to make this easier for you for example,
working from home where possible, cabs to pick
you up in the morning, days in lieu for working
long hours. They promote a healthy work/life
balance as far as possible. The general policy
being: work hard when necessary, but go and live
a life when able to (face time has no value).
Second year trainee
I have worked very long hours whilst I have been
at the firm. When I am on a deal I can work 60
70 hours per week, but when it is quiet I have
been able to leave at around 6pm. I have found
that I am working more hours than expected,
but have been pleased to discover there is no
such thing as face time at the firm. Generally, it is
accepted that if you have finished your work then
you can go home.
First year trainee
The hours havent been great in all honesty. I

have billed on average 160 hours per month since
January 1st, but again, I have had some excellent
work experience. Things are starting to calm down
now and I am getting out early most days, but
when it is busy, hours can be pretty bad.
MAYER BROWN
Technical skills might be lacking, as well as

the ability of managing workload individually
as a trainee one is always slightly protected,
in terms of responsibility and workload (and
expectations).
Second year trainee
Peaks and troughs. Dont mind doing the

long hours as Im often so busy I dont notice.
Occasional weekends/all nighters but when doing
them as part of a team you feel supported. This
was expected and is part and parcel of being a
lawyer.
First year trainee
Salary
Mayer Browns compensation is comparable to

all other major City firms (including the Magic
Circle) and includes a pay rise after the first year of
the training contract.
Second year trainee
There is a bonus scheme, which is in the process
of being re-implemented after the recession.
You are only eligible for a bonus if you meet your
target hours (1650) and achieve a certain grade on
your appraisal.
The remuneration isnt great considering the
hours we put in, but there is an understanding
that in the finance department, you go up to
mid-Atlantic pay scales a year or two post
qualification and this is 83k+. We do have higher
billable targets when we go to mid-Atlantic (1800
hours).
We are not paid in line with the top American
firms in London, but it is pretty much standard for
the English firms.
Second year trainee
177
BONUS
1,000
1,100
Discretionary and based on hours.
Perks
The international secondments! Which includes

free transport there and back, accommodation
while there, an adjustment in the cost of living
allowance, and a free return flight home during
the secondment to visit family and friends.
Second year trainee
There are plenty of corporate discounts, and
there is a discount website that has access to
many of the day-to-day shopping thats done; its
quite surprising what you can save money on.
First year trainee
Private medical care, in-house private GP, some
gym discounts, interest free season loan. If you
work late you can expense your dinner.
Some departments operate a drinks trolley, hot
lunches laid on for trainees when certain events
occur, and drinks generally occur regularly.
First year trainee
Always lots of free drinks and events going
on at the firm. Very enjoyable away-day with
the department. Being close to Brick Lane and
Shoreditch. The lovely view from the top floor of
the building.
First year trainee
PLUSES
The level of responsibility you get in comparison

with other trainees at Magic Circle firms.
Second year trainee
178
The people. The high quality work. The level of

responsibility and involvement you are allowed.
Getting good feedback and feeling like youre
achieving at a high level.
First year trainee
Obtaining fantastic experience whilst working on
high profile deals, the support from other trainees
and approachable fee earners.
First year trainee
Good work, high levels of responsibility and
friendly. The firm is also just the right size so that
you get good work, but are also known across the
firm.
The people, there is a great atmosphere here,
its not overly-competitive, but the work is great,
everybody pulls together to work towards a
common goal.
First year trainee
MINUSES
Perhaps not enough secondments for everyone

to get a go at foreign ones.
Second year trainee
Still feels a little hierarchical and, as with all
training contracts, the hours can be the longest on
the most thankless tasks.
First year trainee
Sometimes communication between HR and
trainees is not top notch and there are delays in
getting messages across.
Second year trainee
Lack of transparency regarding pay rises.
The hours in transactional seats.
First year trainee
Mayer Brown was founded in 1881 in Chicago

because Levy Mayer, a 21 year old librarian,
represented his brother in court over the sale of a
lame horse. His adversary was so impressed with
Levys advocacy skills that he suggested they set
up a law firm.
Second year trainee
There is a lawyer in the construction team who
hands out spider plants to all who want one.
First year trainee

I was interviewed by two partners one from
employment, the other from corporate. The
interview explored my motivation for applying
to Mayer Brown and asked me about my skills
and interests. There were also questions on my
knowledge of the legal services industry and how
current affairs (such as the state of the economy,
etc.) could impact it. The assessment centre was
good fun, though very thorough. We had a group
exercise and written exercise which was broken
up by a chance to meet the current trainees and a
tour of the office building.
Second year trainee
There were three rounds. I was interviewed by
a managing partner and a senior associate. The
interview was a casual chat with the interviewers
keen on learning more about me and every now
and then checking my technical knowledge and
commercial awareness. The assessment day is
highly competitive with a big business case study
the case study is time-bound and not only tests
your time keeping, but also your commercial
awareness, your common sense and your ability
to follow a brief and take instructions.
Second year trainee
Written application, followed by an online

psychometric test, then an assessment centre.
This consisted of a fact-finding exercise, a written
exercise, a group exercise, lunch with trainees and
an interview with two partners. The interview was
a mix of competency and commercial questions.
Second year trainee
MAYER BROWN
Fun Facts
The partners who interviewed me were

interested to know about me, and my interests
they did not ask any difficult hypothetical
questions like so many firms seem to, and it was
more about me and why I had made the choices
of degree/career, etc.
Second year trainee
Tips & Advice
Really think about your answers, think about

what makes a good trainee and how you can
demonstrate those skills. You need a 2:1 but it
doesnt matter from where and there are people
from all different backgrounds here. Once you
get to the firm, you realise they need different
types of people, so dont be afraid to be yourself
and show a bit of personality. Intelligence and
enthusiasm will get you far.
First year trainee
The two main things I would advise are: 1) make
sure that your application has no spelling or
grammatical errors; and 2) be yourself, if you try
to be something you are not or claim to know it all
already youll be found out! My intake is from a
large number of universities so I would say it does
not matter too much, but there is an expectation
that your academic standard is of a very high
quality so you will need good A-Levels and also a
minimum of a 2:1 degree.
First year trainee
179
The firm looks for all rounded candidates. All

age groups are welcome and it is not at all just an
Oxbridge firm. Trainees have come from all walks
of life and they have to be able to bring more
than just academia to the table. It is helpful to
have some life experience. Overall, the firm looks
for trainees that are able to have a few things
to say about themselves. Interesting, down to
earth, easy to get along with, a sense of humour
and yet being able to stay professional, calm and
dedicated are some of the things the firm
looks for.
Second year trainee
They must have good academics and show a real
interest in Mayer Brown specifically. I frequently
attend assessment centres and open days at the
office and am sometimes shocked by how little
candidates know about the firm once they get to
the office on the day. It is very competitive and
so candidates need to show something that will
make them stand out from the crowd. The firm
doesnt hire from particular universities. The
trainees here come from a range of universities
and walks of life.
The international scope of the work and the laid

back nature of the firm.
First year trainee
The friendly partners during my vacation scheme,
the international expansion and the feeling that it
was a firm making progress.
I am interested in my firms leading departments.
I wanted a global, not European, firm and I loved
the idea of having to do a secondment as part of
the training contract.
Second year trainee
180
All of the above it is a down to earth firm,

people work hard but at the same time have
a life outside. A broad perspective on life,
encouragement to get involved in activities
outside of the firm such as football, charities,
races, sky-dives, hikes, pro bono. Plus the number
of trainees is capped to about 20 25 per year
which guarantees personal attention and not just
being a number but an individual with an identity.
Second year trainee
High quality work, excellent reputation,
international presence and possibilities, and a
diverse bunch of people who were all extremely
friendly and grounded.
Second year trainee
I enjoyed the vacation scheme it showed me
what day-to-day life at Mayer Brown would be
like, and I was given real pieces of work to do. I
could see myself settling in there and was made
to feel like one of the team, despite only being on
the vacation scheme at that stage.
As one of laws biggest players, securing a training

contract is no walk in the park and youll have to
put a lot of effort into your application if you want
to make it to the interview stage. The firm looks
to recruit the best of the best so it goes without
saying that excellent academic credentials are
a bare minimum. The firm is after people with
good problem solving and analytical skills who
can confidently communicate both in word and
in writing, and youll need to convince the firm
youre able to make sound judgements as you
will be given a high level of responsibility
as a trainee.
The firm encourages a diverse intake: current
trainees studied at 28 different universities, and
over 50% of them pursued a non-law degree. One
trainee asserts that there is a truly diverse mix of
cultures and sexes at the firm. There are a lot of
female partners and the firm generally has a real
multi-cultural feel about it. While this may be a
major selling point to applicants, employees are
also drawn to the fact that Mayer Brown offers
a culture that is quite relaxed, but ambitious.
Trainees are very supportive of each other
with little competition present during the
training contract.
The firms training contract consists of four
seats, with one mandatory secondment. There
is a variety of departments that you can sit in
such as corporate, finance, insurance, tax and
real estate. International secondments can be
undertaken in Hong Kong and New York, but
expect to compete with strong candidates for
these popular placements. Trainees say they get
exposure to big and interesting deals and the
firm has many top-notch clients. The training is
said to be comprehensive, well-organised and
taken very seriously by the firm. It is spread over
the two-year period and departmental training
is also offered throughout each seat for trainees
currently sitting in that department. Also you can
expect to share a room with a partner or senior
associate who will offer informal training and

advice on a regular basis.
The hiring process starts with the online
application form, followed by an online
psychometric test and an assessment centre.
Held over one day, this consists of a fact-finding
exercise, a written exercise, a group exercise,
lunch with trainees and an interview with two
partners. The interview is a mix of competency
and commercial questions. There will also be a
big business case study, which is designed to test
your time-keeping, but also your commercial
awareness, your common sense and your ability
to follow a brief and take instructions. The
assessments are well-organised, and despite
increasing candidates stress-levels, they are
described as quite enjoyable. Current trainees
advise applicants to prepare well for the interview
and speak up in the group exercise. Also ensure
beforehand that you are commercially aware and
know the firm.
MAYER BROWN
Vacation Schemes
Students who undertake a work experience

programme with Mayer Brown will get the chance
to be assessed for a training contract during their
placement. These are based in the London office
and take place in the Spring and in the Summer.
During the scheme youll get the chance to share
an office with a partner or an associate who will
be responsible for your work load. Social activities
also form an important part of the scheme,
including a day out in one of the firms European
offices!
Places for these schemes tend to fill before the
actual deadline is passed so make sure you apply
early. If you can impress during the vac scheme,
you will be asked to attend a 35 to 40-minute
interview for a training contract with a member of
the graduate recruitment team.
181
FIRM PROFILE
With more than 1,600 lawyers spread across major
cities in the Americas, Europe and Asia, Mayer
Brown is one of the leading law firms in the world.
The firm advises many of the leading FTSE 100 and
Fortune 500 companies, and although its expertise
encompasses a broad range of areas, Mayer Brown
is renowned for stand-out practices in corporate,
finance, real estate projects and litigation.
The three entities that make up Mayer Brown
today all began to practice law in the 19th century
each inaugural arm emerging from a separate
continent. Johnson, Stokes & Master began life in
Hong Kong in 1863; Levy Mayer founded the US
progenitor in 1881; Rowe & Maw was established
in London in 1895, operating under that name until
joining with its US counterpart in a considerable
transatlantic merger in 2002.
When US firm Mayer Brown & Platt and Londons
Rowe & Maw audaciously attempted to expand
their practices by joining forces, many industry
commentators were somewhat sceptical. At first
it was seen as an odd pairing: Mayer Brown &
Platt was a high-rolling, prominently domestic firm
known for structured finance in Chicago; Rowe &
Maw was a corporate boutique with a selection of
first-rate clients. Come 2011 and not only has the
nine-year relationship yielded dividends for the
UK arm but the London offices cherished culture
has endured.
In addition to this historic merger, Mayer Brown
has a large international presence and strong
relations with regional firms. Mayer Brown has an
established alliance with Madrid-based Ramn &
Cajal and has more than 200 lawyers in Hong Kong
and mainland China. The firm has a strong German
operation and a successful Paris office both the
result of mergers. Mayer Brown also operates in
association with leading Brazilian law firm Tauil
& Chequer with offices in So Paulo and Rio de
Janeiro, aimed at benefiting from the surge in IPOs,
182
infrastructure investment, real estate transactions

and cross-border M&A in this rapidly
developing country.
During the 2008 financial crisis, Mayer Brown
somewhat repelled the economic climate, posting
revenues of $1.3 billion. The firms litigation,
employment and restructuring practices led the
way through the rough waters, with a steady
stream of mid-market deals and the occasional
high-profile one stoking the fires. Corporate clients
include Reuters, Cable & Wireless and Monsanto.
The firms lawyers are also kept busy by an
abundance of M&A work, while the finance team
is particularly noted for its project finance work.
Another string to the Mayer Brown bow is the
dispute resolution team, with services provided
to clients as diverse as Bank of America and The
Football League. The firms real estate practice
benefitted considerably from the merger,
frequently advising American investors on their
expansion into the European market and acting for
media organisations and technology groups.
Mayer Brown has a distinguished and pro-active
pro bono and community programme, pledging
to devote 3% of total billable time per year to
altruistic activities. Transatlantic co-operation is
used to help fulfil its commitment, with a fulltime director of pro bono efforts and a full-time
assistant director (both in the United States),
augmented by a pro bono partner in London.
The firm has a varied pro bono practice that, in
addition to assisting the communities it operates
in, helps provide its young lawyers with important
training opportunities and exposure to public
interest law. The London office has even assisted
in starting up a university for disadvantaged young
women in Bangladesh.
Work for MAYER BROWN

(advertisement)
TRAINING CONTRACT
We are looking for candidates who not only have
a consistently strong academic record including a
minimum of a 2.1 degree (predicted or obtained) in any
discipline, but also who have a wide range of interests
and achievements outside their academic career.
Additionally, we would like to see innovative candidates
who can demonstrate a drive for results, good verbal
and written communication skills, an ability to analyse,
good judgement, thoroughness, client focus and excellent
interpersonal skills.
WHEN TO APPLY
Apply From 1 November 2011 to 31 July 2012 for Training
Contracts beginning in September 2014/March 2015.
Law undergraduates should apply after receiving their
penultimate year results.
SALARY
Our current starting salary for trainee solicitors is 37,500
for the 1st year, 42,300 for the 2nd years and 61,000
for Newly Qualifieds.
VACANCIES
We recruit approximately 20-25 trainees every year.
VACATION PLACEMENTS
We offer three Work Experience Programmes each year.
The programme will give you the opportunity to gain
valuable experience of life as a trainee solicitor at Mayer
Brown, whilst being paid a competitive salary (275 per
week). During your time at the firm, you will share an
office with a partner or associate, assisting them on real
deals and matters giving you first-hand experience of life
in an International law firm. You will sit in two different
departments and you will be asked in advance which
areas interest you most. In addition to gaining practical
work experience, you will also be invited to attend
presentations on our different practice areas to give you
more insight into the breadth of the firm. There will also
be plenty of social activities organised, including a day
at our office in one of our European offices. During the
course of the Work Experience Programme, you should be
able to meet, work and socialise with many of the people

who work at Mayer Brown, including trainees, associates
and partners. About one-third of our trainees completed
a Work Experience Programme at Mayer Brown and play
an active role in the organisation of each programme,
with a trainee buddy being allocated to each participant
to support you throughout your time with Mayer Brown.
MAYER BROWN
JOBS
The Work Experience Programmes are primarily for

law undergraduates in their penultimate or final year
at university, non-law undergraduates in their final
year and graduates from all disciplines. We are now
accepting applications for places on our Work Experience
Programmes. See Making an Application for more details.
DATES
Spring Work Experience Programme: Monday 26 March
to Thursday 5 April 2012. Summer Work Experience
Programme One: Monday 25 June to Friday 13 July 2012.
Summer Work Experience Programme Two: Monday 13
to Friday 31 August 2012.
WHEN TO APPLY
We are accepting applications for places on our Work
Experience Programmes from 1 November 2011. The
closing date is 31 January 2012. If your application is
successful, you will be invited to a 35-40 minute interview
with a member of the Graduate Recruitment Team.
Please note that we will interview for places on the Work
Experience Programmes throughout January and the
beginning of February and places will be offered during
those months. Therefore it may be the case that the
Work Experience Programmes will become full before the
deadline of 31 January 2012.
SALARY
HOW TO APPLY
www.mayerbrown.com/careers/gradrec
Email: graduaterecruitment@mayerbrown.com
Tel: 0203 130 3000
Website: www.mayerbrown.com
183
MILLS & REEVE

A big regional player, Mills & Reeve is a top 50 UK law firm and employs around 800 people. With six UK
sites, the firm services a range of clients, from central government and local authorities to universities
and NHS bodies.
PROS
Good amount of responsibility and client

contact from the start
Relaxed, collaborative and social culture
Emphasis on maintaining a work/life balance
High level of partner interaction
Excellent training and mentoring
THE STATS
LOCATIONS
No. of employees: Approx. 800

No. of lawyers firm-wide: 350+
No. of Partners: 97
Trainee intake: 15
Trainees retained: 45%
Approx. no. of applications per year: 800
No. of offices: 6
Birmingham Cambridge Leeds London Manchester
Norwich
BASE SALARY
2011
Newly qualified 37,000 56,000 depending on location

Agriculture and estates Banking and finance
Commercial Construction and engineering Corporate
finance Dispute resolution and litigation Employment,
pensions and benefits Family and matrimonial Health
and safety Insurance and reinsurance Intellectual
property Minerals and waste PFI and projects
Planning and environment Private tax, probate and trusts
Professional negligence Public law Real estate
Regulatory Restructuring and insolvency Tax
184
CONS
Large differences in responsibility given

between departments
The likelihood of being retained
No opportunity to work abroad
Pay is not the highest
CONTACT OFFICE
Francis House
112 Hills Road
Cambridge CB2 1PH
Tel: 01223 222336
www.mills-reeve.com

Fiona Medlock
www.mills-reeve.com/gradoppsapply/
LIFE ON THE JOB

I think on the whole Mills & Reeve give

their trainees a good level of responsibility,
however, there are large discrepancies between
departments in this regard. The teams generally
try to get trainees involved with everything that
is going on at the time, particularly where there
is something that might not come up regularly,
e.g. a completion meeting. Clearly there are
some departments that have a lot more contact
with clients than others, but where there is client
contact I have found that I am expected to get
involved. Direct contact with partners happens on
a day-to-day basis, particularly where a partner
is your supervisor. The culture of the firm and
the layout of the office very much encourages
approachability.
Trainee, Birmingham
I love working at Mills & Reeve. I am frequently
given work of genuine importance and am often
involved with important transactions or cases. You
are given a good level of responsibility from day
one, but there is always someone on hand to help
if you are unsure of something, and it is reassuring
to know that someone will check any substantive
piece of work you do before it goes to a client.
I have had the opportunity to attend numerous
client meetings and have attended court several
times with my supervisor and the client. The
amount of contact you have with the partners
depends on with seat you are in and how busy
they are, but they always make an effort to make
you feel welcome and will often give you tasks.
Trainee, Norwich
We are exposed to real responsibilities from the

first day. You are expected to contribute to the
team from day one. For instance, during my first
seat in healthcare, I was responsible for taking
notes from a key witness and drafting the eventual
witness statement. The partner interaction is
excellent, and due to our open plan office you are
often placed directly next to them, which gives
you a great balance between motivation and
striking up a good working relationship.
Trainee, Birmingham
MILLS & REEVE
QUOTES

A typical day depends entirely on which
department you are in, but can include anything
from meeting with clients, attending court/
tribunal, drafting witness statements, carrying
out research, drafting correspondence to clients
or other parties, drafting company documents,
reviewing company books and assisting in the
winding up/dissolution of companies.
Trainee, Birmingham
I get in to the office at 8am (most get in at

9ish). I then check my emails, update yesterdays
timesheet, read the headlines and catch up on
admin in preparation for the day. It then very
much depends on how busy the team is as to how
much work will be available, but you are an asset
to the team and made to feel as such.
Trainee, Cambridge
A typical day involves drafting letters and making
calls to clients and other third parties, researching
a development in the law/industry that may affect
us or our clients, and of course engaging in general
office banter (which isnt in short supply!).
Trainee, Cambridge
185
Culture
The working environment at Mills & Reeve

is very collaborative and teams often pool
knowledge and skills together when working
on something. The office is open plan which
encourages people to bounce ideas off each other
and the more junior fee earners to get feedback
from associates and partners. It is an extremely
supportive environment in which to train. Trainees
generally have little contact during the working
day, although there is often a cross-over period
just before or after a seat change when we will all
help our successors in the seat out with anything.
Trainees do socialise together, although there is
a quite a mixed age range so people often have
different priorities to consider.
Trainee, Birmingham
The working environment is very friendly and
open. There is no embedded sense of hierarchy
and I feel able to approach anyone, including
partners, for guidance or assistance. The trainees
in my year group get on very well and are
supportive of each other. We socialise together
regularly and often meet for lunch.
Trainee, Cambridge
The firm prides itself on promoting a good work/
life balance, and in the time Ive been here that
certainly rings true. Though you may occasionally
have to put in extra hours if a big deal is going
through, you are actively encouraged to have
a life outside of work and to keep reasonable
hours. The firm also makes a real effort to put on
social activities and events on a regular basis. The
trainees are generally quite good at supporting
each other, and competitiveness is not generally
an issue. My year enjoys socialising together on a
regular basis, and everyone (not just trainees) is
very approachable.
Trainee, Cambridge
186
Seats
We do six seats of four months each which

allows you to get around a more varied array of
departments. These range from healthcare, public
law, real estate and construction, corporate and
commercial disputes to private client work such
as family or wills, trusts and probate. There is a
fair degree of choice, although second years will
of course get preference so invariably there is a
degree of compromise required early on.
Trainee, Birmingham
Typically, trainees will do six seats at the firm,
although the last seat is often a repeat of one you
did earlier. All of the teams have the potential to
take trainees although it depends on their work
as to how many they will take. Second years get
priority in seat changes but first years can provide
a wish list. The longer your list the more chance of
getting something you want. You have no choice
over your first seat. The firm doesnt offer seats
abroad although they do encourage you to do a
seat in another office if youre interested.
Trainee, Cambridge
We have four month rotations here, so you get to
experience six seats during your training contract.
The last seat can sometimes be in the department
that you will be qualifying but its great that you
still get to sit in more teams that normal. You can
sit in most departments in most offices. Before
each seat move you can submit a wish list of the
departments that you wish to sit in, and in which
offices.
Trainee, Norwich
Formal Training
We frequently have legal updates conducted by

our support lawyers; they keep us up-to-date on
the law and case law. As a trainee you are invited
to all training in your office for any departments,
even if you havent sat there. The PSC electives
are also arranged for us. We recently attended
four courses at a residential two day package
in Cambridge. On this occasion we learnt about
networking amongst other things.
Trainee, Norwich
Training is excellent, and from the outset we are

taught how serious it can be. Before we enter
the office we participate in a week crash course
in business and financial skills, culminating in an
exam (before we have even met our supervisor!).
For me this illustrates the importance the firm
considers the training to be, but also having it at
the very beginning of our contract means that
the actual work we do for our teams does not get
interrupted by such a serious course, like other
firms do.
Trainee, Birmingham
This is one of the best things about the firm. You

receive informal training every day, from being
quizzed by a partner on a particular area of law
or recent case, to having a cup of tea with an
NQ who tells you how best to approach certain
aspects of the work. Everyone in the firm is
friendly and approachable and you would never
be nervous to speak to a partner about something
which may seem trivial while he/she is in the
middle of doing something. Trainee development
is taken extremely seriously as we are seen as the
future of the firm, so if we have questions we are
encouraged to ask them.
Trainee, Birmingham
Solicitors and partners are extremely accessible

and willing to help. As well as our supervisors,
each trainee has a training principal who is always
available to discuss any issues which we might
have. I would say that the mentoring is second to
none.
Trainee, Cambridge
MILLS & REEVE
In addition to the compulsory PSC courses which

we attend, the firm arranged countless training
sessions in the office. When I first started, the first
couple of months were largely taken up by such
sessions, and these were excellent in helping me
to settle in and feel confident in my understanding
of the firm and my role. The formal training
courses are well chosen and professionally
organised. We often go away to a conference
centre for several days for these and the training
has always been of a very high quality. All the
trainees are serious about their jobs here so the
sessions are viewed as important and everyone
takes the opportunity to learn all they can.
Trainee, Norwich
I think that when you are asking another fee

earner for help, you need to make sure that you
have carried out sufficient research on your own.
Only when I still dont understand something or
havent been able to find anything on it, would I
approach a solicitor or partner. I think there are
lots of good mentors in the firm, although clearly
partners have less time and so are not as easy to
approach. I think I have learnt a lot by working
closely with other solicitors and observing the
ways in which they work. It is particularly helpful
to see how they interact and communicate with
clients.
Trainee, Birmingham
The office in Norwich is very nice to work in. It is

spacious, clean and nicely decorated with tasteful
colour schemes and artwork. The facilities are
excellent, as is the location which is within easy
walking distance of the train station and the city
centre as well as being next to the court buildings.
The dress code is casual business dress, which can
be interpreted in a variety of ways. Generally as
long as you look smart and office-suitable then
you are fine to choose what you wish to wear,
obviously you are expected to dress formally
for meetings or court appearances. During the
summer the office operates a dress down to
accommodate for the warmer weather, and during
the heavy snow last winter we were encouraged
to dress for the cold weather.
Trainee, Norwich
187
The office is open plan so makes everyone feel

really part of a team. It is very central and at the
heart of everything legal outside of the capital.
The dress code is relaxed if you are that way
inclined as long as you keep a tie in your draw for
those unexpected client visits.
Trainee, Birmingham
The Cambridge office is acknowledged to be less
trendy and a little over-full compared to the other
offices. Upstairs is now open plan. You either
love it or hate it. Dress code is business smart but
people dress it down with jumpers or cardigans
when they are at their desks. There isnt any
power dressing that goes on in the Cambridge
office!
Trainee, Cambridge
Green Initiatives
We are constantly reminded to switch off lights

when not needed, turn off monitors at the end
of the day, recycle, use environmentally friendly
products, etc.
Trainee, Norwich
The firm recycles and uses environmentally
friendly packaging where possible. We try to be as
paperless as possible.
Trainee, Cambridge
There are efforts to go paperless, but this will
take time. The recycling initiatives are good, but
there is room for developing such initiatives.
Trainee, Cambridge
diversity
The firm is committed to being inclusive.

However, the sad fact remains that most staff are
white and middle class.
Trainee, Cambridge
There is not much cultural diversity within the

Norwich office; however, this does not appear to
be due to any selective behaviour on the part of
the firm. The other offices are very diverse and
M&R operates a totally open recruitment process
in this respect. There is clearly an opportunity to
progress your career with M&R and people can be
seen to work their way up through the firm. Most
of the lawyers here have been with the firm for a
considerable amount of their career. The firm is
very flexible and accommodating with regard to
childcare and maternity leave and gives generous
allowances.
Trainee, Norwich
Across the firm there are a number of female
partners and associates. There are equal numbers
of female and male trainees. I am the only ethnic
minority in the Norwich office, but that is more
of a reflection of Norwich than the firm! I have
known many of my friends go on maternity leave
and return to work on a part-time basis, and it
seems that the firm is willing to be flexible and
accommodate such needs. Staff retention is
something that impresses me as I know of many
members of staff who have been here well over 20
years.
Trainee, Norwich

upon qualification?
I am ready to go, in large part due to the
outstanding training and exposure to good work
that I have received throughout my training
contract.
Trainee, Norwich
The training provided is extremely extensive
and exposure to real clients and real work means
I would feel exceptionally capable of practicing
upon qualification.
Trainee, Birmingham
As prepared as I ever will be!
Trainee, Cambridge
188

Hours
As expected the work/life balance is brilliant.

Compared to friends at other firms who never see
daylight hours, we are encouraged to leave the
office before six. This obviously comes with the
caveat of if there is work to be completed then
you are expected to meet deadlines. I have been
keen to meet deadlines and been in the office past
9pm, but when the hours are more often than not
kind to you, youre more than happy to put the
extra mile in when required.
Trainee, Birmingham
I usually work from 8:30 5:00, Monday to
Friday. I have never had to come in at weekends
and although I do often stay later than 5pm, it
has never been later than 7:30pm. Further, it is
your choice to stay late and I do not believe that
anyone would ever tell you that you had to. Unless
you have something pressing which needs to be
done then you are expected to leave at 5pm. As
I had researched the firm before applying and
had carried out a vac scheme here I knew of the
emphasis that M&R places on a work/life balance
so I was not surprised by the social hours. I am
very happy with the balance of hours I work.
Trainee, Norwich
I work on average somewhere between 40 45
hours a week, depending on how busy the team
is. This is about what I expected, and I dont feel
that I have to work extra hours just to be seen to
be doing so.
Trainee, Cambridge
I typically work around 40 hours a week which

is what I expected. I have sat in teams where it
has been a little quieter and it is strictly 9 5 but I
have also sat in teams where I have come in early,
stayed late, and even worked on a Saturday. It
just depends on the demands placed on the team
and the type of work being carried out at any
particular time.
Trainee, Norwich
MILLS & REEVE
Very prepared. Im also assured by the fact that I

know there will still be adequate supervision upon
qualification.
Trainee, Norwich
Salary
I think that our salary is quite low for the amount

of work and level of responsibility that is often
expected from us. However, placed in context of
the overall market, it is competitive with other
local firms.
Trainee, Birmingham
Although it probably equates to the salary
available in most regional law firms, it doesnt
compare favourably with trainee salaries in City
firms, particularly considering that the cost of
living in Cambridge isnt significantly less than in
the City.
Trainee, Cambridge
Its a very fair salary for the work to
training ratio.
Trainee, Norwich
Perks
There are various discounts available using the

perks system which M&R subscribes to. We are
often offered free or discounted tickets to the
theatre or football. Furthermore, I believe that the
firm gives you a day off if you are moving house.
Trainee, Norwich
Free day of annual leave at Christmas.
Trainee, Birmingham
If a trainee undertakes a seat in a different office,
the firm will cover the rent in the new office.
Trainee, Norwich
189
PLUSES
Work/life balance, high standard of training,

massive retention rates, diversity of practice areas,
first class partner supervision and importance
placed on trainee roles.
Trainee, Birmingham
Excellent work/life balance, supportive senior
staff, good ethos, open door policy.
Trainee, Norwich
The sensible hours, various locations, the variety
in work, great supervision and an open door
policy.
Trainee, Norwich
The environment is very friendly and conducive
to self development.
Trainee, Birmingham
MINUSES
The small teams in some departments. The

discrepancies between departments in working
practices, supervision and style.
Trainee, Birmingham
The remuneration is not perhaps as high as it
could be.
Trainee, Birmingham
No opportunity to work abroad.
Trainee, Norwich
Lifts breaking down all the time if you work on
the 4th floor its hell!!!
Trainee, Birmingham
Fun Facts
The firm does a charity challenge each year,

which usually involves hiking, cycling and general
physical exertion!
Trainee, Cambridge
190

I applied for the vacation scheme and got my

contract off the back of that. The application
process for the vac scheme is the same as applying
for a contract. You must fill out an extensive online
form and then you may be invited for an interview.
The interview is actually a half day assessment
which includes a presentation, a group discussion
of a legal/commercial issue, aptitude tests and
a formal interview. We then had what was
effectively a two week interview by way of the vac
scheme; following this I was offered a contract.
The process was very hard work and the firm is
very selective. This ensures that those chosen are
the right sort of people to fit in at the firm and I
am glad for this. I believe that it is appropriately
difficult to get a contract with M&R.
Trainee, Norwich
The actual application form is long and detailed.
The assessment day lasted all day and consisted
of spelling, maths and reasoning tests, a mock
client meeting/business situation (under the
watchful eye of partners and associates), and
an interview with a partner and associate. It
was all designed to see how well we worked
with the other candidates and how we handled
ourselves in pressured situations. The interview
questions were fairly standard and asked to draw
on personal experiences, e.g. tell me about a
time when you planned and completed a project
successfully, etc.
Trainee, Norwich
After submitting the application you attend an
assessment day. You are interviewed by a partner,
participate in a group (of about six people)
exercise and presentation and take three tests
on logic, maths and language. We also got given
tours by the current trainees and got to ask them
questions.
Trainee, Norwich
They look to a range of candidates. I, for instance,

was a more mature and worldly character,
whereas some of the others in our intake were
straight from university and fresh to get stuck
into a career. We require a 2:1, and while UCAS
points are not held in such high regard, the more
the better. Candidates should show excellent
communication skills, as here we dont believe in
the type of lawyers who just sit in a windowless
room looking at case law, we encourage everyone
to meet clients and build relationships.
Trainee, Birmingham
The firm tends to look for people who are not
only all of the usual things, i.e. intelligent, hard
working, dedicated, ambitious, but who also
have some legal experience, whether through
employment or voluntary projects, and who
have shown an interest in getting involved with
extracurricular activities at university/law school.
There is certainly no fixed background which
candidates must have and in fact a number of
trainees have already had other careers before
starting their training with Mills & Reeve. The firm
does not recruit from any particular universities
or colleges and does not require its trainees to
attend any particular institution to take the LPC.
Candidates are required to have at least a 2:1
degree when applying.
Trainee, Birmingham
The firm likes a candidate to be confident, able to
deal with responsibility early on but also willing to
get involved in things other than the work.
Trainee, Birmingham
You need to think outside the box and have
general awareness and knowledge of common
topics. You need people skills as well as
your intellectual ability. The people who are
interviewing you are approachable and have been
through the same process as you, more often than
not at M&R. There is a 2:1 requirement and all
application forms are read thoroughly. It is a very
fair and indiscriminate process.
Trainee, Norwich
The firms ambition to thrive in the legal sector,

whilst maintaining a personal feel towards
employees and clients.
Trainee, Cambridge
Mills & Reeve is the perfect balance between
a City and a regional firm. They have the slick
professional quality and approach that you would
expect from a major London firm, and therefore
get the important high profile clients that go with
the level of service we offer. You are able to be
part of a firm like this, but will not be expected to
work the ridiculous hours or give up your social
life for the job. The firm is incredibly friendly and
welcoming and everyone made me feel at home
as soon as I entered the building.
Trainee, Norwich
MILLS & REEVE
Tips & Advice
It has a great reputation for offering City work

outside of London.
Trainee, Cambridge
Good atmosphere, good work/life balance, six
seats means you get more variety of work. Well
organised training program, and most importantly:
excellent reputation for training.
Trainee, Norwich
This firm has a number of big clients and attracts
high quality work. It is a large national firm which
allows the opportunity to travel around a little bit.
The firm has a lot of staff and offices, but there
is still a very familial feel (people you have never
worked with know who you are and call you by
name). Trainees are given the opportunity to really
get involved in the matters and to a large extent
can determine what they want to get out of each
seat. Work/life balance is important to me and it is
something the firm also feels strongly about.
Trainee, Norwich
191

If you want the top quality work of a City practice
but the work/life balance of a regional, then
look no further. Mills & Reeve is a big regional
firm, providing a quality of work that is at least
equivalent to that available in larger City firms to
its family of friendly and helpful staff, according
to current trainees.
Trainees are given the opportunity to really
get involved during their training contract, and
for those interested in taking a seat in another
office around the UK, the firm provides an
accommodation allowance. After being placed in
their first seat by the firm, trainees then submit
a wish list outlining their preferences for their
following five seats. You can sit in almost all of the
firms departments across its six offices, though
second years are afforded priority in terms of
allocation. Each seat lasts four months, and the
final placement is generally in the department the
trainee wishes to qualify in to.
Assessments include spelling, maths

and reasoning tests, and a mock client/
business case study.
Mills & Reeve looks to add to their staff with
intelligent, hard working, dedicated, ambitious
candidates, preferably with some legal
experience. Youll need a 2:1 minimum to make
the grade, and the firm cherry picks its trainees
from a mix of institutions; it does not recruit
from any particular universities or colleges.
192
Mills & Reeve trainees describe the recruitment

process as very fair and indiscriminate and the
interviewers as approachable, having been
through the same process themselves.
Trainees are given the opportunity to

really get involved during their training
contract, and for those interested
in taking a seat in another office
around the UK, the firm provides an
accommodation allowance.
The process begins with the ubiquitous online
application Mills & Reeves form is both long
and detailed. Clear this hurdle and youll face
an assessment day. Be prepared to participate in
group exercises with around six other candidates.
These activities will test your commercial
awareness, and are designed to help break the
ice and provide insight into each candidates
character and team skills. Other assessments
include spelling, maths and reasoning tests, and
a mock client/business case study. Finally, youll
have an interview with a partner and associate.
This session is fairly relaxed, but expect plenty
of questions on anything from the state of the
economy to your reasons for coveting a training
contract at the firm.
A former Regional Firm of the Year winner, Mills

& Reeve may be proud of its regional roots but
that doesnt mean it ignores the City. In fact, the
firms London office is expanding and Mills &
Reeve hopes to double its turnover within the
next 5 years. During its ongoing transformation
from a regional to national firm, Mills & Reeve has
become a top 50 player focussing on healthcare,
the public sector and increasingly the private
sector.
Known for being sociable and friendly,

Mills & Reeve places an emphasis on a
positive work/life balance.
The firm has a long East Anglian history, first
opening its doors in Norwich in 1880. Mills &
Reeve launched its second office in Cambridge in
1987 attracting a fair bulk of the regions hi-tech
and life sciences business before cutting the red
tape in Birmingham, in 1998, and the City, in 2000.
In February 2008, the firm added to these with the
addition of offices in Manchester and Leeds.
In 2008, Mills & Reeve launched its Strategic
Plan to 2012. This delineated its focus on six core
practice areas: higher education, health, private
client, significant business, local authorities and
insurance. A large number of Mills & Reeves
clients are in the public sector, so its perhaps
not the best choice for those who want to do
just corporate work although it has become
more corporate over the last few years. The firm
boasts a wide range of public clients, from central
government and local authorities to universities
and NHS bodies.
The firms private client practice benefited from

the absorption of Addleshaw Goddards former
Leeds and Manchester-based family teams, while
other areas of work include banking and finance,
corporate and commercial, technology and real
estate. Furthermore, Mills & Reeve has been
made an official referral partner by Magic Circle
giants Freshfields. In practice, this means the City
juggernaut will pass on to Mills & Reeve the work
that cannot be handled by its own lawyers.
MILLS & REEVE
FIRM PROFILE
Mills & Reeve has a solid reputation as an

employer and has been named one of the 25 Best
Companies to Work For nationally, and in both
the West Midlands and East of England. A bonus
system established two years ago means that
everyone on Mills & Reeves full-time staff benefits
when the firm performs well financially. Known for
being sociable and friendly, Mills & Reeve places
an emphasis on a positive work/life balance. It
is perhaps not surprising then that it actively
encourages its staff to take advantage of its flexible
working arrangements.
Mills & Reeve is involved in numerous CSR projects
in and around the communities it operates. Over
the years, the firm has raised money for a wide
variety of causes, including Age Concern, Teenage
Cancer Trust, Macmillan Cancer Support, the Big
Bus Project, and the Pink Rose Campaign. In pro
bono terms, the firm belongs to LawWorks and
ProHelp, and assists individuals by volunteering
at local legal advice centres. The firm is also
actively involved with a number of Community
Foundations. Some of the schemes and
programmes it has been involved with includes
mentoring black and ethnic minority students in
schools and universities, decorating a charity shop
for the Big C and donating suits to homeless job
seekers. Furthermore, if an employee wants time
off to support a project, the firm doesnt make
them take time off as holiday it gives it to them.
193
NABARRO
With only four offices London, Sheffield, Singapore and Brussels Nabarro isnt exactly an international
heavyweight; but with a young, energetic and enthusiastic management team, this real estate expert
could well run its larger rivals far closer in the future.
PROS
Plenty of client contact from an early stage

The firm tries to get trainees involved as much
as possible
Senior solicitors and partners make time to
mentor and assist trainees
Wide variety of quality work and plenty of
responsibility from the off
Excellent, well organised formal training
in each seat
CONS
The firm doesnt always get the recognition it

deserves
The qualification process could be clearer
Few overseas opportunities unless you have a
thing for Brussels
Quite stressful at times and you do have to
work long hours
THE STATS
No. of lawyers firm-wide: 450+

Partners: 125
Associates: 269
Sheffield trainee intake: 5
Trainees retained: 90% (London)
Banking & Finance Construction & Engineering

Corporate Dispute Resolution Employment
Environment EU, Competition & Trade Health &
Safety Indirect Investment Intellectual Property IT
& Communications Pensions Projects Real Estate
Regulatory Restructuring & Insolvency Tax
BASE SALARY
LONDON 2011
SHEFFIELD 2010
LOCATIONS
No. of offices: 4
Brussels London Sheffield Singapore
LONDON OFFICE
Lacon House
84 Theobalds Road
London WC1X 8RW
Tel: +44 (0)20 7524 6000
www.nabarro.com

Tel: +44 (0)20 7524 6000
Email: graduateinfo@nabarro.com
194
NABARRO
QUOTES
LIFE ON THE JOB
I have been very pleased with the work I have

been given. In my property litigation seat I had
regular contact with clients, conferences with
counsel, and interviews with witnesses to draft
witness statements, etc. Most of my seat was
spent working towards submitting the preliminary
defence to a judicial review (very interesting).
In property I had regular contact with clients
and ran my own files (so I was given plenty of
responsibility). In all seats I have had regular direct
contact with partners.
Good level of responsibility tailored to your
level. Varied workloads, many departments work
on big ticket deals with Magic Circle firms on the
other side; there are also smaller matters such as
property management tasks which are good for
trainees to hone their skills.
It can vary massively between departments, but
generally, and particularly in real estate, there is
plenty of client contact. Trainees are given their
own files to run where a matter is simple or low
value. Trainees also play key roles, assisting on the
bigger deals.

