AllAboutLaw.co.uk - Top Law Firms for Vacation Schemes & Training Contracts 2014-15 by AllAboutGroup

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HI WELCOME TO THE

TOP LAW FIRMS FOR TRAINING CONTRACTS & VACATION SCHEMES 2014-15. This guide has been created by the team at AllAboutLaw.co.uk and showcases the best law firms in the UK for vacation schemes and training contracts. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also full of useful tips, advice and information on first year opportunities, international secondments, commercial awareness, diversity in the legal sector and types of law firm.

CONT Introduction

ADVICE

Vacation Schemes

Top Law Firms 2014-15

Training Contracts

Award Winners

First Year Opportunities Diversity

Commercial Awareness

International Secondments

TYPES OF LAW FIRM

City

International

Regional/National

Scottish

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

TENTS AREAS OF LAW

Public

Banking & Finance

Tax

100

Commercial

Tort

Constitutional/Administrative

Construction

Contract

Corporate

Criminal

ALL ABOUT YOU

188

Employment

Your Skills

190

Equity & Trusts

Your Notes

192

Your Applications

194

Insurance

Intellectual Property

Land

Litigation

Personal Injury

Private Equity

Property

FEATURED FIRMS

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

102-187

WHY? AllAboutLaw.co.uk firmly believe that an aspiring solicitorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision to apply to a law firm should be based on more than just a hunch. Before sending off an application, you should know what working for a firm is really like. Who better to ask than the people who have been there and done it already?

Our rankings are based on feedback from current trainees and recent vacation scheme students, who were asked to rate their firm, their training and their overall experience.

The guide gives equal attention to both training contracts and vacation schemes. This is because vacation schemes are important for law firms and budding solicitorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s alike. For the firm, vacation schemes provide an insight into the talented law students out there, and for the student, vacation schemes provide a real insight to life as a solicitor at a particular firm. This is a unique guide that allows aspiring solicitors to compare the best vacation schemes and training contracts in the same place!

THANK

HOW? Our rankings are a result of employee satisfaction surveys – one survey for training contracts, another survey for vacation schemes.

The training contract surveys were completed anonymously by first year trainees, second year trainees and first year NQs. The vacation scheme surveys were completed by a first year trainees who had previously completed a vacation scheme with the firm or former vacation scheme students who have been offered a training contract with the firm, but are yet to start.

Each survey covered a variety of topics, including job satisfaction training, skills development, career progression, company culture, level of responsibility, team relationship and work-life balance. We then meticulously calculated each firm’s average score and percentage.

Two awards, including Best Use of Social Media in a Trainee & Vacation Scheme Recruitment Campaign, decided by a student panel. Three of the awards were decided by an expert judging panel. Law firms submitted a nomination form for each award and these were assessed by our panel. The members of the judging panel were: • • • •

Sophia Dirir, Junior Lawyers Division at The Law Society of England and Wales Suzanna Maskrey, Brightside Jo Ensor, LawWorks Houtan Froushan, The Independent

K YOU We’d like to say a huge thank you to the following contributors for making this year’s Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15 guide possible:

our partners at The Independent; our fantastic expert judging panel; our sponsor, cvmail UK (Thomson Reuters); and everyone at the law firms who took part in this year’s rankings.

PROGRAMME ENTERED:

TRAINING CONTRACT

INTERNATIONAL OR CITY

VACATION SCHEME

NATIONAL

C 82.7%

90.3%

81.8%

85%

78.2

74.1%

B 85.1%

82.3%

82.8%

89.5%

82.5%

88.4%

82.7%

86.3%

82.8%

89.4%

84.3%

90.1%

90.8%

85.3%

85.8%

F 85%

93.6%

90.8%

88.3%

85.3%

79.6%

85.9%

88.9%

80.1%

77.5% 82.3%

81.2%

M H

83.1%

95.9%

83.3%

86.3%

83.3%

85.8%

90.8% 75.6%

83.9%

93.9%

N I 75.2%

73.8%

81.3%

72.4%

92%

87.3%

88.8%

82.7%

91.8%

78.9%

89.9%

92.8%

O 81.7%

85.3%

K 87.9%

P 80.3%

85.6%

L 82.2%

93%

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

R 80.1%

81.4%

87.1%

78%

86.9%

94.3%

V 82.9%

90.1%

W 85.3%

91.6%

82.6%

79.7%

83.2%

90.1%

90.6%

92.6%

88.8%

93.7%

80.2%

84.9%

81.1%

78.7%

91.1%

76.5%

84%

86.9%

79.2%

91.2%

85.9%

88.3%

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

Top Law Firm for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

Best Training Contract

Best Vacation Scheme

BEST TRAINING CONTRACT INTERNATIONAL OR CITY FIRM

BEST VACATION SCHEME INTERNATIONAL OR CITY FIRM

BEST TRAINING CONTRACT NATIONAL FIRM

BEST VACATION SCHEME NATIONAL FIRM

BEST TRAINING CONTRACT US FIRM

BEST VACATION SCHEME US FIRM

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

BEST FOR TRAINING TRAINING CONTRACT

BEST FOR TRAINING VACATION