There is no typical day really! Depending on
which seat youre in, the work may involve the
day-to-day management of your own small files,
amending and reviewing documents for partners
and associates, talking to clients, attending
meetings and speaking to the other side on
matters.
Reviewing documents and commenting, drafting,

chasing other parties, juggling, admin, and
generally trying to avoid being buried in paper.
There is never a typical day! You are at the whim
of partners, other fee-earners and clients. Each
department also differs. The work is so dynamic
and changes from day to day. It would be boring if
there was a typical day and I would not have gone
into law if that were the case.
Many hours, a lot of drafting of forms,
documents, notices and letters, research,
preparing information packs, filing, searching for
information, printing and compiling. It covers
a full spectrum.
Culture
We have a great trainee support network, and I

have found that trainees are always willing to help
each other. We often socialise together at the end
of the week, but its understood that everyone has
their own life outside work too.
Its mostly a very friendly working environment.
People aspire to be able to leave at a reasonable
time, even if this isnt the case. Trainees are very
good at supporting/socialising via round robin
email mostly! Drinks most Fridays and some
weekdays depending on work.
195
Nabarros culture has to be one of the best

things about the firm. Everyone is friendly
and approachable. There are lots of different
personalities who all work and socialise well
together. The culture is what made my decision
to come here so easy. There is generally a really
even work-life balance. Youre not expected to
stay just because somebody else is still around.
Some people leave at 5:30, others stay late. It all
depends on the work load which varies daily. Even
when you are staying late, you are not alone and
the atmosphere (in anticipation of closing a deal
or otherwise) always makes the night fly past and
theyre actually quite fun.
It is very clichd, but Nabarro is a very friendly
firm. Trainees eat lunch together every day and
regularly organise evening activities. There is
also a very good support culture. Trainees assist
one another rather than try to stab each other in
the back.
Seats
Number of seats: six. Departments: real

estate, corporate, dispute resolution, projects,
employment, banking, insolvency, real estate
funds, competition, property litigation, IP, IT,
planning, pensions, construction. In addition,
there are secondments to Essex County Council,
Mercedes Benz, RAB Capital, MACE, SERCO and
Oxford University. Seats abroad: there is an
opportunity to spend time in Nabarros Brussels
office. Nabarro recently opened up an office in
Singapore and so trainees may also be able to
complete a seat there in the future.
Six seat rotations with a lot of choice. You are
supposed to do one property, one litigation and
one corporate seat. There is a lot of flexibility with
the seats, and if you dont get one of your choices
first time round, you will the next time learn
some good negotiation skills!
196
The firm has a six seat route to qualification.

The seats on offer are typical of a mid-sized
city firm (corporate, property galore, litigation,
employment, IP...). Most trainees seem to get the
seat they want (eventually) and there is an option
to spend four months in Brussels.
Formal Training
The training programmes are brilliant here, they

are very well organised and the trainers are very
good. Each programme tends to be well attended.
I have attended both legal and non-legal training
to improve both skills and knowledge. Legal
training includes legal drafting, property training,
recent law, etc. Non-legal training includes
workshops on networking skills, IT skills and
business development.
We have training in every seat. This varies in
volume, but Ive always found it to be really
helpful and the documents handed out are
invaluable as you progress through your seat and
start working on different matters.
Training is taken very seriously. Trainees are given
extensive training during their first week in each
new department to get them up to speed/remind
them of what they did on the LPC. Time is always
made to attend this training and it is often given
by partners so it is a good opportunity to meet
them.
Informal training mostly comes from your

supervisors I have been fortunate to have had
excellent supervisors thus far in the training
contract. I have a partner mentor who has always
been available for lunch or a chat when I have
asked.
Each trainee has a supervisor and you will

invariably sit with them. This is a really good
system and trainees can ask their supervisors
any questions they have even the really simple
ones! Trainees will develop friendships with their
supervisors and, on qualification work will be
directed to them because of this. Each trainee
is also assigned a partner mentor. This is one of
the partners who you can meet and discuss your
career path with in confidence. Its really nice to
be able to speak to someone at the top of the
firm at such an early stage. Trainees are also seen
as future partners and have specialist training on
marketing and business development.
Although its impossible to make generalisations,
most of the senior solicitors and partners are very
approachable and accessible, and will make time
to mentor and assist trainees. There is a formal
partner mentoring scheme, but the quality of the
mentor does vary a lot.
Green Initiatives
Recycling bins and secure print (basically if you

have a large document, you have to send it to
secure print, which means you have to walk to
the printer and select it to print, rather than just
printing off hundreds of sheets and never going to
pick them up).
The firm has clearly spent a lot on IT
systems, which means that hardcopy files of
correspondence and documents do not need to
be kept.
There are massive efforts to reduce the firms

carbon footprint. The firm is trying to cut down
on its use of paper through electronic filing and
doing away with duplicate paper files. Even paper
hand towels in the toilets have been replaced
with energy efficient hand dryers. The younger
generation is generally more switched on to these
new initiatives and so trainees can really take
them on and set the framework for others.
NABARRO
Each trainee is assigned a partner mentor upon

joining the firm its good to meet with them
every few months to discuss career/seat options.
In each seat, a trainee will have a daily supervisor
(usually a 3-5 year PQE associate) and a partner
supervisor. Its an excellent way of learning
sometimes purely by a process of legal osmosis.
diversity
Retention rates are high. Our managing partner is

female, and LGBT and diversity are promoted.
We have an LGBT group which people can join
anonymously for support. I think our firm is very
committed to diversity.
Relatively high number of female partners.
Specific LGBT group.
Dress code too formal. Would love to adopt the

no ties, unless there is a client, rule. Office nice
offices, love the fact we are not open plan. Toilets
are not so good.
The office is really nice, open plan in places, but
you sit in a room with another fee-earner (usually
your supervisor). There is a really nice restaurant
and informal area where you can hold internal
meetings or have a coffee. There is an open-door
policy too. Holborn is a nice area and easy to get
to on the tubes. There is no end of facilities at
your disposal to help make your job easier and
make the use of your time more efficient for the
client. The firm has a formal dress code suits
and ties which is good. There is also a dress down
policy for Fridays and we have a number of jeans
days which are used to raise money for charity.
197
Office is nice, central location. Facilities, such

as reprographics, document production and IT
support are excellent. Canteen is expensive and
poor quality. Dress code is formal with dress
down Friday no real difference for the girls,
and boys wear chinos and polo shirts. Shame
that there isnt a more relaxed code for Fridays in
summer that would allow wearing smart sandals
(for the girls).

upon qualification?
Im sure Ill be well prepared. If youre interested
and ask questions, you are always offered support,
whether in relation to that question, or on other
tasks.
I feel very well prepared. It is quite scary. I still
learn something new almost every day, but I think
that will continue for many years to come.
Getting there. You become more confident as the
seats progress (and the level of work increases in
volume and quality).
Very prepared Nabarro has an excellent training
programme.

Hours
I work hard, I am a corporate lawyer, it would

be fun to go home at 5pm each day, but then I
wouldnt be doing the same amount of work and
learning as quickly.
198
The hours I am doing at the moment vary. When

I am busy, I am very busy and can be in the office
for more than 12 hours a day. However, if I get
my work done I can leave at 5pm as there is no
obligation to stay just to be seen.
If you want to work in a City law firm, expect
to work long hours at least some of the time.
On average, I come in at 9 and leave around 7.
Sometimes earlier, sometimes later. There is
flexibility in the work-life pattern, however. There
is never a problem with doctors appointments,
taking a longer lunch break to go to the gym or
coming in early and leaving a bit later. As long as
youre completing the work and not seen to be
shying away from any, you can dictate your own
working pattern to an extent.
Eleven to twelve hours a day. Have done all
nighters and all the next day on a big project. The
department recognises work rather than requires
a visual presence.
Salary
The pay is very competitive when compared with

other regional firms.
I think our salaries match up with other firms
of our size and location, I dont have a problem
with it.
Compensation is fine, not as much as some
industries that we work with.
Perks
The season ticket loan is a nice little saver. I drink

my body weight in free coffee.
We get the usual private healthcare, pension,

season ticket (travel) loan, an extra days holiday
for community events, etc. There are also prizes
for trainees who contribute to the firm through
work on a transaction or a marketing initiative.
Other than that, perks are limited, although there
are often tickets to events/matches at Wembley
and other music/sporting events. The firm tries
to secure donations to our charity of the year for
these which is a good gesture. Trainees have bid
high enough in the past. Two FA Cup final tickets
going for 300.
PLUSES
The quality of clients means I get involved in

headline-making deals.
I work with sociable and friendly people. Work
is of a high level with some big name clients.
Trainees are generally given respect and are
treated as valuable members of the team.
The people are genuinely approachable and care
about you as a person.
Positive atmosphere. Good work. Nice people.
Excellent support teams make life as a trainee a
lot easier.
MINUSES
It is, at times, quite stressful and you do have

to work long hours (but that is what we
get paid for).
The qualification process could be clearer

trainees never know which departments have
which seat available on qualification. If we knew in
advance, it may help people who are in two minds
over a couple of options.
NABARRO
We receive discounts at certain restaurants,

bars and gyms. We have access to free theatre
tickets and events if using them for business
development purposes. We receive free private
health care and an interest-free loan for travel
expenses.
There are generally no frills, no perks but I can

live without these.
Some trainee tasks can be very simple and
unrewarding without challenging you or engaging
your legal skills.
Fun Facts
It is better to be a September intake trainee than

a January intake trainee due to reasons of seat
choice and qualification.
The firm has a football and cricket team during
my time as a trainee I have learned that both
of these teams are average, at best. However,
we have a great laugh and have a beer or two
afterwards.
The Senior Partner knows most people by first name.

Over 90% of graduates are hired from vac
schemes. Practical questions include: how do you
deal with risk? What are the best strategies for
firms? How do firms grow successfully? How
do firms find and retain clients? How do you
manage competing requirements? What do you
do if a deadline is unreasonable?
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200
The interview was fine for me, it focussed on

my application form and there were no horror
questions. The partners just want to get to
know you and your personality. Just try to relax
and be yourself; its so easy to spot someone
who is trying too hard! Some people are asked
theoretical or topical questions about a particular
set of facts or recent news item. Just think literally
and laterally and offer a reasoned opinion. My
best advice would be to apply for the summer
scheme. It was the best three weeks of my career
and the firm routinely wins awards for it. We take
almost all our trainees from the summer scheme
and so if you get on it, youre almost there.
Tips & Advice
I would advise a candidate to be certain that a

City firm was where they wanted to work and why.
I would also recommend cultivating an interest in
business (read the economist and talk to people
about business). As for a type, it seems that the
firm is looking for nice people who will look out
for and support their fellow trainees.
Nabarro tends to hire people who are sociable
and will fit in well as part of a team. Trainees
are expected to be hard working and take the
initiative and you should show at interview
that you are resourceful and do not need to be
spoon fed.
The firm hires a range of people from a range of

universities and backgrounds. The only fact that
they all share is they tend to be great fun to be
with. The sort of people you would want to share
a flat with or go backpacking with.
NABARRO
There are vacation schemes and assessment

days. I found the firm really approachable on the
day and really enjoyed meeting partners, trainees
and associates at the lunch to get a feel for the
firm. The questions ranged from ones about
my life outside studying and previous work to
commercial-based questions. My interviewers
seemed interested in my life as a whole, not just
my knowledge of law.
The firm likes people who have different outside

interests and have done independent things.
I liked the vacation scheme. Positive feedback to

work completed and I was given points for growth.
Support people told me to contact them if I
needed advice whether I came to the firm or not.
The people at Nabarro are genuinely friendly and
approachable. Nabarro gets the big ticket work
without the harsh realities of the Magic Circle.
The culture and approachability of all the staff
shown during my summer scheme. The summer
scheme is a must. Even if you do not get an offer,
you will learn so much. It is a really rewarding
experience and one you can take forward in your
career.
The size of the trainee intake meant that I would
conceivably be able to befriend my entire cohort.
Good reputation in real estate, and more
approachable atmosphere compared to similar
sized City firms.
201

If youre keen to apply for a training contract at
this City firm, youre best advised to undertake
a vacation scheme with the firm first. Why? Not
only will it give you some legal work experience,
but itll also greatly increase your chances of
success. Over 90% of graduates are hired from
vac schemes according to a current Nabarro
trainee and although the application process for
these schemes wont be much easier than for a
training contract, you should stand a good chance
of landing a full-time position if you make the cut.
Nabarro trainees said there were no

horror questions and to just try to relax
and be yourself.
Nabarro has two intakes in January and
September and hires 30 trainees a year. The firm
is highly selective and only accepts those with
a solid academic background, but grades are
not all Nabarro is interested in. Current trainees
told us that the firm tends to hire people who
are sociable and will fit in well as part of a team.
Trainees are expected to be hard working and
take the initiative, and you should show that you
are resourceful and do not need to be spoon-fed.
A few extracurricular interests should therefore
come in handy.
A training contract at Nabarro will consist of six
four-month seats, with the last seat being in the
department youll qualify into. Trainees will have
to complete a seat in the corporate, litigation and
real estate teams, whereas other departments on
offer include tax, IP, planning, construction and
projects. Trainees are also given the opportunity
to go on secondment to Brussels (but these
are very competitive!), and with a brand-new
Singapore office having opened up recently,
trainees might get a chance to travel there in the
202
future. However, if you want to stay closer to

home, UK secondments have in the past included
Essex County Council, Mercedes Benz, RAB
Capital, MACE, SERCO and Oxford University.
If all of this doesnt sound too intimidating to
you and youre still eager to apply for a training
contract at this very friendly firm, remember that
Nabarro likes candidates who have taken part in
its vacation scheme. After submitting your online
application, you can expect an assessment day
and up to two interviews. The assessment day
is challenging and comprises a written exercise,
group exercise and a 30-minute interview with
a partner and senior solicitor. Interviewers will
test your commercial awareness and technical
knowledge with a range of questions.
Trainees are expected to be hard

working and take the initiative, and you
should show that you are resourceful
and do not need to be spoon-fed.
Although the hiring process is said to be fairly
intensive, it is also informal and relaxed. Nabarro
trainees said there were no horror questions
and to just try to relax and be yourself. The
good news is once you have gone through the
application process, you wont be kept waiting
long as the firm usually responds to candidates
within a week, a much kinder timetable than
many other law firms!
If you know anything about Nabarro, it probably

has to do with real estate. But that is slowly
changing and the firm now covers many corporate
issues to go along with its main focus. With only
four offices London, Sheffield, Brussels and
Singapore Nabarro isnt exactly an international
heavyweight, but with a young, energetic and
enthusiastic management team, the firm could
soon give its larger rivals a run for their money.
Nabarros origins can be traced back to two
separate firms that united after World War II. By
1958, the principals Leslie Nathanson and brothers
Felix and Alan Nabarro, merged their firms to
form Nabarro Nathanson an eight partner,
60 employee practice, dealing with property,
litigation, company commercial and family law
work.
Numerous mergers and moves later, the firm
settled in Holborn, central London, in 1999. In
February of 2007, Nabarro joined the slew of
other firms eager to ditch its old-fashioned image
and insisted on first name terms dropping the
Nathanson in the process. A year later the firm
converted to a limited liability partnership and
since then has climbed up the rankings of major UK
M&A league tables, also debuting internationally.
Although Nabarros office network is relatively
small for a big firm, it uses a number of informal
alliances with other European practices for access
to foreign clients. Nabarro has established ties with
French firm August & Debouzy, GSK Stockmann
& Kollegen of Germany and Italys Nunziante
Magrone.
but it is probably the projects team for which it is

most renowned. The firms real estate client list
reads like a whos who of the industry: Jones Lang
LaSalle, Land Securities, Quintain Estates and Great
Portland Estates. In fact, Nabarros commercial real
estate group includes six of the top 10 real estate
companies in the UK.
NABARRO
FIRM PROFILE
The firms other standout clients

include Apple, Bank of Ireland, JP
Morgan Chase, GE Capital Corp,
the BBC Pension Trust, HSBC and
Oxford University.
In addition to its cornerstone practice, Nabarro is
also making strides in the corporate arena, advising
on M&A, management buyouts and securities
flotations. It has advised repeat clients such as
Spark Ventures and Balderton Capital on the
venture capital side, and in 2011 its litigation team
successfully defended Ryanair in a civil aviation
authority ruling. Finally, Nabarro is increasingly
getting a foothold in private equity by advising
management teams in management buyouts. The
firms other standout clients include Apple, Bank of
Ireland, JP Morgan Chase, GE Capital Corp, the BBC
Pension Trust, HSBC and Oxford University.
Nabarro is best known for its property work and

regularly handles complex, multi-million pound
real estate transactions. Within this discipline
the firm covers property finance and property
litigation, planning and environment, PFI and PPP;
203
NORTON ROSE
In addition to its reputation for top corporate and finance work, Norton Rose is known for its collegial
and friendly culture. With offices across Europe, Australia, Africa, Canada, the Middle East and Asia, the
majority of its employees are based overseas, allowing the firm to operate in a large number of markets
and jurisdictions.
PROS
Very friendly, encouraging and supportive firm

Excellent international opportunities trainees
are able to do up to three seats abroad
Good feedback and mentoring system
Merit-based promotion and good partnership
prospects
Great trainee support network and a real buzz
Offers six-seat training contracts, so you gain
insight into several more departments
THE STATS
LOCATIONS

London Solicitors: 312
No of applications per year: 1,800 2,000
No. of offices: 39
Abu Dhabi Amsterdam Athens Bahrain
Bangkok Beijing Brisbane Brussels Calgary
Canberra Cape Town Dar es Salaam* Dubai
Durban Frankfurt Hamburg Ho Chi Minh City*
Hong Kong Johannesburg Jakarta* London
Melbourne Milan Montral Moscow Munich
Ottawa Paris Perth Piraeus Prague Qubec
Rome Shanghai Singapore Sydney Tokyo
Toronto Warsaw
*Associate offices
BASE SALARY
LONDON 2011

Aviation Banking Business Ethics & AntiCorruption Communications, Media & Technology
Competition, Regulatory & EU Corporate Finance
Corporate Legal Services Dispute Resolution
Employment Energy Environment Safety
& Planning Financial Institutions Financial
Services Food, Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology
Infrastructure/PFI Insurance Mining & Metals
Rail Real Estate Regulatory & Public Law
Shipping Tax
204
CONS
Partner mentors can be difficult to get hold of

to discuss problems
Responsibility and quality of work varies
between departments
Hours can be long, again depending on the
department
Large number of female associates, but not
reflected in the partnership
LONDON OFFICE
3 More London Riverside
London SE1 2AQ
Tel: +44 (0)20 7283 6000
www.nortonrose.com

Natasha Brady
Graduate Recruitment Manager
Email: graduate.recruitment@nortonrose.com
Tel: 020 7444 2113
LIFE ON THE JOB

Great variety of work, over the past year I have

done Commercial Court cases, a Chancery Court
case, an Administrative Court case, a Court of
Appeal case, a LMAA Arbitration, ICC Arbitrations
and mediations, etc. You are given lots of
responsibility straight away but the partners are
always there to help if needed. Lots of client
contact, particularly in relation to the lead-up to
trial.
Great responsibility, great client interaction and
good quality work, but sometimes the hours can
be very long.
I thoroughly enjoy the type of work I do; it is
incredibly varied ranging from ECM work (for
example company listings or fundraising) to
international M&A. I have always had great
contact with clients and throughout my career
been given work that would challenge me and
develop my legal and commercial skills.
Mid-level solicitor, Corporate
The quality of the work and interaction with
clients varies in each team. My current supervisor
encourages trainees to get involved in the
transaction e.g. calls and meetings with clients
to get a whole picture of what is going on, while
in some other seats you might be responsible for
managing the working bibles and filing, which
also helps to get a clear idea of the transaction.
The trainees usually sit with a partner or a senior
associate and they are happy to answer any of
your questions.
First year trainee
I am really enjoying my training contract. The

practice is a very friendly and sociable one with a
genuine concern for work/life balance.
First year trainee
NORTON ROSE
QUOTES
Depending on your department, your interaction

with clients isnt massive but you do get dayto-day interaction with lawyers acting for the
other side. Given that you are usually working in
numerous jurisdictions, it can be really interesting.
Most of your work will come from associates who
are always ready to answer your questions.
First year trainee

My days involve some drafting, supervision of
trainees, dealing with queries and marketing.
Mid-level solicitor, Banking
Negotiating and drafting loan agreements and

security documents, meeting with banks and their
customers to discuss documentary requirements,
and dealing with incidental enquiries relating to
loan agreements and other documents.
So far I have spent a lot of time on research tasks
and drafting notes of advice on various matters,
which my supervisor then checks over before
sending them out to the client. I have done a
little drafting and various admin tasks. I have also
had the opportunity of being in direct contact via
email with a client. Fortunately, the department
has been reasonably quiet compared to normal
which has given me a chance to settle in, and has
meant I havent been leaving later than 7 or 8pm. I
also always have a full hour for lunch.
First year trainee
205
Start with checking and replying to emails, carry

on with any tasks I have been assigned to, or go
and ask around the department whether I can
help anyone with anything, lunch, then same as
above.
First year trainee
It depends on the seat, but a typical day could
consist of proofing, researching, reviewing
documents, calling clients/other lawyers and the
odd bit of drafting.
Second year trainee
At the moment a typical day involves preparing
and circulating execution versions of documents,
liaising with foreign council, updating CP lists,
reviewing signed documents and discussions with
associates regarding the transaction.
First year trainee
I do a fair amount of email monitoring keeping
track of who has what document and who I
need to chase to get documents back from. A
bit of drafting is normally on the cards as well
as research for partners and the collating of
documents. Time for lunch and a well earned
chocolate break in the afternoon.
First year trainee
Culture
Very much an open door policy I feel

comfortable talking to anyone, and everyone takes
the time to talk to you or answer your questions.
I have always felt very much part of a team and
my colleagues (both peers and supervisors) have
always been supportive and great to work with.
We often socialise as part of or across teams.
Good collegiate atmosphere. The associates
are all of a similar age and so tend to go out a
lot together. There are also great opportunities
for sport if you are that way inclined. You are
expected to work very hard, though.
206
The culture is what I particularly like about the

firm. Inevitably there is a small sense of hierarchy,
but people at whatever level are never made
to feel that they cant approach someone. A
partners door is always open. I have worked
within some brilliant teams who work well
together. There is plenty of socialising. We often
have team nights out, and as I trained with the
firm I also socialise frequently with those in my
intake.
The firms culture is one of the principal reasons
I chose it. The vast majority of people are friendly
and approachable. While workloads can be
heavy, and late nights at times a norm, there is no
expectation that you stay late simply for the sake
of it. My supervisor will work hard during the day
and if he has the opportunity of doing so he will
get home as soon as possible after 6pm. The firm
also actively encourages participation in sports
and pro bono. In my experience, other trainees,
especially the more experienced ones, are very
supportive and occasionally we do socialise
whether at lunch or in the evenings.
First year trainee
The trainees of the same intake have two
representatives who will organise trainee social
events e.g. ice skating, parties, etc. There are also
a lot of emails around inviting you to team drinks,
trainee drinks or colleagues birthdays.
First year trainee
Good support network we cover each other
when we have the capacity to do so. Trainees are
very sociable and often go out for ad hoc drinks
together after work.
First year trainee
Its a very friendly firm. There is a real buzz here.
The trainees have really bonded well, and regular
pub trips are guaranteed.
First year trainee
All trainees do six seats: three core ones in

corporate, banking and dispute resolution and
three non-core ones. These are out of a choice of
property, tax, incentives, employment, pensions,
competition, client secondments and international
seats. It is possible to do another core seat or
to return to a seat you wish to qualify into. An
international seat is expected and some trainees
do two or even three!
First year trainee
Good interaction between associates and

partners in the property team. Associates
have very little impact on firm-wide decisions
(understandably as this is a top ten UK law firm).
Junior solicitor, Property
There are a total of six seats but banking,

corporate finance and dispute resolution are the
core seats. HR is accommodating but it is very
hard to place everyone in their preferred teams
within the core seats, and in their preferred
non-core seats. It is possible to do up to three
seats abroad and most of the trainees do at least
two of their seats abroad. The firm has a policy
of encouraging the trainees to do international
seats.
First year trainee
All trainees do six seats which suits me down to

the ground as this offers much more variety and
also maximises your chances of getting a really
popular one. In the London office, all departments
take trainees. There is a very wide choice one
could say too wide as there are too many that I
want to do. International seats are very strongly
encouraged.
First year trainee
There are six seats and trainees can sit in any
of the departments; only a corporate finance
and banking seat are obligatory. Currently, the
practice is going to great lengths to encourage us
to go abroad and I intend to do two or three seats
abroad, hopefully in Paris, the Middle East and
Tokyo.
First year trainee
There are video casts from the CEO on a

regular basis to keep the growing number of
solicitors aware of the movement and direction
of the practice. Within my practice area we get
information from the global head weekly, and
have wider group meetings every two months to
keep up to date with the practices development. I
think we are informed of firm-wide decisions, but
we are not usually invited to contribute to these
decisions (e.g. the recent mergers).
NORTON ROSE
Seats
The partnership is reasonably good at

communicating, but there are a few significant
changes that have come as a surprise and on
a team level, decisions dont get filtered down
particularly well.
I would say partner/solicitor relations are
excellent at the firm. We are kept informed of
decisions made at partnership level and invited to
ask questions when any announcement is made.
Formal Training
Training is generally of a very high quality. The

firm takes a very serious approach to training and
there are various sessions (legal and non legal)
which we can attend. As well as department
specific training, there are regular seminars on
basic legal skills such as contract basics. We also
have the option to attend seminars on matters like
balancing childcare with your work commitments,
which reflects the firms appreciation that people
have a life outside of work.
207
You are informed of training opportunities on an

almost daily basis. Training is really encouraged
throughout the training contract.
First year trainee
We had a two-week induction course, refreshing
the most important areas of the LPC. After
allocation to our seats, we then had another two
days department-specific training. The IT training
has also been good and I felt well prepared to
start. The training is now on-going, with lots of
optional lunchtime or morning talks. Some are
also in webinar form.
First year trainee
Training for each department is organised
differently, in banking it is done over two whole
days and means that you are out of the office, but
get to attend all the sessions. In corporate finance,
training is either before work in the morning or
at lunchtime, which means that we dont get any
kind of break and sometimes miss sessions due to
work loads. Much of the training is a repetition of
the things we learnt on the LPC course.
First year trainee
The induction before you start can be a bit
dry but the department specific training (legal)
is really useful and gives you the basics youll
need for each seat. There is plenty of training
throughout the working week that you are
encouraged to attend, whether it be a refresher
session or dealing with new areas. Associates will
often attend and departments are very willing to
give you the time, but plan in advance.
First year trainee
The formal mentoring system exists but is pretty

low impact, however, if you choose your individual
mentor carefully (i.e. someone who takes it
seriously), they will provide brilliant informal
support and advice.
208
Some partners are good mentors whereas

others are not. I am lucky in that my pastoral
team partner is a great mentor and takes his role
as teacher seriously. As such Im always learning
more about the property market/law.
Informal training happens on a daily basis
through the supervision of work and feedback
from partners on your work. Partners I have
worked with have always been accessible and
there for their associates.
I wish that mentors would approach us rather
than the other way around I always feel like I am
bothering!
Second year trainee
Each trainee is assigned a mentor and we have
regular meetings with that person. My mentor is
friendly, keen to help me achieve my goals and
also keen to see me develop my non-legal skills.
First year trainee
The office is light, spacious and modern. We try

to be as environmentally friendly as possible with
all our waste being recycled. We have a Starbucks
franchise, a deli and a large cafeteria. The dress
code is smart casual, often people will wear jeans
on a Friday although there is no dress down
policy for a Friday.
Offices are amazing and very well equipped.
The official dress code is business wear, but in
reality, unless you have client meetings, it is pretty
relaxed (i.e. no tie/jacket for guys; no suits for
girls), which is great.
Top marks for location and facilities a building

to be proud of in a fantastic location overlooking
the Thames, HMS Belfast, Tower of London,
Tower Bridge, The Shard and South London. There
are great restaurants nearby and near London
Bridge/Borough, and the canteen is excellent
with delicious, fresh food at a reasonable price
(a big plate of food for no more than 4). Very
comfortable, modern, bright offices, excellent
bathrooms, and lifts that say good morning to
you!
First year trainee
CAREER PROSPECTS
If you are good, its easy. There is a new system

that rewards associates on merit rather than
simply level of PQE. To get to the top you have to
work hard, participate in marketing and business
development (as well as work itself) and always do
a good job for people and be willing to help out.
Promotion is not based upon PQE but rather
on merit. If a candidate has the knowledge and
demonstrates the capability to be promoted,
subject to business reasons, they will be
promoted. Yearly appraisals are conducted by two
partners within the team.
Moving up the ranks is largely based on merit.
You have to have done certain training and be
able to fulfil particular criteria under the appraisal
process.

Since Im just starting out in my career as an
associate I want to stay at Norton Rose for a few
years. I enjoy my job and I like the firm a lot so I
would hope to stay and progress here.
NORTON ROSE
The office is quite simply awesome! There is a

great view of London that always perks you up.
Good office space inside and its well laid out.
Most people dont wear ties, but suits are the
norm.
First year trainee
I envisage always staying in law so I imagine I

could work pretty much anywhere else in the
country.
I see myself as a partner.
Pro bono
All associates in litigation have to conduct a

certain number of hours at the Citizens Advice
Bureau. Pro bono work is looked on favourably
by the partners and forms part of the information
which is looked at upon qualification.
The practice has a variety of pro bono
programmes and claims to value it highly (e.g.
it appears in appraisal form, etc.). However, it is
possible to be promoted with no or minimal pro
bono activities to speak of, and pro bono does not
count towards billable hours.
There is a lot of emphasis on pro bono and it is
encouraged that people get involved, although
as far as Im aware there is no minimum quota. It
is something that can be discussed at appraisals
and is asked about on your appraisal form so its
good to have it on there. We have various pro
bono projects such as Tower Hamlets and Tooting
law centres. We also assist at the Citizens Advice
Bureau. I have also been involved in one-on-one
reading with a local primary school and there are
similar schemes for sports.
209
Pro bono does not count towards billable hours.

I run an after school football club at a nearby
primary school.
Green Initiatives
All waste is recycled at Norton Rose, including

food waste. It is the policy to print double sided on
recycled paper unless it is being used externally.
I still see way too much paper being used and
no real guidance from management on day-today recycling in the office/kitchen (other than
automatically printing double sided). Way more
can be done to educate the ignorant.
We have an environmental committee and one
of our key practice areas is climate change and
renewable energy. There is a strong emphasis on
recycling within the firm, and as its a new building
I imagine it is very energy efficient. We no longer
use paper cups.
There are lots of recycling initiatives, and the
office goes into power saving mode after 6pm!
First year trainee
diversity
There has been a greater focus recently to bring

on women, particularly into partnership by trying
to identify reasons why women are not becoming
partners, and offering specific training to help
develop the skills needed to do so.
Diversity is very important to the firm we
have a diversity committee, excellent provision
for maternity/paternity leave, and a fair number
of female partners (compared to other City law
firms).
Second year trainee
210
There is a strong commitment to diversity

although I think numbers of female partners
have dropped recently. There has recently been
a LGBT network started up within the firm.
Women can work flexi-hours if they have childcare
commitments. The firm seems particularly good at
going into local comprehensive schools and trying
to spot talent from a young age.
So far Ive met so many different people from
different backgrounds so I dont think there is an
issue when it comes to diversity. I think, however,
child care and flexible hours are still problematic
for female associates with children.
Second year trainee
The firm is 60% women, there are many different
cultures and races, and the firm is gay-friendly.
There is also paternity/maternity leave, the
retention rate is over 90% and there are flexihours available.
First year trainee

upon qualification?
I was born ready.
Second year trainee
Pretty prepared Im only on my first seat
though!
First year trainee
I feel very prepared.
First year trainee
I am apprehensive.
Second year traine
Not prepared enough, I dont think my training
has been good enough or consistent enough to
prepare me well for qualification. I feel like I still
have a lot to learn.
Second year trainee
Hours
The hours you work obviously depends on how

busy you are, and whether a number of deadlines
fall within the same time frame. You can work 15
hour days when you are extremely busy, but when
you are not, you can do your seven billable hours
a day and leave by 6.30pm. The London office
has a flexible working policy; however I have no
experience of this myself. You are able to work
from home if you have deliveries, etc.
I bill 133 hours a month on average and spend
20 30 or so hours a week non-billable (including
pro bono, assisting with recruiting, etc.) on top
of that, but it can be much higher. There appears
to be plenty of flexibility regarding part-time
working, especially for parents, but holiday is
very intransigent no carrying over holiday and
its very difficult to take holiday near the end of
the financial year, and I dont know of any policy
where you can purchase additional holiday.
I bill approximately 150 hours a month and spend
approximately 50 hours a week in the office. The
firm is relatively flexible with a number of fee
earners working part time, although holidays
must be taken during the calendar year they
accrue and cannot be purchased or carried over.
Having said that, after four years fee earners are
entitled to another four weeks unpaid leave (as on
qualification).
I work anything from 45 65 (70 once) a week.
All in all, Id say theyre very good and there isnt
a culture of beasting. Trainees do like to brag
about their hours or pretend to be martyrs, but I
wouldnt pay it too much attention!
First year trainee
Hours are varied but it depends only on whether

there is work to do. If you have finished all you
need to do for the day, it seems fine to leave at
6pm!
First year trainee
My first seat is intensive but reasonable. The days
are very intensive, but my supervisor and I havent
left the office after 7.30pm this month.
First year trainee
NORTON ROSE
Salary
63,500
Junior solicitor
70,000
Junior solicitor
105,000
Mid-level solicitor
The bonus structure is not very good, and does
not motivate people to work beyond their target
hours.
Junior solicitor
Very competitive salary. One of the market
leaders.
First year trainee
Get paid a lot for just having walked out of
university!
Second year trainee
Its about standard for City law firms, though
these rates havent seen an increase in a while.
First year trainee
For what you do and the fact that youre
essentially still training, I think the pay is very good
(doesnt mean I wouldnt take more though!).
First year trainee
211
BONUS
Depends on billable hours.

Junior solicitor
2,000
Junior solicitor
5,000
Junior solicitor
15,000
Mid-level solicitor
Perks
Firm pays for all sporting team expenses.

Car service after 9pm, discounted gym
membership, free life insurance, competitive
pension scheme, discounted private health care
and discounted tickets to the opera/sporting
events.
First year trainee
Ive been lucky enough to be invited to several
team and client dinners. We are patrons of
the Royal Opera House, which is a great perk,
although we dont seem to have boxes at any
of the major sports stadiums or concert arenas,
which is a shame.
There is a gym subsidy at 37 Degrees (50/month
instead of 100) and private GP service, as well as
on site massages.
First year trainee
Discounted BMW purchases are available
through salary sacrifice, and subsidised massages
and music lessons.
First year trainee
The living allowance when on an overseas seat is
a nice perk.
Second year trainee
212
PLUSES
The office culture, people are friendly and

encouraging, no policy of having to be seen to be
working late and good support from all levels of
staff and fellow trainees.
First year trainee
Location of the office and views over the Thames
and Tower Bridge, and the toffee crisps available
in the meeting rooms.
Second year trainee
The international focus; there are opportunities
to work at almost all of our international
offices during my training contract. Also the
healthy attitude to work, no all-hours policy and
friendly and interesting people with a lot of life
experience.
First year trainee
The building and its location, the food, and the
number of foreign offices.
First year trainee
Six seat training contract get to see different
areas of the firm.
First year trainee
MINUSES
Partners doing anything a client desires even

though it may include an unrealistic timeframe.
The new appraisal system makes it much less
clear as to how/when promotion through the
ranks happens for associates.
Hours can be long. Pay could be better.
The occasional late night, some minor secretarial
work.
First year trainee
For me the focus on banking is a minus.
First year trainee
We have a music room and anyone can sign up

to music lessons (for a small fee!). We also have a
choir.
One of the earliest partners, Philip Rose, was one
of the main benefactors and pivotal in setting up
the Royal Brompton Hospital one of the reasons
being he wanted to look after his assistants who
got tuberculosis. He was also a close friend of
Disraeli.
The beautiful Piano room the Choir is great!
First year trainee

I interviewed for a training contract and had
an assessment day which involved teamwork
exercises, a pitching exercise and a verbal
reasoning test. I then had an interview with HR
followed by an interview with two partners. The
questions were based on my application form, my
law degree, previous work experience (legal and
non legal) and commercial awareness.
After my training contract I was kept on, but my
interview for the training contract was with two
quite senior partners. It lasted for about an hour
and was more like a chat about my degree and
why I wanted to be a lawyer. That didnt mean it
wasnt tough there were plenty of questions to
answer which made me think but I think its a
very good reflection on the firm that they dont
just want to put the fear of God into people. I like
the fact that Norton Rose isnt like Freshfields or
Clifford Chance and thats why I wanted to come
here.
I was interviewed by two partners during a

Christmas vacation scheme. They asked various
questions about my background and CV, as well as
some problem-based scenarios.
First year trainee
I got hired via the vacation scheme route:
a written application for the vac scheme, an
interview for the vac scheme, two week vac
scheme with written project and feedback, and
an interview at the end of the vac scheme for a
training contract. My vac scheme interview was
with an associate, quite informal talking mainly
about what I had written in my application. The
training contract interview was one hour with two
partners who were global heads of departments
with more demanding commercial questions.
First year trainee
NORTON ROSE
Fun Facts
I had one round with a negotiation and an

interview with two partners. Questions ranged
from current issues to firm strategy.
First year trainee
I had one round (interview and assessment
on the same day). The interview was with two
partners and was a serious chat about legal skills,
grades and abilities followed by an informal chat
about me. The assessment was on the same day
as the interview and involved a discussion exercise
in a group of other interviewees.
Second year trainee
Tips & Advice
It goes without saying that Norton Rose wants

people with a strong intellect, but they definitely
look for candidates who have something more
about them. Were a truly international firm so
people with language skills are definitely well
placed. Interesting extracurricular activities are
good as well.
213
The firm looks to hire outgoing and friendly

people. I think you need a minimum 2:1 from a
good university unless youre an exceptional case.
Generally, I think soft skills are very important
trainees tend to be outgoing and adventurous
(keen for people to go abroad during their training
contract).
Second year trainee
Take the Airport Lounge Test: can people put up
with you for more than an hour?
First year trainee
They definitely seem to apportion a lot of
importance to personality. Most people recruited
seem to be down to earth, modest individuals
who are easy to get along with and friendly.
Advice would be to be as natural and un-conceited
as possible when in the interview or on vacation
scheme.
First year trainee
You need to be an all-rounder; very international,
e.g. speak at least two languages, keen on
doing international seats, have attention to
detail, organisational skills, team spirit, time
management skills, legal and technical skills, and
at least a 2:1.
First year trainee
They are looking for friendly people who
dont take themselves too seriously with good
conversational skills and a sense of humour. I think
the unofficial line is a top 10 university with a
minimum of a 2:1 and you have to pass the LPC.
Second year trainee
The people are a brilliantly diverse bunch

(geographically, culturally) and generally speaking
are supportive, excellent lawyers and great fun to
work with. There are also loads of opportunities
for overseas and client secondment.
214
At the time I was looking to join a Silver Circle

firm that did quality work but did not make its
trainees do the horror hours a Magic Circle firm
would. Now, I would choose my firm because it is
ambitious, global, gets quality work, looks after its
people (e.g. utilised the flex scheme and made no
redundancies when all our competitors were) and
most importantly the people here are great.
The opportunity to go abroad and the firm is
a market leader in certain practice areas. There
is a good work/life balance and a good level of
responsibility.
Second year trainee
I appreciated the emphasis placed on the
practices international character, the many
different overseas offices trainees can choose
between, and the generally friendly atmosphere
between all colleagues.
First year trainee
The vast majority of people working at Norton
Rose are very friendly and welcoming. There
are a good choice of seats and international
opportunities. It has a good reputation and is a
firm on the up.
First year trainee
Its reputation, the relaxed and unstuffy
atmosphere, excellent office and facilities,
internationalism (opportunities to travel), and six
seat system.
First year trainee
If you want to work for Norton Rose, expect

fierce competition the firm interviews about
250 candidates for approximately 60 training
contracts each year. While the firm doesnt target
any particular universities and is certainly looking
beyond the Oxbridge elite, you still need to have a
solid academic background. However, during the
hiring process the focus is well and truly on the
individual, rather than just their CV and academic
credentials. Grades are important of course, but
to Norton Rose theyre not everything. Some
applicants make it through with less than a 2:1
Nortons primary concern being that they employ
smart, capable and personable individuals. That
said, one trainee advises you need a minimum
2:1 from a good university unless youre an
exceptional case.
The trainee intake is quite mixed with people
coming from a variety of backgrounds. The
practice is looking for interesting people so
the more diverse your interests are, the better!
Norton Rose is also different from most firms,
offering six-seat training contracts, which
means more opportunities to get an insight into
different departments and international offices.
Compulsory seats include corporate, banking,
and dispute resolution, but you can also choose
niche departments such as employment and
tax. Furthermore, if you want to do a seat or
two abroad, Norton Rose is the firm to choose.
Trainees are positively encouraged to do at least
one international seat, and some even fit in three.
Trainees can also qualify into one of the firms
many international offices, and with 39 spread
across 23 countries, there are plenty of options!
reason when pushed with difficult questions.

These are certainly all competencies that will
come in handy should you make it to the interview
stage.
NORTON ROSE
First of all though, you need to apply online and

if successful, you will be invited to a half day
assessment at the firm. This involves a group
discussion assessment and an interview with two
partners, which while demanding, is relatively
informal. Overall, the interview is more like a
chat about yourself and the firm. Most of the
questions focus on your previous experience and
your interest in law. There wont be any lengthy
assessment centres or tough verbal reasoning
tests found in some other firms application
processes. So make sure you master that allimportant interview. Always prepare well by
reading the firms website and news about the
firms recent transactions. Candidates need to
be practical and commercially-minded, as well as
academic and willing to try new things.
Vacation SCHEME
An alternative route to a training contract at

Norton Rose is via the vacation scheme, for which
you will have to hand in a written application and
succeed in an interview. At the end of this two
week scheme you will face another interview with
partners for a training contract. If you make a
good impression both during the two weeks, and
in your interview, you have a good chance of being
offered that much coveted training contract!
Flexibility is important in candidates, as are

excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
Since Norton Rose really is an international firm,
people with language skills are definitely well
placed. Interesting extracurricular activities are
good as well. On top of that, the firm is looking
for people who are dynamic, confident, clever,
analytical, as well as capable of demonstrating
215
FIRM PROFILE
Norton Rose holds a demanding position in UK law,
just behind the fore-runners of the Magic Circle.
The firm is well known for its strength in corporate
finance, energy and infrastructure, transport, and
technology. 2007 saw Norton Rose reorganise
itself from a partnership to an LLP (Limited Liability
Partnership) structure, and move to state of the
art, environmentally friendly offices on Londons
South bank designed by renowned architectural
firm, Foster & Partner. However, the firm can trace
its origins much further back over 200 years to
1794.
A market leader in renewable energy,

climate change and carbon trading
issues
Founders Sir Phillip Rose and Henry Turton Norton
brought the firm to prominence through two
influential inventions of the Victorian age: railways
and investment funds. Subsequent progress
and reputation was based then, as it is now, on
216
finance especially the infrastructure of finance.

However, 150 years of stable progress was halted
abruptly and violently in 1992, when its offices
were severely damaged in an IRA bombing. Forced
to operate from temporary facilities, the firms
costs were driven up, just as the legal market
became increasingly competitive. But buoyed
by its formidable banking practice, Norton Rose
managed to stabilise and even flourish by refocussing its strategy on international expansion.
Reflecting this international strategic growth, more
than half of Norton Roses staff now operates
overseas. Additional to its European footholds, the
firm has offices in Asia, Africa, North America, and
the Middle East the latter of which it has been
operating in for nearly 30 years. The firm has a
niche in Islamic finance, constructing compliances
that forbid the earning of interest. The most
recent additions to this globe-trotting list were
the mergers with Australian law firm, Deacons, in
January 2010, as well as the inclusion of Canadian
firm Ogilvy Renault and South African firm Deneys
Reitz to the Norton Rose Group in June of 2011.
Over the past decade, the advent of US law firms in

London brought about a salvo of defections, with a
number of lawyers tempted by the unrivalled pay
of North American competitors. But despite these
employee setbacks, many partners and clients
have happily remained with Norton Rose, citing the
supportive and friendly culture as key motivation.
In an effort to cement this reputation, Norton
Rose aimed to improve collegiality with the
creation of three staff forums that periodically
meet with management. Additionally, to contend

with the earning potential of its competitors, the
firm introduced a grading system for associates,
with top tier performers earning a significant
pay rise. To qualify for a position in the top
grade and a potential promotion to senior
associate a lawyer must demonstrate efficiency,
good citizenship skills, knowledge and technical
skills, and proficiency in teamwork and business
development.
NORTON ROSE
Besides its reputation for finance, Norton Rose is

also known for its expertise in energy, transport,
and technology. A market leader in renewable
energy, climate change and carbon trading issues,
it advises both corporations and governments on
emission reduction projects and on low carbon
development. While dispute resolution and
property teams also remain essential, corporate
and finance practices are still the firms staples,
creating a combined 78% of its total revenue. It is
this strength which has led to Norton Rose advising
more clients on the AIM stock exchange than any
other firm.
Complementing the supportive and communal

ethos, Norton Rose is committed to social
responsibility. Pro bono volunteers in London
provide legal assistance at evening drop-in
clinics at the Tower Hamlets Law Centre in
Whitechapel, the Wandsworth and Merton Law
Centre in Tooting, and at the Citizens Advice
Bureau. They also help people who are denied
basic employment rights, facing homelessness,
or experiencing discrimination in the work place.
Outside the UK, Norton Rose works with various
charities, focussing its fundraising efforts on
children, illness and medicine.
Go online for in-depth profiles

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218
A firm with an unstuffy culture, Olswang is best known for its expertise in the technology, media and real
estate sectors, and is a major corporate and finance player in the mid-tier market.
PROS
Wide variety of high profile work with

interesting clients
Where possible trainees are encouraged to
contact clients directly
Unstuffy, friendly and informal culture
Fee earners are encouraged to spend 5% of
their chargeable time on pro bono work
Supervisors are very good at teaching
Individuality is prized and hard work rewarded
CONS
Heated competition for the most popular seats

and limited opportunities to do a seat abroad
Becoming increasingly corporate
Hours are still tough at times
THE STATS
LOCATIONS

Partners: 102
Trainee intake: 48
No. of offices: 6
Berlin Brussels London Madrid Paris Reading
BASE SALARY
LONDON 2011

Practice Areas
Corporate Data Protection Employment EU &
Competition Finance Intellectual Property Litigation
& Arbitration Media Transactions Outsourcing Real
Estate Restructuring Tax Technology Transactions
OLSWANG
OLSWANG
LONDON OFFICE
90 High Holborn
London WC1V 6XX
Tel: +44 (0)20 7067 3000
www.olswang.com

Sarmini Ghosh
Senior Graduate Recruitment Officer
Tel: +44 (0)20 7067 3000
Email: traineesolicitor@olswang.com
How to apply: www.olswang.com/traineesolicitor
Sectors
Broadcasting Climate Change & Cleantech Film
Gambling Internet & E-Commerce Leisure Life
Sciences Marketing Services Music Publishing Real
Estate Sport Telecommunications
219
QUOTES
LIFE ON THE JOB
I think this varies hugely depending upon

department. I currently feel happy with the
amount of exposure I get with clients and the
variety of work Im offered. The transactions
Im working on are interesting media-related
jobs so Im enjoying them and the clients are
friendly. I feel like the learning curve is steep
but I expected this and I feel challenged, but also
stimulated.
First year trainee
I am presently in the media litigation team,
which was my first-choice seat. I have been
amazed at the quality of the work Ive been
given, most of which is competing for front-page
national headlines, and only rarely do I feel like a
trainee at all. Other departments obviously vary
considerably, so there have been instances where
Ive just been given mountains of documents to
review. However, overall I dont think I would get
anything like the quality of the work I have had at
any other firm of this size or calibre.
First year trainee
Client contact depends on the seat, but where
possible it is good; my first seat was real estate
and I had a great deal of client contact. Contact
with partners is also high I have shared an office
with partners for my first two seats and they are
generally happy to talk to trainees, and most keep
their office doors open. I think that we get a good
quality of work and, at any rate, in the seats I
have been in so far, I have done very little donkey
work.
First year trainee
220
Satisfied in my current department, I get a

good amount of responsibility, a bewildering
amount sometimes but its a fantastic learning
curve. There is interaction with clients, a lot of
interaction with the other law firm representing
a party in a deal, and I have been exposed to a
broad range of matters and deals.
First year trainee
This is obviously pretty varied depending on

the department, but trainees will often be given
research tasks to do, sometimes simple drafting
work. On larger matters there is usually a lot of
document management work which will be a
trainees responsibility, for example data rooms
on corporate transactions or bundling in litigation.
Sometimes trainees will attend client meetings
or go to court and will usually be asked to take a
note.
Second year trainee
No two days are the same. I have been involved
in rushing to court to obtain last minute privacy
injunctions, conference calls with celeb clients,
checking national media to see whether clients
have been defamed/injunctions breached,
research on all matters of commercial litigation
and law, drafting lots of different documents,
including legal letters to opponents and 3rd
parties and to the courts. Perhaps the best day
was instructing private investigators to set up a
sting operation to serve documents on someone
blackmailing a client. I have also been involved in
international disputes both in the courts and ADR.
Its pretty non-stop at times, but very exciting.
First year trainee
The culture of the firm is generally relaxed with

a high praise for good work ethic; people can
generally do what they like so long as the work
gets done. Trainees support each other and
socialise, but perhaps mostly on a small group
basis. However, the firm is always putting on
schemes to encourage wider interaction.
First year trainee
Culture
SEATS
You are encouraged to work for as many people

in each department as possible and trainees will
often floor-walk to find work first before sending
out capacity emails as face-to-face contact is often
a lot more effective and preferred. You are also
given a mentor at the beginning of your training
contract, who will be a partner from your first
department. While some trainees find having
a partner mentor provides an invaluable and
confidential sounding board throughout their two
years, others rely on it less.
Second year trainee
Trainees sit four seats of six months each.

Trainees are allowed to state preferences,
however, we are only permitted to do one
litigation seat which can be very frustrating.
Seats abroad are limited, however with more
foreign offices opening it is hoped that the foreign
opportunities available will increase.
First year trainee
Culture around the office is very unstuffy, friendly

and informal. There is a collegiate atmosphere
and everyone is very approachable. There is no
concept of face-time, which I have experienced
on vac schemes at other firms, where trainees
and even associates feel they need to stay late
regardless of what work they have. Trainees
support each other well, particularly within
departments if there is a big task and/or lack of
capacity, and the social scene is good.
First year trainee
The firm has a good culture with an open-door

policy and a variety of social activities to choose
from. Trainees have also established a trainee
liaison committee, which is subdivided to include
both a trainee-specific sport and social committee
so various trainee-specific events are organised
and encouraged.
First year trainee
OLSWANG
At the moment I am in a tax seat. I do a good

deal of research on details of tax legislation, case
law, and revenue practice. I am assisting on one
large property deal. I have been able to draft
initial versions of a few documents, e.g. services
agreements, articles on tax updates, notes of
advice to clients.
First year trainee
Trainees do four seats of six months each, sitting

in four different departments. Technically, all
departments are available to sit in, but some have
far more availability than others. Trainees are
encouraged to identify their hot seat and HR will
try to ensure that they get that seat otherwise
you request seats, but theres no guarantee youll
get them. I got my first choice of seat for my first
seat. You can do a seat abroad in Europe, but its
a pretty rare opportunity as yet. It looks as though
the chance to do this will increase over the next
few years as the firm expands across Europe.
First year trainee
Trainees will do four seats during their training

contracts. Although HR make an effort to ensure
each trainee will get their first preference, at least
once during the training contract competition
tends to be fierce for the more popular choices
such as IP and MCT this sometimes means
sitting in areas that may not appeal. There is the
possibility to go abroad to a European office, such
as Brussels or Paris. There are also opportunities
for secondments with some decent clients.
Second year trainee
221
FORMAL TRAINING
Theres a very good support system here: I have

a trainee buddy, a partner mentor, my supervisor,
and my supervising partner, as well as my work
allocation partner, and my own friends/fellow
trainees. My supervisor provides an excellent level
of training; shes friendly and approachable and I
can always ask her questions so I feel she gives me
informal training on a regular basis.
First year trainee
The training is peppered throughout your two

years. Youre expected to attend everything unless
you have a real reason for not going, and this is
respected by supervisors. Most helpful is having
information to take away I use my training
books/files quite regularly.
First year trainee
Each trainee is assigned a mentoring partner

on joining the firm with whom you have six
weekly catch-ups to ensure everything is okay.
Each trainee is also assigned a trainee buddy
who is normally a third seat trainee with whom
fortnightly catch-ups are encouraged. The support
network on offer to trainees is therefore fairly
comprehensive.
First year trainee
Each department organises its own trainee

training which generally consists of presentations
given by associates to the trainees. These are
taken very seriously and trainees are expected to
attend. PSC training is arranged throughout the
two years and can sometimes fall at times when
you are very busy with client work.
Second year trainee
The firms formal training is generally pretty

good. Sometimes its excellent and this usually
depends on the speakers knowledge of the
subject area. Junior associates are often tasked
with trainee training and at times it can feel like a
bit of a waste of time if its a quick run through of
things youve already covered at law school. That
said, there are also opportunities to attend the
formal training that the firm puts on a department
by department basis to all levels of fee earners,
and this is often excellent.
Second year trainee
In my experience, the solicitors and partners have

been very accessible and have made excellent
mentors. They take the time to keep in touch
throughout your two years as a trainee and teach
you everything they can.
Second year trainee
Personally Ive received excellent feedback from
tasks, and everyone is very approachable. Often it
is a matter of being pro-active and asking for tips
rather than expecting people to coach you.
First year trainee
222
Green Initiatives
Being green is very heavily promoted here

theres currently an ad in the corridors to enter a
grow-bag competition to grow the best plants, we
have just installed bees, and everything has to be
recycled.
First year trainee
This is very important to our firm. From the
Olswang beehives to our Boris Bikes, this is taken
very seriously.
First year trainee
They have an incredibly low carbon footprint,
none of us have bins under our desks, and you
have to recycle everything possible!
First year trainee
There is a diversity committee and I think there is

an LGBT society. As with most City firms, there is a
higher proportion of women compared to men at
the trainee level, but this pattern is flipped at the
partner level. The firm is still predominantly white
at the fee-earner level in general, although there
is a smattering of other ethnicities throughout the
ranks.
Second year trainee
Many women fee earners; not so many women
partners, but probably a good ratio in relation to
many firms.
First year trainee
Their maternity leave packages appear to be
exemplary and they recently took part in an
initiative to encourage more black students to
apply. The firms higher tiers have a very strong
number of women, which makes women at all
levels feel that there is no glass ceiling.
First year trainee
Offices & Dress
Dress code here is fantastic not only are you

encouraged to be individual, people will notice
and approve if you put effort into your dress.
Obviously you should always try and remain
smart, but within that remit there is a lot of
flexibility which I love. The offices are very nice,
although my department is semi-subterranean,
which is not so great.
First year trainee
The dress code is pretty relaxed girls wear
attractive dresses, etc. theres a definite lean
towards media edgy! Men always stick with shirts
and suit trousers though. Suits are encouraged for
client meetings but not compulsory. Dress down
Friday is a relaxed affair and most people wear
jeans. The location of the office is great; we have
a good canteen but most people like to try to
escape as much as possible for fresh air.
First year trainee
Holborns a good location, the building itself is

quite impressive... The reception and canteen area
has recently been refurbished and the canteen
food has improved. There are shower facilities
with complimentary towels, which is handy for
those who run/cycle into the office. Dress code
is smart but, unless you are going to a client
meeting, suits are not really compulsory. The men
dont have to wear ties unless they are meeting a
client and females can get away with being a little
less formal but within reason!
Second year trainee
OLSWANG
Diversity
Location is good, by Holborn tube so 10 minutes

in either direction from the City, West End and
Covent Garden. The dress code is work casual,
i.e. suits without ties, and there is a dress down
Friday where people are encouraged to wear jeans
and trainers (for a small donation to charity).
First year trainee

upon qualification?
Not terribly but thankfully Im still 20 months
away!
First year trainee
I dont know if Ill ever feel truly prepared, but
Ive been given as good a training programme as I
could have asked for.
First year trainee
Pretty well prepared, although six months in a
department is never going to be long enough to
prepare you fully to work in that practice area.
Second year trainee
223

Hours
The hours are long but it is what I expected!

A good day is 9.30am 7.30pm. Im not a fan of
early mornings so I appreciate the gentle start. Ive
done some all nighters, but thats typical of the
department. I reckon I average 45 hours a week.
Maybe more.
First year trainee
Im in finance therefore the hours can be up
and down. When I was working long hours I got
very frustrated and miserable, however, now Im
working normal hours I am really enjoying it. The
average is hard to therefore guess at, as it will be
constantly changing.
First year trainee
The hours you work at the firm very much
depend on which department you sit in. The
work level is also quite unpredictable, some
weeks working completely flat out and others sat
twiddling your thumbs.
First year trainee
I normally arrive at 9.30 and leave around 7. This
can vary drastically, but on average the hours are
about what I expected. This massively depends on
the department, and some people have periods
where they dont get much sleep but on the
whole this is an exception and is recognised by the
partners through time in lieu and other goodies.
First year trainee
Salary
224
Perks
Usual stuff including gym membership, free

dinner after a certain time, taxis home, etc. There
is also the chance to use the firms box at the O2
every now and then and sometimes there are
goodies that come in from clients, e.g. a special
Olswang screening of the Kings Speech before
release, tickets to premieres and to X Factor, etc.
First year trainee
End of month themed drinks, an active sport/
social scene, the number of green/CSR initiatives
is very impressive, and although I was away at the
time, I believe that Libby Savill brought both her
Oscar and the Directors of The Kings Speech into
a Q&A session.
First year trainee
I have been taken to quite a few Business
Development events with clients as part of our
restructuring and insolvency team, which is
lovely as it has made me feel like Im considered
a valuable part of the firm. I am also going to a
post completion drinks event tomorrow with the
banking sector.
First year trainee
Pluses
The friendly atmosphere and exciting

environment.
First year trainee
The people are fun and approachable and the
clients are, on the whole, pretty interesting, as is a
lot of the work.
Second year trainee
Seems to be the standard market rate for a midsize City firm.

Second year trainee
The opportunity to work on great projects for

cutting-edge media clients.
First year trainee
I think its about average for a City firm of this

size, and for a firm which does not require a
ridiculous amount of hours.
First year trainee
Some of the people here are exceptionally good

at what they do.
Second year trainee
Hours are still tough at times, pay could be

better.
First year trainee
My legal interests are broadly commercial, but if
youre desperate to be a media lawyer you might
be better off at a more niche firm.
First year trainee
It is becoming increasingly corporate by the day.
First year trainee
Fun Facts
We have a trainee dodge ball team!

First year trainee
When designing the current offices, employees
were given the chance to vote for which company
they wanted the firm to rent the ground floor
retail space to it went to Starbucks.
First year trainee
We have a partner with an Oscar.
First year trainee
We just got our first honey bees on our first floor
roof!
First year trainee

I had an interview for my vacation scheme then

a day of interviews at the end of the vacation
scheme. All were challenging but not too
intimidating, the questions at interview were fairly
standard but as soon as I mentioned something
interesting the partners picked up on it and the
interview became more individual.
First year trainee
Two rounds of interviews (one with HR and one

with two partners). There were also two written
assessments one proofreading exercise and
a general analysis exercise as well as verbal
reasoning. Questions asked in interview: why
Olswang? Why law? What skills are needed as a
lawyer? Weaknesses and strengths? Anything in
the news recently? Any recent legal news caught
your eye?
Second year trainee
OLSWANG
Minuses
It was very relaxed: they seemed to want to find

out about my personality and questions revolved
around general knowledge and what I do in my
free time in fact my worry back then was that
I hadnt been formal enough or shown my razor
sharp legal skills! I think that in hindsight this
reflects the firm as a whole they know youve
got the brains to do your job based on whats on
paper about you; what theyre really interested in
by the interview stage is cultural fit, and what you
can bring to the firm.
First year trainee
I was hired after a vacation scheme, for which
there were various tests and two interviews, with
HR and the partners. There was another interview
with two partners for my training contract. I
also had to write application letters for both
applications. The interview covered my personal
background and interests, problem-solving skills
and business awareness.
First year trainee
Tips & Advice
It would be useful to make sure that your

commercial awareness is tip top as they will test
to see if you understand how a basic business
model works, and it should be appreciated that
good business sense makes you a far superior
solicitor. Attention to detail is always highly prized,
and being a friendly person with whom your
interviewer feels they could chat with socially will
always put you in good stead.
First year trainee
225
Definitely try to have a broad CV beyond law. I

didnt study law at university and lots of people
here didnt. I also worked in a different sector
before applying to do law. Its not compulsory,
but its worth noting I applied here on the basis
that the firm is innovative, different and exciting
and that theyd be looking for something a little
different, and I hoped that bringing my skills from
a different sector would be of benefit/interest.
In terms of skills, I think communication is key:
relax, be friendly, but show your commercial side.
Commerciality and ability to provide more to the
client than just a legal service is crucial in the
current climate.
First year trainee
The firm wants candidates who do not see the
firm as solely about media, or who appear to only
have an interest in that side of our work, because
very few trainees will be able to work in that area
and it doesnt recruit many NQs so to want to do
only that shows a lack of understanding about
training processes and the firms all-service status.
Universities it recruits from are fairly mixed but do
generally tend to be Oxbridge, UCL, Kings, York,
Durham, etc.
First year trainee
Bright and (generally) down-to-earth people
with strong personalities and often with unusual
interests outside of work.
First year trainee
I wanted to have a chance to do media work,

but did not want to go to a niche media firm
as I wanted to experience a broader training
contract. However, the firm has changed since I
interviewed and you are by no means guaranteed
a commercial or IP seat as the competition is
fierce and the spaces are limited.
Second year trainee
I wanted a mid-sized firm with a variety of
departments so I could have the experience after
four very different seats to know exactly where I
wanted to qualify. Mainly, Olswang really stands
out for how friendly and sociable all of its staff
and fee earners are. They prize individuality and
reward you for hard work and its generally a really
nice atmosphere to be in.
First year trainee
I liked the media edge, but specifically the fact
that it seems young, dynamic, commercially
driven and exciting.
First year trainee
Because of its reputation for friendliness and
not requiring ridiculous hours just on principle,
its expertise in IP, its clients, my law tutor telling
me that all the students she knows who have
gone there had enjoyed their training, and a
good feeling about the place when I went in for
interview.
First year trainee
Check online to hear what

employees have to say about:
Life on the Job
Hours, pay and perks
Applications and interviews
And more...
226
Since its humble beginnings in 1981, Olswang

has expanded rapidly in the legal industry and
now enjoys an international reputation for
its corporate, real estate and media-focussed
services. The firm offers training contracts in its
Thames Valley office in Reading, as well as in
London. A word of advice: if you apply for the
Reading office, be prepared to qualify there as
its unusual to transfer to the City once you have
embarked on the training contract.
There are still the necessary academic credentials

to fulfil, as the firm requires applicants to have
achieved a strong 2:1 or above. Furthermore,
Olswang looks to recruit those who have a
broad CV beyond law so if you have any varied
work experience under your belt, make sure
you mention it in your application. People with
strong personalities and often with unusual
interests outside of work are the ones the firm is
particularly interested in, so make sure this stands
out in your application.
Olswang looks to recruit those who

have a broad CV beyond law so if you
have any varied work experience under
your belt, make sure you mention it in
your application.
The recruitment process starts with an online

application form and shortlisted candidates will be
invited to two rounds of interviews. There wont
be an assessment day, but applicants still need
to prepare sufficiently to master the interviews
with a partner/senior associate and a member of
the HR team. In addition to the usual questions
on why you want to work in law, and for Olswang
specifically, there will also be a good amount of
competency-based questions, as well as a business
plan test and a case study or comprehension
exercise. In the past, these exercises have involved
reading a document regarding a new share issue
to shareholders, and then answering questions on
the document.
During the training contract, trainees complete

four six-month seats in various departments,
one of which will be in corporate and another in
litigation. Olswang also encourages trainees to go
on a client secondment. There are usually five or
six in-house client secondments at any one time
and secondments available in Brussels and Paris;
foreign languages are a real plus that will certainly
come in handy if applying for these.
Securing a training contract at Olswang is
competitive, hence why its so important that
you demonstrate youre a good fit with the firm.
It seems that the firm generally seeks to hire
confident and friendly trainees who will easily
blend in with Olswangs very informal culture,
trainees tell us. In general, the firm does not
hire a certain type, but instead looks for people
who are intelligent and have strong commercial
awareness and candidates come from all over
the country and all universities, with all sorts of
degrees according to a current trainee.
OLSWANG
Many of the Olswang trainees get

hired after completing a vacation
scheme at the firm.
Additionally, many of the Olswang trainees get
hired after completing a vacation scheme at the
firm. Interviews for the vac scheme are quite
similar to those for the training contract and tend
to cover your personal background and interests,
problem-solving skills and business awareness.
Apply early as places go fast.
227
FIRM PROFILE
Established only 30 years ago, Olswang LLP has
swiftly blossomed from a boutique media firm
into a robust business law firm; best known for
its expertise in the real estate, technology, media
and finance sectors as well as its meritocratic and
unstuffy culture. The firm has won the praise of its
acclaimed clients, and acts for firms including the
Guardian, ITV, Lloyds, Microsoft, MTV, Nationwide
and Warner Music International.
Olswang is certainly used to dealing with stars, but
now the tables have turned and the firm is hiring
them. Much to the chagrin of other leading City
firms, Olswang has employed an aggressive lateral
hire strategy over recent years to augment its core
practice areas of litigation, corporate, real estate,
finance, IP and commercial.
The firms HELP programme is

comprised of partnerships with a diverse
number of organisations and charities
aimed at helping anyone from students
to the homeless.
Olswang was founded in 1981 by Simon Olswang
and Mark Devereux. Although initially setting out
on a media and corporate bent focussing on
TV, film and advertising the mid-1980s brought
the addition of two new practice areas: litigation
and real estate. The firm grew rapidly through
the 1990s, and expanded into a full service firm
operating in numerous sectors: broadcasting,
climate change & cleantech, film, gambling,
internet & E-Commerce, leisure, life sciences,
marketing services, music, publishing, real
estate, sport and telecommunications. The firms
significant presence in the corporate realm is now
responsible for over 20% of its total turnover.
228
In an attempt to ditch the firms historically

boutique image, Olswang set up a salvo of
international links. Offices in Brussels, Berlin,
Madrid and Paris, with a Singapore office due
to open next year, give the firm an international
flavour, alongside a long-established preferred firm
network of leading independent law firms across
the globe.
Fee-earners at the firm have also expanded
Olswangs online presence with a foray into the
blogosphere. Fashionista-at-law details legal and
business goings on in, you guessed it, the fashion
industry. Posts are by no means under the radar
and Fashionista has been invited to several London
Fashion Week shows. Elsewhere, +Technology is
developing a network of like minded business
people who are concerned with the ongoing
impact of technology to their business. The
networks blog widely revolves around tech news
and happenings.
Olswang also looks to shine outside its glitzy
international offices by getting its fee earners
involved in lasting and valuable pro bono and
volunteering work. The firms HELP programme is
comprised of partnerships with a diverse number
of organisations and charities aimed at helping
anyone from students to the homeless. To achieve
this, Olswang encourages fee earners to spend
up to 5% of their chargeable time and non-fee
earners to spend up to 3.5 hours per month
working on such initiatives. The firms altruistic
projects include providing free legal advice to
the Elephant Parade (which contributes to the
conservation of the Asian Elephant), pro bono
advice to Breakthrough Breast Cancer, and working
with students in local schools through the Lawyers
in Schools programme.
OLSWANG
@insidebuzz
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229
Osborne Clarke
Known for its work in technology, media and telecoms, Osborne Clarke is also viewed as one of the best
banking advisers outside of the City. Although considered more of a mid-market practice in London, that
hasnt prevented the firm from securing top clients such as RBS, Marks & Spencer and Nintendo.
PROS
Good exposure to high quality work for trainees

Intensive and helpful induction training
Friendly and open office environment where
everyone know each other
Very non-hierarchical just as likely to get work
from a partner as anyone else
THE STATS
CONS
Minimal face-to-face client contact in some

departments
The social scene can be a little quiet
No opportunities to do a seat abroad, but there
are client secondments available
Longer hours than most Bristol firms
Key industry sectors

Automotive Digital Business Energy & Natural
Resources Financial Services Life Sciences Real Estate
& Infrastructure Recruitment Retail

No. of lawyers in the UK: 370
London partners: 33
London solicitors: 118
Trainee intake: 20
LOCATIONS
BASE SALARY
No. of offices: 6
Bristol Cologne London Munich Silicon Valley
Thames Valley
BRISTOL 2011
1st year trainee: 32,000 (2013/14 intake)
2nd year trainee: 33,750 (2013/14 intake)
Newly qualified: 40,000 (at present)
London and Reading 2011
1st year trainee: 36,500 (2013/14 intake)
2nd year trainee: 38,500 (2013/14 intake)
Newly qualified: 58,000 (at present)

Areas of legal practice
Banking & Finance Commercial Corporate
Employment & Benefits Litigation Pensions Private
Client Projects Real Estate Regulation Restructuring
Turnaround & Insolvency Tax
London Office
One London Wall
London EC2Y 5EB
Tel: +44 (0)20 7105 7000
www.osborneclarke.com

Zoe Reid
Trainee Recruitment Officer
Tel: +44 (0)117 917 3484
Email: trainee.recruitment@osborneclarke.com
Training Contracts: 31st July 2012
Vacation schemes: 31st January 2012
How to apply: www.osborneclarke.com/trainees.aspx
230
LIFE ON THE JOB

In general I have been fairly satisfied with

working life at Osborne Clarke. The life of a trainee
solicitor is not particularly glamorous; however it
can be very rewarding at times. Client contact is
dependent on which team you are in, but on the
whole you receive quite a lot of exposure, be it at
meetings, drinks parties or corporate events like
the cricket.
Trainee, London
The quality of work is generally very good. The

level of responsibility you get varies enormously
from task to task some are almost admin tasks
delegated from other junior people, and others
include communicating directly with clients and
other solicitors. I would say there has been less
client contact than I thought there would be.
Trainee, Reading
Trainees get really good exposure to high

quality work from the outset. The amount of
client contact varies a lot from seat to seat, but
whichever team you are in, they are always
keen to get you involved. The firm is really nonhierarchical and in most seats you are just as likely
to get work from the partners as anyone else in
the team.
Trainee, Bristol
I really enjoy working at Osborne Clarke. I have

only done one seat so far so only have experience
of one team but this team is extremely fun,
friendly, sociable and supportive. There isnt a
single member of a very large department that I
would feel anxious to approach for help. A very
bubbly, lively bunch who are very good at what
they do, and are keen to help trainees. Starting
as a trainee in your first seat can be daunting, so
such a welcoming and supportive environment
really helped to ease me in. The open plan office
really fosters a fun and open environment as
everyone has a chat and a joke and no one feels
that the partners are unapproachable they are
just one of the team.
Trainee, Bristol
Osborne Clarke
QUOTES
Completing and filing forms, research (both legal

and find out what you can about X), routine
correspondence, some drafting from precedents,
especially completion-stage documents like
summaries and schedules. Paper management!
Trainee, London
This varies hugely from seat to seat but typically

you will have a good mix of typical trainee
tasks, for example company searches, and more
demanding work, e.g. drafting more complex
documents or managing your own small matters.
There is also a good opportunity to have exposure
to the work of more senior fee earners, e.g.
attending client meetings, negotiations, etc.
Trainee, Bristol
I arrive at work at about 9am and catch up with
colleagues, check overnight emails and write a
task list for the day. Following this there might
be a team meeting to discuss any new work. As a
trainee, your workload is set by those around you.
This can be good and bad. What it means is that
no two days are the same. Normally Im out of the
office before 6pm and sometimes well go for a
drink or have a work event in the evening.
Trainee, London
231
Im currently on secondment so Im dealing

with emails, requests and problems from all
parts of the business that range from drafting
competitions terms and conditions, contract
negotiation, responses to the ASA, to filing
regulatory returns. Hours are quite good only
had to do one all-nighter but then again I
havent done a corporate seat in the office.
Trainee, London
Culture
We have an open plan office and quite an open

working environment. I have generally found
colleagues at all levels to be approachable. Due
to the size of the Reading office, everybody
knows each other. Since I have been here the
trainees and junior solicitors have always been
very supportive and friendly, although after work
socialising is quite occasional, due to people
not being available at the same time, work
commitments, and the fact that many people in
the Reading office dont live in Reading.
Trainee, Reading
We work in an open plan office which means
everyone is approachable and adds to the friendly
nature of the office. Trainees support each other
as much as possible, and often ring or email
each other to go over work if necessary, before
asking higher level fee earners. The trainees do
socialise together, there are a few sports clubs
after work, and also nights out. Its great when we
have training sessions and we get together with
trainees from our other offices too.
Trainee, Bristol
There are three UK offices that work closely
together this means we have training sessions
at lunch time connected via video link. There
isnt much contact with the international offices,
although there might be higher up the firm.
Trainees organise social events and when you
join the firm, someone is appointed to be your
buddy so you need not feel embarrassed asking
someone all of those stupid questions. Trainees
are given a social budget which is normally all put
towards a big Christmas party.
Trainee, London
232
Seats
Trainees now do four six month seats based

in one office. There is a good range of seats on
offer although traditionally trainees have been
expected to do one compulsory corporate,
property and litigation seat. However, HR can be
flexible on this and there are a good few specialist
seats to choose within these categories. There are
usually a few secondment opportunities although
most of these seem to only be offered to London
trainees. The biggest seat choice is in Bristol.
There are no seats offered at any of the offices
abroad.
Trainee, Bristol
You do four seats with compulsory property,
corporate and litigation. Although, I did neither
property or corporate seats as I went on two
secondments instead. The HR team work really
hard to try and make everyone happy obviously
they dont get it right every time, but most of
the time they do. Commercial seats in London
have been a bit thin on the ground recently. No
option to do a seat abroad but more secondment
opportunities are coming through in London.
Trainee, London
Formal Training
The induction programme in the first few weeks

is well structured and interesting. Ongoing training
includes all trainees going on courses together,
as well as training that you do alongside qualified
lawyers from the team you are in. The firm always
makes time for you to attend training courses
and will support you if you want to do additional
training, or learning such as M.A courses or
languages.
Trainee, London
There are weekly training sessions in each
department. These are usually run over
lunchtimes. You catch up on new areas of law, or
learn new skills, e.g. how to use the Land Registry
website, or an update from a barrister on contract
law. There are also PSC courses taught in-house,
and away days for each business sector in the firm
once a year.
Trainee, Bristol
I have found that supervisors have little

involvement with your day-to-day work, and it
has not always been easy to get the formal review
meetings that form part of the firms trainee
appraisal process. However I think I have learned
a lot here almost without realising it, through just
getting involved in the work most of which is
chargeable. The people that you work with are
also a great source of information and learning.
When I ask questions of the people I work
with, they take the time to explain and discuss
things, which sometimes leads to debates about
contentious legal questions, and I think I learn a
lot from these interactions. Otherwise, I think it
is the lessons you learn by making mistakes that
stick with you the most!
Trainee, Reading
As the firm is open and relaxed there is always
someone around prepared to help out and offer
advice and support. Trainee supervisors generally
tend to be associates or solicitors so they have
more time to provide support. The relationship is
usually very informal with catch-ups over a cup of
coffee. You are encouraged to make it a two-way
relationship and for example, ask if youd like to be
exposed to more work of a particular type.
Trainee, Bristol
People are always on hand to help out and

nobody seems unapproachable. Dont be afraid to
ask as everyone was in your shoes once!
Trainee, London
There is a lot of variation between the styles
of solicitors in the team. Some will spend time
ensuring you understand learning points, and
are approachable to explain issues, whilst others
simply tell you what the correct approach is
without explanation. Partners are willing to
answer questions but as you might expect, dont
have time for details. Skills are obviously seatdependent, but managing different personal styles
and expectations is something you have to pick up
very quickly to survive!
Trainee, London
Osborne Clarke
I think the firm provides good training. There

is a general trainee induction at the start of
the training contract (held in the Bristol office),
department-based inductions when trainees move
into those seats (also in the Bristol office), and
regular training sessions in all offices tailored to
the different departments and aimed at various
levels of qualification. The level of training varies
between seats, with property having the most
regular training and commercial the least. I think
Ive picked up a decent amount of legal and
practical skills from these sessions. The sessions
are often designed to be interactive and teambased, which I find really aids learning.
Trainee, Reading
Offices & Dress
The Reading office is probably the least

impressive of the three UK offices, although its
well positioned next to the train station and a
short walk from the main shopping areas and
restaurants/bars. There are lots of places to get
food at lunchtime, a small seating area in the
office, and lots of seating in the main atrium of
Apex Plaza. The air conditioning hasnt worked
properly for ages, and there are less on-site
facilities than the Bristol office, but other than
that, the facilities are good.
Trainee, Reading
Standard open-plan office no private offices
for anyone of any level. Facilities are also pretty
standard for a smaller London office kitchen
facilities with drinks (tea, coffee and squash)
provided but no canteen as the size doesnt justify
it. Dress code is business casual, which sounds
quite dressed down but in practice the men wear
suits, just without a tie, and the women typically a
dress, skirt/blouse or trouser suit.
Trainee, London
233
The offices vary completely. The best thing about

Bristol is everyone based here is under one roof
so you recognise a lot of faces in the lift and can
have a catch-up with people in the cafe. Plus the
atrium is the perfect venue for quizzes and drinks
evenings. The dress code is business casual across
all the offices (although London tends to be a bit
smarter than Bristol and Thames Valley).
Trainee, Bristol
Nice new office close to three tube stations
very convenient to get to and plenty of bars/
restaurants close to the office.
Trainee, London
Green Initiatives
My department is virtually paperless. We recycle

most paper. Lights have motion sensors so lights
above each desk go off once you have left the
office. They can be a bit stingy on the heating as
it gets cold when youre in the office late, but I
suppose thats good for the environment!
Trainee, Bristol
They tried to give us business cards on recycled
paper, and we have recycled pens and pencils.
Trainee, London
Recycling takes place in each area. Use of MDFs
so documents can be scanned and accessed
on screen instead of being printed. They also
designed the whole building to be ecologically
efficient.
Trainee, Bristol
Diversity
Recruitment is across the spectrum. Flexible

working is accepted even at partner level and
there are quite a lot of senior women (I havent
met so many ethnic minorities at senior level). No
child care.
Trainee, London
234
I think the firm are good on this. There do seem

to be more female trainees than male, and the
Reading office has more female members of staff.
The HR department are very good at handling
maternity leave and the firm generally has a good
attitude towards this, but I think that balancing
the demands of a client-driven, competitive
job with childcare commitments will always be
difficult, no matter how supportive an employer
is! The trainee retention rate has been good since
Ive been here.
Trainee, Reading

upon qualification?
Ive learned that you have to be very skilled in
a large number of areas to be a good solicitor,
and yes Im a bit scared of the responsibility Ill
suddenly have when Im qualified! Seeing people
who are really good at their jobs can make you
wonder if youll ever be that good..!
Trainee, Reading
Ive only been a trainee for six months but I feel
as well prepared as you could expect at this stage.
If I qualified into the department I did my first
seat in I wouldnt feel too daunted to qualify here
now.
Trainee, Bristol
My training contract so far has far exceeded my
expectations of providing me with exposure to
the work that Ill be doing upon qualification, and
preparing me for practice.
Trainee, Bristol
Hours
I work between 40 and 50 hours a week. It does

fluctuate depending on the department you are in
and the work they have on. It is more hours than I
expected, but we have been extremely busy.
Trainee, Bristol
When I was in property and commercial, I only
occasionally had to work late in the office or
work from home in the evenings/at weekends.
In corporate, the hours have been much longer
and workloads unpredictable, so there has been
a lot more working late in the office or working
from home in the evenings/at weekends. I would
say I worked less than expected in property and
commercial, and slightly more than I expected in
corporate.
Trainee, Reading
I am in a department which does tend to work
longer hours than others, and this is my first seat
so I cant comment on other areas of the firm.
I tend to work from 8.45am 6.30/7ish most
days but if Im not too busy I can leave by about
5.45pm. I have had a few 8pm finishes, a few
9pm finishes, one 10pm and one 11pm in my six
months here. No all nighters!
Trainee, Bristol
Hours completely vary by department, but
regardless of where you are, you tend to find that
the hours are less than trainees at other firms
with the same quality of work. The attitude to
working late and the work/life balance is also very
good here, and you generally feel like your effort is
appreciated when you do have to stay late.
Trainee, Bristol
Pay
The highest trainee pay in Bristol! Even though

this is a few thousand less than London, the cost
of living is lower and more than makes up for it.
Trainee, Bristol
I understand that it is among the best outside of

the City and in the Thames Valley area, which is
where I want to work. Im very pleased with the
salary here.
Trainee, Reading
At first you feel well paid then you work long
hours and feel under-paid. In general, I think
trainees are well remunerated for the job that
they do and the value that they offer.
Trainee, London
Osborne Clarke
Perks
Free day off to go Christmas shopping (effectively

an extra days annual leave in December), beer
and pizza evening in the office a couple of times
a year, good summer parties with fancy dress and
a posh venue and hotel, good away days with lots
of food and drink and a nice hotel (with a bit of
training thrown in!), regular dress down days for
charity, and most importantly the CAKE TROLLEY
which comes around at about 3pm every Friday.
Trainee, Bristol
Free health care and travel insurance. We get a
social budget per head for the year. We tend to
have a cross office summer party which is brilliant
fun and normally involves us taking over a hotel
and running a theme night for the event.
Trainee, Bristol
Ive taken advantage of the season ticket loan
and private health care cover, both of which have
saved me money.
Trainee, Reading
Pluses
The people, the offices, the quality of work,

the pay, the cake trolley, the bacon and sausage
sandwiches at morning training sessions, and the
home baked cookies in meetings and training
(amazing!).
Trainee, Bristol
235
Knowing that youre working somewhere with a

good reputation, the salary, the people you work
with, and the work you get to do.
Trainee, Reading
The people, and the acceptance that employees
have lives outside work.
Trainee, London
The friendly culture, but still with great
clients and work. Good exposure to work and
responsibility in a supportive environment.
Trainee, Bristol
Minuses
At times having to do really long hours, but that is

the same in any job like this.
Trainee, Bristol
Early morning commutes to Bristol from London
on occasion.
Trainee, London
Hours tend to be longer than at most Bristol
firms.
Trainee, Bristol
Sometimes lack of supervision...
Trainee, London
Fun Facts
The Bristol office has a statue of its most famous

client (Brunel) outside. The little-known fact is
that the statue is hugely popular with tourists and
you often see people having their photo taken
beside it.
Trainee, Bristol
That most lawyers dont take themselves as
seriously as I thought they did, and you can have
a laugh.
Trainee, Reading
The orange cat has only just got an identity in the
re-brand it is now a panther.
Trainee, London
236

There was one assessment day for training

contracts when I applied (I didnt apply for a
vacation scheme). I interviewed with an associate
and a partner, which consisted of me giving a
pre-prepared presentation on a given topic about
the legal market, followed by the usual type of
questions. There were no ridiculous questions
like, If you were a biscuit, what type would you
be?, and I thought the content of the interview
and the way the interviewers handled it was very
reasonable.
Trainee, Reading
Theres one assessment day for a training
contract (I didnt apply for vacation schemes).
Interview was with two partners (one was the
trainee partner). Relaxed atmosphere structured
around core obvious questions. The assessment
included verbal reasoning and a negotiation
exercise (fun but tough) cant recall the other
exercises.
Trainee, London
I had one assessment day which involved
an interview, a verbal reasoning test and a
negotiation exercise. The interview was actually
quite friendly (albeit challenging).
Trainee, Bristol
Tips & Advice
The firm likes to hire people who are outgoing

and bubbly. Business acumen is important, as are
academics. They like to recruit people who have
something else to bring to the table, such as a
previous career, interesting hobbies or languages.
People here tend to be very well rounded and
there are few geeks or egos!
Trainee, Bristol
OC is a very broad-minded recruiter. Trainees are

from all backgrounds, including career-changers,
and there is definitely no classic candidate.
There is much less Oxbridge-ness than at some
City firms.
Trainee, London
The trainees here vary enormously and couldnt
say there is an OC type we all have different
previous experience and idiosyncrasies. Being
confident, personable, showing initiative and
common sense, and doing what preparation you
can to make sure you do well at the assessment
centre tasks will probably help. Osborne Clarke
doesnt recruit from certain universities, and
trainees come from a wide range of universities,
but there is probably slightly more representation
from the universities and law schools in the same
geographical regions as the three offices.
Trainee, Reading
Very high quality work in a challenging

environment, very open and friendly culture with
the sort of people I wanted to work with, broad
spread of specialisms, excellent pay.
Trainee, Bristol
The culture at OC really stands out from the
crowd that offer similar quality of work and
clients.
Trainee, Bristol
Osborne Clarke
Be confident and show some maturity dont

be afraid to give an answer that might seem a bit
different. Also, dont be put off if you come from a
different background.
Trainee, London
Reputation, salary, location, and the impression

of the firm I gained from attending the assessment
centre.
Trainee, Reading
The friendly atmosphere, the range of seat
choices and the location. The work City work,
without City hours.
Trainee, Bristol
Check online to hear what

employees have to say about:
Life on the Job
Hours, pay and perks
Applications and interviews
And more...
237

With marquee clients and strength in a broad
range of sectors, its no wonder that Osborne
Clarke receives such a huge number of applications
year on year. Despite the strong competition,
youll be pleased to hear that the firm maintains
an open mind when taking on new recruits. One
current trainee told us: Osborne Clarke is a very
broad-minded recruiter. Trainees hail from all
backgrounds, including career-changers, and
there is definitely no classic candidate. The firm
is particularly interested in CVs with plenty of
extracurricular activities, and looks for progressive
thinkers who are collaborative and talented.
Like many other firms, Osborne Clarke looks for
candidates with strong grades as well as analytical,
communication and organisational skills. Ideally,
candidates should have As or Bs at A-Level, in
addition to a minimum 2:1 in any discipline. If
youre looking for an international experience

though, you best look elsewhere; because while
Osborne Clarke has an international presence,
trainees arent able to do seats abroad. However,
trainees did say that there are several excellent
secondment opportunities in the UK, with Bristol
offering the biggest seat choice.
After submitting the online application, hopefuls
will face an interview with two partners or
associates. The interview was described as friendly,
relaxed and structured around core questions. One
current trainee advises applicants to be confident
and show some maturity dont be afraid to
give an answer that might seem a bit different.
Furthermore, make sure you show initiative and
prepare as much as you can, demonstrating your
knowledge of the firm.
FIRM PROFILE
Osborne Clarke has grown from a regional firm,
based in Bristol, to a firm with a truly international
reach. It can trace its roots back 250 years to 1748,
although it wasnt until 1987 that the firm branched
out to the City, focussing on corporate transactions.
In the 1990s the firm made yet another shift when it
decided to focus on technology, media and telecoms,
and it stuck to these despite the dot com bubble
burst of the early Noughties. However, there is
more to Osborne Clarke than tech work; and even
though the tech bubble deflated, the firm has fast
become a leader in mid-market transactions, which
has resulted in significant growth and an increase in
profits.
The employment team is strong, as is dispute
resolution. There is a good roster of clients on the
banking and finance side and the firm is viewed as
one of the best banking advisors outside of London.
The firm is also one of the leaders in the marketing
and advertising sector. Besides all that, the firm
has a big international presence, though not in the
238
traditional sense of opening offices in other parts

of the world. The firm founded the Osborne Clarke
Alliance in 1987, which links the UK firm with others
across Europe including those in The Netherlands,
Italy, Spain and France. Osborne Clarke now advises
clients from offices in the City, across the country
and throughout Europe, and is famous for being one
of the few UK firms with a Silicon Valley office.
Osborne Clarke operates its own charitable fund
to help support the community, through which
members of the firm can volunteer and donate
to good causes; these have included the Royal
Marsden and Great Ormond Street hospitals. The
current themes are education and employability,
environment and regeneration, and sports and arts.
Commitment to pro bono is alive and kicking, and
the firms solicitors are encouraged to spend up
to 25 hours a year working on pro bono matters.
In addition, Osborne Clarkes employees act as
governors in more than 100 schools, suggesting
there really can be more to life than just law at this
firm.
TROWERS
BOND
PEARCE
& HAMLINS
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Lookin
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239
SHOOSMITHS
Shoosmiths wide national network and unique practice mix set it apart from its rivals. Noted for its
property work, the firms best known clients rank amongst the biggest names in retail, automotive and
finance, and include major players such as McDonalds, Volkswagen and Zurich.
PROS
Good amount of responsibility and client

interaction you can be the primary client
contact by your third or fourth seat
Open, approachable offices where everyone is
treated fairly
Good work/life balance
Excellent supervision for trainees
THE STATS
LOCATIONS
Chief Executive: Claire Rowe

Chairman: Andrew Tubbs
No. of legal advisers firm-wide: 550
No. of partners: 100
Trainee intake: 22
No. of applications per year: 1,600
No. of offices: 9
Basingstoke Birmingham London Manchester
Milton Keynes Northampton Nottingham Reading
Solent
BASE SALARY
2011

Conveyancing Employment Law Advice Legal Disputes
Medical Negligence Motoring Law Personal Injury
Wills, Family & Wealth
240
CONS
Can be little client contact in some seats

Limited socialising due to locations
No international seats
Please note Training Contracts are not offered in the

Basingstoke or London office.
www.shoosmiths.co.uk

Samantha Hope, Graduate Recruitment Officer
www.shoosmiths.co.uk/graduates
SHOOSMITHS
QUOTES
LIFE ON THE JOB
There are plenty of opportunities to take on

responsibility and get really stuck in to the work
at the firm. The trainees are really considered as
part of the team and you are given a good amount
of responsibility and interaction with clients,
although this does depend on the department and
nature of the transaction.
Trainee, Nottingham
My training contract at Shoosmiths has been
extremely rewarding, with more responsibility
and work being provided to you as your training
progresses. Being in an open office allows you to
sit next to or near partners and this is good for
developing your skills, as well as making them a
lot more approachable. You are given access to
clients at an early stage and by your third and
fourth seat you will be the primary contact with
clients on matters you are assisting with. The
work you are given can range from the mundane
to researching and drafting documents that form
part of transactions/agreements and can be both
varied and challenging.

There is no typical day! The work is very varied,
from emails and writing letters to clients, to
drafting documents and making phone calls.
Trainee, Nottingham
Differs slightly for each subject, but the general

approach is: Carry on with work that you are
running the file on, ensuring you complete
everything in time for any deadlines. Throughout
the day you will be given small and larger bits of
work from other members on the team, its up
to you to find out what needs doing and when
for, in order to manage your work load. Trainees
also attend training days both as trainees and as
members of departments and these are usually
once a month depending on the department.
Come 6pm, it is up to the trainee to ensure there
is no outstanding work that needs doing that
evening and the rest of the team doesnt need
further assistance, before heading out of the
office. If transactions are ongoing or it is busy then
you are expected to remain in the office until you
are no longer required, although this is usually
earlier than other members of the team leave the
office.
Culture
The culture is the best thing about the firm. The

offices are all open plan so there is a very friendly
feel to working at Shoosmiths. Everyone is treated
the same, whether you are a partner, solicitor, PA
or trainee. The trainees have a good social life and
support network, usually involving spontaneous
drinks out after work, especially on a Friday!
Trainee, Nottingham
241
The office is open plan which ensures that

everyone is approachable. You will often be
assisting partners and it is good to know that, if
necessary, they are happy to explain situations
or areas you dont understand. Shoosmiths has
been successful in obtaining similar individuals
that are both commercially and technically very
good at their area of law and these individuals are
a good source of development. As there are only
between 5-7 trainees in most offices across both
years, the trainees form close bonds and look to
help each other out when possible. Trainees will
relay their experiences in a given department to
the next trainee moving into that department.
Socially, each office is responsible for organising
their own events. The trainees often go for drinks
or larger planned events that others from the
office are also invited to, and are also responsible
for organising networking events in the local area
on behalf of Shoosmiths.
Seats
Trainees complete four seats over their two-year

training contract with the choice dependent on
the office the trainee is in. The standard five of
property, commercial, litigation, employment
and corporate are available in most of the offices,
with more differing niche subjects available in
each office, e.g. marine litigation, lender services,
regulation and IP. Choice comes down to business
needs, however you are usually granted your first
choice once you are in your second year.
Typically, we do four seats of six months, but
there are always client secondments on offer for
trainees too. Your choice of seat is limited in your
first seat, but after that you always get a say. With
fewer trainees in each office, you tend to get your
first choice of seat each time.
Trainee, Northampton
242
Formal Training
Aside from the SRA mandatory PSC programme,

Shoosmiths has regular training days for each
department. Many training days are also open
to clients and in-house lawyers and trainees are
expected to attend these events to both develop
the necessary skills of the department they are
seated in and to build up potential contacts.
The training days are a good way to develop
technical legal knowledge and skills that are
further developed by working alongside partners
and associates within each department. Soft
skills training courses are also put on (e.g. how to
network, manage your time, etc.) and it is up to
the individual as to whether these are attended,
however, trainees usually attend these courses
unless workloads permit otherwise.
There is departmental training in each team on
a regular basis, often across offices; this often
involves updates on specific areas of law. In
terms of training for trainees, the PSC course is
organised centrally so all the trainees attend the
courses together. There is also training when you
join a new department on the basics of that area
of law which gives you an insight into what you
will be doing as a trainee. Trainees are strongly
encouraged to attend training sessions.
Trainee, Nottingham
Most qualified solicitors, including partners, are

very approachable and will happily provide you
with answers to queries and questions you may
have. Aside from learning the technical aspects,
developing commercial skills that will help both you
and your client in negotiations are valuable lessons.
Appreciating those arguments that arent important
enough to argue over and those that are required
to protect your client are skills picked up from any
qualified solicitor in the firm. Each trainee is assigned
a specific mentor who is usually at least four years
qualified and will supervise you. These individuals
have been selected for their ability to assist with
trainees development and will undertake both the
mid-seat and end-of-seat reviews with the trainee.
The offices are open plan and provide for a better

working environment. The facilities are to be
expected, however, they are not comparable to a
London firm. Dress code is relaxed, ties are only
required when meeting clients or attending court,
and Fridays are dress down days that allow for a
more relaxed environment.
SHOOSMITHS
The solicitors and partners are usually

accessible and are good at supervising trainees.
Its a constant learning curve and most people
are willing to take some time to chat about a
particular matter or transaction to bring
you up to speed.
Trainee, Nottingham
Green Initiatives
Shoosmiths has a new corporate responsibility

director who is very keen to encourage the firms
environmental policy e.g. recycling, etc.
Trainee, Nottingham
All employees are constantly reminded to turn
off both your computer and your screens at the
end of every day. Movement-sensor lights have
been installed in the toilets of all of the offices
and recycling of the copious amounts of paper is
promoted with easily accessible recyclable bins
and secure storage recyclable bins. However,
paper usage is still vast and, as yet, there appears
to be no initiative to reduce this.

upon qualification?
As prepared as possible, in my fourth seat I have
been able to run my own files and supervision was
as minimal as that provided to an NQ.
At the moment Im only in my second seat so it is
difficult to say, but I think the firm will prepare me
well for qualification.
Trainee, Nottingham
diversity
Recruitment is non-discriminatory and based on

merit. The recruitment of women in particular
appears to be promoted as every year of trainees
has a larger number of females. There are no
surveys undertaken as to LGBT or ethnicity as far
as Im aware, but would not imagine either to be a
barrier to recruitment. Maternity leave appears to
be well handled and part-time work is available on
return if requested.
The Nottingham office is right by the train

station, just a short walk from town and has the
best views over Nottingham, which can be a little
distracting when youre trying to work on a sunny
day! The dress code is smart, but no-one wears
suits unless there is a client meeting. Also, it is
dress down day every Friday so jeans and a t-shirt
are perfectly acceptable.
Trainee, Nottingham
Hours
On average trainees work approximately 50 hour

weeks, rising when transactions are on-going
and assistance is needed. Unlike the City, long
hours are only expected when deadlines require
them and it is considered late to be working past
8pm. However, this is countered by the lower
remuneration and therefore lower hours to the
City should be expected.
In my current department I probably work just
over 40 hours a week. This is what I expected on
my training contract, although hours vary between
departments and depending on how busy the
department is.
Trainee, Nottingham
243
The culture varies between departments, but on

average 8:45am to 6:45pm.
Trainee, Reading
Salary
The overall salary has decreased in recent years,

but this is not just limited to this firm, and I think
that compared to other firms of the same size it
is not dissimilar. I know that Im lucky to have a
training contract in the current market so I cant
really complain too much about the salary.
Trainee, Nottingham
In comparison to other firms of Shoosmiths size,
trainees salaries are considerably lower. Although
less hours ensures that comparisons with City
firms is impossible, salaries should have risen
faster.
Perks
50 birthday vouchers and you get your

birthday off! Theres also a yearly bonus and each
department puts on an away day or drinks every
so often.
Trainee, Nottingham
Perks include having a day off for your birthday
and fruit provided for the office.
PLUSES
The approachability of everyone and the

supervision provided to trainees in most cases.
The responsibility granted to allow you client
contact and your own files to run.
The culture, work/life balance and the quality
and variety of work.
Trainee, Nottingham
244
MINUSES
Remuneration, working on a business park that

limits socialising, and the stigma of not working in
the City.
Sometimes there is not as much client contact as
I would have liked.
Trainee, Nottingham

I attended a vacation scheme and then a national
assessment day, which consisted of a group
discussion, role play activity, interview and written
exercise. My interview was with the Nottingham
training principal and a member of the HR team.
The interview was quite relaxed. I was asked a lot
of competency-based questions in comparison
to other interviews, in addition to the usual
questions about why I wanted to work in law, and
why I had chosen the firm.
Trainee, Nottingham
There were three stages: Telephone interview,

group assessment day and formal interview. I did a
vac scheme which helped.
Trainee, Reading
Vacation schemes provide for potentially
easier access to a training contract. Aside from
vacation schemes, assessment days are held
where students are expected to spend the day
undertaking standard tasks, including group
tasks and interviews with HR/partners. My
interview was with a partner during my vacation
scheme and involved a small presentation and
questions with the partner. Questions included
the challenges facing law firms, why law, current
affairs that interested me, etc.
Candidates should be confident and ready to

apply their skills to tasks when asked, as well
as well-rounded as an individual (e.g. outside
interests). Cockiness and stuffiness are best
avoided, however, it is best to be your natural
self as its hard to keep up a facade for the full
two years. Students from universities close to
a particular office (e.g. Southampton Uni and
the Southampton office) are more likely to gain
attention for their applications. Soft skills include
the ability to use your initiative and impress
everyone, not just the partners.
The firm doesnt really look for a type of
candidate, but they should be keen to learn,
reliable and hardworking, but also up for having a
good time. The firm doesnt recruit from specific
universities, but does ask for a 2:1. Shoosmiths
is also keen on recruiting people with local
connections, for example if you have been to
university in the area.
Trainee, Nottingham
I attended four vacation schemes and was

fortunate enough to get training contract offers
for all of them. I chose Shoosmiths because of its
culture, and because I had felt as if I had fitted in
well during my vacation scheme. The staff were
very approachable and really made the effort to
get you involved. I was also given real work to
do and a memo on a piece of research I did was
sent out to a client, so I felt like I had achieved
something during my vacation scheme.
Trainee, Nottingham
SHOOSMITHS
Tips & Advice
The work/life balance, and the potential for

developing my legal skills under the direct
supervision of partners who are market leaders
and easily accessible.
Go online for
more quotes on
Shoosmiths and
other law firms
245

Shoosmiths may not be a large international
law firm, but it certainly is a big national player.
With nine offices scattered across the country,
Shoosmiths has over 100 partners on board
and can boast an overall personnel of more
than 1,400. If you fancy becoming part of the
Shoosmiths family, you can expect a relatively
small intake of up to 22 trainees which of course
means it wont be easy to land a training contract
unless you fulfil some of the basics.
Like most law firms, Shoosmiths is after candidates
with good communications skills on both a
written and verbal level. The firm doesnt really
look for a type of candidate says one trainee,
but applicants should be keen to learn, reliable
and hardworking. A 2:1 is a definite must and
although Shoosmiths doesnt recruit from specific
universities, the firm is eager to hire people
with local connections so if youve gone to a
uni in the area, make it work to your advantage.
Also remember to show off your organisational
qualities as Shoosmiths wants candidates who
can work independently and under minimal
supervision.
The firm is eager to hire people with

local connections so if youve gone
to a uni in the area, make it work to
your advantage.
Trainees do four six-month seats in various
departments. Theres a standard of five
departments available in most of the offices,
including property, commercial, litigation,
employment and corporate. However, you can
also pick some niche areas such as marine
litigation, lender services, regulation and IP.
International opportunities dont currently
exist, but were told there are always client
secondments on offer for trainees.
246
Although there are no compulsory seats, trainees

will have to sit in three separate areas, which
include contentious and non-contentious work.
If this sounds good to you, then begin by
completing the firms online application form.
If you make the cut you can look forward to
a telephone interview before being invited to
the national assessment day which usually
consists of a group discussion, role play activities,
a written exercise, and a further interview with
up to two people. One successful applicant
described the interview as quite relaxed with a
lot of competency-based questions, in addition
to the usual questions about why law, and why
Shoosmiths in particular. So ensure you come
armed with a host of answers to the typical
competency questions. Youll probably be pleased
to hear there wont be any psychometric tests
to take, which means you can concentrate on all
the other areas of the assessment. For the group
exercise in particular, its important to be seen
so dont be shy and speak up. If youre successful
with your application, you might also be invited
back for an informal meet the team event, which
should put you at ease before you embark on your
training contract.
Vacation Schemes
If youre after a career with Shoosmiths, keep
in mind that vacation schemes provide for
potentially easier access to a training contract.
The firm offers two-week vacation schemes, which
run during the summer from June to August. Its
definitely a good way to get your foot in the door
so dont miss the opportunity. Law students in
their penultimate year and non-law students in
their final year can apply for the summer scheme.
You are likely to spend your time in one or two
of Shoosmiths departments working next to
partners, lawyers and current trainees who are
said to really make the effort to get you involved
during your time there.
Shoosmiths is the original national UK law firm.

And though it had a nationwide network and
successful lines in debt recovery and personal
injury by the beginning of the 21st century,
Shoosmiths real steps into the big league
came with the opening of a new site in the
primary business centre of Birmingham, in 2003.
Outposts followed in Nottingham in 2007 and
Manchester and London in 2008, adding to its
offices in Milton Keynes, Basingstoke, Reading,
Solent and Northampton HQ.
The firms client roster includes a

broad range of household names,
such as McDonalds, Next, Volkswagen,
Nissan, HBOS, ING Direct, Zurich and the
Open University.
Shoosmiths has since grown steadily, building
on a fairly unique practice mix that sets it apart
from its rivals. The increase in personnel provides
a solid indication of Shoosmiths growth since
the turn of the millennium, with the number of
partners almost doubling to over 100 and the
staff swelling to more than 1,400.
In 2002, Shoosmiths started bagging contracts
with blue-chip companies. Despite being
relatively unglamorous work, these deals
demonstrated to the industry Shoosmiths
proficiency in dealing with complex legal matters.
Building on this reputation, Shoosmiths has since
become known for property work, dealing with
PI for clients of insurance companies and, most
recently, its corporate deals where it boasts
successful mid-market M&A and AIM practices.
There are a number of factors that set

Shoosmiths apart from other leading law
firms. As well as opening its partnership ranks
to non-lawyers, Shoosmiths has an unusual
practice mix. Today, Shoosmiths operations
are broken into five ostensibly standard legal
areas: commercial property, residential property,
corporate/commercial, employment, and dispute
resolution. However, few firms have such sizeable
commercial teams, property expertise and
practices in debt recovery, marine law, personal
injury, private client and mortgages. As such,
the majority of Shoosmiths clients use the firm
for specific areas rather than as a one-stop legal
shop. The firms client roster includes a broad
range of household names, such as McDonalds,
Next, Volkswagen, Nissan, HBOS, ING Direct,
Zurich and the Open University.
SHOOSMITHS
FIRM PROFILE
Ethnic minority and gender diversity are

considered across partners, trainees and
paralegals.
Shoosmiths devotes considerable resources
to making sure there is diversity within its
workforce, and was subsequently ranked in the
top 10 of the Diversity League Table compiled by
the Black Solicitors Network. Ethnic minority and
gender diversity are considered across partners,
trainees and paralegals. The recruitment of
women especially has improved, as one trainee
notes that every year of trainees has a larger
number of females.
247
248
Born of a NY/Chicago merger, Sidley Austin LLP has garnered a reputation in the City for its structured
finance and securitisation practice. The firms major work also includes M&A, capital markets, corporate
reorganisation and bankruptcy, regulatory, insurance, funds and dispute resolution. With 110 lawyers, it
has one of the largest London offices for a US law firm.
PROS
Lots of opportunities for informal training,

associates especially are very approachable and
a good source of advice
Hands on experience from the start, and high
quality work
Magic Circle level work divided amongst a much
smaller trainee intake
Very good pay
Although the firm is one of the largest in the
world, the London office has a small, relaxed
and collegial atmosphere
THE STATS
London Partners: 39
London Associates/Counsel: 73
SIDLEY AUSTIN
SIDLEY AUSTIN
CONS
Unpredictability of the work load means hours

vary
Long hours in certain departments
Heavily finance-orientated, so make sure you
enjoy it
While the trainee group is very close, a strong
socialising culture is lacking not that many
firm social events
Trainees are thrown in at the deep end
Investment Funds Insurance Intellectual Property Real

Estate & Real Estate Finance Tax
LOCATIONS
BASE SALARY
No. of offices: 17
Beijing Brussels Chicago Dallas Frankfurt Geneva
Hong Kong London Los Angeles New York Palo Alto
San Francisco Shanghai Singapore Sydney Tokyo
Washington DC
LONDON 2011
1 year PQE 81,500
2 years PQE 91,500
3 years PQE 101,000
LONDON OFFICE
Woolgate Exchange
25 Basinghall Street
London EC2V 5HA
Tel: +44 (0)20 7360 3600
www.sidley.com
Corporate Competition Corporate Reorganisation &

Bankruptcy Debt & Equity Capital Markets Dispute
Resolution International Finance, including Structured
Finance, Debt Restructuring and Derivatives Employment
Financial Services Regulatory Hedge Funds & Other
Lucy Slater
Tel: +44 (0)20 7360 3600
Email: lslater@sidley.com
249
QUOTES
LIFE ON THE JOB
I am satisfied with the work I have been given.

Being part of a smaller intake ensures you
are given a broad range of work and lots of
responsibility early on. I have had direct client
contact, assisted on large transactions, as well as
performing the usual trainee tasks such as drafting
and due diligence.
Trainee
The quality of the work is excellent if you get

involved in the correct transaction. However, I
have found that in some seats you end up doing
non-chargeable practice development work.
In my international finance seat I managed my
own transaction with very little partner support,
although this was certainly being thrown in at the
deep end, I did learn a lot. Ive had chances to
interact with both clients and colleagues in other
offices from whom we get work. The nature of the
deals we are exposed to range from multi-national
securitisations to discrete research tasks and
bibling.
Trainee
I think the learning curve is huge at Sidley Austin.

Some departments are such that you learn
nothing about their area of law on the GDL/LPC
and as such, are thrown in at the deep end. There
is, however, a great deal of support. I am sitting
with a partner at the moment and this is not a
rarity.
Trainee
in the law which I or my supervisor should be

aware of. I will then check with the team to
progress any tasks which might require my
assistance and action any instructions given. Tasks
commonly involve due diligence or marking-up
any transactional documents. In performing such
tasks you will have to liaise with various groups
within Sidley as well as the client directly. Trips to
Companies House are a common occurrence as
well as attending conference calls.
Trainee
250
A typical day at work involves checking your

Blackberry before you leave home to see if
anything has come in overnight and responding
accordingly. Upon arriving at work, I usually scan
email updates to check for any developments
With the downturn in the market, there has

not been as much exposure as one would
hope to have in their training to transactional
work. However that being said, when there is a
transaction, in my experience as a trainee, I have
been given a fair amount of responsibility. This
includes dealing directly with partners, liaising
with the clients on a daily basis, and attending
client meeting and negotiations with the other
partys counsel.
Trainee
If I am working on a transaction, it can be mainly
taken up with reviewing and drafting the tax
clauses in the various agreements, having related
discussions with the partner and often researching
specific areas of tax law that are in point. Some
days can be quite research-based, as I try to get to
grips with some of the finer points of tax law, and
so several hours can be spent in the books.
Culture
The firm holds various social events on a firmwide scale, including a Christmas party and
summer barbecues. Other firm-sponsored events
include sending two teams to compete in the
Manches Cup and weekly softball games in the
summer. Otherwise, on an informal basis, I often
go for drinks, lunch or dinner with those solicitors
who joined the firm with me, or with members of
my group.
As there are not a huge number of trainees, the
trainee group is very tight and we have lunch
together and sometimes drinks on a Friday. The
firm does not arrange a whole heap of stuff
for trainees, but nevertheless we are all good
friends.
Trainee
The firms culture is quite relaxed and there
is very much an open-door policy at the firm.
At every level, I have found all colleagues to be
very approachable. As regards the social culture,
there is not perhaps as strong a socialising culture
as there may be at other firms. This may have
something to do with the nature of the hours
working at an American law firm, however, there
are social functions and gatherings organised
throughout the year, and trainee socialising is very
much ad hoc.
Trainee
There are a small number of trainees and as
such, strong bonds are formed and support is
offered all round. During the winter, socialising
doesnt occur as much but come spring/summer
there are lots of sporting activities and BBQS, etc.
to indulge in.
Trainee
Seats
Trainees typically do four seats, although some

of the seats are for three months only (e.g., tax),
giving trainees the option to work in a few more
practice areas. The firm offers one seat abroad in
our Brussels office. As a first year trainee, there
is no choice for the first seat, which is allocated
by the firm. There is, however, trainee input
for the second and any later seats. While the
process is a bit non-transparent, the firm attempts
to accommodate trainees wishes as much as
possible, and appears to do a good job at that.
Trainee
SIDLEY AUSTIN
It may sound like a clich, but it is fair to say

that there is not a typical day at the office. It
can range from dealing directly with clients on a
transaction to conducting legal research for ones
supervisor or other colleagues in the department.
Trainee
4-6 seats. There are plenty of departments to

choose from: Litigation and Dispute Resolution,
Regulatory, Finance, Capital Markets, Corporate,
Commercial, Competition, Insurance and
Reinsurance, Employment and Tax. Depending
on how popular your seat is, you have fairly good
chances of getting your choices. The only seat
abroad at the moment is Brussels (Competition
and a tiny bit of WTO) Sidleys may be an
American firm, but no US seats for the time
being...
Trainee
We are kept informed by email, or through

individual conversations with the partners we
work under. There is the occasional town hall
meeting during which time the firms business and
strategy are discussed. An associates committee
is tasked with putting forward the views of
associates to the partnership.
Individual partners are very accessible. As a
partnership that is led out of Chicago, there could
be more communication that is more Londonfocused. We have an associate committee that
gets associate views heard.
251
Formal Training
There are internal training sessions organised

throughout the course of the training contract to
supplement the professional skills course. There is
very much a practical emphasis on these sessions
and they are taken seriously. It is compulsory
to attend, unless ones supervisor has indicated
otherwise (which tends not to be the case!). The
majority of the sessions are focused on honing
in on legal skills. An example of a legal skill that I
have worked on is my drafting skills, and a nonlegal skill would include drafting of letters, etc.
Trainee
The training programme has improved over
the course of the year, and the addition of DIY
training where a trainee is required to give a
presentation on any (legal) subject of their choice
has been particularly useful. However, there
is a tendency to change and postpone training
sessions which makes you question how seriously
the presenters take them, though when they do
take place they are usually of a very high quality
and almost always have the effect of making you
want to do a seat with the relevant department.
Trainee
A counsel is in charge of organising our trainee
training and it is done very well. A wide range
of topics are covered. On top of that, there are
a huge number of department specific training
sessions which take place monthly. I have taken
part in a number of subject specific training
sessions as well as a session, organised by the firm
but opened to clients, which taught us how to
network.
Trainee
Training on-the-job happens on a daily basis.

Partners are very accessible and do make good
mentors. As all trainees share their office with a
partner or senior associate, you learn all sorts of
skills by osmosis during your training contract. I
would say I learn new things on a weekly basis.
252
Sidley Austin runs an open-door policy and as

such, associates and partners are, technically,
always available. As with any firm, this doesnt
always work when times are particularly busy
but on the whole, it seems to be the case. A lot
of our training is informal. You are always able
to ask questions and if youre given work to do
on a topic, or a transaction commences, which
you have not come into contact with previously,
someone will always be on hand to fill you in.
Trainee
Most of the associates and partners are very
approachable, and are happy to take the time to
explain things. A majority of the supervisors are
particularly concerned that their trainees receive
enough of the right training and make an effort
to ensure that this is the case. In addition to the
more formal training, most of the solicitors will
make an effort to see that you join conference
calls and have some interaction with clients so
that you can develop non-legal skills as well.
Trainee
Supervisors are good mentors. They provide
feedback, but not on all tasks (but you can always
ask for feedback). A trainee solicitor has two
appraisals in each six month seat. Solicitors are
accessible and like talking to trainees, however, it
does not mean that you can spend all day talking
about football.
Trainee
Career Prospects
It is not that easy to become partner business

need determines, but already quite partner
heavy. Not that transparent as to what allows
for promotion, but ability to bring in clients is
important so quality of work, client network and
reviews are important.
In five years, I should be CTA qualified and know

a lot more about tax law and be able to more or
less get on with my work autonomously without
so much partner overview. In 10 years time, I
should hope to be a partner. The law has allowed
me to work in high-end City law, working with
highly sophisticated people at the firm and on
the client side. Once I decided to work in law,
it was always my desire to do so in a top City
environment and I think I have achieved that. Also,
I think that the skills obtained here could open
other doors in the future.
Mid-level associate in five years and hopefully
partner in 10. Moving in-house is an option.
Pro Bono
I know some lawyers do work on pro bono

matters... Once the billable hours target is
reached, pro bono hours can be taken into
account for bonus purposes. I have worked on two
pro bono matters including the incorporation of an
after-school club providing educational facilities,
and in respect of a lease of premises for a charity.
Green Initiatives
Recycling of paper, electronic storage of

documents, energy efficient lights.
Trainee
It is no longer firm policy to produce paper files,
and recycling facilities are available on
every floor.
Recycling is encouraged everywhere (paper,
plastic, cans) but that is about it.
Trainee
Diversity
The firm is committed to diversity and I believe

it to be staffed with diverse lawyers in all its
offices. We have had numerous talks on diversity
and there is a diversity committee. There is also a
womens committee.
SIDLEY AUSTIN

Four women partners out of a total of 39.

At associate level it is quite even. The firm is
committed to improving female promotion.
The firm has an active womens committee and
scores in the top 10 most diverse firms in the UK.
Retention rates are high and you see solicitors
who have trained with the firm now making
partner. The firm has a good maternity policy.
Trainee
8 out of 10 of this years trainees are women.
Trainee
Offices & Dress
The dress code is business casual. There is a lot

of space in the office. The maximum number of
lawyers per room is two. Trainees have their own
wardrobes, Blackberries, a lot of shelf space, huge
desks, and comfortable chairs. There are kitchens
with microwaves and fridges in the office, and a
restaurant downstairs. The office is modern, new
and located in a quiet area between Moorgate and
Bank tube stations.
Trainee
The offices are high standard, with an open-door
policy. Sharing an office with your supervisor is
a mixed bag excellent for access to him or her,
but at times a drag on efficiency with meetings
or teleconferences going on while trying to focus
on something else. As for the dress code, smart
casual for most days will suffice, unless there is a
client meeting or other out-of-the-office activity.
Trainee
253
Good office facilities with a lovely terrace which

is accessible during the summer. The building has
a decent gym and canteen. We are located in the
City with good transport links. The firm operates
a business-casual dress code, people will notice if
you wear suit!
Trainee
Dress code is business casual; as long as you are
not sporting jeans and trainers you can get away
with fairly informal dress. The location, facilities
and office space are all great, but compared to
some other firms the food served in the firms
kitchen and the office buildings canteen doesnt
really measure up.
Trainee

upon qualification?
I can see how much I have learnt already, but
still feel like there is a long way to go. I am sure by
the time qualification comes round I will have the
necessary skills required.
Trainee
Get more and more prepared each day. I believe I
have been building up confidence in myself as the
training is going.
Trainee
More and more by the day, but nowhere near
100%.
Trainee
9.30am 6.30pm are the key hours with an

hour for lunch. No one minds if you have to leave
early or have an appointment during the day. If
required, you may need to stay late and may need
to stay late several nights/weeks in a row. Dinner
and taxis are provided and as you are busy, staying
isnt too painful.
Trainee
The number of hours can vary a lot, depending
on which department you sit in. Being an
American firm, there is an expectation of
long hours, which has been the case in more
transactional seats and less so in the advisory
seats.
Trainee
Hours are generally good. There have been a few
late nights in the run-up to signing a transaction
which is naturally to be expected. The start
time is flexible and on average, one would work
approximately 9-10 hours per day.
Trainee
Salary
You may be able to get a bonus if you bill more

than a certain number of hours a year.
Better than other law firms.
Trainee
I am very happy with it.
Trainee
Perks

Hours
I work no more than my friends in other City

firms and in some cases, I work less. I am yet to do
an all-nighter!
Trainee
254
Free dinners, sailing weekends, contribution to

gym membership, season ticket loan, Christmas
party, summer party, themed Halloween party for
families (which is amazing and very elaborate, bit
like walking into a film set.).
Trainee
Delicious free meal if I stay later than 9pm,

private medical insurance, pension, eye screening
and prescription allowance, gym membership,
season ticket loan, free flu vaccination, free lunch
when you attend training.
Trainee
Pluses
I have made some genuinely good friends, the

work/life balance is fantastic from my point of
view and I seldom have to do any drudge-work,
which is the lot of junior lawyers elsewhere from
what I hear. In tax, I feel I have the opportunity
regularly to stretch myself intellectually which
can be stressful but its important for me to be
academically challenged.
Small, and work closely with partners.
High quality work, friendly and bright lawyers,
supportive colleagues, very good training, various
networking events, things like the Manches Cup
Regatta an annual sailing event for law firms,
Christmas parties, mentoring scheme.
Trainee
You get a lot more responsibility early on and get
good quality work. Everybody is very friendly so
you always have someone you can go to with a
question. The pay is also good!
Trainee
Minuses
Sometimes long hours (depending on the

department you work in), days when you dont
have much to do in the morning and all of a
sudden you are swamped with work around 4pm.
Trainee
Sometimes I feel the instructions I get when

things are busy are not as clear as they could
be which adds to the stress of the situation,
especially when Im not convinced I know whats
expected of me.
SIDLEY AUSTIN
We take part in the Manches Cup, a weekend

of sailing and fun as we make our way from Port
Hamble to the Isle of Wight and back again.
Trainee
Lack of firm arranged social events.

Trainee
Working for a US firm your clients are often stateside, therefore the time difference often requires
you to work late to meet with their working
hours.
Trainee
Fun Facts
We can claim Barack and Michelle Obama as

former colleagues.
Trainee
My firm organises an annual Halloween party
in the office. The conference rooms become,
for example, Alice in Wonderland realm for
one evening. You cannot recognise your office!
Personnel can bring their kids who play with live
animals (spiders, snakes and so on.).
Trainee

There was only one interview with two partners

followed by a coffee discussion with a current
trainee. The interview was one hour long and
combined general questions about my interests,
my studies to date, and then focused problemsolving questions.
Trainee
255
There was one round of interview with two

partners. There was no assessment day, the
questions at interview ranged from the technical
to the commercial to the personal.
Trainee
There is one interview with two partners and a
verbal reasoning test. Questions at my interview
related to my CV, career plans, and some technical
questions concerning current awareness and my
Master thesis. The interview was not stressful as
the partners were very nice.
Trainee
There was just one round of interview and some
online aptitude tests. This doesnt mean that it
was easier than other firms...
Trainee
Tips & Advice
The academic requirements looked for are

typically high. The firm did use to be a structured
finance niche, but now it has diversified into other
areas. All candidates would need to have a distinct
interest in working in commercial law.
Be up to date on current developments in the
business and finance world. Read the business
pages of a broad sheet newspaper and the FT if
possible.
Trainee
My firm is looking for people who are bright, and
have outstanding academic qualifications. People
who are interested in the commercial world, and
the world of finance in particular. People who are
sociable. Youll need to have a minimum of three
A-levels (at least two A grades and one B), and
to have (or be expected to achieve) at least a 2:1
degree or equivalent (not necessarily in law). My
firm hires trainees from various universities if they
fulfil the above criteria.
Trainee
256
Though the firm looks for strong academics

results, they also want people who will make a
good fit. You need to be able to demonstrate an
ability to think on your feet and an interest in the
work the firm does.
Trainee
We often work opposite Magic Circle firms

therefore you have exposure to high quality work
but amongst a smaller intake, ensuring you get
good exposure to good quality work whilst not
being lost in the crowd.
Trainee
I thought the firm would offer top-end
commercial work in a smaller, more intimate
environment where a trainee or junior associate
could make a larger impression.
Outstanding reputation, small intake of trainees
10 per year, high quality work, headquarters in
Chicago, great perks and rewarding salary.
Trainee
They have a good reputation in the work they
do, especially in the financial sector. I am quite
interested in the work they do.
Trainee
SIDLEY AUSTIN

With 17 offices scattered around the world, Sidley
is a global firm. While applicants dont necessarily
need to come from an international background,
you should recognise the firms international
approach to work. The London office takes on a
small number of trainees, with only 10 training
contracts available for outstanding candidates.
Hence excellent academic qualifications are a
prerequisite the firm expects applicants to have
achieved at least two As and one B at A-level, and
a 2:1 degree in either law or a non-legal discipline.
However, its not just about proving youve got the
intellectual stamina, but also about demonstrating
a genuine interest in the work the firm does,
especially in finance. As one trainee advises,
be up to date on current developments in the
business and finance world. Read the business
pages of a broad sheet newspaper and the FT if
possible. You also need to show youve got the
communication skills to work well in teams and
interact with clients appropriately. Sidley wants
people who are hard working, sociable and
friendly, so that they will fit in with the firms
culture.
Be up to date on current developments

in the business and finance world. Read
the business pages of a broad sheet
newspaper and the FT if possible.
Training opportunities particularly reflect Sidleys
open-door policy, which encourages trainees to
just pop in anyones office and ask any question
that we have. Solicitors and partners are very
accessible and are said to make good mentors.
The formal training programme is taken seriously,
and the firm organises training sessions across the
office and for the particular practice groups.
During the training contract, trainees typically

do four seats, although some of the seats are
for three months only, allowing for more choice.
There is also the opportunity to complete a seat
in the firms Brussels office so its worth polishing
up your French as the foreign seat is very popular.
Expect the quality of the work to be very good and
the nature of the work youll be doing to range
from multi-national securitisations to discrete
research tasks and bibling.
An online application kicks off the recruitment
process and if successful, candidates will have to
complete a short online aptitude test, followed
by a one-hour interview with two partners. There
may not be any assessment days, but this doesnt
mean that it is easier than other firms to obtain
a coveted training contract. Expect to be grilled
on a range of topics varying from the technical to
the commercial and to the personal. Questions
will also focus on your career plans and your
commercial acumen, and although the interview
will be pretty intense, it is not stressful as the
partners are very nice.
257
FIRM PROFILE
Chicago based Sidley Austin first opened
in London as a US law office, in 1974. After
converting into a multinational practice in 1994,
it merged with New York firm Brown & Wood,
in 2001. The alliance gave Sidley a combined
222 years of experience and some 80 lawyers,
many of whom worked in structured finance and
securitisation making the firm a real competitor
to the Magic Circle in this sector. However,
compared to its UK rivals, Sidley has a relatively
small City headcount with 110 English and USqualified lawyers currently practising in the firms
London office.
The management is all British over

here, and has a say in every
crucial decision.
Since the merger, Sidley Austin LLP has expanded
into Europe and beyond its comfort zone in
finance which is an impressive undertaking
given the impact of the subprime mortgage crisis
on the industry. Apart from international finance,
the firms major work also includes M&A, capital
markets, corporate reorganisation and bankruptcy,
regulatory, insurance, funds and dispute
resolution.
Sidleys corporate practice in London doesnt
enjoy the reputation of its US counterpart, mainly
due to the lack of headline-grabbing M&A deals.
Owing to this, Sidley is often wrongly overlooked
on the list of successful US firms in the City. The
London office has worked on high profile M&A
deals, such as acting for FLIR Systems Inc. in
relation to the acquisition of Raymarine, listed
on the London Stock Exchange, and can boast
involvement in highly intricate transactions and
some of its domestic and cross-border legal advice
258
enjoys international renown. Particularly the

firms corporate reorganisation and bankruptcy
department has established itself prominently
in the market. Other City work includes tax, real
estate, competition, employment, intellectual
property and commercial.
While Sidleys presence in Europe extends to
Brussels, Frankfurt and Geneva, the London
outpost is the firms largest in Europe. In spite
of the firms US roots, its approach to London
is distinctly Anglophile. The management is all
British over here, and has a say in every crucial
decision. London lawyers focus on domestic and
cross-border matters, and have been involved in
major transactions, such as acting for Western
Union in relation to its acquisition of Travelex
Global Business Payments division, a leading
specialist provider of international business
payments, for 606 million in cash. The global
outlook of the firm is reflected across all of its
practices. Londons structured debt finance group,
for instance, forms part of an international team
of 200 lawyers who operate across Europe, Asia
and the US.
Apart from offering world-class legal services,
Sidley Austin LLP is also involved in pro bono
work with the firms employees dedicating more
than 86,000 hours to pro bono projects in 2010.
Current US initiatives involve the Political Asylum
and Immigrants Rights Project and the Veterans
Benefits Project. In the UK, London lawyers have
been involved in providing legal advice to not-forprofit organisations such as the Community Youth
Provisions Association, the Hawkesbury After
School Club and Watford Womens Centre.
Work for SIDLEY AUSTIN

(advertisement)
TRAINING CONTRACT
WHEN TO APPLY
Sidley Austin is one of the worlds largest full-service law

firms, providing a broad range of services to meet the
needs of businesses across a multitude of industries,
financial institutions, governments and individuals. We
are looking for candidates from both law and non-law
disciplines who are focused, intelligent and enthusiastic with
personality, humour and a real interest in practising law in
the commercial world. You will need to have a minimum of
three A-Levels (AAB), and to have (or be expected to achieve)
at least a 2.1 degree. Trainees will have the opportunity
to spend up to six months in at least four of our practice
groups: corporate, competition, corporate reorganisation
and bankruptcy, debt and equity capital markets, debt
restructuring, debt finance including structured finance, debt
restructuring and derivatives, employment, financial services
regulatory, hedge funds, insurance, IP/IT, litigation, real
estate and real estate finance, tax.
For the September 2013/2014 training contract, the

deadline is 31st July 2012 .
SIDLEY AUSTIN
JOBS
SALARY
On joining 39,000 per annum, increasing to 43,000 in
second year.
VACANCIES
We offer up to 10 training contracts each year, taking
great care with the selection of each trainee.
HOW TO APPLY
Name: Lucy Slater
Email: ukrecruitment@sidley.com
Tel: 020 7360 2016
Website: www.sidley.com
259
Exceptional service
to exceptional clients
Slaughter and May is widely regarded as one of the most
prestigious law firms in the world. Because of our reputation
for excellence, we are often appointed as legal advisers to
leading companies on high profile and landmark
international transactions.
If you want to work on complex and challenging deals for
high calibre clients, and have a good 2:1 degree or better
(not necessarily in law), then this could be the firm for you.
260
To find out more about career opportunities,

visit slaughterandmay.com
Somewhat of an anomaly, this Magic Circle firm has a smaller headcount and fewer international offices
than most. However, Slaughter and May has secured domestic domination as the most profitable firm in
the City and has never lost a partner to another firm. Hows that for a little Magic?
PROS
Biggest and best work around

Excellent informal training from supervisors and
associates
The name to have on your CV
High degree of responsibility from the start
Generous fixed percentage bonuses for
everyone
CONS
Hierarchical structure and rigid up or out

policy
High pressure and expectations
Lack of transparency on firm decisions
Very difficult to make partner
THE STATS
LOCATIONS
No. of lawyers firm-wide: Approx. 730

London Associates: 350+
London trainees retained: over 90%
No. of offices: 4
Beijing Brussels Hong Kong London
BASE SALARY
LONDON 2011
SLAUGHTER AND MAY
SLAUGHTER AND MAY
LONDON OFFICE
One Bunhill Row
London EC1Y 8YY
Tel: +44 (0)20 7600 1200
www.slaughterandmay.com

Trainee Recruitment Team
Tel: +44 (0)20 7600 1200
Email: trainee.recruit@slaughterandmay.com

Asset Management Capital Markets Commercial Real
Estate Competition Corporate and Commercial
Corporate Recovery and Insolvency Dispute Resolution
Environment Financial Regulation Financing
Information Technology Infrastructure, Energy and
Natural Resources Intellectual Property Mergers and
Acquisitions Outsourcing Pensions and Employment
Private Equity Sport Tax
261
QUOTES
LIFE ON THE JOB
I have been given a wide variety of tasks, ranging

from the more tedious (photocopying although
this is rare) to a variety of interesting research
issues and a number of case management
tasks. Interaction with clients is limited in my
department, especially given that this is my first
seat; however I have met clients a few times.
Direct contact with partners is very, very high. I
currently share an office with a partner and the
partners ensure that they are aware of what
is going on in the group and regularly speak to
individuals at all levels in the department.
First year trainee
A partner reviews your training diary once
a month and partners regularly give training
sessions for trainees. The deals, particularly in
corporate, are often big and headline-grabbing
and the clients are household names. As a
trainee, this is great experience and helps get you
through the less exciting work that comes your
way. Partners and supervisors are not scared to
give you responsibility either. Trainees drafting
documents is common.
First year trainee
I have had a really good and varied experience
of the firms work so far. I have dealt directly with
clients, organised (fairly straightforward!) matters
on my own for partners directly and have enjoyed
a range of work within each seat. I have worked
on an international joint venture, a scheme of
arrangement for an insurance firm, a private
acquisition, various tax issues, ongoing litigation
involving a large privately-owned company, a
cartel investigation and derivatives litigation.
First year trainee
262
The step up to NQ has been a steep one, but

this is a positive thing I now have far more
responsibility and client contact and receive much
more challenging and satisfying work.

There is no typical day its driven by the work.
So on a day I dont have anything scheduled I
usually get in by 9.30 but there are days when
I need to be in earlier to be on top of things.
Similarly there are days when I leave at 5.30 and
days when I work through the night (though not
many of those lately!). Sometimes you may not
have slept all night or it may be hectic from early
in the morning, sometimes the day is very quiet
until around 4pm and then the work kicks off. It
means that no two days are the same.
First year trainee
In support departments, research is more

common. In corporate or finance, trainees will be
asked to do all sorts from bog-standard copychecking or bible-building through to amending
documents, handling process matters (update
emails, etc.), and even, on occasions, taking
responsibility for documents and drafting. Going
to a meeting is not uncommon. There will typically
be one or two trainee training sessions in a week
and often a group meeting.
First year trainee
Calls with clients, perhaps face-to-face meetings,
discussing significant issues with partners,
drafting, negotiating, and researching.
Culture
Slaughter and May seem to choose like-minded

people so we all get on well, socialise together
and are good friends. However actual social
events organised by the firm for trainees are
fairly limited.
First year trainee
Trainees are generally friendly and supportive.
There are several social and sports clubs
available, as well as a range of corporate-sponsor
promotional offers. People frequently go for
drinks at the local pub on Thursdays and Fridays.
The atmosphere is extremely professional and
organised. The firm is generally quite conservative
in terms of business practice but very openminded in other terms.
First year trainee
Theres a very good support structure. During a
period when I was working really late, I had a call
from HR to ask if I was okay and whether they
could do anything to help... Ive always found
co-trainees willing and eager to help me out when
Ive been swamped, and have equally taken on
work for others. I wont say it cant be tough at
times it can be very tough at times but its
made easier by the fact that the environment
helps you deal with it. The atmosphere is very
collegiate trainees tend to lunch together and
if were staying later we go for dinner together.
Fridays after work drinks at the Artillery Arms are
a staple.
First year trainee
The atmosphere in the office is friendly but
reserved. There are no billable hours targets
or weighted pay, which means there is no
competition between any fee-earners.
First year trainee
Friendly culture, partners are approachable and

dont leave you totally alone to get on with work
without making sure youre okay, etc. Open office
culture so I feel I can ask other associates anything
if I have questions. Trainees (by and large) are
treated as equals.
SLAUGHTER AND MAY
Days vary from seat to seat. My current seat is

mainly research and analysis but my previous seat
(within the same department but with a different
supervisor) involved lots of drafting and attending
meetings with clients and other counsel.
Second year trainee
It largely depends on the partner, but on

a day-to-day basis in a transaction, Ive had
good experience so far. I dont feel like we can
contribute to firm-wide decisions much (although
if I felt very strongly about something, I could
approach a partner and feel it would make a
difference.).
The firm is not renowned for openness this is
a reputation that is both deserved and that the
partnership seems disinterested in changing. The
general impression is that non-partners do not
contribute to firm-wide decisions in any way
though whether or not this is true is hard to tell,
given the firms opaque power structure.
There is generally a feeling that the partners do
not keep associates well-informed of firm-wide
decisions; however, I have never felt unfairly/
unexpectedly out of the loop.
SEATS
Every trainee will do six months in a corporate

seat and most will do another six months in a
finance seat and you choose before you start you
training contract. You are allocated all your seats
before you arrive, but these can be changed. You
can do a seat abroad. There is a big choice. Seats
abroad will be with one of the firms best friend
firms and there are three competition trainees at
any one time in Brussels.
First year trainee
263
Trainees typically do four six-month seats.

However, there are a number of three month
seats available as well, which means that you
may end up doing six seats in total. In terms of
departments, you can sit in corporate and finance
(we have numerous groups for each), dispute
resolution, competition, intellectual property,
commercial real estate, pensions & employment,
tax and financial regulation. There is a fair amount
of choice. You have to spend 12 months in either
corporate or finance, although six of these can be
abroad or in financial regulation.
First year trainee
If one of your seats in your second year is a
corporate/financing seat (CoCoFin as it is called),
you can request a secondment. These are quite
competitive but the network of best friend firms
means that there are quite a few options to
choose from I know people who have gone to
New York, Tokyo, Shanghai, Paris, Milan, Auckland,
Stockholm and Sydney! But the secondments are
really very competitive and you cant presume
youll get one. If youre sitting in competition, then
you might be sent to Brussels for three months.
First year trainee
Formal Training
There is a great deal of training, most of which is

compulsory. The training is of a very high quality
and supervisors ensure that trainees are mostly
able to attend (unless there is some very urgent
work). Training records are monitored closely
and it is taken very seriously. Training covers
legal topics as well as accounting, commercial
awareness, communication skills and advocacy.
First year trainee
The training sessions here are excellent; I
constantly refer to them during my seat and find
them useful in my day-to-day work. There is also
a lot of training to cover most aspects of the work
carried out, so that trainees can be exposed to
tricky concepts and familiarise themselves with it
in their own time, making working life that little
bit easier I would say.
First year trainee
264
The training programme here is seriously good;

there is a lot of training and it is well thought out
and extensive. In addition to training required by
the SRA, the firm offers specialised department
training for trainees in each seat, and there are
regular outside speakers who generally offer
updates in their specialist subject to anyone in the
firm who is interested. I have been able to attend
the majority of my scheduled training sessions.
First year trainee
It is commonly the role of supervisors to give

training and mentoring. Most supervisors are
happy to do so on an informal basis as and when
you need it, but we also have mid-seat reviews
and end of seat reviews when you can get more
guidance and advice. We also get allocated a diary
monitor, a partner who checks on your work
experience on a monthly basis. I find that it is easy
to approach people for advice no matter what
rank they hold.
Second year trainee
Each month a partner will review your training
diary some more thoroughly than others but
they are willing to answer any questions you have.
Your supervisor will normally be very happy to
discuss things like foreign secondments, office
etiquette and personal development.
First year trainee
I have had excellent supervision from both my
direct supervisors and from the other associates
and partners I have worked for. At times there are
time pressures, but as a rule people are happy to
explain the background to matters, give feedback
and advice. It helps to be proactive; people rarely
say no if asked for advice or feedback but dont
always volunteer it. The most difficult things to
pick up are the social niceties of working here.
There are ways of going about your work that
arent always obvious but are quite important; I
was very lucky to have a supervisor in my first seat
who spelt things out... when partners ask THIS
they mean THAT and so on!
First year trainee
The office is great to work in. Its kept in top

condition, very clean and respected, top facilities.
The canteen provides excellent food on a
subsidised basis. The dress code seems to be quite
formal but not too restrictive and there doesnt
seem to be a formal policy Ive never had a talk
on how to dress.
First year trainee
Office space is excellent. Most associates
have their own office or share with one other
or a trainee. Dress code is smart and fairly
conservative, but sets a good tone.
Mid-level solicitor, Property
The office is really nice location is convenient,
though not in the heart of the City. The facilities
are reasonable and the food is good. The dress
code is basically suit and tie for the men. Womens
dress code is a bit more relaxed lots of wrap
dresses, skirts and jumpers, etc. rather than suits.
Second year trainee
Everyone is very smartly dressed but its all
based on common sense. We dont do dress down
Fridays. But at my desk I usually take my jacket
and tie off I put them on if Im going in for a
meeting or to see a client.
First year trainee
CAREER PROSPECTS
There is only one rank for solicitors then you are

up or out. No one tells you if you are on the way
up or out, or what criteria decide who is up and
who is out so I have no idea what it takes to make
it to the top.
Mid-level solicitor, Litigation
It is very difficult to make partner and the process

is not at all transparent. It seems to involve
working with as many partners and departments
as possible, running training sessions and getting
involved in client pitches, etc. It is also probably
a bit of a case of last man standing if you are
still able to take the pace after 6 years, you have a
good chance of succeeding as so few people stay
longer than 2 or 3 years PQE.
SLAUGHTER AND MAY
The partners are not as accessible as they could

be, but when new issues arise on a transaction
they are very good at passing on relevant
experience and giving decisive views or advice.
Promotion is notoriously hard and

unpredictable.
Mid-level solicitor
Its a long road to partnership. People that dont
want to be made up usually leave of their own
accord beforehand.

I would hope that I would still be here. I think

that I could find a position in practically any other
career, particularly in the business/corporate
sphere. However, colleagues have gone into a
wide variety of second careers after leaving here.
Hopefully a partner somewhere. More doors
opened if you choose a corporate group
admittedly. Worth considering other careers.
Pro bono
If you want to do it, the opportunities are there,

if you dont, no-ones going to make you. I work at
a legal advice centre, and have previously taught
Citizenship at secondary schools and read with
primary school children.
Mid-level solicitor
265
We dont have a billable hours target. However,

notice is taken of pro bono work and it is
encouraged, particularly in certain departments.
Several partners have said that it should be
treated with the same consideration as any other
client work.
It is not something that is shouted about (a

formal LGBT/diversity committee was only recently
established) but the firm is pretty evenly split
gender-wise, and work is being done to redress
the preponderance of male partners. The firm is
very open to suggestions and will provide funds to
ones that are approved.
Green Initiatives
There are ethnic minority, LGBT and parent

groups which organise talks and provide
information but the reality is that the fee earning
side of the firm is not very diverse. The higher
it gets in terms of the firms structure, the less
diverse it is.
Second year trainee
There are loads of initiatives, I think we try to

recycle pretty much everything and minimise
energy use. That said the priority is always on
producing the best work, so theres no hint
of trying to go paperless in the work context,
although any paper you do use will be recycled.
Second year trainee
Nothing from the office goes to landfill, which
is an incredible achievement. I feel very strongly
about environmental issues and I was impressed.
The electricity consumption has been monitored
and brought down considerably in the past few
years. There is no food waste all the wasted food
from the staff restaurant is anaerobically digested
and converted to electricity or feed for pigs in an
organic farm. There are more initiatives to bring
the carbon footprint down even more in the
coming years.
First year trainee
This is of increasing importance. Very little is
thrown away and all food waste, and all plastics,
tins, etc. that are put in the recycling bins (at
least four on every floor) are sent for recycling.
There are frequent emails asking us to be more
environmentally aware and making suggestions on
the same.
diversity
Recruitment is very diverse and there is no

obvious prejudice when it comes to retention or
promotion. I have experienced no prejudice as a
female in the working environment.
First year trainee
266
The firm is striving to achieve a diverse

workforce, and there is definitely a good
representation of ethnic minorities in the firm.
First year trainee

upon qualification?
There is a large gap between training and
qualification and most people experience a steep
learning curve upon qualification.
First year trainee
I feel prepared but its still a big jump.
First year trainee
Were very well protected as trainees so I think it
will be a big step up (but Im sure well be fine).
Second year trainee
The training sessions really help to get a grasp
of the relevant law, and trainees get given
responsibility early on.
First year trainee
Hours
One great aspect to the firm is that there are no

billing targets. Work hours vary hugely. When it
is busy, it is very busy and one is expected to stay
and get the work done, at whatever hour that may
be. Twelve hour days are not unusual, but are not
generally the norm.
Second year trainee
I am generally working between 35 and 40
hours a week, sometimes less and sometimes
more. From conversations with colleagues this is
fairly average for trainees, although workloads
can vary widely due to the nature of the work
particularly in the corporate groups. This is less
than I expected but the jump to associate hours is
expected to be quite great (particularly when we
are given BlackBerries!).
First year trainee
Salary
The trainees salaries are competitive. We also

get a bonus which is a percentage of your salary,
no matter how many hours of work you put
in. This is very good as most firms do not give
bonuses to trainees, and the ones that do base it
on working time.
Second year trainee
Salaries here are competitive for trainees. The
associate salary bands are on the low side given
the firms revenues, the complexity of the work
and the hours which associates frequently work.
This is presumably seen as a trade-off for excellent
brand name and a slightly reduced partnership
track.
First year trainee
SLAUGHTER AND MAY
The amount of money we get paid for two years

of education is pretty good, although they do take
the proverbial pound of flesh!
First year trainee
Monthly hours billed usually ranges between 150

and 200. I probably spend on average between 40
and 50 hours in the office per week, but at other
times it has been significantly higher, depending
on workload. The hours are dictated by the
clients needs and so they can be flexible at times
depending on the transaction.
I am happy with my salary it is a lot of money

to earn at the beginning of my career. However,
I am aware that a lot of other firms of a similar
size/reputation do pay a lot more. On the whole,
paying everyone the same % of their salary as a
bonus is fair, but it can feel frustrating if you have
recently been working particularly long hours.
I bill on average 40 hours a week, which probably

means I spend around 50 hours in the office
(never sure where that extra two hours goes!).
We have no billing targets, which means on quiet
weeks you leave when you like. It goes someway
to making up for the busy weeks! Slaughters treats
you like a grown-up, so as long as youre getting
the work done, no-ones going to be commenting
on your hours.
Mid-level solicitor
Trainee salaries are pretty much market rate but

we get bonuses, which is better than other firms.
Second year trainee
Its very good, especially considering the
economic climate and the cuts experienced in
other firms.
Second year trainee
BONUS
8%.
Mid-level solicitor
Discretionary up to 15%.
Junior solicitor
267
4,000
4,500
8,000
Mid-level solicitor
Perks
There are excellent private views at the Royal

Academy and art cards, which you can borrow to
get into art galleries for free at the weekend. The
firm supports the Barbican, which means a great
discount for events and in their restaurants and
bars.
First year trainee
My favourite is the extremely discounted gym
membership at a great gym (Virgin Active).
We have interesting (non-law!) speakers
come into the firm to speak to us, and the arts
opportunities are really good. And because we
work for some good football teams, tickets to
matches are often available.
Mid-level solicitor
Lots of tickets to sports events, etc. get offered
round by the partners and there are plenty of free
meals and other things for those willing to help
with recruitment events.
First year trainee
Slaughter and May dont really do perks. All we
really get is subsidised gym membership and a
loan when you start.
Second year trainee
PLUSES
The name, the CV points, the amazing brains, the

facilities, the clients and the quality and size of the
deals.
268
People, work culture, office facilities, benefits,

and working on the top, most newsworthy
commercial transactions. This firm really is at the
cutting edge of English commercial law we seem
to have more FTSE 100 clients than any other firm
in the City.
First year trainee
The immediate contact with partners and the
high profile work. The reputation of the firm helps
open up opportunities later in your career. The
high expectations mean you develop quickly.
First year trainee
Partners are outstandingly good at what they
do. Work is generally of a very high quality. Lots
of responsibility early on. Everyone you work
with is intelligent and motivated. 24 hour support
(secretarial, food, taxis, etc.). The office.
Great training, excellent informal training from
supervisors and associates. The prestige of
working for such a brilliant firm.
First year trainee
MINUSES
The hours. The lack of direct input and feedback

from supervisors and more senior colleagues.
Second year trainee
Long hours and demanding expectations.
Opaque structure, and rigidity of the up or out
policy.
Mid-level solicitor
The pressure to always get things perfect.
First year trainee
Occasionally the hours, inconsistency of quality
of work, high attrition rate of associates.
First year trainee
Fun Facts
At 3am, if you go and ask client reception really,

really nicely, they will give you bags of jelly
babies.
Second year trainee
They do accept people who didnt get 1sts Im a
prime example!
Mid-level solicitor
The partners here all have silver napkin-rings
with their names on them.
First year trainee
One of the most senior partners is a massive
music fan and probably knows more about new
bands than I do.
First year trainee

The application process is very straight forward.
You have to send a CV and cover letter and, if you
get selected, there is only one interview (with
two partners) as opposed to the usual two (one
with partners and one with HR) which other firms
have. The first half of the interview is about you
as a candidate so it consists of the usual questions
about your experiences, reasons for applying
to the job, etc. The second half consists of a
discussion on a current affairs topic which you
cannot prepare in advance. We recently started
having a literacy test too.
Second year trainee
I had one interview with two partners which

lasted an hour. It was the only place I interviewed.
I remember it being pretty intense I felt like
they were trying to get to a point where I had no
prepared answers to see how I reacted. Some
of the questions I got were very open. Two that
stick in my head are: What do you think about
the death penalty? and Compare Russian and
German as languages. I think they want you to
disagree with them and fight your corner.
Second year trainee
SLAUGHTER AND MAY
The occasional grind which comes with large

corporate and financial transactions.
First year trainee
The interview process is quite unusual. You

send in a CV and cover letter and then have a 45
minute interview with two partners. The interview
is a bit more like a chat than a formal interview.
They focus on what you have done and enjoyed
at university, so you get the chance to lead the
conversation to areas you want to talk about. You
do get the usual questions such as Why law? and
Why corporate law, in particular?
Second year trainee
My interview consisted of a discussion of my CV
with some questions about my vac schemes and
other experiences. I remember talking a lot about
history and very little about the law. I have heard
of Italian students talking about Dante.
First year trainee
One interview round and the interview is
informal, more about the personality of the
candidate. The first half of the interview is based
on a case study, which actually could be about
anything, not just a commercial topic. I thoroughly
enjoyed my interview as the case study allowed
me to voice my opinions about the NHS and
the provision of expensive drugs. The partners
seemed very interested in me as a person, which I
thought was quite unique.
First year trainee
269
Tips & Advice
The partners are looking for intelligence,

eloquence and confidence on any subject.
Academic qualifications are important, hence a
relatively high number of Oxbridge graduates, but
you notice a lot of trainees have slightly unusual,
interesting characteristics (multiple languages,
music, sporting excellence).
First year trainee
Applicants should be outgoing, confident allrounders with strong academic credentials. There
is not one type at this firm, nor does the firm
overly favour law students. Applicants should be
willing to be themselves, to answer questions
honestly and intelligently, to stand up for and
be able to explain their opinions and to be quick
learners. I would expect most applicants to show
extensive interest in the City and in the law
generally.
First year trainee
Be yourself. Dont play the game no-one
believes that you really read the FT every day, so
why say it?
Mid-level solicitor
Have good academic credentials, but dont
worry about which university you are from. The
firm is actively recruiting from a wider range of
universities.
It is Magic Circle and it provides great training

in diverse areas. The multi-specialist approach
exposes trainees to many different types of
transactions in the same practice area, instead
of simply doing one type of transaction, i.e. only
bond issues.
First year trainee
270
A very straightforward recruitment process

submit a CV and covering letter, and a face-toface interview with two partners. No crazy online
forms, assessment days, group exercises or any
of that faff. Why did I apply? Because the training
here is second to none, as is the reputation. And
the work speaks for itself... What really topped off
the experience for me was the fact that the week
following my interview, one of the partners who
had interviewed me rang me personally to offer
me a training contract. Apparently thats what
they always do. Its a nice, personal touch that
makes you feel valued.
First year trainee
Culture and ethos. The firm is collegiate, open
door, ethical, values people and individuality but
all of this without ever compromising the quality
of the work or the calibre of the transactions. The
people you work with are incredibly intelligent,
talented and impressive.
Second year trainee
The jelly babies at front reception... And they
were the only ones who treated me as a human
being, rather than just another graduate. And
their training is second to none.
Mid-level solicitor
I chose Slaughter and May because of the firms
reputation for winning and producing high-quality
work.
First year trainee
As one of the industrys most prestigious players,

Slaughter and May has the luxury of choosing
only the very best from the hoards of applicants
vying for a coveted trainee spot at the firm. This
means that top grades, a variety of extracurricular
activities, and a minimum of a high 2:1 from
a leading uni are essential. Out of the 1,800
applicants Slaughter and May receives each year,
about a quarter will make it to the interview stage.
The firm has two annual intakes March and
September and hires approximately 90 trainees
across the course of the year. Around half of the
graduate/trainee intake is made up of non-law
grads who have converted to law by studying the
GDL/CPE.
The firm is consistently listed in The Times Top
100 Graduate Employers and solicitors tell us that
the high degree of responsibility, the big deals
that get newspaper headlines, as well as the
fact that trainees (by and large) are treated as
equals help to make Slaughter and May a popular
choice. Applicants are expected to be confident,
articulate, and display excellent attention to
detail, while demonstrating a certain amount of
analytical thinking and common sense. Though
flawless academic credentials are a prerequisite,
the firm looks beyond just Oxbridge candidates
and is actively recruiting from a wider range of
universities.
Successful applicants will sit four six-month seats,
with the majority doing at least two in corporate
and finance departments. And for those with a
wanderlust, yes, there are opportunities for seats
abroad; however, they are not as plentiful as at
other firms and are therefore pretty competitive.
Those that do manage to secure a foreign
secondment may be posted to best friend firms
in enviable European locations such as Paris or
Milan, or perhaps as far afield as Tokyo or Sydney.
In contrast to many of its rivals, Slaughter and
Mays hiring process is relatively simple and
straightforward. Candidates are required to
complete a brief online form and submit a

covering letter and CV. If successful, applicants are
simply invited for an interview with two partners;
theres no HR preliminary, no assessment days,
no role plays, and no psychometric testing. The
interview itself is described by many as a relaxed,
informal though sometimes challenging chat,
where the partners try to get to know you. With
interviews lasting between 45 and 60 minutes,
expect to talk about anything and everything on
your CV: from A-Levels and module choices, to
hobbies and interests.
SLAUGHTER AND MAY
Current trainees say there are two parts to the

interview: first, a discussion of your CV, reasons
for choosing law, and your motivation behind
applying to Slaughter and May specifically. Then
candidates are often quizzed on controversial
current issues or given a newspaper article to
discuss. Issues discussed in actual interviews have
ranged from linguistics to the role of the NHS in
drug prices to Dantes Inferno. What the partners
really want to learn from the interview is that
you can argue a point well whilst also displaying
humour and common sense. One trainee adds
that the firm wants candidates that can think
on your feet, speak confidently and think
independently.
Vacation Schemes
Slaughter and May runs work experience
schemes at Easter and in the summer. Both
law and non-law students can apply for these
schemes, as long as you are in your penultimate
year of study. Successful applicants can expect
to be involved in some proper work, do a bit
of research and participate in some workshops
and training. Furthermore, the firm also holds
two-day workshops over Christmas, open only to
final year students and graduates from a non-law
background.
271
PROFILE
Slaughter and May has secured domestic
domination as the most profitable law firm in the
City quite a feat given it has a much smaller head
count than its Magic Circle rivals and a relatively
small international footprint. In fact, Slaughter and
May competes successfully with just a fraction of
its competitors workforce a meagre 730 lawyers
worldwide, spread over just four offices.
At the heart of the firm is a strong corporate
practice advising clients on M&A and finance.
No other UK firm has advised more FTSE 100
companies or garnered as many clients on the
London Stock Exchange. The corporate practice
is a major contributing factor to the firms
success, with the bulk of revenue coming from
acquisitions, capital markets, private equity deals
and demergers. Slaughter and May is also a
leading expert on competition and tax matters.
The London partners all hold equity in the firm
and are paid equally according to total firm
profit, rather than by individual performance or
contribution over the year. The partnership is
actually somewhat sacred: Slaughter and May
has the distinction of never having hired a lateral
partner from another law firm (theyre all homegrown) and never having lost a partner to a rival.
Hows that for a little Magic?
No other UK firm has advised more

FTSE 100 companies or garnered as
many clients on the London Stock
Exchange.
Ever since its inception in 1889 by founding
members William Slaughter and William May
the firm has had high-profile clients. The firm can
even count household names, Alfred Nobel and
Joseph Pulitzer, amongst its enviable early roster.
These prestigious names, combined with a client
list including more merchant banks than any other
272
firm, led to a period of prosperity in the early

20th century, thus creating strong foundations
that withstood both World Wars. By the 1980s,
Slaughter and May had cemented its position
as the UKs leading law firm, advising Thatchers
Conservative Government on the privatisations
of British Aerospace, British Airways, British
Gas, British Petroleum, British Steel and British
Telecom.
Slaughter and May has the distinction

of never having hired a lateral partner
from another law firm (theyre all homegrown) and never having lost a partner
to a rival.
After opening offices in Hong Kong and Brussels
in 1974 and 1989 respectively Slaughter and
May concertedly eschewed the rapid international
expansion tactic of its competitors, and closed
its offices in New York and Singapore. However,
this certainly doesnt mean the firm limits its
business to just the UK. Through a network of
best friends, Slaughter and May uses referrals
firms independent from them in other regions to
service its international deals. These relationships,
with firms such as Hengeler Mueller in Germany,
and Bredin Prat in France, are strengthened
through joint training programmes and exchanges
of personnel.
Slaughter and May may be at the top of its field,
but that doesnt mean it doesnt have time for the
community or the environment. The firm provides
pro bono advice to the Islington Law Centre,
Battersea Law Centre, LawWorks for Community
Groups, and Royal Courts of Justice Advice Bureau,
amongst others. Complementing this free legal
support and advice, Slaughter and May solicitors
also volunteer in non-legal scenarios, offering
mentoring and financial support to local schools
and their students.
Work for SLAUGHTER AND MAY

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TRAINING CONTRACT
The qualities we look for in our trainees include
common sense, a sharp intellect, independent thought,
judgement and a good sense of humour. In order to
thrive here, you will also need enthusiasm, a willingness
to accept responsibility and the ability to get on well
with others. The minimum standard we look for in our
applicants is three very strong A-levels (or equivalent)
and either a good 2:1 or a 1st in their first degree.
Proficiency in a foreign language is a bonus but not
a requirement. Our trainees come from a range of
universities: it is the quality of the candidate, not their
university, which is important to us. A law degree is not
essential - approximately half of our trainees have not
studied law at university. All future trainees must attend
the LPC at BPP Law School in London. Those who have
not studied law will also be required to study the GDL
at BPP.
SLAUGHTER AND MAY
JOBS
WHEN TO APPLY
Please visit our website for application deadlines.
SALARY
Starting salary for trainee solicitors is 38,000, rising to
43,000 in the second year of training.
VACANCIES
CONTACT US
Email: trainee.recruit@slaughterandmay.com
(enquiries only)
Tel: 020 7600 1200
Website: www.slaughterandmay.com
HOW TO APPLY
Applications should be submitted via our online form
which can be accessed via our website. Candidates
will be required to complete a short form and to attach
a copy of your covering letter and CV - including a full
breakdown of all your examination results.
273
Can you
take the
HEAT?
RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

Do you have the taste for a challenge?
Do you have the taste for law?
Do you have the taste for success?
You knew us as Denton Wilde Sapte. Were now SNR Denton. Well still demand the best from you, and you can expect even
more from us.
Youll develop your career in an open and supportive environment and join a team that achieves success together.
Youll need the skills and ambition to join a top 25 global legal services provider and the ability to deliver the highest quality
services to our clients.
Are you interested?

Apply now at www.snrdenton.com/graduates
SNR Denton is committed to providing equal opportunities in employment
2011 SNR Denton UK LLP. SNR Denton UK LLP is a limited liability partnership regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority of England and Wales. It is registered in England and Wales under no.OC322045. SNR
Denton is the collective trade name for an international legal practice. Please see www.SNRDenton.com for legal notices.
Formed in September 2010 from the merger of US-based Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal and the
UKs Denton Wilde Sapte SNR Denton has 33 locations in 18 different countries. With DWSs wellestablished finance and corporate practices and Middle Eastern presence, and SNRs heavyweight
clients, the future looks bright for this firm.
PROS
High profile and international work

Friendly and supportive culture
Approachable partners and helpful solicitors
Excellent mentoring
Good opportunities for overseas seats
No competitiveness between the trainees
CONS
Sometimes long and unpredictable hours

trainees are expected to stay when busy, though
encouraged to leave when not
Level of client contact for trainees varies
considerably between departments
Can be difficult to find the time for training
when busy
THE STATS
LOCATIONS

No. of lawyers in the UK: 434
UK partners: 120
Milton Keynes trainee intake: 5
Approx. oo. of applications per year: 1,300
No. of offices: 26
Abu Dhabi Almaty Bahrain Brussels Cairo Chicago
Dallas Doha Dubai Kansas City Los Angeles
London Milton Keynes Moscow Muscat Short Hills
New York Paris Phoenix San Francisco Silicon Valley
Singapore St Louis Tashkent Washington DC Zurich
BASE SALARY
LONDON 2011
MILTON KEYNES

Banking Commercial (which includes commercial
contracts, intellectual property and technology)
Corporate (which includes takeovers, mergers, private
equity and funds) Corporate Recovery/Insolvency
Employee Incentives Employment Environment EU &
Competition Financial Services & Markets Litigation
Pensions Real Estate Regulatory Investigations Tax
SNR DENTON
SNR DENTON
SNR Denton Associate Offices:

Jordan Kuwait Saudi Arabia
SNR Denton Facilities:
Boston Miami Walnut Creek
SNR Denton Associate Firms:
Algeria Beirut Burundi Ghana Kenya Mauritius
Rwanda Russia South Africa Tanzania Tripoli
Turkey Turkmenistan Uganda Zambia
LONDON OFFICE
One Fleet Place
London EC4M 7WS
Tel: +44 (0)20 7242 1212
www.snrdenton.com

Hemlata Shamji
Tel: +44 (0)20 7320 6775
Email: hemlata.shamji@snrdenton.com
275
QUOTES
LIFE ON THE JOB
I am very satisfied. The quality of work you

are given will depend on your abilities. If you
demonstrate you are competent and willing
early on, generally you will be rewarded. Client
exposure depends on the departments you go for,
as each department lends itself to client facing
work differently, but generally there are good
opportunities across the firm. The firm attracts
first-rate instructions, so from time to time you
will see something you have worked on spread
across the papers.
Second year trainee
I had direct client contact on my very first day,
although this was exceptional. Partners are very
approachable and there is a lot of contact as many
supervisors are partners. Many of the transactions
are small enough to have a decent role in and
even on the very large transactions trainees are
generally given tasks that matter.
First year trainee
276

Work can include research, liaising with the
client and updating them on the progress of the
transaction, making amendments to documents,
keeping up to date with where we are with all of
the documents in the transaction, small sections
of drafting, and inevitably some proofreading!
Second year trainee
Legal research, drafting legal documents

(depending on the department you are in, ranging
from court documents to companies house
documents to legal agreements), drafting emails
of advice, speaking to clients on the phone, filing
documents at court.
Second year trainee
I could be doing a number of tasks for several
people. Regular jobs like building bibles and CP
lists are interspersed with more varied, smaller
tasks.
First year trainee
As a first seater in real estate, I was handling

my own files and dealing with clients from day
one, as well as helping out on larger deals across
numerous departments.
First year trainee
Reviewing documents, amending documents,

drafting documents, drafting and sending emails,
doing research, attending formal training.
First year trainee
The quality of work varies, occasionally there

will be something to get your teeth into, but its
generally not all that challenging, and can be
repetitive. On the whole, I have had little contact
with clients. There is a lot of direct contact with
partners. Generally, I have been exposed to admin
tasks on all manner of deals.
Second year trainee
Culture
I have found the firm to be an extremely good

place to work. The department I sat in in my first
seat was very friendly and supportive and I never
felt uncomfortable asking questions. Generally it
is a really good bunch of trainees; there is almost
always a group of trainees drinking in Corney
& Barrow on a Friday night. Everyone is really
friendly, helpful, and questions are often asked
and answered across trainee email threads when
anyone has a problem.
First year trainee
Very friendly culture and quite a relaxed office

atmosphere. The trainees by and large get on well,
and the social scene is good, albeit informal and
ad hoc rather than firm organised.
Second year trainee
The culture is generally very good. There are
always exceptions to the rule, but the rule here
is that people are friendly and approachable and
there are regular opportunities to socialise. A
lot of the time that involves being proactive and
arranging things, even if its going for a drink after
work on a Friday. A trainee rep team organises
regular trainee events.
Second year trainee
Seats
Trainees complete four seats at the firm. As we

have a large banking group trainees can expect
to spend one of their seats in one of the banking
sub-groups. You apply for each seat you have, and
although you dont always get your first choice, HR
generally try to give you want you want at some
point during your training contract. We can also
spend a seat seconded to a client or spend time in
our offices abroad (Paris, Dubai, and Muscat).
Second year trainee
Trainees do four six-month seats. There is
a massive choice of departments to sit in,
including client secondments (both national and
international) and international seats within
the firm. Some seats are more competitive than
others, but I have not met anyone who has been
unable to get their choice of seat.
First year trainee
Trainees do four seats. There is a wide range

of departments to choose from including: real
estate, corporate, banking, dispute resolution,
energy, competition, and tax. You indicate up to
three preferences for your next seat but are not
guaranteed one of those, although if you make
the effort to show an interest in where you
would like to sit next, you are normally rewarded.
Currently there are opportunities in Muscat
and Dubai, as well as a split seat spending three
months in Paris.
Second year trainee
SNR DENTON
Trainees socialise with each other outside the

office, not just in the Corney & Barrow that is
attached. The social committee organises drinks
about 3 4 times a year. Trainees are very
supportive and often offer any spare capacity to
other trainees who are being stretched.
First year trainee
Four seats, must complete one in Banking and/

or Real Estate. The choice is wide ranging but
very few seats in niche areas i.e. tax/employment
which are very competitive to get. Seats abroad
are available, mostly in the Middle East, and
encouraged.
Second year trainee
Formal Training
Training is taken very seriously and attendance

is mandatory. You have time to attend but it is
important to be organised so you can fit your
work around training. Generally training is focused
on technical aspects of the law so you will have
plenty of chances to broaden your legal skills.
Second year trainee
These are usually arranged at lunch time which
can be a little annoying as you often miss it if you
are busy. The slides will be made available to you
but it is not the same as hearing it explained.
First year trainee
Training is taken very seriously. Supervisors
understand the need for training and simply
request that you inform them as soon as you find
out about any training. They will then cater the
work towards you to allow you plenty of time
to train.
First year trainee
277
PSC is taken quite seriously, although in the

busier departments it may be more difficult to
attend. Generally it is easy to postpone training,
but on the premise that you must attend the next
session (to make sure that you do attend). There is
also regular internal training with a good turnout
from all levels.
First year trainee
This really depends on who you sit with. Some

supervisors are very good at training you; my
current supervisor puts all of their calls on speaker
so that I can hear the negotiations and learn from
them. Sometimes it is difficult to get feedback on
work, as the solicitor or partner is often very busy,
but generally if you ask they will try and explain
why something you have done is right/wrong
and give you some feedback. The junior lawyers
tend to be good mentors as they remember more
readily what it was like to be a trainee!
Second year trainee
Every member of the firm (from partner to fellow
trainee) is willing to take the time and explain
something that you do not understand (provided
that you show you have taken the time to consider
what you think the answer is).
First year trainee
We are a very friendly firm and so far I have
always been able to ask for help from solicitors
and partners, with very much an open door policy.
Probably the most important thing I have learnt is
to always ask someone if you are unsure, rather
than sit worrying. Secretaries are also a goldmine
for information.
First year trainee
Everyone is really friendly, so not much need
for a buddy system or anything. An associate who
was in the office until 2am last night still found
the time to take me through something very
basic on Word at 9am this morning with a smile
on his face.
First year trainee
278
Office is in good condition and comfortable to

work in. Facilities are pretty good but some of
the IT is a bit creaky. IT know this and seem to be
addressing the issue, apparently these things take
time. Dress code is informal for a law firm. Very
few people wear a tie on a daily basis. Dress down
Fridays allows you to head right out on the tiles,
although a 3 voluntary donation to the firms
charity is suggested to those who choose to wear
jeans.
First year trainee
Nice office, with free tea and coffee, reasonable
and cheap on-site cafeteria. There arent that
many places to grab food or pick up shopping
during lunch that are convenient.
First year trainee
The office is lovely and in an amazing location
right in the City with stunning views (lovely late at
night too). Dress code is smart girls can get away
with much more than boys but if you are having
meetings with clients then suited and booted is a
must. Friday is jeans day provided we pay 3
to charity.
First year trainee
We are centrally located and easy to get to. The
office is fairly nice (for an office!) and we have
good 24-hour facilities to support us if necessary.
The dress code is fairly standard, smart businesswear Monday to Thursday and dress down (smartcasual) on Friday (unless you are meeting clients).
Second year trainee
Green Initiatives
There are many colour coded recycling bins all

around the firm and there is a big effort to reduce
the amount of paper used within a transaction.
First year trainee
We are no longer allowed to have bins in our own
offices! We have to use the recycling bins in the
corridor, which really does make you think twice
about waste.
First year trainee
diversity
We have a good diversity policy and, as a woman,

I certainly dont feel at any disadvantage. My
observations on promotion are that these are
open to everyone and I certainly havent heard
anyone make a comment otherwise.
Second year trainee
Nobody minds if you are as camp as a row of pink
tents or if youre a pregnant woman. If you are
good at your job and can get on with people that
is quite enough. Refreshingly, some intakes are
very diverse whereas other are very homogenous.
This is a reliable indicator that there is no pattern
of recruitment and that candidates are selected
on merit.
First year trainee
Amongst the trainees there are a variety of
ethnic backgrounds and a good male/female ratio.
However, this diversity slowly filters out the higher
up you get, which is probably in line with most
firms/big corporations.
Second year trainee

upon qualification?

Hours
This depends on the department you sit in. Some

have steady (and therefore shorter) work hours
and others are more random. There will be times
when you are required to work late (and you
should expect this from any law firm) but this
firm certainly doesnt have a seen to be working
late policy and if you have finished your work for
the day then you should (and are encouraged) to
go home.
Second year trainee
SNR DENTON
The firm works very hard so that we avoid

wasting energy, recycle properly, and print only
when necessary.
First year trainee
I am working more than I expected probably

through naivety rather than anything else but
the experience I have had so far is that if there is
work to do, you stay, if there isnt, you go home.
The hours do vary a lot across the firm depending
on the departments too.
First year trainee
Average hours depend entirely on the
department you are in and the level of work.
Generally, banking seats will involve 50+ hour
weeks and the occasional weekend (although
many make it through without coming in at
weekends at all). Other departments such as
real estate can be slightly less demanding but this
all depends on the volume of work at any one
time. You have to be prepared to work hard
when required.
Second year trainee
Very well. There is reasonable amount of

crossover, if you demonstrate youre willing and
able, between the tasks you do as a trainee that
typically fall in the trainee camp and the
NQ camp.
Second year trainee
Work life balance here is very good. I have never

come across face/time culture; I have stayed till
2am when necessary, and left at 5.30pm where
possible.
Second year trainee
I feel quite prepared. I could definitely have done

more, but then I think you always can. I dont feel
that I will be left by myself at all and I know I will
always be able to ask for help.
Second year trainee
Salary
As a graduate salary, trainees are one of the most

highly paid groups. You are compensated well,
but for this you shouldnt expect to be out of the
office by 5.30 everyday.
Second year trainee
279
I am ridiculously well paid for what I do.

First year trainee
My current compensation is adequate, but the
pay scale further up the ranks leaves something to
be desired...
Second year trainee
I take into account the payment for the LPC
and maintenance grant; I couldnt have done it
without my firms support.
First year trainee
Perks
If you get a seat abroad, you are given a budget

for moving expenses and also relocation leave.
We also have a couple of work events a year
where you get free food and alcohol!
Second year trainee
Free drink nights, free breakfasts and lunches
with training, gym discounts, gym bonus of
25 a month, and discounts across the City,
e.g. T.M. Lewin.
First year trainee
Free taxi home if working late on client matters
(within reason) and the same for dinner.
Subsidised gym membership too.
First year trainee
Free breakfast before 8:30. Although it is a
backhanded perk if you ask me.
First year trainee
PLUSES
Its a friendly firm with a good support structure

and lots of varied work.
Second year trainee
Almost everyone is very nice and there is no
feeling of hierarchy.
First year trainee
280
Corporate perks, working in the City and starting

my training at a respected City firm, having so
many people (trainees!) in exactly the same
boat as me who I can chat to about pretty much
anything without feeling competitive.
First year trainee
Learning from great solicitors, the ability to work
for a growing law firm, and lots of opportunities to
gain real experience across the world.
First year trainee
MINUSES
You sometimes have to do boring/mindless

tasks.
Second year trainee
Midweek appointments can be hard to keep as
hours are unpredictable. A lot of people think it
is pronounced Senor Denton. Mind you, at least
it no longer has hidden es in the name. The old
email addresses were a nightmare to spell.
First year trainee
No option to review your photo that goes on the
web portal for everyone to see.
First year trainee
The hours and the unpredictability of them.
Never knowing when/how to say no to extra work,
and constantly feeling like you are grappling with a
bear each time you receive new instructions.
First year trainee
Fun Facts
They give out Kit Kats in a certain department if

you do a good piece of work!
Second year trainee
Lots of people get involved with quirky charity
bits and bobs. One high up worker dressed up as
Beyonc and sang single ladies.
First year trainee

An online application, HR interview, critical
thinking test, and a partner interview (including
case study and presentation, question and answer,
and personal interview). Expect a grilling on your
CV, competencies and why you want to work at
SNR, etc.
First year trainee
Two rounds of interview and a psychometric
test and business case exercise. One interview
with HR, one with partners. The partner interview
(especially business case) can be hard to predict
and very challenging.
Second year trainee
Several rounds: interview with HR, interview
with, and impromptu presentation to, two
partners and a Watson Glaser test. Interview will
focus on your application, any weaknesses in it,
and your desire to be a lawyer at the firm.
Second year trainee
Tips & Advice
SNR Denton looks for well rounded candidates

who havent just spent time studying. They want
people with a personality. We have people here
from many universities and they certainly dont
just target one particular type. You will need to
have good academics but also show that you can
think on your feet and are able to pick things up
quickly (this is a good skill for a trainee!).
Second year trainee
Get a good mix of experience if you can. A
year out getting relevant work experience and
travelling will put you in good stead. Interpersonal
skills are important, not just for getting on with
colleagues but with clients too.
Second year trainee
Prepare for an interview like you would an
exam with the main topics being you and the
firm. Commercial awareness is essential, as are

the general competency skills, etc. I think the
trainees are a hard working, outgoing bunch, with
a positive attitude all round.
First year trainee
SNR DENTON
I would say that enthusiasm and knowledge

about the firm and about business in the City
would be important in a candidate. Generally,
I would say candidates need to show they can
think through and present an argument. The firm
recruits from a wide range of universities. Trainees
are required to have a 2.1 degree, and then to
pass the GDL (if applicable) and LPC.
Second year trainee
I really liked the attitude of the people here.

They work hard but recognise that you have a
life outside work. Everyone works as a team as
well and, although you know that certain people
hold certain positions, there isnt a pompous
hierarchy.
Second year trainee
The opportunity to work abroad, work in an
international firm in the City with a significant
presence in the emerging markets, as well as
being a friendly firm something which I really do
think is true on all levels.
First year trainee
Growth prospects and great hearsay from others
in the City.
First year trainee
Overseas secondment opportunities, as well as it
being easily the most friendly firm and having the
most attractive culture among other firms that I
had vacation schemes, interviews and offers at/
from.
Second year trainee
Mid-sized so would not get the horrendous hours
of the Magic Circle.
Second year trainee
281

Fancy working for a mid-sized City firm with a
strong banking practice and international seats?
Then read on, as SNR Denton may well be the
right choice for you.
Always back up opinions with

arguments and logic. The key is not
necessarily the content of your answer,
but your manner and method of
articulating it.
SNR Denton is particularly interested in hearing
from well-rounded candidates who havent
just spent time studying. The firm wants people
with a personality. Although a strong academic
background is a must, the firm hires from a wide
range of universities and doesnt target any
particular types. However, word has it that you
need to show that you can think on your feet and
are able to pick things up quickly. Social skills and
team spirit are also highly valued, as is commercial
awareness and confidence. Due to the firms
international presence, language skills certainly
help you stand out from the crowd. But ultimately,
the firm wants candidates who are enthusiastic,
friendly and willing to work during stressful
periods. Trainees also recommend you try your
best to take part in the firms vac scheme, as this
puts you in a better position at the interview for a
training contract.
So how do you apply? Simply submit your
online application, ensuring you emphasise your
extracurricular activities to distinguish yourself
from the hordes of other applicants. Those who
make the cut will have to master two rounds of
interviews. Though before the first interview, you
will be asked to complete an online questionnaire,
focussing on your preferences and style of work.
The first interview will be conducted by HR and
involves competency-based questions, a review
282
of your skills and anything else you put on your

application form. Also, you best prepare for a
Watson Glaser test too.
The second interview is held by partners. Before
the interview begins, you will be given some
information on a business case. Using this
information, you will have a short time to prepare
a presentation to give during your interview. In
addition, your interviewers will test your business
awareness and determine whether you have the
necessary interpersonal and communication skills
to interact well with clients. The partner interview
can be hard to predict and very challenging so
expect a grilling on your CV, competencies and
why you want to work at SNR. Intimidating as this
may sound, the interview is described as relaxed
by many candidates, and you are made to feel
very welcome. Current trainees advise candidates
to prepare for an interview like you would for
an exam with the main topics being you and
the firm. And remember to always back up
opinions with arguments and logic. The key is not
necessarily the content of your answer, but your
manner and method of articulating it.
Ultimately, the firm wants candidates

who are enthusiastic, friendly and
willing to work during stressful periods.
Make the final cut, and you can expect to
complete one of your four six-month seats in the
banking department or one of its sub-groups.
Other departments on offer include real estate,
dispute resolution, corporate, technology, media
and telecommunications, energy, infrastructure,
employment, pensions, and competition so
you really are spoilt for choice. Trainees also get
a chance to spend a seat seconded to a client
or even in one of the SNRs offices abroad (Paris,
Dubai, and Muscat are the current options).
One trainee tells us that if you are able to get on

a vacation scheme then you will be in a better
position when interviewing for a training contract.
You should make up your mind of as to where
youd like to do a vac scheme London or Milton
Keynes and send off your application in good
time. Both offices run a week-long placement
during the summer, and the London office also
offers winter open days.
As a summer student, youll most likely shadow

one of the firms current trainees. There will
also be some social events to keep you busy,
but keep in mind that the London office only
accepts applications from law grads/students
in their penultimate or final year. Non-law
students shouldnt feel left out though, as the
Milton Keynes summer placement (for those of
you interested in a potential training contract
opportunity in Milton Keynes) and Londons
winter open day offers candidates from non-law
disciplines a taste of what its like to work for SNR
Denton.
SNR DENTON
Vacation Schemes
283
FIRM PROFILE
SNR Denton is the result of an amalgamation
of US-based Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal
LLP (SNR) and the UKs Denton Wilde Sapte LLP
(DWS). When the combination became effective
in September 2010, the new firm boasted 1,400
employees across 18 countries, with 33 locations
over four continents.
Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP was founded
in Chicago in 1906, and built a reputation for
serving the needs of many of the worlds best
known businesses, non-profits and individuals.
At the time of the merger with DWS, SNR had 11
offices across the States and additional outposts
in Brussels and Zurich.
SNR was known as a leader in providing
innovative legal services across a number of
practices, most notably: financial institutions
and services, insurance, manufacturing and
industrials, healthcare and life sciences,
technology, media and telecommunications, real
estate, and energy and utilities. SNRs impressive
inventory of clients included names from the
acme of industry from Citibank to The Boeing
Company, and General Electric Company to
McDonalds Corporation.
DWS was formed in 2000 by the merger of the
then strongest mid-market law firms in the UK.
The attempt was to combine the corporate
division of Denton Hall with the strong banking
practice of Wilde Sapte. The result: a firm that
steadily built a reputation in finance, media,
energy and real estate with an expertise in the
Middle East. DWSs ancestry can be followed
back to Sam Denton who established his firm
in 1788 and Thomas Wilde, who founded what
was to become Wilde Sapte with partner Samuel
Archer Hussey in 1785.
DWS had a firm foothold in the emerging
markets of the Middle East and Africa since the
60s, and also built a strong presence in Central
Asia becoming the largest international law
284
firm operating in the region. To complement

its international offices, DWS had a series of
associate firms forming its notable African
network, as well as alliances with St Petersburg
firm Duvernoix Legal in Russia, and AK Counsel
in the key energy market of Turkmenistan. DWSs
finance practice had a strong reputation in
banking circles and it was one of the first ports of
call for insolvency and asset management advice.
The firms corporate practice included both major
and marquee clients, such as the FA Premier
League, Shell, Sainsburys and Virgin.
The new entity, SNR Denton, unites the
complementary practices of the two consolidated
firms, with a focus on meeting evolving client
needs in eight key industry sectors financial
institutions and funds; energy, transport
and infrastructure; insurance; real estate,
retail and hotels; technology, media and
telecommunications; health and life sciences;
manufacturing; and government.
SNR Denton provides in-depth legal expertise in
numerous practice areas, including: litigation,
disputes, internal investigations and international
arbitration; corporate/M&A; venture capital/
private equity; securities; finance; structured
finance; tax; policy, regulation and public
policy; restructuring and insolvency; intellectual
property; outsourcing; employment and
pensions; competition; trusts and estates.
SNR Denton is committed to pro bono work
and the firms involvement in this area includes
anything from representing death-row inmates
to working on asylum matters and civil rights.
The firm has also been a supporter of groups
such as UNICEF, the International HIV/AIDS
Alliance and Human Rights Watch. In the UK, the
SNR Denton UK Charitable Trust is dedicated to
funding various charities, particularly those with
a London or Milton Keynes link.
Work for SNR DENTON

(advertisement)
SNR DENTON
JOBS
SNR Denton is a top 25 legal services provider worldwide, with a network spanning four continents, in 43 countries
and 60 locations.
We work hard to maintain a friendly and open environment where ideas are shared and people work together to
achieve goals.
We offer an international legal practice focused on quality in the following industry sectors: Energy Transport and
Infrastructure, Financial Institutions and Funds, Government, Health and Life Sciences, Insurance, Manufacturing,
Real Estate, Retail and Hotels, Technology, Media and Telecommunications.
TRAINING CONTRACT
VACATION SCHEME
As part of SNR Denton, youll be given all the

responsibility you can handle. Youll learn on the job by
running parts of real cases, meeting with real clients
and taking your place in the fast-paced and increasingly
global world of business. After all, its this type of
experience that makes great lawyers and readies you for
the daily pressures of your professional career. At SNR
Denton youll get it almost from day one.
Want to get a feel for what a law career with us is really

like? By shadowing our trainees, hearing about the work
we do and asking lots of questions, youll find out for
yourself about the type of firm we are, and whether
were right for you.
If commercial law is your ambition, beginning your

career with us will give you the fulfilment youre looking
for. Youll be welcomed into a team internationally
renowned for its expertise. Well help you develop
your skills and knowledge in an open and supportive
environment.
Our Summer Scheme offers a week of challenging

experiences with us. Youll meet and shadow our
current trainees. Youll advance your presentation and
negotiation skills. Youll also take part in fun exercises
and social events. The scheme is open to second,
penultimate and final year law students and those who
have completed a law degree.
WHEN TO APPLY
Final year non-law students and graduates can taste the

experience too, on our December Winter Open Days.
Youll shadow two of our trainees, attend talks and take
part in a negotiation exercise.
VACANCIES
Check our website for details.

www.snrdenton.com/graduates
Training Contract (non-law applicants) deadline: 30

March 2012. Training Contract (law applicants) deadline:
31 July 2012
We recruit between 20 and 25 trainee solicitors.
SALARY
37,000/25,500 (London/Milton Keynes), rising to
40,000/27,500 in the second year of training.
APPLY
WHEN TO APPLY
VACANCIES
Each year, we offer between 20 and 25 summer vacation
placements across our London and Milton Keynes
offices.
SALARY
The summer scheme remuneration is competitive.
Name: Hema Shamji

Email: hemlata.shamji@snrdenton.com
Tel: 0207 320 6775
Website: www.snrdenton.com/graduates
285
The adventure youre looking for,

the guidance you need
It starts the moment you do work of the highest quality with the support
and guidance of some of the best people in the business. At Travers Smith,
we are big enough to offer the most exciting opportunities but small enough
for each individual to count. Choose a more inspiring path.
Please visit www.traverssmith.com or contact Germaine VanGeyzel,
Graduate Recruitment Manager: graduate.recruitment@traverssmith.com
Travers Smith LLP, 10 Snow Hill, London, EC1A 2AL, 020 7295 3000
286
Travers Smith is one of the darlings of the mid-market UK legal scene. A quality corporate boutique with
private equity at its heart, Travers Smith has resisted the temptation to grow too fast instead focussing
its attention on securing the very best deals that a firm of its size can handle.
PROS
Small firm feel where everyone knows

each other
Very open office associates and trainees
generally share rooms with partners
No billable hours targets
Early responsibility encouraged, with a good
support network
Very flat hierarchy everyones treated equally
No culture of being seen to stay late
THE STATS
Partners: 64
Associates: 169
Trainee intake: 46
Trainees retained: 83% (September 2011)
No. of applications per year: 2,000
BASE SALARY
LONDON 2011
1 year PQE: 66,000
2 years PQE: 72,000
3 years PQE: 81,000
CONS
TRAVERS SMITH
TRAVERS SMITH
Slight lack of flexibility

Bonuses are not that generous
The underground canteen
Certain lack of transparency over firm decisions
Only one international seat available, Paris
Employee Incentives Employment Environment EU &

Competition Financial Services & Markets Litigation
Pensions Real Estate Regulatory Investigations Tax
LOCATIONS
No. of offices: 2
London Paris
LONDON OFFICE
10 Snow Hill
London EC1A 2AL
Tel: +44 (0)20 7295 3000
www.traverssmith.com

Germaine VanGeyzel
Graduate Recruitment Manager
Tel: +44 (0)20 7295 3546
graduate.recruitment@traverssmith.com
Banking Commercial (which includes commercial

contracts, intellectual property and technology)
Corporate (which includes takeovers, mergers, private
equity and funds) Corporate Recovery/Insolvency
287
QUOTES
LIFE ON THE JOB
The work is very varied but I suspect this

is typical of trainee work at any firm. Tasks
range from photocopying to in-depth analysis,
research, and real advice to clients. At best,
the work is excellent but at worst, very dull
and administrative. There is generally lots of
transactional exposure though, and as much client
contact as you can handle.
Second year trainee
I have been exposed to a considerable amount
of interesting and high profile work and have
always been involved with exciting elements of
the transactions/deals, not just the drudgery. This
includes a high profile high court action where
I ran elements of the litigation, drafted letters,
ran meetings, etc. and independently (whilst
overseen) managed an asset manager client on its
property-related work. Because we sit a partner,
an associate, and a trainee to a room, we all
have exposure to partners everyday this means
there is an immense opportunity to learn and
discuss issues with those who have a high level of
experience/skills.
Second year trainee
It varies. Largely, you get a lot of responsibility
from an early point, which makes for a great
training experience. If the department can let
you loose on clients then it will, but obviously
the more advisory departments preclude regular
client contact. You will have constant exposure
to partners because you share a room with a
partner and an associate. This definitely promotes
a non-hierarchical feel to the firm, although it
can be quite stressful to constantly be around
your partner supervisor. The transactional work
we do is fairly high profile and exposure is first
class, particularly in contrast to other trainees
experiences at other firms.
Second year trainee
288
The responsibility given to trainees at Travers

Smith is massive (almost too much!), but you can
always ask for help. You have lots of client contact,
which I think differentiates Travers Smith from
other City firms.
Second year trainee

The best thing about the job is that there is no
typical day as you work for multiple people
within a room and within a department, you will
often work on many matters simultaneously. This
provides exposure to a variety of issues on a daily
basis and means that you dont ever have time to
get bored!
Second year trainee
It is varied, but usually I read through emails

in the morning (although trainees have now
been given BlackBerries) and catch up on any
developments in the law and/or any deals or
notifications going on. I usually have a to-do list,
so after my coffee I usually get going with that
researching, drafting research notes, preparing
board minutes, editing agreements a very varied
workload. Throughout the day other work comes
in and we have discussions about clients and
deals, where your input is treated as valid, and
as associate level contributions. I definitely dont
feel like as much of a trainee as my peers at larger
firms.
First year trainee
It varies greatly between departments. Generally
there will be some longer-term matters on which
you will be working and you can structure your
time as to how you want to work on those.
Throughout the day extra bits of work (some
larger, some simply small tasks) will be given and
you will have to adjust your workload accordingly.
There is generally around one training session a
week, geared towards the first few weeks/months
of your seat.
Second year trainee
Culture
Trainees socialise together a lot. Both years get

along very well and we generally meet in the
pub on a Friday night. Its a good atmosphere
because were not forced to socialise with specific
trainee events but we choose to hang out with
each other anyway, which is a very good sign.
The general firm atmosphere and environment
is very supportive you can ask questions from
anyone, and everyone has their doors open.
Stupid questions are answered without any
condescending manner. It is fairly open and
relaxed, even the partners make tea for me!
First year trainee
Very friendly and supportive firm a lovely place
to work. The social life is good and everyone
supports one another. At times when it is
necessary to pull long hours, the quality of my
colleagues make it seem a lot less gruelling than it
could otherwise be.
Second year trainee
Very flat hierarchy, all partners are extremely
accessible and willing to help. Partners share
a room with two associates and/or trainees
and room doors are always open, literally and
metaphorically. The bonus structure is flat, so
theres no incentive to hoard work. Similarly, if an
associate is extremely busy efforts will be made
for other, less busy associates to share some of
the work. On the whole, theres good camaraderie
between associates and between associates and
partners. Impromptu socialising in the local pub is
fairly common, more formal efforts are also fairly
frequent.
Junior solicitor
Trainees are very supportive of each other

often sending group emails around if they come
up against questions/problems they need help on
or just to organise social events. Trainees in the
same department socialise the most together but
the trainees try to organise big social events every
couple of weeks. Friday night usually involves
a mass exodus from the office to the local pub
(where almost the entire firm ends up) and it is
always great to be bought a beer by your partner
after a long but successful week!
Second year trainee
TRAVERS SMITH
The type of work and workload varies

significantly depending on the type of deal,
number of deals running concurrently, and stage
of each deal.
Junior solicitor
On a day-to-day basis partners interact well with

associates/trainees and everyone feels as though
they are getting involved. However, when it comes
to decisions about the firm, rather than work,
there is a certain lack of transparency (but I do
understand why this is).
Firm strategy is very much decided at the
partnership level. As far as decisions and strategy
in connection with ongoing instructions are
concerned, junior associates are encouraged to
involve themselves in those decisions and your
views are taken into account.
Junior solicitor
On an individual level partners mix very closely
with associates. Firm-wide decisions are well
communicated but there is little visibility on the
decision-making processes.
Seats
Trainees have four seats, with a choice between

Employment or Litigation, Property or Banking,
and an excitingly named wild card seat
(covering the other departments: Tax, Pensions,
Competition, FSMG, and Commercial). There is a
compulsory Corporate seat. There is a fair range of
choice, although there is no guarantee you will get
what you want. There is one seat in Paris available
for second or third seat trainees.
Second year trainee
289
Typically a trainee sits in four seats: Corporate,

Banking or Property, Employment or Litigation
and a wild card seat. The choice is fairly limited
by the amount of departments we have but if
youre interested in the departments on offer,
then exposure to work is first class. There is the
possibility of doing a Corporate seat in Paris if your
French is up to scratch.
Second year trainee
Four six month seats, Corporate is compulsory
then a choice between Employment/Litigation and
Property/Banking, and then a free choice of the
remaining seats. Generally people get their first
choices I have got all my first choices.
Second year trainee
Formal Training
The induction talks are formal and are

conducted by a number of different fee earners.
Departmental induction/training seems to vary
from department to department but is equally
well structured. Both are taken seriously and
trainees are told in advance when such sessions
are due to take place. Legal training: CPs, know
your client, company searches, due diligence.
Non-legal training: organisational skills, and IT.
First year trainee
Training is taken seriously but is a very open
forum in which questions can be asked and views
aired. There is always time to attend and you
would only not attend if there was a very pressing
matter where your colleagues absolutely could
not do without you. Training programmes are
organised by the department PSLs and generally
take place in the first few weeks/months of each
seat. You pick up a range of skills, e.g. drafting, but
also an overview of the process for the matters
each department generally deals with, and an
understanding of how the firm operates.
Second year trainee
290
There are fortnightly departmental meetings

which cover major legal developments and any
work-related points of interest which have arisen.
Associates have weekly lunchtime training on a
specific area of law. Additionally, external speakers
attend regularly and we periodically get sent on
training courses (e.g. accounts, management
skills, etc.).
Junior solicitor
As partners, associates, and trainees sit together,

informal training happens on a daily basis simply
by discussing issues with people. Partners and
associates (time permitting) are always willing to
give advice/feedback on work. This is by far the
most effective and hands on way of learning and,
for me at least, provides a way to hone skills in a
practical manner (not just an academic one).
Second year trainee
It is very easy to receive informal training. Due to
the fact that you sit with an associate and partner,
you are always picking up advice on your work,
and seeing how partners manage their case load
and interact with their clients. I have learned a lot
about house style, presentation of formal notes of
advice, how to interact with clients, and so forth.
First year trainee
Before starting a piece of work you are always
fully briefed on the background and the issues. On
the whole, partners and associates are extremely
good at this. There is also the freedom to ask
questions while carrying out the work. Travers
Smith pride themselves on their on the job
training.
First year trainee
Partners are generally approachable and keen to
offer assistance. Very much an open door policy,
and the relative size of the firm ensures that
partners know most people on a personal level.
The professional support lawyers are also a willing
source of informal know-how and training.
Junior solicitor
Dress code is fairly standard. Can be more relaxed

depending on which seat you are in (Litigation for
example, is quite formal, whereas Corporate is
notoriously laid back and no one bothers to wear
a tie unless going to meet a client).
First year trainee
Farringdon is a great part of the City to work in
its on the edge and has unique cafes and bars
all offering different foods, drinks and good times.
Its location right by the City Thameslink Station
and St Pauls and Farringdon tubes is easy to get
to and from. The dress code is formal Monday to
Thursday with a dress down policy on Friday.
Second year trainee
Good size offices. Trainees tend to sit with an
associate and a partner, and we all have the same
size desks, etc. you always feel like an equal. The
location near Smithfield Market is a nice, not too
busy part of the city. There is a small gym (which
is good for personal training sessions) and the
canteen is reasonable (we get 5 subsidy
per week).
First year trainee
Career Prospects
At present, associates progress up a lock-step

based on PQE. We are subject to annual reviews,
but these are obviously confidential and have no
bearing on pay. It is therefore difficult to assess
progress against peers. You just have to hope that
good reviews mean you are on the right track, but
only time will tell.
Junior solicitor
Travers Smith is smaller than its competitors.
To succeed here you need to be able to cover all
bases you need to be a strong technical lawyer,
but also good with clients. The longer you work
here the more apparent it is whether you have the
requisite skills and your promotion, and the ease
with which you move up the ranks, depends on
those skills.
Junior solicitor
Good work is noticed, reviews are detailed and

helpful, and anyone who becomes a partner is a
pretty great lawyer.
Junior solicitor

TRAVERS SMITH
Offices & Dress code
Developing further skills in the law at the firm;

good legal training at a respected firm is respected
by many employers.
Junior solicitor
Here. I do a very interesting job and have no
desire to move.
Junior solicitor
A career in law opens lots of doors as the skills
acquired in obtaining the professional qualification
are highly sought after. That said, a career in
accountancy probably opens more doors outside
of a professional capacity. Also, commercial and
management experience in private practice can
be fairly limited. Had I gone straight into industry/
business after university (its been eight years
since I graduated), depending on the size and
type of organisation I joined, I would expect to be
managing people and taking strategic business
decisions by now (neither of which I am currently
doing). But I would probably be earning less
money. Its swings and roundabouts.
Junior solicitor
Pro Bono
The firm places considerable importance on pro

bono work. I have represented a charity in a six
figure dispute with a supplier on a pro bono basis,
and also regularly attend law centres to provide
pro bono advice. Pro bono does not count toward
billable hours but we have no billable targets, so
its academic.
Junior solicitor
291
There are lots of opportunities for pro bono. We

record pro bono work but it is not billable. Not
that that matters, we do not have billable hours
targets and there is no minimum quota. Pro bono
projects include: Paddington Law Centre, City
Law School Pro Bono Scheme, Reading Partners
Scheme, and Private Equity Foundation.
Junior solicitor
I volunteer for a pro bono law centre that the
firm supports. There is no minimum quota but
attendance is encouraged.
Junior solicitor

upon qualification?
I think when I complete my training contract I will
have been fully prepared by the firm to continue
practising law after qualification.
First year trainee
Very, and Im extremely looking forward to it.
Second year trainee
I think by the time I have finished my training
contract, I will feel quite confident in my abilities
(or at least, thats the hope).
First year trainee
Green Initiatives
The firm has a dedicated environmental partner

from the real estate team to oversee the firms
carbon footprint (including the best way to reduce
it). We try at every stage of our work to minimise
our waste including timed light switches and air
con, recycling facilities in all areas, responsible
energy sourcing, etc.
Second year trainee
Usual stuff... paper recycling, motion sensor
lights, timed air conditioning, monitors and
PCs switched off every evening, etc. They have
initiated Leapfrog (a network of professionals who
advise on green initiatives).
Junior solicitor
We are encouraged to recycle all paper. The
property department have completely paperless
filing.
First year trainee
Diversity
I think there is a 50-50 split in the number of

male and female trainees. Child care vouchers are
available and I understand the maternity leave to
be good.
First year trainee
Could be more proactive in this area but
definitely not negatively biased.
Second year trainee
292

Hours
Flexible working is not something that has really

been implemented at our firm yet. However, we
have no formal billing targets. Hours are normal
for the City (i.e. they can be very long) but lawyers
are not encouraged to do long hours for the sake
of it. The department is (in general) very good
about ensuring junior lawyers take holidays and
that these holidays are not interrupted, and that
there is some down time in between transactions.
Bearing in mind that I knew what I was signing
up to, I am happy with the working culture at the
firm.
Junior solicitor
The job involves long hours it just does.
However, that being said, I have never had to
work late whilst everyone else heads home at
6pm. When there is lots on you are expected,
reasonably, to put your shoulder to the wheel.
Conversely, when there isnt much on you are
encouraged to head home early!
Second year trainee
1,200
Junior solicitor
50 hours per week, on average, which is less than

I would have expected. There is also no culture of
face-time at Travers Smith if you have no work
to do, or even just no urgent work to do, you will
be encouraged to go home.
Second year trainee
Perks
Salary
Pay is very good, but there arent as many extra

benefits (good gym membership package, coffee
subsidiaries, pension plans) for trainees as in other
law firms.
First year trainee
Im very happy with it and think it is very
competitive.
Second year trainee
Bonus is based on a set number of weeks pay.
Bonuses could be better but our base salary is
good.
Junior solicitor
There needs to be a bonus programme, we were
given a tiny bonus at Xmas which was firm-wide.
Junior solicitor
Good basic rate of pay compared to similar sized
firms.
Junior solicitor
Bonus
1,000
Junior solicitor
3,000
Discretionary but was around 5% of salary last

year (across the board).
Junior solicitor
TRAVERS SMITH
I probably work between 38 45 hours per week.

I think that the number of hours is fairly standard
(if not quite good) for a well respected City law
firm. I would not expect to be working fewer
hours (and in some of my future seats, I expect to
work considerably more).
First year trainee
Cheap tickets for a box at the Royal Albert Hall!

Second year trainee
We dont get anything too wacky that I can think
of. We get 5 a week towards food at the canteen
(whoop whoop), subsidised gym membership,
spare sports tickets if theyre not being used for
client entertainment (Twickenham, Emirates,
Wembley, Oval, etc.). Free chocolate bars, crisps,
soft drinks, etc. after 6pm (not sure thats a good
thing!), free dinner after 7pm, and free taxis
home after 9pm. We are also allowed to use our
BlackBerries as our personal phones without
having to reimburse the firm (within reason),
which I think is fairly generous.
Junior solicitor
Departmental and firm-wide Christmas party.
Junior solicitor
Pluses
The people and a general commitment to

wanting to train people well.
First year trainee
Good support network, high quality of work.
First year trainee
Great work and nice, talented colleagues.
Junior solicitor
The people, the mix of clients and the
responsibility which is given to you at an
early stage.
Junior solicitor
293
Great fun. Good partners (very helpful in

the office, great fun outside it), the collegiate
environment and great quality of work.
Second year trainee
Minuses
The lack of international opportunities.

Junior solicitor
The canteen is in the basement. It would be nice
to be able to eat in the office and see the outside
world at the same time.
Junior solicitor
Slight lack of flexibility.
Junior solicitor
Quality of sandwiches for work meetings!
Second year trainee
Poor bonuses, not much else.
Second year trainee
Fun Facts
We have a great local pub the Bishops Finger.

Friday = good times.
First year trainee
Its nothing like Ally McBeal.
Junior solicitor
Joseph Travers Smith was supposedly an expert
on cigars.
Junior solicitor

I applied for a vacation scheme and was offered

a training contract on the back of that. I had
one interview for the vacation scheme and was
interviewed by a graduate recruitment partner.
The interview was general in scope and didnt
involve any legal questions (I was a non-law
student at the time). I was asked what I would give
a talk on if I had an audience at Hyde Park Corner,
a time when I had to make a difficult decision, my
strengths and weaknesses, and general questions
about me and my interests.
First year trainee
I had two interviews with no standard hoopjumping questions, just a debate about a couple
of current issues to get inside my mind. The
interviews were enjoyable and engaging and
reflective of the firms interest in the person
themselves. I was asked to debate the merits of
the death penalty, whether we should have
juries, etc.
First year trainee
The Travers Smith interviews are very tough.
Whilst there are only two interviews, the partners
are notorious for wielding the axe ruthlessly... The
first interview is twenty minutes with one partner,
and the second is an hour interview with two
partners. Some of the questions are commercially
focussed, but most aim to examine the way that
you think and whether you can think laterally
and have the ability to back up your opinions and
arguments (I for instance, was asked about my
thoughts on new powers of detention in relation
to suspected terrorists).
First year trainee
I had one interview for a vacation scheme and
got offered a training contract straight from the
vacation scheme. The interview was challenging
but fun!
Second year trainee
294
Bright, interesting and interested self-starters.

You need to be able to communicate your point
of view well and stick up for it to fit in here. It
is not a place for shrinking violets; everyone is
expected to get involved from an early stage. The
firm does not recruit from specific universities, but
the characteristics of those that it recruits means
that the trainees tend to be drawn from the more
academically respected institutions.
Junior solicitor
They hire bright, sociable people who will get on
with the current employees and each other. There
is a very collegiate atmosphere at Travers Smith
which the partners like to keep going. The firm
expects a minimum of a 2:1 in a good degree from
a good university.
First year trainee
Bright, understated candidates with a good sense
of humour and a penchant for having fun at work.
Second year trainee
The firm looks for bright people that take their
work, but not themselves too seriously. Soft skills
are extremely important can the candidate be
left with a client for a period of time?
Junior solicitor
I loved the vac scheme. But more than anything,

I thought the people showed a relatively
unique combination of intelligence/ability and
friendliness/approachability.
Second year trainee
TRAVERS SMITH
Tips & Advice
The people. Everyone I met seemed intelligent,

great fun and engaging (definitely more so than at
other firms!). The promise of good work and client
interaction also attracted me and, Im pleased to
say, I got what I was promised!
Second year trainee
Down to earth people, sociable atmosphere,
really interesting work great clients,
early responsibility.
First year trainee
Mainly its reputation in corporate law, but I
also got on very well with the partners who
interviewed me and the trainees who showed me
round the firm, which confirmed my choice.
Junior solicitor
Go online for
more quotes on
Travers Smith and
other law firms
295

At Travers Smith there are only 25 training
contracts available, so competition is extremely
fierce. As a more diminutive firm, Travers Smith
looks for people who will fit into its close, friendly
and collegiate culture. Moreover, current solicitors
advise that candidates need to be bright,
interesting and interested self-starters. You need
to be able to communicate your point of view well
and stick up for it to fit in here.
Travers Smith is not a place for shrinking violets as
everyone is expected to get involved from an early
stage. Trainees tend to be drawn from the more
academically respected institutions and successful
candidates will most likely hold a minimum 2:1
degree from a good university. However, stuffy
types should leave their pretentions at the door
Travers Smith looks for people with a sense of
humour who take their work, but not themselves
too seriously, one solicitor tells us. Soft skills are
also really important as the firm needs to trust
trainees to deal with clients on their own. The firm
is definitely interested in candidates who enjoy a
variety of things and are not one dimensional so
any extracurricular activities will surely spice up
your application!
Any extracurricular activities will surely

spice up your application!
Successful applicants will be able to benefit from
excellent training opportunities which a Travers
Smith trainee says is highly prioritised and
always well-tailored to meet the demands of the
department. Training sessions run throughout the
four six-month seats. Trainees need to complete
a corporate seat and then have a choice between
banking or property, between employment and
litigation, and a final wild card choice. If your
French is up to scratch, you may also be able to do
your corporate seat in Paris.
296
Fortunately, the application process is

straightforward: just apply online via the firms
website. Two rigorous interviews are the rewards
for successfully negotiating this initial hurdle,
the first with one partner and the second with
two. These interviews are designed to determine
character and reactions to questioning. Interviews
are very tough... The partners are notorious
for wielding the axe ruthlessly, one trainee
commented, but as long as you stay confident
and focussed there should be nothing to worry
about! The first interview is likely to last around
30 minutes, whereas the second will be one hour.
In the second interview some of the questions
are commercially focussed, but most aim to
examine the way that you think and whether you
can think laterally and have the ability to back up
your opinions and arguments. There wont be
any assessment days, so dont be shy during the
interviews and sell your skills!
Vacation Schemes
Travers Smith offers a two-week vacation scheme

in the winter and runs two two-week schemes in
the summer. If youre a law student or graduate
you will be able to apply for the latter whereas
non-law students can sign up for the winter vac
scheme. During the vac scheme youll be able
to sit in two different departments and attend
workshops that should get your legal skills going.
With places filling rapidly, youll have to come
armed with more than good grades. To get a place
on one youll have to master an interview with a
graduate recruitment partner. These interviews
are described as relaxed and general in scope
with less of a focus on legal questions, instead
centering on current affairs and your strengths,
weaknesses and interests.
Travers Smith manages to punch well above

its mid-market weight, landing knockout
deals without the advantage of a network of
international offices. The firm has resisted
temptation to grow too quickly, instead
remaining with around 275 lawyers, and
focussing its attention on getting the very best
deals that a firm of its size can handle. Travers
Smith is a full-service firm with a propensity for
corporate, banking, financial services, private
equity, M&A, and tax, but strength in depth in
other areas too their litigation department
won The Lawyers Litigation Team of the Year
Award in 2011, and the real estate team was
ranked second in their category. Travers Smith
is applauded for its laid-back ethos and working
environment in what is a notoriously
demanding industry.
Travers Smith is one of the oldest law firms in the
City, in fact one of its earliest partners drafted
the constitution of the first Stock Exchange, in
1801. The firm took its name from its senior
partner, in 1851, Joseph Travers Smith, whose
clients included the Westminster Bank. The
arrival of Stephen Braithwaite, in 1873, brought
a change in name to Travers Smith Braithwaite;
however, the firm truncated its title back to its
original moniker in 2005. Despite its long history,
the firm has remained monolithic, growing
without acquisition or merger something that
very few law firms worldwide can claim.
While much of the City went expansion-mad in
...even trainees are given lots of

responsibility from the start.
the 1990s, Travers Smith bucked the trend by
maintaining its focus on the London market.
All along, the firm has emphasised cautious
organic growth in order to preserve its preciously
guarded culture one of its major selling points
when it comes to recruiting new talent. However,

the firm does have a small liaison office in Paris
staffed by UK lawyers. On the international front,
the firm has a trusted policy of best friends
that has seen it build up excellent relationships
with independent corporate firms across the
Continent, Asia and North America.
This best friends network is fastidiously
TRAVERS SMITH
FIRM PROFILE
The firm boasts an impressive roster

of clients, including Barclays Private
Equity, 3i, Bridgepoint Capital, Pinewood
Studios, Shepherd Neame and
Channel 4.
maintained, with lawyers seconded back and
forth at regular intervals, and partners racking up
the air miles visiting potential colleagues. In fact,
45% of Travers Smiths deals involve cross-border
advice, so its probably fair to say that this system
appears to be bearing fruit.
Although its no pushover in the M&A field,
the firms mainstay practice is private equity,
and Travers Smith was one of the first firms to
appreciate the huge potential that involvement
with this lucrative sector could bring. The firm
boasts an impressive roster of clients, including
Barclays Private Equity, 3i, Bridgepoint Capital,
Pinewood Studios, Shepherd Neame and
Channel 4.
Prospective lawyers choose Travers Smith
because of its relatively small size, which
guarantees that even trainees are given lots of
responsibility from the start. Another attractive
prospect is how the actual office is set up
trainees, associates and partners sit together so
the level of on the job training is very high.
297
Though employees at Travers Smith commend

the firm for this flat hierarchy, there still seems
much to be done on the diversity front, though
the firm is actively addressing this. But everyone
agrees that the collegiate atmosphere is one of
the pluses of working at the firm.
Travers Smith makes a good contribution to its
community and has a healthy commitment to pro
bono work. The firm has acted on a number of
death row cases for the Caribbean Capital Cases
Committee, and has taken on cases from the
Bar Pro Bono Unit. Other examples of pro bono
298
work have included advice to St Barts Church,

Macmillan Cancer Support and Coram. Trainees
in the litigation department are encouraged to
take on their own pro bono cases through the
Free Representation Unit and all trainees can
participate in the drop in legal advice clinics run
by the firm at the Paddington Law Centre. There
are also opportunities to join the firms Reading
in Schools scheme helping children in a Tower
Hamlets primary school learn to read. Employees
have even done a sponsored climb of Mt.
Everest, helping to raise money for the Samantha
Dickson Brain Tumour Trust.
Work for TRAVERS SMITH

(advertisement)
TRAINING CONTRACT
VACATION SCHEME
This year, were looking to recruit 25 trainees. Not many,

but we want the best
bright people who are committed to a career in law
but also have a lighter side and dont take themselves
too seriously. In return, we offer the chance to be part
of a firm that has earned a phenomenal reputation
relative to its size, is recognized as a leading specialist
in each of its chosen disciplines and routinely wins
headline-grabbing work. A law degree is not a necessity
around half the trainees who join us come from a
non-law background. We look for people who combine
academic excellence with common sense. Youll need
to be articulate on your feet and on paper as well as
determined, self-motivated and with a healthy sense of
humour.
Our vacation schemes give you a taste of life at Travers

Smith. We run two-week vacation schemes two
schemes during the summer and one at Christmas. The
summer schemes are designed primarily for penultimate
year law undergraduates, whereas our Christmas
scheme is designed primarily for final year non-law
undergraduates. Vacation schemes are a chance for us
to get to know each other and workshops and working
lunches are just as important as the legal work youll be
doing. Youll meet our current trainees who will give you
an honest opinion of what its like to practice law at
our firm.
WHEN TO APPLY
WHEN TO APPLY
The deadline for summer 2012 vacation schemes is
31 January 2012.
For the September 2014 training contract, the deadline

is 31st July 2012.
SALARY
SALARY
VACANCIES

There are 18 places available for the Christmas vacation

scheme in 2011. Applications to attend open on 1st
October 2011. There are 36 places available for the
summer vacation schemes. For the Summer schemes,
you can apply any time up to 31 January 2012 and we
will start to interview early in the New Year allocating
places straight away, so apply in good time.
VACANCIES
HOW TO APPLY
TRAVERS SMITH
JOBS
275 per week.
Name: Germaine VanGeyzel

Email: graduate.recruitment@traverssmith.com
Tel: 0207 295 3000
Website: www.traverssmith.com
299
training contracts
Who are
Trowers &
Hamlins?
How will my
training be
structured?
Do they offer
regional
opportunities?
they
e
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a
Wh g for?
lookin
ch
mu lity
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Ho nsib ?
po
et
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n
Ca tion
vaca ement?
plac
What
will I seats
be a
experi ble to
ence?
Will I get a
chance to work
overseas?
How do I
apply?
For further information please contact the graduate recruitment team on

Tel +44(0)207 423 8312 or avithlani@trowers.com
300
Trowers & Hamlins is an equal opportunities employer
In the field of social housing, Trowers & Hamlins towers above the competition. In addition to this
market leading practice, Trowers is a leading light of Middle Eastern law and has a disproportionately
successful international projects practice for a mid-sized firm.
PROS
High levels of responsibility and client

interaction from the start trainees are often
given their own files to run
Good support network and quality training
Excellent secondment opportunities in the Gulf
Reasonable hours and good work/life balance
Relaxed working environment and friendly
colleagues
CONS
Do not always get your top seat preference

Firm deserves a better reputation
Not a huge number of perks, unless you do an
overseas seat
London office is average and old though
moving next year
THE STATS

London partners: 91
Manchester trainee intake: 3
Exeter trainee intake: 1
Trainees retained: 75% (September 2011
Qualification Process)
Approx. no. of applications per year: 500 (Summer
Vacation Scheme); 1,100 (Training Contract Autumn
Assessment Centre)
Banking & Finance Construction Corporate

Dispute Resolution Employment & Pensions Energy
& Infrastructure Housing & Regeneration Middle
East Private Wealth Projects Public Sector/Local
Government Real Estate
BASE SALARY
LONDON 2011
MANCHESTER & EXETER
Newly qualified 35,000 (Manchester); 32,500 (Exeter)
TROWERS & HAMLINS
TROWERS & HAMLINS
LOCATIONS
No. of offices: 10
Abu Dhabi Bahrain Birmingham Cairo Dubai Exeter
London Manchester Oman Riyadh
LONDON OFFICE
Sceptre Court
40 Tower Hill
London EC3N 4DX
Tel: +44 (0)20 7423 8000
www.trowers.com

Anup Vithlani
Graduate Recruitment & Development Manager
Email: avithlani@trowers.com
301
QUOTES
LIFE ON THE JOB
Its a great firm to work at. I work in the

affordable housing practice, a sector in which the
firm is the acknowledged market leader, and that
gives rise to some fairly cutting edge thinking in
terms of delivery of housing led regeneration in
a limited subsidy market. In addition, and slightly
oddly, it involves cross over with our Middle
Eastern offices as that region considers how to
deal with the demand for affordable housing and
other social infrastructure.
Partner, London
Trainees are given a very high level of
responsibility and contact with clients. Several
departments give trainees their own files to
run, where they will be the clients first point of
contact. During my training contract I have run
client meetings under supervision, and attended
site visits and the Employment Tribunal on my
own. I have regular direct contact with partners
often working directly for a partner. Several
trainees share offices with partners.
Trainee, London
You are given a large amount of responsibility
and client contact and often run your own files,
particularly in the housing department and
the Gulf offices. Partners are generally very
approachable and you may share an office with
one. Its definitely not the kind of firm where
trainees are stuck doing photocopying or page
numbering all day long.
Trainee, London
My day usually runs from 8am to between 6 and

7pm. I have a few ongoing matters which are my
sole responsibility which I have to keep an eye on.
The majority of my day is performing specific tasks
for other fee earners in the department.
Trainee, London
302
My typical day has varied between departments

but generally involves working on my own matters
and assisting others on larger matters. I regularly
correspond with clients by email, letter and on the
phone, carry out research, draft documents and
attend meetings.
Trainee, London
Client meetings either with Government
quangos, local authorities or affordable housing
providers; project work its very commercial,
contract heavy both on the drafting and
negotiation fronts; marketing and business
development either nationally or in the context
of the MENA region...
Partner, London
Varies vastly depending on the seat. In litigation
it involved a reasonable amount of bundling,
reviewing document, drafting particulars of claim,
attending meetings with clients and counsel,
attendance at mediations and research on an ad
hoc basis regarding case law and the CPR.
Trainee, London
Culture
We have a fairly standard structure partners,

assistant solicitors, trainees and support staff. It
doesnt feel too hierarchical and this is something
were keen to retain. The firm is supportive and
friendly this is the feedback we get from staff,
trainees and vac schemers. I just checked this
with my current trainee to ensure that I wasnt
being too corporately on message. Apparently,
I still have a grip on reality! Solicitors do socialise
together, but I suspect that as the firm has grown,
socialising has become more department-centric.
Partner, London
The trainees are all ambitious, but there is no

sense of there being a competition. There is a
strong support network amongst the trainees.
Trainees across intakes are always willing to assist
each other when needed. As well as attending
events organised by the firm (of which there are
many, but not too many), trainees also socialise
together out of work, including at the weekends.
Not infrequently trainees even go on holiday
together.
Trainee, London
Most partners and all the more senior fee
earners treat you as one of the team. The team in
which I currently sit regularly goes out for lunch
and drinks together and have included me from
the beginning. Trainees, particularly within an
intake, support each other a lot and there is a
fair amount of socialising. There is often a bond
between those trainees that go abroad at the
same time and I visited all of the other trainees
who were seconded in the various countries
during my six months abroad.
Trainee, London
There are communications groups, involving

the senior partner feeding into management
decisions. Inevitably, decisions are occasionally
made where more consultation or involvement
could have been included.
Partner, London
As a partner, I would say that we keep staff well
informed about firm-wide decisions that affect
them. For example, the senior partner regularly
does a presentation to staff about how the firm
is doing, whats coming up next, etc. In addition,
we have a fee earner communications group
which meets regularly and feeds back ideas or
comments, which are then considered by the
partnership. Some ideas are taken forward, others
are not.
Partner, London
Seats
Trainees complete four, six-month long seats.

Trainees can sit in the following departments:
projects and construction; international projects;
public sector commercial; banking; corporate;
housing projects; public sector communities
and governance; commercial litigation; property
litigation; construction litigation; employment; tax,
trusts and pensions; and commercial property.
Trainees do not have any choice over their
first seat, but give HR three choices in order of
preference for subsequent seats. Trainees can
do a six month seat in Dubai, Bahrain, Oman or
Abu Dhabi. Most trainees will complete one seat
abroad usually their second or third seat.
Trainee, London
TROWERS & HAMLINS
The firm culture is very friendly. There is a lot of

support available. Trainees do not socialise that
much, outside of semi-regular organised events.
Trainee, London
Typically four seats, in a range of departments

no departments are compulsory, unlike at a
lot of firms. You are asked to list your choices
for your next seat at the half-way point of your
current seat. I have had every seat I have wanted
(including a seat abroad).
Trainee, London
Formal Training
The firm is always keen to provide training where

a need is identified, which is good. For example,
I asked for presentation skills training in my first
seat appraisal and this has been provided.
Trainee, London
There is extensive training for trainees. At the
start of their training contract, trainees attend a
two-week course at Kaplans Law School. Several
departments run invaluable training programmes
at the beginning of each seat. Trainees are also
invited to departmental and firm-wide training,
which takes place several times a month.
Trainee, London
The housing projects department, in which I
sit, organises morning training sessions once or
twice a week for the first two months of the seat.
These are useful in giving a broad overview of the
work the department undertakes, however their
practical usefulness is debateable.
Trainee, London
303
Training is provided formally in weekly sessions

for all trainees. These are compulsory and time
is usually found for trainees to attend. Each
department also runs relevant training sessions to
keep fee earners updated.
Trainee, London
As well as mid-seat and end-of-seat appraisals

from supervisors, you have an end-of-seat chat
with a partner youve not worked with before, and
this is great for getting an impartial view of what
seats and qualification options you should do.
Trainee, London
The quality of training and mentoring that I have
received from my supervisors in each department
has far exceeded my expectations. I have always
felt able to ask any questions that I have, and my
supervisors have always made time for me in their
busy days. Solicitors, and partners alike, are very
approachable not only with regard to the work
that I am doing, but also my career development.
Trainee, London
My supervisor (a partner) explains everything
that we do in great detail, and is always willing to
answer any questions that I have. Other partners
in the department are usually equally willing to
answer questions, as are the associates. They will
also call you up on your mistakes, no matter how
small, which I hope means I will come out the
other side of this with most of my weaknesses
ironed out! So far, the greatest skill I have learnt is
resilience and a thick skin!
Trainee, London
Green Initiatives
The firm is fairly good at recycling and is trying to

go paperless, but still has a long way to go.
Trainee, London
304
While there are recycling bins, we are not told

what we should recycle. However, most people
seem to recycle. The recycling facilities for bottles,
etc. arent explained either. As with all law firms,
a lot of paper is used, and I think, to a degree, this
is unavoidable. There are automatic lights that
turn off when no motion is detected, but a lot of
people leave their computers on overnight
I think.
Trainee, London
diversity
Very good at this: no discrimination. The firm

is recognised as valuing diversity. It respects
different cultures/religions, and is flexible,
allowing assistance for working mothers, religious
commitments, etc.
Trainee, London
Trowers is renowned for the amount of diversity
within the firm. Retention is very high; Trowers
goes out of their way to keep their trainees. Many
of the firms partners trained with the firm.
Trainee, London
We are given speeches on discrimination and
respect during our induction. There is a good mix
of people here. From what I can tell, the maternity
and paternity provisions seem generous.
Trainee, London
The building is quite old, as is the computer

system. The firm is moving to a new location in
about 18 months and you can tell why, in terms of
space. Dress code is formal and old fashioned. Its
best to wear a tie at all times while a trainee. Once
youre a fee earner, you can relax a bit.
Trainee, London
The dress code is business smart, but not stuffy.
We do not have a dress down, except occasionally
for charity.
Trainee, London
Dress code is very formal compared to other

firms. Offices are okay, but not swanky.
Trainee, London
Pro bono
The firm wants people involved in CSR, but

finds it difficult to incentivise people to get
involved. Firm punches above its weight with
programmes with local school children, strong
relationship (including donation of funds and
partner as governor) with local primary school,
work placements scheme with housing charity
and growing relations with national charity and
local legal advice centre. Pro bono does not count
towards billable hours.
Partner, London

upon qualification?
I think the good thing about working here is
that the trainee intake is relatively small and so
exposure to real work is much more likely here
than in firms which take on lots of trainees. I
would love to qualify into the firm as it is a great
place to work.
Trainee, London
Im only 3 months in, and the impression I get
from NQs is that nobody is ever really prepared,
but I think Ill be more prepared here than in a lot
of other places.
Trainee, London

Hours
I work from 9am until 5:45 6:30pm, with a few

later stays, but none beyond 8pm. Part of the
reason for this is the cyclical nature of work my
department undertakes, with the months up to
March being busy because of the distribution of
government funds for the year ending at the end
of March. I would say that I work slightly less than
I would have expected, and certainly less than my
fellow trainees in other departments.
Trainee, London
TROWERS & HAMLINS
The offices are not terribly shiny, but that is part

of Trowers appeal they are not very City, and
from my window I can see the Tower of London
and Tower Bridge. Dress code is smart, but not
uncomfortably so our client base (specifically
public sector and construction) often means
a slightly relaxed attitude to dress, which is
refreshing.
Trainee, London
I bill on average 90 100 hours a month. Spend

approximately 50 55 hours in the office a week.
The firm is flexible about hours for those who have
rights to request it, but there is still a difficulty in
asking for it if you have no right to request.
Partner, London
I work fewer hours than I had expected before I
joined the firm and have no complaints. Although
it varies from department to department, I rarely
work longer than 8.30am to 6.30pm and regularly
work a slightly shorter day. I have not had to work
weekends or nights and have only had to cancel
my evening plans a couple of times in two years.
Trainee, London
I work an average 50 60 hours week, which
is less than I expected. I work the occasional
weekend, but that tends to be my decision and is
not expected.
Trainee, London
Salary
We are paid a little less than our peers, but I

would not swap this for the working environment
at other firms. In light of our work/life balance, we
are very well compensated.
Trainee, London
Very I am raring to go.

Trainee, London
305
Overall, Im very happy with the salary

and benefits. It would be nice to have gym
membership benefits though.
Trainee, Manchester
Low compared with my peers at other firms but
good given the hours we work and the fact that I
actually enjoy my job!
Trainee, London
Perks
Getting involved in marketing events or

supporting vacation students can also lead
to a few drinks. The firm does contribute to
conveyancing fees if you move house, and will
sponsor you 100 for charity events that you do.
Trainee, London
Great benefits if you do a seat overseas free
accommodation and car, plus a monthly living
allowance. Free membership to Royal Academy
events.
Trainee, London
The firm provides: a summer bonus; a Christmas
bonus; health insurance; subsidised gym
membership; free entry to the Royal Academy;
a bi-annual meal for trainees; departmental
Christmas parties; events for current and future
trainees several times a year; firm-wide drinks
every two months; life assurance and free
breakfast before 8.30am.
Trainee, London
PLUSES
Friendly colleagues who are prepared to take

time for you. Good breadth of work and clients.
Excellent salary. Good hours.
Trainee, London
Relaxed environment, open-door policy,
opportunity to do a seat abroad.
Trainee, London
306
The reasonable hours for a City salary.

Trainee, London
My colleagues, the level of responsibility that I
get and the fact that I feel that I have a long-term
future with the firm.
Trainee, London
The atmosphere and the people I enjoy coming
to work.
Trainee, London
MINUSES
Trowers deserves a better reputation than it has

amongst others in the profession.
Trainee, London
Occasionally having to stay late (though this
is very rare). Not always getting your first seat
preference (although I have not experienced this
personally).
Trainee, London
Not a huge number of perks and the pay isnt
great.
Trainee, London
Occasional chaotic communication.
Partner, London
Fun Facts
Anthony Trower used to sit opposite the same

man every day on the train, half way through their
journey, they used to swap newspapers.
Trainee, London
Apparently they have worst toilets of any City
firm, so the rumour goes. Not sure where its from
though, I think theyre fine.
Trainee, London
TROWERS
BOND
PEARCE
& HAMLINS
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Lookin
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latest

307

I only had one interview with two partners,
with questions that focused on my interest in the
Middle East and previous legal work experience.
There was a legal document which I reviewed
for fifteen minutes before the interview and was
asked to talk about.
Trainee, London
There was an online application form, then an

assessment day. It was run in a very unintimidating
way. The final stage was an interview. I was
interviewed by a partner in housing projects and a
solicitor.
Trainee, London
Assessment centre (with HR), followed by twopartner interview (so two rounds). Assessment
centre was good fun! Partner interview questions
included personal questions, commercial
awareness questions, questions testing awareness
about the firm, and an exercise involving looking
through a legal document.
Trainee, London
Tips & Advice
Trowers seems to be looking for candidates who

are passionate about what we do, with relatively
strong academics. The firm is fairly unique in what
it does and who its clients are, so knowing a bit
about that and understanding the role you could
play is crucial. It tends to steer towards candidates
who have some experience of another career, or
further study, or relevant work experience life
skills are pretty key.
Trainee, London
The firm looks quite widely for its candidates
and tends to consider those with experiences and
previous careers outside of law equally with those
candidates coming straight from university/GDL/
LPC.
Trainee, Manchester
308
I think that Trowers looks for candidates who

genuinely want to work for them specifically. They
are a unique firm with a quirky mix of practice
areas so if youre doing blanket applications, more
than ever, this firm wouldnt suit you.
Trainee, London
I loved the unusual combination of practice

areas, public/private sector, UK/Gulf. They are
at the top of the game in the Gulf and in their
housing practice. It is a City firm, but without City
attitude. I now work with partners who worked at
some of the top City firms, but just didnt want to
live that lifestyle anymore.
Trainee, London
The breadth of work was the main factor
primarily the combination of public sector with
private work. I thought the firm was a good size
for me as well, big enough to be a specialist in its
areas but not so big that you dont feel part of an
organisation. Also, the reviews of the firm and my
experiences during the recruitment process gave
me the impression it was a friendly, unpretentious
place.
Trainee, London
I had a couple of other offers on the table at
the time of my interview and was undecided.
Unlike during my interviews at other firms, I left
the interview feeling like I had had a thoroughly
enjoyable and challenging hour and a half with
interesting people I would like to work with,
whose work I would both enjoy and feel useful
doing. That feeling has stuck with me throughout
my training contract.
Trainee, London
It is ideally placed on the border between the
public and private sectors; meaning the work is
interesting and opportunities in both fields will be
open.
Trainee, London
If youre interested in social housing law,

international projects, and the occasional trip to
the Middle East, Trowers & Hamlins should be on
your employer shortlist. However, before you start
daydreaming about spending your time in one
of the firms foreign offices Abu Dhabi, Cairo,
Dubai, Oman, Riyadh and Bahrain bear in mind
that there are only around 22 training contracts
on offer each year, so brace yourself for a tough
application.
The assessment day is said to be fun

and run in a very unintimidating way.
So how do you make the route to success less
bumpy? First up, you need to have strong
academics upper second class degrees are
needed. However, Trowers doesnt just select
its trainees from top 10 unis; the firm is known
to recruit a real mixed bag of people, as one
current trainee points out. Its also good to know
that Trowers & Hamlins has a tendency to pick
candidates who have some experience of another
career, further study, or relevant work experience.
After an initial online application that will
assess the usual educational background,
extracurricular interests, skills youll be faced
with an assessment day, followed by a partner
interview. The assessment day is said to be fun
and run in a very unintimidating way.
Past interviewees have been given a legal
document to look at for 15 minutes prior to the
interview, as preparation for a discussion with
the interviewer. In addition to something like this,
expect to be quizzed on your personal background
with the typical why do you want to work here?,
and what can you bring to the firm? questions.
Your commercial awareness and knowledge of
the firm will also be tested. As one trainee states,
Trowers seems to be looking for candidates
who are passionate about what it does and who

its clients are, so knowing a bit about that and
understanding the role you could play is crucial.
Should you be successful with your application,
you can expect to complete four six-month seats
at Trowers & Hamlins. It is possible to sit in a
wide variety of departments, including property,
litigation, banking and corporate, projects and
construction, as well as private client, employment
and public sector claims one trainee. While
there are no compulsory seats, it is likely you will
spend some time in social housing. If this gets you
excited, heres some even better news: due to the
small intake, trainees dont usually have to fight
for a secondment abroad and are in fact expected
to go to the Middle East for their second seat.
TROWERS & HAMLINS
Vacation Schemes
Many of the firms trainees got their foot in the

door through the Trowers & Hamlins summer
vacation scheme; so if youre eyeing up a training
contract with the firm, youre best advised to
apply for a vac scheme first. These are by no
means a guarantee, but they can certainly provide
a helpful stepping stone to landing a full-time
position with the firm.
The firm offers 30 lucky students the opportunity
to do a summer vac scheme in the firms London,
Manchester or Exeter offices. Over the two week
placement, you will get to experience life in two
different practice areas. A supervisor and buddy
will make sure you get all the support you need
when working on various tasks, which may include
drafting, conducting legal research or interacting
with clients.
309
FIRM PROFILE
Trowers & Hamlins may not be the largest firm on
the block, but in the field of social housing law it
towers above the competition. In addition to its
market leading practice, Trowers & Hamlins also
ranks as a heavyweight in the Middle East, and
has a disproportionately successful international
projects practice for a mid-sized firm.
In keeping with its treatment of staff,

Trowers & Hamlins altruistic activities
are high on the agenda.
Trowers & Hamlins lineage can be traced back an
incredible 230+ years to London in 1777. Since
Richard and John Woodhouse ran the firm in its
early days, Trowers & Hamlins has gone through
20 changes of identity and amalgamations.
Walter Trower (who was knighted in 1915) joined
the partnership in 1886, with the second half
of the current appellation stemming from the
firm, Hamlin & Grammer which was practising
in 1875. Though the two firms had been in
association for many years, it was not until 1987
that they finally joined forces to become Trowers
& Hamlins.
Since settling on the current moniker, the firm
has made considerable international strides.
Trowers & Hamlins first foreign foray was in
Oman in 1980, with Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain,
and Cairo all following in the 1990s. In addition
to its Middle Eastern stronghold, Trowers &
Hamlins has domestic outposts in London, Exeter
and Manchester, with the brand new Birmingham
office completing the firms national footprint.
Today, Trowers & Hamlins has approximately 700
staff operating across its offices in the UK and
Middle East.
Many firms have since set up practices in the
Middle East, but Trowers & Hamlins moved into
310
the region early, leaving its peers far behind.

However, to pigeonhole Trowers & Hamlins as
just a Middle Eastern firm would be both unfair
and inaccurate. The firms real estate practice
is amongst the strongest in the UK, and its
corporate work is not to be scoffed at either.
Trowers & Hamlins has appeared in the
Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work
For, partly because it employs a number of
initiatives to keep its staff happy. For instance,
the firm makes allowances for working from
home, career breaks, and part-time and job
share arrangements, to name but a few.
Understandably, defections are relatively low and
trainee retention is high.
Trowers & Hamlins pro bono and CSR

extends to its Middle Eastern sites,
with projects ranging from an Abu Dhabi
recycling programme to fundraising
in Bahrain.
In keeping with its treatment of staff, Trowers
& Hamlins altruistic activities are high on the
agenda. The firm is involved with numerous
community schemes, ranging from helping out
with reading in primary schools, to arranging
placements in corporate organisations for
East London residents. In Manchester, the
firm works with the Manchester Methodist
Housing Association to support the Northmoor
Community Association; partners have assisted
with a range of projects to support local
residents, including decorating, gardening and
rubbish clearance. This benevolence isnt solely
domestic either; Trowers & Hamlins pro bono
and CSR extends to its Middle Eastern sites, with
projects ranging from an Abu Dhabi recycling
programme to fundraising in Bahrain.
Work for TROWERS & HAMLINS

(advertisement)
TRAINING CONTRACT
VACATION SCHEME
Candidates must have a minimum of 320 UCAS points

at A Level (ABB) or equivalent, and a predicted /
achieved 2:1 degree or above. However, we are on the
lookout for more than just academic ability - candidates
must demonstrate the following: an enthusiasm and a
drive to succeed; team working skills as both a player
and a leader; resilience and strength of character;
initiative and a sense of responsibility; versatility and
an innovative approach; an analytical and logical mind;
excellent communication skills; and the ability to adapt
them to your audience. We believe in having a diverse
workforce which is why we dont just look for candidates
from Oxbridge and red-brick universities. We welcome
applications from all universities, as well as candidates
who have already left university or are considering a
career change.
Our summer vacation schemes are a good way to find

out what life as a trainee at Trowers & Hamlins is really
like. Each year, we offer over 20 summer vacation
placements across our London, Manchester and Exeter
offices. Each placement is for two weeks and provides
experience of two different departments. During your
time with us, you will be treated as a trainee solicitor,
get involved in real work (such as drafting, undertaking
research and attending client meetings), as well as
having the opportunity to meet a range of people from
around the firm from support staff to Partners. In each
department you experience, you will be designated a
buddy who will introduce you to the department and
be on hand to offer you guidance and advice. You will
also have a supervisor, usually a senior solicitor, to offer
you counsel on the various pieces of work that you will
be given.
WHEN TO APPLY
For Training Contract September 2014 / March 2015 the
deadline is 1st August 2012
SALARY
35,000 / 26,000 / 26,000 (London/Manchester/
Exeter), rising to 38,000 / 28,000 / 28,000 in the
second year of training and 55,000 / 35,000 / 32,500
for newly qualified solicitors.
VACANCIES
We look to recruit around 22 trainee solicitors each year
across two intakes (March and September).
HOW TO APPLY
Name: Anup Vithlani
Email: avithlani@trowers.com
Tel: 0207 423 8312
Website: http://www.trowers.com/careers/students/
TROWERS & HAMLINS
JOBS
WHEN TO APPLY
Summer Vacation Scheme 2012, the deadline is 1st
March 2012. Please note that if you wish to apply for
either a place on our summer vacation scheme and /
or for a training contract position only, you will need
to complete our online application form, which can be
accessed via our website. We do not consider any other
form of application to us.
SALARY
The remuneration is currently 225 per week in London
and 185 per week in Manchester and Exeter.
VACANCIES
Each year, we offer over 20 summer vacation placements
across our London, Manchester and Exeter offices.
311
Accept
the
challenge.
Get a fast paced, fulfilling,
and fantastic opportunity.
Weil, Gotshal & Manges are currently
recruiting for Vacation Scheme Placements
for 2012 and Training Contracts for 2014.
For more information and details
on how to apply please go to
www.weil.com/ukrecruiting
312
Weil, Gotshal & Manges has powerhouse practices in restructuring, private equity and litigation, and in
addition to being a major player in UK law, has a huge presence across the Continent. The firms London
office is the second biggest after its New York HQ, and its largely UK-qualified solicitors are amongst the
highest earners in the City.
PROS
Good exposure to high quality and challenging

work
Supportive network of trainees due to the small
intake
Close knit culture everyone knows everyone
Lots of direct interaction with clients and high
levels of responsibility for trainees
Top of the City pay scale
Excellent Women@Weil network
CONS
Not much socialising outside of work

Lack of interaction between departments at
times
Some practice areas are rather small in the
London office
Trainees dont always get their chosen seats
THE STATS
LOCATIONS

London partners: 24
London trainee intake: between 12 and 14
Vac schemes: 518
Training contracts: 714
No. of offices: 20
Beijing Boston Budapest Dallas Dubai Frankfurt
Hong Kong Houston London Miami Munich New
York Paris Prague Providence Shanghai Silicon
Valley Warsaw Washington, DC Wilmington
BASE SALARY
LONDON 2011
1 year PQE 100,000
2 years PQE 103,000
3 years PQE 112,000
WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES
LONDON OFFICE
110 Fetter Lane
London EC4A 1AY
Tel: +44 20 7903 1000
www.weil.com

Vicki Wisson
Graduate Recruitment Advisor
Tel: +44 (0)20 7903 1000
Email: vicki.wisson@weil.com or
graduate.recruitment@weil.com
www.weil.com/ukrecruiting/
Antitrust/Competition Finance Business Finance

& Restructuring Capital Markets Corporate (M&A
and Private Equity) Employment/Employee Benefits
(including Pensions) Fund Formation Intellectual
Property Litigation & Dispute Resolution Real Estate &
Environment Tax
313
QUOTES
LIFE ON THE JOB
As a general rule at Weil there is no list of trainee

tasks. My supervisor and other colleagues will
give me as much responsibility as they think I can
handle. The more you can show your supervisor
that you are understanding what they ask for,
and that you are willing to turn to them on the
trickier points, they will give you harder, higher
responsibility work. Direct interaction with clients
and partners is high, by email, on calls and at
meetings.
Second year trainee
The clients and transactions we work on are
at the peak of the PE market in the UK, and
transactions can vary greatly from straightforward
acquisitions to complex cross-border transactions
involving multiple interested parties. The work is
generally high quality and you will be given more
responsibility on every deal, so you do not stop
learning.
Junior solicitor, Private Equity
Being a small office, theres often something
of an all hands on deck mentality, and trainees
work closely with lawyers at all levels (and in
many offices) of the firm, as well as with clients.
Obviously, theres some typical trainee work
involved, but associates and partners alike are
very good at delegating good work to trainees
whenever they can.
First year trainee
I have had a significant amount of client contact
during my seat in litigation and have worked with
senior associates and partners at Weil. The cases
I worked on were high-value and high-profile.
I have also worked on the finance side of two
large private equity acquisitions which involved
satisfying KYC criteria and conditions precedent.
First year trainee
314
Some research tasks (often to be put in the form

of a memo to be sent directly to a client), drafting
letters and documents, responding to client
enquiries, and liaising with lawyers at other firms.
I normally manage to grab lunch with some of the
other trainees (we generally get on well in and out
of the office) and head off around 8pm.
First year trainee
The work will vary depending on how many
deals you are working on and what stage they are
at. During the early stages of the deal you could
be reviewing confidentiality agreements and
commencing high level diligence on the company,
in the intermediate stages you may be finalising
the due diligence report and negotiating/
drafting documentation (from board minutes
to sale purchase agreements and investment
agreements), and in the final stages you will be
working hard to ensure all documentation is
finalised and ready for signing.
A variety of things from typical trainee tasks such
as file administration, note taking, proofreading,
etc. through to drafting and reviewing transaction
documents.
Second year trainee
Culture
Culture is very open doors. With limited

exceptions, nobody would mind a trainee going
into their office to ask questions (if reasonable!).
Theres a very professional atmosphere in the
office, and a fierce focus on getting the job done
properly and on time. The trainees are a great
support to one another, and are always there
if youre not sure where else to turn for help!
Trainees also socialise together being on the LPC
together was great in terms of getting to know
each other before starting work.
First year trainee
As the firm is smaller than UK counterparts in the

City you get the benefit of knowing everyone in
the office and having a stronger identity, without
compromising on the work quality. Hierarchy
is more flexible than in English law firms, and
partners are very approachable. There is a social
side too, and you will go for lunch or meet up after
work for drinks, but I would think this may be less
of a factor than in firms with big intakes, which
provide more opportunities for socialising.
I find that partner communications are very

good at the firm. As with every law firm, many
decisions are made behind closed doors, but there
is generally good chance for upward review and
we are kept up-to-date on a regular basis on office
developments.
Seats
Trainees undertake four seats, including

compulsory seats in Finance and Corporate.
Optional seats include Litigation, Capital Markets,
IP/IT, Real Estate, Competition, Tax, and BFR
(Business Finance and Restructuring). Seats
abroad are currently available in New York and
Paris (for French speakers), as well as other
European offices on an ad hoc basis (based on
business needs). The seat allocation process
is renowned for being a little less transparent
than would perhaps be ideal, but few people are
shocked when seats are eventually allocated.
First year trainee
Trainees do four seats across areas such as

corporate, finance, litigation, employment, IP/
IT, property, capital markets, restructuring and
competition. Trainees submit choices and these
are taken into account, but really the best way
to get the seat you want is to speak to the
partners in that department, especially if it is a
small department. The compulsory departments
are corporate and finance (although the latter
can be satisfied by doing a capital markets or
restructuring seat). The seats abroad are in New
York and Paris.
Second year trainee
The working environment is fairly friendly with

most associates and partners being approachable.
Trainees do support each other and help out
when colleagues are busy. Socialising is not all that
popular, although there is a core group of trainees
who do their best to get the others involved!
Second year trainee
Four seats; almost all departments (corporate,

banking/securitisation, restructuring, litigation,
capital markets, IP/IT, real estate, tax,
employment/pensions, competition). Choice
is there if you make it known early what you
want, and you impress everybody early on so
that people want to give you the right seats, etc.
Having said that, corporate and finance (capital
markets, securitisation or banking) are mandatory
which only leaves two spare; seats abroad are
back on the agenda, one trainee just got back
from Paris and another has just left for New York.
Second year trainee
Formal Training
Training programmes need to be more focused

on your current seat and less general. Actual
knowledge sharing could be improved, but does
depend largely on department. The main training
at the firm is on-the-job learning.
Second year trainee
There is regular training and some very good
training on a smaller scale, where partners and
senior associates will go through agreements in a
more intimate way than large training sessions. I
think that the training structure is less rigid than in
larger firms, as would be expected, but I find that
the training complements the practical leaning onthe-job effectively.
315
Training is high quality and interesting, often

delivered by the (extremely well qualified) team
of PSLs. Supervisors are definitely keen for their
trainees to attend unless absolutely impossible.
First year trainee
Ive never felt uncomfortable asking a question of

anyone. (Although, as with anything, it wont go
down well if you dont know what it is that youre
asking!). People are supportive, but trainees
are expected to be independent and should not
expect to have their hands held at every step.
First year trainee
There is a mentoring scheme at the firm, which
is voluntary, but most people take it up as it is a
useful tool to seek advice from people outside
of your department who are more senior, on a
confidential basis. In addition, as partners are
accessible and they do actually focus on the
development of the junior lawyers, there is good
support on your progress as a lawyer.
If you need to have someone hold your hand or
if youre easily upset, this isnt the place for you.
On the flip side, the culture is a good fit for people
with drive and initiative.
First year trainee
Depends on the department, but most associates
and partners are willing to teach and train.
Second year trainee
CAREER PROSPECTS
As a trainee, there are reviews every three

months, and then every six months as an associate
(with the main review occurring once a year).
Pro bono
A very high importance, and there is a 50 hour

pro bono requirement from lawyers.
316
Green Initiatives
There are various initiatives implemented

to increase efficiency in an achievable and
realistic way.
Prominent recycling bins and encouragement to
file electronically.
First year trainee
The firm recycles, and people turn off lights...
going paperless is never going to happen, ever.
First year trainee
diversity
We have just had our bi-annual firm-wide

diversity week, where a variety of talks were given
at the London office from groups such as Refuge
and Female Prisoners of HMP Send. There is a
permanent diversity committee as well.
First year trainee
Absolutely outstanding at every level. Initially
driven from the US, the London office has firmly
embraced the diversity initiative. Diversity training
is compulsory for all new joiners, and various
affinity groups exist (Women@Weil is particularly
good at organising all sorts of exciting sounding
events!).
First year trainee
The firm regularly wins awards for these sorts of
things and has committees on them. The firm held
a diversity week with various talks/seminars to
discuss these issues.
First year trainee
Dress is normal office attire, shirts and smart

trousers, except meetings where a suit is
required.
Working hours vary hugely depending on

department, supervisor and level/status of deal
activity. I worked a 100 hour week one month, and
then did 10 billable hours in a fortnight the next
month.
First year trainee
Business casual policy five days a week (i.e.

no need for a jacket or tie, but shirt, shoes and
trousers are required).
Second year trainee
9.30am 8pm is my average day, which is exactly

what Id expected. The firm doesnt pretend that
its a 9 5 job, but the hours are no worse than
any other corporate firm.
First year trainee

upon qualification?
50 hours billed on average per week, probably

translates to about 70/80 in the office. The reason
I rate this highly is that: (i) this is what I expected,
(ii) the pay isnt bad, and (iii) it is probably worse
at other firms where the pay is less.
Second year trainee
Extremely, I have been thrown in at the deep end

and have been treated as an associate from day
one in most departments.
Second year trainee
Im halfway through my second seat its going
well, but at the moment, I wouldnt trust me.
First year trainee
That depends where I qualify some
departments I feel more prepared in than others.
It depends on the level of work you got when you
were a trainee.
Second year trainee

Hours
My hours are no longer than those of my peers at

Magic Circle firms. However, I have had one or two
weeks where I have finished at 4am every night.
Otherwise, I tend to finish at 7pm. The hours are
as I expected.
First year trainee
The firm is moving office in autumn 2011 to a

brand new office on Fetter Lane. The dress code is
informal. Ties can be worn, but most opt to leave
the top button undone if they are not attending
meetings with clients or lawyers from other firms.
First year trainee
This depends on departments. Some are a huge

number of hours, whilst others have a great work/
life balance.
Second year trainee
Salary
As trainees, we are paid near the top of the scale

for City lawyers.
First year trainee
Salary is very high among competitors and
generally in line with, but higher than, most
US firms.
The reason I get up in the morning.
First year trainee
Perks
Occasional free tickets and dinners are offered.

The firm also has a corporate membership to the
Royal Academy.
First year trainee
317
Birthday holiday... although I ended up working

mine. Tickets do pop up now and again. Ive been
to a Champions League game at the Emirates,
and a group of trainees were dispatched to
represent the firm at the IFLR awards dinner at
The Dorchester.
First year trainee
Good pension scheme and health insurance.
PLUSES
The quality of work, the salary, the prospects for

trainees.
First year trainee
Women at Weil, specialised training and guidance
for females in law, the salary, and learning from
highly skilled and friendly colleagues.
Second year trainee
Money, challenging work is there in the right
department.
Second year trainee
The people and the work.
First year trainee
MINUSES
Some practice areas are rather small in the

London office, but we all knew this when we
signed up.
First year trainee
The lack of interaction between different
departments.
First year trainee
Hours, some departments do not provide enough
challenging work.
Second year trainee
In some departments there is an hours culture
and it is a struggle to have a work/life balance in
those departments (but not all).
Second year trainee
318
Fun Facts
The rumours are not true it is not a

sweat shop!
Second year trainee

The online application was followed by a verbal
reasoning test. I was then invited to a first round
interview with a partner and associate which
was followed by an assessment day comprising a
presentation, group discussion, drafting exercise
and a second interview with a different partner
and associate. Both interviews involved lengthy
technical scenarios, as well as competency
questions. I also had discussions about private
equity.
First year trainee
I came through the vacation scheme and received

a training contract through that. The process
was as expected; there were tests, a partner-led
interview and various exercises throughout the
scheme, such as negotiation or pitches.
Two rounds, a partner and associate at each.
First one is a 45 minute interview, and the second
one is a full assessment day with team exercises,
written exercises, interview, etc. Interview went
through standard questions (motivation, CV
walkthrough, ambitions), then had a couple of
commercial awareness questions.
Second year trainee
There are verbal and written tests, then an
interview and an assessment day. Questions
ranged from personal to deeply financial, and
were adapted to my CV.
First year trainee
Any applicant should be confident, outgoing

and commercially-minded. It is not enough for
them to be academic high-flyers; they must also
have interests outside of work and a solid grasp
of the firm and the London offices outlook. It is
accurate to say there is a mixture of universities
represented in the current trainee intakes:
Oxbridge, UCL, LSE, Edinburgh, Durham, Warwick,
Manchester, Nottingham, Sussex and Exeter.
First year trainee
Independent thinkers. The firm does not hire
corporate drones, and people are expected to
have a personality! Top notch academics are
expected as standard (although, contrary to
popular belief, the firm isnt exclusively populated
by public school educated Oxbridge grads!).
Confidence, quick thinking, and the ability to think
practically will go a long way.
First year trainee
The firm looks for all round lawyers, with strong
technical skills, as well as social skills and common
sense. A strong knowledge of the firm is also
essential.
The mixture of the smaller size and good quality

work meant that I knew that I would get better
quality work than elsewhere, and still work on
as interesting and high profile deals. I also prefer
knowing other people in the firm, not just those
on your floor, or even just the department you
work in.
Amazing work, a relatively small office, and the
ability to work alongside some of the leading
lawyers in their respective fields. (Oh, and
the salary.).
First year trainee
Tips & Advice
Size of intake: I had no desire to be one of 150,

or even one of 30/40. As one of a smaller cohort,
you necessarily get more responsibility and
recognition. Salary: no-one gets into this game for
fun, and very few stay for life. If youre going to do
something, do it properly: work all day and earn
a small fortune. Clients: private equity will always
be a sector driven by risk and reward; both appeal
to me.
First year trainee
Firm looks to hire quietly smart people (not

necessarily smart quiet people though) whom it
believes will thrive in the transaction heavy smoky
deal rooms of Private Equity.
First year trainee
The firm offered a small trainee intake and

therefore large levels of responsibility, as well as a
competitive salary and blue-chip clients. The office
is also well managed and has great prospects for
the future.
First year trainee
Good pay, small intake, more chance to shine.
First year trainee
319

Weil, Gotshal & Manges is one of the top
international law firms in London, so securing
a training contract can prove to be a tough
undertaking. The firms annual intake consists
of between 12 and 14 trainees, and Weil looks
for candidates who can demonstrate excellence
beyond the minimum 2:1 from a top university.
According to current trainees, the firm seeks
commercially-minded and independent thinkers
with strong technical skills, as well as social skills.
Furthermore, Weil only takes on candidates it
believes can handle responsibility, because due to
the combination of the [firms] small size and its
big ticket work each and every trainee must pull
their own weight.
The recruitment process may be

stringent, but it is also known to be
friendly and cohesive in drawing the
best out of candidates.
The recruitment process may be stringent, but
it is also known to be friendly and cohesive in
drawing the best out of candidates. Applicants are
required to fill in an online application form and, if
successful, will need to complete an online verbal
reasoning test. The next stage consists of an initial
interview with a partner and an associate.
Ace the first interview and youll be invited
to a full assessment day, where youll have a
presentation, group discussion, drafting exercise
and a second interview with a different partner
and associate. This is your chance to shine
Deliver focussed answers on why you want to
work for Weil and demonstrate a strong interest
in corporate and finance work, as well as a
good understanding of the firms history and
noteworthy deals. Weil looks for candidates with
an active extracurricular side to their CV, so be
sure to cover your interests outside of work in
320
addition to demonstrating a solid grasp of the

firm and London offices outlook. Current trainees
advise applicants to be prepared to stand up to a
lot of pressure, both at interview and in the job.
Weil only takes on candidates it

believes can handle responsibility.
Trainees at Weil undertake four six-month seats,
with finance and corporate being compulsory.
Almost all of the firms departments are an option
for the remaining two seats, and the choice is
there if you make it known early what you want,
states one trainee. Seats abroad are possible,
with Paris and New York currently available.
Secondments to clients or other European offices
are also sometimes an option.
Vacation Schemes
As is the case with many law firms, a vacation

scheme is a brilliant door-opener; it will give you
an inside look and feel for the firm, all the while
providing the opportunity to demonstrate your
enthusiasm and commitment.
Weil offers a two-week vacation scheme every
Easter and summer and typically welcomes 20
students. If you are one of the lucky few to make
it through the hiring process, you will be given
an opportunity to work in two different practice
areas. There you will share an office with a lawyer
and assist them with their everyday work
participating in deals or attending client meetings
is not uncommon according to Weils summer
students. Youll also be offered training sessions
to help you develop both soft and technical legal
skills; overall, a great stepping stone if youre
looking to secure a training contract.
2!
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321
PROFILE
International firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges boasts
powerhouse practices in restructuring, private
equity and litigation major contributors which
have elevated the firms worldwide revenue past
the $1 billion mark in recent years. Although
enduring some rough waters since its UK outpost
was opened in 1996, the firm has since stabilised
and even managed to counter the market by
flourishing through the recession.
Today, the firms London office is its second
biggest and most significant after its New York
HQ. More than 90% of its 100+ lawyers are UK
qualified and they are amongst the highest
earners in the City: newly qualified solicitors earn
a salary of 97,000 per year (including pension)!
The result of the firms London endeavours is that
its office is now at the heart of many of Weils
major efforts, especially cross border corporate
deals.
Founded in 1931, Weils work remained solely
domestic until the 1990s. Although London
now acts as its European headquarters, its first
international forays were in Russia, followed by
Brussels in 1992. Weil previously had a presence
in London, courtesy of Nabarro Nathansons
office, but it didnt take the leap to go it alone
until 1996. Heavy investment and an aggressive
lateral hire strategy marked its inception. The firm
is continuing to grow with the addition of new
partners joining from rival firms, such as Clifford
Chance, Linklaters and Jones Day.
Weil is not only a major player in UK law the
North American firm has dedicated significant
resources to global expansion over the past 15
years. Weil now has over 1,200 lawyers in 20
offices, spread across the US, Europe and Asia.
In 2009, the firm opened its first Middle Eastern
office in Dubai, marking its debut with one of the
biggest deals in the region the merger of TV
channels Showtime and Orbit.
322
In recent years, the firm has placed emphasis

on its niche strengths rather than broadening its
scope a strategy that has paid off. And while the
banking and finance teams hold their own with
the big boys, the firms litigation and arbitration
teams also have a strong reputation. Weil secured
the mandates to advise on some of the worlds
largest defaults: Parmalat, General Motors
and WorldCom. Furthermore, the firm boasts
significant practices in capital markets; and with a
client list including Barclays Capital and Deutsche
Bank, the work is as high-profile as it comes.
Weils pro bono efforts are renowned for being
pervasive firm-wide, with even senior figures
contributing to the philanthropic cause. In 2005,
Weil launched a policy requiring each associate to
perform at least 50 hours pro bono work a year.
And if that wasnt enough, Weil has helped Oxfam
set up a chain of fair-trade coffee shops and
also works with numerous charities such as the
disabled childrens charity KIDS.
(advertisement)
TRAINING CONTRACT
VACATION SCHEME
Learning at Weil is designed to get you on your feet and

practising law quickly, encouraging and enabling you to
take ownership of your career. In one of the best training
programmes in the City, youll get plenty of personal
attention, combined with early responsibility, and the
opportunity to play a meaningful role in headlinemaking deals.
We run two-week vacation schemes each summer

and take up to 15 students. You spend each week in a
different department, sharing an office with qualified
lawyers, and sharing their work. The aim is for you to
experience the work we do and the way we do it. You
participate in deals and attend meetings with clients,
working side-by-side with our lawyers. To help you get
to know our trainees in a social setting, we also organise
events to facilitate opportunities for further learning and
questions.
WHEN TO APPLY
The deadline for our 2014 training contract is
31/07/2012
SALARY
Trainee Salary of 41,000 rising to 45,000 by beginning
of fourth seat
VACANCIES
We offer up to 10 training contracts each year, taking
great care in the selection process.
JOBS
Work for WEIL, GOTSHAL

& MANGES
WHEN TO APPLY
The deadline for our 2012 vacation schemes is
31/01/2012
SALARY
VACANCIES
We offer 15 placements.
HOW TO APPLY
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LEGAL TRAINEE RECRUITMENT FROM

AN APPLICANTS PERSPECTIVE part 1
Written by Ashley Connick
For a candidate, the recruitment process is daunting,

uncertain and often unclear. For a recruiter, Id
imagine it can on occasion seem exactly the same.
Any recruitment is an inexact science for a number of
reasons; graduate recruitment more so than usual, on
account of the applicants dearth of experience (in most
cases). Ill use two parts of the recruitment process to
show this uncertainty from a candidates viewpoint, and
explain how the circumstances of recruitment lead me
to have sympathy for recruiters (although they can test
this sometimes!).
There would be students who would

lurk around the computer rooms waiting
for opportunities to quickly sit in
someones place when they got up from
their PC in order to email that persons
CV to themselves.
The nature of recruitment is not the fault of the
applicant or the recruiter. Its not even the conscious
fault of the system its merely that, as Winston
Churchill said of democracy, the current system is the
worst system ever tried, apart from all the others. As
far as I can see, there is no way to alter this. The things
that recruiters ask for are all perfectly reasonable and
desirable in a candidate.
The written portion of the application process is tricky
enough. Each firm is like a prospective romantic partner
326
they like to be smiled at and told how special they are,

so the candidate must find new ways to compliment
each one without being too general or too sycophantic.
Candidates must also show their commitment, both
to law and to the firm in question. I mentioned last
week in my blogpost about why law students wanted
to work for City firms how recruiters need to be certain
that their investment, which in some cases is more than
250,000 per candidate recruited, is spent wisely and
will net their firm a return.
The trouble with this, of course, is the knowledge of the
candidates is limited and the medium they are using to
communicate that knowledge is similarly constrictive.
One can only gain so much from reading about a firms
atmosphere or personality after a while, reflecting
the image that the firms marketing team puts out just
becomes nauseating for a recruiter (or so one told
me). Commitment, as I was discussing recently with @
LegalBizzle, is more to do with increasing the odds of
candidates being suitable than a criteria in and of itself.
In reality, its very difficult to convey commitment and
enthusiasm accurately through an application form. One
of my friends told me that at the American university
at which she gained her first degree, there would be
students who would lurk around the computer rooms
waiting for opportunities to either steal peoples
homework off the printers or to quickly sit in someones
place when they got up from their PC in order to
email that persons CV to themselves. Ive heard of
embellishing a CV, but stealing aspects of someone
elses had never occurred to me. This just serves to
make recruiters lives more challenging as sure as I am
that what I write is true, how can they, without knowing
me, be as certain? What position must a recruiter take
one of trust or mistrust in their applicants?
These examples show how difficult the process can be

for both applicants and recruiters. As applicants, we
have to deal with the vagaries of the system and the not
knowing quite what each individual recruiter wants (for,

as we are constantly reminded, all firms are different).
For recruiters, they must unfortunately view each
application with scepticism, for the stakes for potential
trainee lawyers are so high that embellishment will
naturally occur.
Even at the end of the process, the recruiter cannot
be certain they have made the right decision. I have
heard stories of people leaving the day after their
training contract finished at their own behest, of those
not being offered an NQ job, and seen people let go
before their contract has even begun as a consequence
of sub-par performance in law school exams. It seems
recruiters really dont get it right all the time. No blame
can be attributed though if only there was a way to
remove the element of guesswork, life would be easier
for both recruiters and applicants.
LEGAL TRAINEE RECRUITMENT FROM AN APPLICANTS PERSPECTIVE PART 1
Now to move on to the second part of the process I

wish to focus on. If you are lucky enough to pass the
application stage and statistically, most people who
apply for any job will not enjoy that success then you
are faced with either an interview or an assessment day,
and sometimes with both. The assessment day contains
what all employing organisations know as the group
exercise, to see whether individuals can work well with
others. This is generally a round-table discussion where
there are contentious issues at stake and an agreement
must be reached. Theres a fine balance between being
too loud and being overbearing, and between being
thoughtful and being too quiet. I recently raised the
point with a recruiter that being part of a team means
working together, and that if you are sat round a table
with three people whose personalities are loud and
forceful, it is sometimes actually good teamwork not
to add a fourth brash personality into the mix. She
conceded that this was a very artificial process and
was the best they could do. Group work at law college
or university helps to give candidates practice with
situations like this, of course, but the trouble is that very
few people are able to be natural on assessment days,
and those that are natural are often the ones being
drowned out. Obviously, recruiters know this and have
developed techniques to spot the candidates who will
be the best for them in the long run, but yet again this is
not an exact science.
Check online for more Buzz Board

articles and interview advice in:
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Consulting
Law
And more...
327
Legal Trainee Recruitment from an

Applicants Perspective Part 2:
The Application Form
In Part 1 of my guide to the applicants view of legal

trainee recruitment, I wrote about some of the
questions and tasks that applicants must negotiate on
their way to the reaching holy grail of a training contract
offer. I realise, though, that I may have inadvertently
given the impression that similar things could be
expected from all law firms.
To a certain extent, this is indeed the case they each
have an application process involving you writing
something down followed by seeing them face-to-face.
Most of the time therell be a question about why you
have chosen that particular firm (which is why that is
the example I used when mentioning application forms
in the previous piece). Apart from that, however, the
process is often as different as chalk and cheese.
Id like to say by way of a disclaimer before I begin
that Im only writing this to give people a sense of the
process, rather than because I believe that wholesale
changes to the system are necessary they arent. As
I concluded in the last piece on the topic, we know
that recruitment processes are imperfect, otherwise
there wouldnt be much deviation from 100% trainee
retention rates and there wouldnt be trial periods in
most jobs. The fact is that theres no way to truly know
what someone is like at work without actually working
with them.
Different firms use different systems to create their
application forms. Some use central form systems,
such as CVMailUK or Apply4Law, which applicants
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like because they allow you to enter your education

records into a central website database and simply
import them into each application form. This may not
sound important, but when youve done more than
20 modules at university, 3 A-Levels, an AS-Level and
10 GCSEs as is standard across the country (with some
doing many more), it can become a mite repetitive to
enter the same data into multiple forms. Especially
when some applications ask for the marks as pure
marks (University marks in this country are out of 90)
and some ask for them in percentages, often requiring
conversion.
Some applications ask for the marks

as pure marks (University marks in this
country are out of 90) and some ask for
them in percentages, often requiring
conversion.
Once youve hurdled the education section, the
next part youre confronted with is often but not
always, obviously the employment section. Again,
the requirements of this section vary from firm to
firm. Some firms are very generous with their word
allowance in this section; one firm I know allows
unlimited space for you to elaborate on the tasks
you performed and the knowledge you gained whilst
The firm-specific questions (for want of a better

description) are always bound to differ by virtue of
their very nature. Some of them are the standard,
explain your decision questions, whilst some are more
competency-based. Just to give you a proper idea, the
standard questions can include:
Why you want to be a lawyer

Why you want to work for [X] firm
Why you want to work in the City
Why your skills make you suitable for a career in
the type of law youve chosen
Why you think the firm should hire you over
anyone else
If your form is good enough, you may be

invited to have a telephone interview. Or
have a face-to-face interview. Or have an
assessment day. Or undergo psychometric
testing. Or all of the above.
Meanwhile, the competency questions often ask about
things like times youve been involved in a successful
team, when youve shown resilience or an occasion
you overcame a problem. These also come in different
formats: some firms ask for the competencies outright,
whilst some are more circumspect in their questioning.
Some firms ask each of the explain your decision
questions with a 100-word limit, whilst some lump two
or three in together and give you slightly more. This is
the real core of what a firm is looking for, so it makes
perfect sense for the firm to tailor this section to its

individual needs.
Of course, there are also the firms who dont require
you to fill in these kind of forms. Some firms merely
request a CV and Covering Letter, which requires a
different set of skills entirely. Again, if firms feel that
this is the best way for them to find and hire the right
candidates, then theres no problem with it for me.
I know that the process isnt designed to make life
easy for candidates, or for us to be able to copy and
paste answers from one form to another Im aware
that the purpose is to test the applicants abilities.
The recruitment processes are there for the firms
themselves to hire the people they find to be the best
for their firm, and they have the freedom to do that in
whatever way they like.
I cant help thinking, though, that applications would be
made simpler and perhaps of a higher standard if firms
accepted that certain things could be standardised.
The ability to pre-load education results is, as I
mentioned, a wonderful thing when it comes to making
applications, and in my opinion should be the norm
for firms. Perhaps the same could also be done for the
employment questions, which would enable applicants
to answer the competency and justification questions
without having to worry about the standard elements.
Sometimes it seems that the only thing the application
processes have in common are their uniqueness.
If your form is good enough, you may be invited to have
a telephone interview. Or have a face-to-face interview.
Or have an assessment day. Or undergo psychometric
testing. Or all of the above. This part of the process is
so individual to the firms that it would be impossible
to comment. You just have to hope that none of the
unexpected elements of the process resemble this
interview:
LEGAL TRAINEE RECRUITMENT FROM AN APPLICANTS PERSPECTIVE PART 2
performing them. Other firms prefer slightly more curt

responses, with one firm allowing a mere 50 words; by
way of illustration, the start of this paragraph to the first
semicolon (i.e. two-and-a-half sentences) is 46 words.
Most firms settle somewhere in the 100-300 word
bracket for this answer, which is still not an immense
amount, and requires a new answer to be written for
every form because of the different constraints.
The gulf between a 200-word answer and a 100-word
answer is vast.
www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_
embedded&v=-jhKceRgpak
Many thanks to fellow GDL student, Yihsin Wang, for
her help with this blogpost.
329
SOME FAQS ANSWERED FOR THOSE

CONSIDERING A LAW CONVERSION COURSE
I recently received an email from someone I know

who was thinking about converting his degree through
the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), more commonly
known as the law conversion course. He asked me some
questions so that he could have as much information as
possible on which to base his decision.
Theyre the sort of questions I wish Id

had answers to before I left university,
and answers from a student on the
course rather than from one of the
course providers.
His questions were practical ones about the course,
how I was finding it, and how I was funding it. Theyre
the sort of questions I wish Id had answers to before
I left university, and answers from a student on the
course rather than from one of the course providers. I
decided, having read and answered his questions, that
to publish them might help others make a decision. My
reply is extensive and, Id like to think, thorough, but it
wont be comprehensive and my experiences will have
differed from those of others, so please feel free to
comment with your own thoughts and opinions if you
have anything to add to the information.
The email I received read thus:

Hey Ashley,
I understand that you are currently taking the law
conversion course. Ive decided to look into it and
see if its for me, and would just like to ask you a few
questions about it, if you dont mind? Was it easy to get
into with your degree? Are you self-fundingand are
most people on the course self-funding or are there lots
of people already with law firms paying for them? How
difficult/intense etc is it, are you struggling or finding it
a manageable challenge? Since we did similar subjects
at the same uni I assume weve got a relatively similar
skill set!
Are you in the process of applying for/have you got
a Training Contract (TC)? From reading about it, this
seems to be absolutely crucial yet also very difficult.
How are you finding it and what would you do if you
cant get one? How easy do people seem to find it in
general on your course, and do you need much previous
law experience to help you get one? This is the one
issue that really confuses me as Im worried I wouldnt
be able to get a TC and hence waste a year! Have you
secured any work experience etc/ how difficult was that
to achieve?
I know there are lots of questions, but any help will be
really greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
A Prospective GDL Student
330
Hi Prospective Student.
Id be delighted to answer your questions.
At uni I left most things until the last

minute, even exam revision. With this,
its impossible to do that; I think youd
quickly sink like a stone.
1) The only true entry requirement is obviously that you
hold a degree. Beyond that, if they have space available
and you are able to afford the fees, you are likely to
be accepted. By way of example, I know people who
applied in March or April, well after the deadline for
first round applications, to three law schools (which is
as many as lawcabs.ac.uk allows you to apply to) and
received offers from all three. The law schools were also
still advertising places on the GDL well into September
2010 for the 2010/2011 Academic Year.
2) I am self-funding and so are many of my classmates.
As I write, out of our class of 20, there are only 3 people
who have secured funding already. I took a job straight
from University, having thought that the training fees
in law would be prohibitive for me, in order to work out
what to do. It took me no time at all to realise that I
didnt want to do anything other than go into the legal
profession, and so I used that year to earn the money
for my GDL and apply for Training Contracts. There are
ways to finance the courses and I will need to find a way
to fund myself through the next stage if I do not manage
to secure a TC this year. Whatever happens, though, the
investment has been one worth making, as far as I am
concerned. Some people said that it would be worth it
back when I was worrying about it, but it seemed easy
for them to say that, as they werent people whod
been through it. Taking the year to work gave me the
perspective on my ambitions and the perspective on
funding the course to be able to take the risk of funding
it myself. I was surprised to find out how few people on
the GDL have Training Contracts already.
3) Theres a lot of work for sure, but its manageable. I

havent had any problems so far, although the volume
increases between Xmas and the end of the course, with
two pieces of coursework to do as well as the regular
lectures and workshops (and revision for mocks). The
trick is to keep on top of it. At uni I left most things
until the last minute, even exam revision. With this, its
impossible to do that; I think youd quickly sink like a
stone. So its just about being responsible and working
consistently. Once you do that, its comparatively simple.
Yes, our similar backgrounds are useful but law has
so many disciplines in practice that it requires people
from all backgrounds the most common are social
sciences, humanities, philosophy graduates, but there
are two former musicians in my class as well. The course
is open to holders of all kinds of degrees, so whilst your
essay-writing skills may stand you in good stead, theyre
not all that you need and they certainly wont carry you
through on their own!
If youre applying to city commercial

firms, having some work experience in
a high-street family practice will only be
useful up to a point.
4) I havent got a training contract yet, and am applying
for them at the moment. In my opinion, the greatest
importance placed on attaining a TC at the stage youre
at is in the funding. You obviously need to complete
a 2-year TC if you want to qualify, but the immediate
need is the money. If its possible to do the GDL and
even maybe the LPC via another means of funding then
I would do so. If you need to take a year or two to earn
money to pay for it and apply for training contracts
then that makes sense I did it but it helps to get
on the path as soon as possible, in my opinion. The
other important thing that a Training Contract gives
you, though, is the security of knowing that you have
somewhere to go after finishing your studies.
SOME FAQS ANSWERED FOR THOSE CONSIDERING A LAW CONVERSION COURSE
I gave the email due consideration, and thought

about my experiences, both on the course itself and
beforehand. I replied as follows:
5) Firms like you to have experience because it shows

that you have a commitment to law, but also because it
shows that you know what to expect. [I wrote about this
at length in my blogpost entitled So, Candidate, why do
you want to work at a City firm?] More than just any
331
who recruit for trainees from the pool of people who

already have their LPC qualification, so even if you go
throughout law school with no Training Contract, you
may still be in a great position to apply to firms like that
afterwards.
Think of everyone who you know who

might be able to give you some help or
advice and ask them.... Networking is
absolutely vital.
legal experience, they want it to be relevant. Theyre
not looking for their trainees to know exactly what
area they want to qualify into and in many cases they
prefer trainees not to know. But theyd like you to be
sure that the type of law is what you want. For instance,
if youre applying to City commercial firms, having some
work experience in a high-street family practice will only
be useful up to a point. You can sell it on the basis of
knowing you dont want to work in that environment,
but a big firm wants its candidates to be certain they
want to work in the city world. It was explained to me
recently that it costs roughly 250,000 to recruit each
trainee at most of the big firms, so obviously for that
investment they want to make sure, as far as they can,
that the person is right for the job and will stay there
for a while. The entire process is fairly arbitrary, I think,
as what one firm wants, another firm may not. Also, it
depends how the recruitment is done. Many systems are
imperfect, especially in firms who give applications to
busy lawyers to read.
6) Training contracts are, as Im sure you know, recruited
two years in advance when it comes to the big firms.
They do this because thats the amount of legal training
that their students have to go through if they get them
at the earliest stage. I know many people who have
secured contracts with firms after they have started
their training, and the years in between are not wasted,
I can assure you! Sometimes the firms take their future
trainees on as paralegals so they can gain experience
and earn some money. Some take it as a gap year
opportunity and go travelling, or undertake more study
such as an MBA. Of course, there are also smaller firms
332
7) As I mentioned above, work experience is a real help

when it comes to securing Training Contracts. In order to
get the experience, though, sometimes you already need
to have experience it can be a bit of a vicious circle
with Vacation Schemes in the City. My advice would be
to write to law firms and to make as many contacts as
you possibly can. Think of everyone who you know who
might be able to give you some help or advice and ask
them. Even if you dont know anyone directly who can
help, there are bound to be people around who can.
Sometimes its useful to think laterally: for instance,
most of us know people who have been divorced; ask
someone for the contact details of their solicitor. Even if
they cant help you themselves, they may have contacts
in the industry who are able to. Networking is absolutely
vital. Recruiting firms dont expect everyone to have
extensive experience though, so dont worry about filling
a CV chock-full of it. Just enough to show that you have
thought about the profession seriously will suffice.
I hope that this has been of help. If you have any more
questions, you know where I am.
All the best,
Ash
Now, comprehensive though this may appear, it omits

at least one major piece of advice that I wish Id had
that of how to decide which provider to study with
once youve made the decision to do the GDL. This is a
difficult decision for many prospective students because
of the dearth of information on the subject. The four
When looking to choose a university for your

undergraduate degree, you can decide based on the
surroundings, based on teaching league tables, on
research, on course content, and many other factors.
When the course content is identical, as it largely is
with the GDL, the decision becomes more difficult. The
majority of the information available comes from the
providers themselves, rather than any independent
source, and leaves a great deal to the imagination.
Its difficult to make a wrong decision on this, and
each of the major providers is regarded equally by
most firms (some have agreements with a particular
provider but studying elsewhere before securing a
TC doesnt preclude you from joining them in most
cases). My advice would be to contact the providers
and find out the full details of the teaching and any
extra benefits: how many contact hours you would
have, what materials would be made available online
(are lectures recorded, for instance?), how big are the
class sizes, whats the careers service like, and so on.
Then, once you have this information to hand, work out
what is most beneficial for you. If youre someone who
cant take notes easily in lectures, having recordings of
them available online might be just what you need, for
instance.
Once youve decided on a provider, you may find that

they have more than one branch in the same city,
as I found with the College of Law. Again, almost no
information on which to base a decision over where
to study exists, even less for deciding between the
Moorgate and Bloomsbury College of Law centres than
there was for deciding which provider to opt for. I chose
the College because of their course structure, because
I knew a larger number of people who had studied
there than at any of the other providers, and because,
if you do GDL and either the BPTC (the practical course
for future barristers) or the LPC (the equivalent for
future solicitors) with the College, you receive an LL.B
at no extra cost and with no further exams, which is
in contrast to other providers. I figured that if I didnt
get a training contract, Id like to come out with an LL.B
to show for my two years; if I secure one and the firm
wants me to study for my LPC elsewhere, Im happy to
make that trade-off!
This was a personal decision, and the lack of
information meant that it wasnt built on the strongest
of foundations, but I did as much research as I could
and made my decision based on as much knowledge as I
was able to acquire. I hope that through this post, some
people will be able to be more certain of their options.
As I said earlier, I am certain that I have missed some
absolute gems of advice, and that people who have
had different experiences to me will be able to provide
valuable insights into other areas of the decisionmaking process.
SOME FAQS ANSWERED FOR THOSE CONSIDERING A LAW CONVERSION COURSE
major postgraduate legal education providers are BPP

Law School, City Law School, Kaplan Law School and The
College of Law.

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Written by Travis the Trout
Question: How do you/did you know what Law Firms to

apply for a training contract with?
I had a very strong idea of what area of law I liked
and that was a big deciding factor for me. Property is
an area of law that the majority of firms dabble in. I
applied for both niche property firms and those with
an excellent reputation in property law (along with a
couple of other firms that I liked for other reasons, but
didnt necessarily have a strong property department).
After all, if I want to have a choice of qualifying in
property I will need to have completed a seat in it.
I decided my factors to consider were:
Reputation of the firm
Seat options
Prospects of a job on qualification
The Top 25 Firm:
Reputation: My current firm is a top law firm with
a great reputation in many of its practice areas, but
commercial property is not one of them. It is a good
department, but people dont think of property when
they hear our name. In fact, some people will say I
didnt know they did property.
Seat Options & Prospects on Qualification: The key
thing from a prospective trainees position is that
property take on 3 trainees each seat rotation (in
my office) and this year a few NQs joined the team.
But after a big retention last year, they are unsure
whether they will be able to do the same this year.
Small Family Run Firm:
Reputation: Sometimes it is easier to know what
smaller firms are good at (they shout about it as
much as they can), and what the job prospects are
from my experience they are more upfront about it.
Seat Options and Job Prospects: At an interview I
had last year with a small firm I was informed that
their property department was struggling and they
informed me it was unlikely they could offer a seat in
property (let alone a job on qualification). I found it

hard to hide my disappointment and needless to say
that was not where my future was.
Small but Well Connected Firm:
Reputation: Another comparable small firm, but
made up of ex-top 50 law firm lawyers (with a
stronger commercial property department and a lot
of recent investment).
Seat Options: they were certain they could give me
a seat in property, but they also had a limited choice
for my other 3 options which were not necessarily
choices that I thought would be a good fit. But for
plenty of people this would have been enough.
JOB HUNTING: WHICH LAW FIRM
Job Hunting: Which Law Firm?
Medium-sized Regional Firm:

Reputation: Strong reputation in the regions. Which
is why, when I finally got the training contract that
I accepted, I was sure it was the right firm for me.
Great reputation.
Seat Options: multiple property seats available and
only a couple of us competing for a permanent job at
the end of it.
It is not a straightforward choice with a wide range of
firms out there (with a limited number of jobs). But:
Be selective have a list of criteria.
Want the job (Some people simply dont care what
they do they just want a job but I will stress that
further down the line there are too many colleagues
disappointed by what they do as they are not
passionate about it and admit that things just sort of
turned out that way.)
Be realistic there is no point in holding out for a job
where all the current trainees are first class degrees
from Oxbridge if you are sitting on a 2.2 from an expoly.
If you can get it do work experience or get to know
someone who works there. Get the inside scoop the
reality is often different from the glossy brochures.
Remember: law firms are not your only option.
335
Are Vacation Schemes Really Worth It?

Written by Richard Hornshaw
For a Exeter LLB student, Richard Hornshaw, gives

an account of his experiences on the Travers Smith
Vacation Scheme.
However, it was a refreshing experience to emerge from

the interview around 40 minutes later having felt the
partner in question had really drawn the best from me.
With the recent closing of applications for summer

vacation schemes, comes the annual tradition of
opening the email inbox only to find a seemingly
endless string of rejections. For those fortunate enough
to secure interviews, shuttling back and forth from
London for an array of psychometric testing, assessed
presentations and competency-based interviews can be
a gruelling process. And so, in a climate where firms are
receiving record numbers of applicants, there seems no
better time to ask is it all really worth it just to secure
a vacation scheme?
As I entered the office doors for the first day of the

scheme, it was obvious to see that my peers shared
the inevitable combination of nerves and excitement.
This was swiftly put to rest, however, as we enjoyed
a welcome from the Managing Partner, a tour of the
office and a relaxed lunch where the conversation
flowed freely between schemers and trainees alike.
Indeed, this welcoming, hierarchy-free environment was
a consistent theme running throughout the scheme.
However, the honeymoon period was abruptly put to
rest upon returning to the office as we were split into
groups for what must go down as the most nerveracking ice-breaker known to man!
The honeymoon period was abruptly

put to rest upon returning to the office
as we were split into groups for what
must go down as the most nerve-racking
ice-breaker known to man!
My answer? A resounding yes.
Having endured the psychometric testing and
commercial exercises of other firms this time last year,
it came as a welcome surprise to find one which bases
its selection purely on CV/covering letter, followed by
a partner interview. This is not to say the selection
process is any less rigorous; indeed my naivety of
commercial issues, fundamentally important to a firm
with a pedigree in private equity, was often exposed.
336
Having been given a fictional scenario, we were asked

to compile a 10 minute Dragons Den-style pitch which
we would give to senior partners within the hour. As
they tore apart our hastily scrabbled together thoughts
for market position, advert design and financial
projections in true Dragon-style, it was a huge relief to
emerge relatively unscathed as our group somehow
won the task. This great sense of achievement following
a challenging situation would be a recurring pattern
throughout the mix of social events, workshops and
office time that I was to encounter over the next
fortnight.
On the social side of things, softball in Hyde Park,
playing for the firms football team and the notorious
end-of-scheme drinks allowed for unlimited
opportunities to meet trainees, associates and partners
who often knew us by name and always had time for a
chat. The workshops continued to include litigation and
It was this culture of people who take

their work, but not themselves, seriously
which left a lasting impression as I left
the office doors for the final time.
A memorable moment occurred on the final day of the
scheme, which didnt start well as I sat down at my
desk nursing a fairly sore head from the drinks on the
previous evening. As I struggled to complete a research
task from earlier in the week, I received an email from
a trainee sitting with a senior partner. The email read,
fairly ominously, that my presence was required in his
room within the next five minutes. Having hurried to
his office, I was greeted with a game of office rugby

to which he had challenged some of the schemers the
previous evening. It was this culture of people who take
their work, but not themselves, seriously which left a
lasting impression as I left the office doors for the final
time.
So is it all really worth it? Besides the very real
possibility of securing a training contract in the most
competitive recruitment conditions of recent times,
vacation schemes offer an unrivalled insight into
the daily workings of legal practice, coupled with a
hugely rewarding mix of work and play along the way.
Absolutely, its worth it.
ARE VACATION SCHEMES REALLY WORTH IT?
negotiation exercises which developed a healthy degree

of competition between the schemers and, in doing
so, dispelled any myths that Exeter graduates cannot
compete with those from the other top universities
in the country. Office time, in the respective Tax and
Financial Services departments, was often spent
researching genuinely interesting solutions for problems
arising in headline-grabbing cases.

Accounting
Banking
Consulting
Law
And more...
337
LIFE AS A CORPORTE TRAINEE
Life as a Corporate Trainee

Written by Fryderyk Hoffmann
The Corporate Division of Herbert Smith is organised

into several groups dealing with various areas of
corporate law. I did my second seat in a group
specialising in mergers and acquisitions (often
abbreviated to M&A) and general corporate matters.
The group acts for clients from a range of industries
with the media industry being the primary focus. This
makes it possible to work on landmark deals making
headlines and involving clients such as Warner Bros. and
Sky Group. Amongst other matters, I was assisting in an
attempted takeover of Sky Group by Rupert Murdochs
News Corporation. This has been one of the most
significant deals on UK media market in recent years!
Theres always advice and support

available from more senior lawyers.
Typically, duties of a corporate trainee at Herbert
Smith encompass drafting a wide array of legal
documents, research and administrative tasks in varying
proportions. Some tasks may seem challenging. I was,
for instance, advising a company based in Hong Kong on
obligations applicable to it due to listing of its shares on
a stock exchange in London in the first week of my seat!
Fortunately, theres always advice and support available
from more senior lawyers, there are also plenty of
useful documents at hand on an internal database.
Its important to easily get on with people around as
trainees always work as part of teams. Each trainee has
a supervisor who oversees trainees progress and with
whom or rather under supervision of whom the
trainee mostly works. The supervisor is a professional
role model, its he or she from whom a trainee mostly
learns and develops. Its therefore essential to put lots
of effort into establishing a good working relationship
338
with a supervisor. Each trainee has also a personal

assistant whose help may be priceless when dealing
with administrative workload such as putting together
bibles of transaction documents or drafting bills for
clients.
There are also plenty of useful

documents at hand on an internal
database.
Being a corporate trainee at Herbert Smith entails hard
work, some days may be long, especially when assisting
concurrently on several transactions, but I have a sense
that Ive learned a good deal and matured as a lawyer
thanks to completing a seat in corporate.
Written by by the former Bracton Law Society President

(Exeter University)
My first week on the LPC at BPP Holborn smashed a lot

of preconceptions that I had going into the course. My
fear that I would be surrounded by Oxbridge graduates
who ate statute books for breakfast and considered the
proposed increases in University fees as a good way
to keep out the riff-raff was one of the first to die an
early death. A cross-section of my friends on the course
includes Warwick, Southampton, LSE and Sussex so
no one should be put off applying on the basis that they
think Exeter isnt good enough. We are.
Another preconception of mine was that people had
some interest in what I thought. After having forgotten
my Companies Handbook (an essential piece of LPC
literature), I attempted a time honoured diversion
technique of asking a what if? question in a Business
Law seminar. Cue the lecturer telling me, in no
uncertain terms, that the client wont care about that.
Just tell them what they want to know.
I could almost picture Lord Sugars

silver haired sidekick Nick shaking his
head in disbelief.
Welcome to the business world. Much like a candidate
on The Apprentice who lists their career as investment
banking after doing some work experience at their local
Halifax, I had been found out. I could almost picture
Lord Sugars silver haired sidekick Nick shaking his head
in disbelief. Public chastisement and 6 pints aside
(enjoy Arena while you can), what lessons have I learnt
so far from the LPC?
Firstly, enjoy university. Thats not to say I am not
enjoying the LPC or living in London, I am. My walk to
lectures now takes me past St Pauls Cathedral instead
LIFE ON LPC
Life on LPC
of The Lemmy and last week I went to the same club as

Paije Richardson. I live in exciting times.
However, the LPC is business like. It curtails creative
thinking and encourages procedure plans, basically
ensuring that the way you approach your work is exactly
the same as the last person, and the next person.
It is safeguards such as these that make companies
successful, but that doesnt make it any more
interesting.
Employers value experience and

diversity. Want to do a Masters? Do a
Masters! Want to do a year travelling?
Do it!
Secondly, do not do the LPC if you do not want to be a
solicitor. Sounds simple right? Essentially its like saying
dont do Medicine if you dont want to be a Doctor.
A Law degree can be applied to anything you want,
the LPC is explicitly designed for being a solicitor. You
practice interviewing clients, you learn which forms to
fill in and you learn how to research properly.
Thirdly, if youre not sure about doing the LPC right now,
dont do it right now! The average age of my course is
24/25. I am 21. I have rushed through uni to this point
as quickly as is possible, and there really is no need. In
fact, employers value experience and diversity. Want
to do a Masters? Do a Masters! Want to do a year
travelling? Do it! Then, once youve squeezed every
drop out of the experience, if you think that being a
solicitor is for you and you dont just like the idea of a
big office and a big car, come and do the LPC, because it
is still the start of a great career.
339
Maritime Law: Shipbuilding

Understanding the Importance of
Refund Guarantees
Written by Victoria Ogden, 2nd year trainee at Ince & Co LLP
I am a fourth seat trainee at Ince & Co LLP. Ince is a nondepartmental firm, so we do not have the usual formal
seat system. Trainees do a broad range of work across
all areas of the firms practice, and we see our cases
through from start to finish.
I have been involved in a number of shipbuilding
disputes during my training contract. There has been
a rise in shipbuilding disputes in the past few years
because of the collapse of charter rates and the capital
value of ships in 2008. To put it into perspective, in May
2008, the spot rate an owner could command for a
Capesize vessel was at an all time high of $230,000 per
day, but by December 2008 this rate had fallen to as low
as $2,800 a day.
Due to the time it takes to construct a large, high-value
commercial vessel, shipbuilding contracts are commonly
entered into a long time (often years) before delivery
of the vessel is due to take place. When the market
collapsed, ship owners found that they had committed
themselves to highly priced shipbuilding contracts with
a long lag time, and by the time the vessels were due to
be delivered the vessel might be worth much less than
the amount that the owner had agreed to pay at the
height of the market.
Ship yards also experienced difficulties in fulfilling
orders because they over-loaded their order books
during the pre-2008 boom. Because there was such
high demand for new vessels during the boom period
of 2004-2008, many new yards sprung up in a short
space of time and began constructing more vessels
quickly and cheaply. In some cases, this resulted in substandard construction and associated claims by buyers
340
under the warranty provisions in the shipbuilding

contract.
In the vast majority of shipbuilding contracts, the
shipyard will be required to provide a refund guarantee
to secure advance payments made by the buyer in the
event that the vessel is not delivered to the buyer as
promised.
What is a refund guarantee?
Generally speaking, on the signing of the contract and/
or during the construction process, the buyer is required
to pay instalments to the yard, which together with a
final delivery instalment, make up the total purchase
price of the vessel. However, title in a vessel will not
usually pass to the buyer until delivery. To secure those
instalments paid before delivery, the shipyard will in
most cases be required to provide a refund guarantee
from a bank. This guarantees the repayment of the
instalments if delivery does not occur as promised.
The importance of refund guarantees has been
highlighted by the recent reports of financial difficulty
and insolvency in a number of Korean ship yards. Where
the yard becomes insolvent, the refund guarantor bank
becomes the only prospect the buyer has of making
a recovery of the instalments it has paid. This news
has been accompanied by reports that, unsurprisingly,
banks are becoming more stringent when issuing
newbuilding-refund guarantees.
Set out below are a few of the issues I have come across
when looking at refund guarantees.
2. Expiry
The buyer should ensure that the expiry date of the
refund guarantee provides sufficient time to allow
a demand for reimbursement to be made after the
due date for delivery and before the expiry of the
refund guarantee. This will be a particularly important
consideration where the shipbuilding contract provides
for delivery by reference to an event, rather than a fixed
date. In the event of arbitration/Court proceedings
post-delivery, the refund guarantee will often
automatically extend until after the award/judgement is
handed down.
3. Changes to the underlying contract
The English law on guarantees is very strict on this
point. Changes to the underlying shipbuilding contract,
without the express consent of the refund guarantor
bank, will usually have the effect of vitiating the refund
guarantee. It is not unusual for parties to shipbuilding
contracts to negotiate subsequent addenda to
cover matters such as extending the delivery date,
adjusting the contract price or making changes to the
specification. Express consent should be sought from
the refund guarantor bank before any changes to the

underlying contract are agreed, or the wording of the
refund guarantee should be sufficiently broad to allow
for changes to the underlying contract.
4. Coverage
Buyers must ensure they are fully aware of which
payments will be covered under the refund guarantee.
Some refund guarantees will only cover instalments
due under the contract. The protection will not extend
to advance payments of instalments before they were
contractually due and other payments made outside the
scope of the contract.
A trainees role
Trainees at Ince & Co LLP are encouraged to take on as
much responsibility as they feel comfortable with, and
are involved in most tasks on a case. I recently assisted
on a case involving a number of identical sister vessels
for delivery from an Asian shipyard worth in excess
of US$200 million. My tasks included attending client
meetings; drafting correspondence with the clients and
their insurers; instructing Counsel; instructing overseas
lawyers to advise on local law issues; advising on
addenda to the shipbuilding contracts and implications
for the refund guarantees; drafting witness statements
and drafting the settlement agreement.
The above is a very brief summary and is intended
only to give a flavour of the commercial considerations
involved in shipbuilding disputes and the type of issues
trainees at Ince & Co LLP can expect to be involved in.

Accounting
Banking
Consulting
Law
And more...
MARITIME LAW: SHIPBUILDING UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF REFUND GUARANTEES
1. Authority to sign
It is important to ensure that the refund guarantee is
signed by a bank employee who has full and proper
authority to do so. In a recent Commercial Court
decision, the buyer was unable to claim under a refund
guarantee because it was held that it had been signed
by an employee who did not have actual or apparent
authority to do so.
341
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342
THE INSIDE BUZZ TEAM
Thomas Nutt is the founder of Inside Buzz and

previously worked for Vault in both New York
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expertise keep the rest of the Inside Buzz team
running smoothly and working hard. When not
at Inside Buzz HQ you can find him on the
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Hannah Maltby is in charge of editorial at Inside
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Shes a natural and loves chatting to students
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proofreading profiles as well as contributing
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Shar Pei, Maya.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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makes sure our contents up to scratch and works
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343
344
100 training contracts

plus
60 vacation places
18 international placements
4 open days and workshops
110 university visits
to help you decide
if a career in law with Freshfields
is for you.
Once you meet us youll just know.
And well know too.
To find out more, go to:
www.freshfields.com/uktrainees
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
A chAnce to mAke your mArk

StretcheD mInDS
LoyAL FrIenDS
FAntAStIc cLIentS
your DeAL In the neWS
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GreAt SPortS AnD SocIetIeS
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comPLIcAteD ProbLemS
345
AN INSIDE LOOK AT
The job involves long hours

it just does. However, that being
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late whilst everyone else heads
home at 6pm.
Ive had a high level of

responsibility from day one,
including dealing directly with
clients and the other side, even
on big deals.
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While not necessarily condensed into one line, this

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Facts and figures, salaries, departments and

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LIFE ON THE JOB

What does your typical day involve?

Partner / Solicitor Relations

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LIFE ON THE JOB

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ALLEN & OVERY

What does your typical day at work involve?

There is no typical day. I have been asked to

Drafting or commenting on documents, reviewing

Solicitors are informed on a departmental level

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Training sessions are very organised and

Informal Training & Mentoring

Informal training is easy to receive. For example,

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Typically, trainees do four seats. There is a wide

Senior lawyers are generally accessible; they

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25 hours pro bono per year count towards

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The maternity policy is bad. It was awful and

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have nothing to do. Hours eventually balance

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Office is stunning. The roof gardens are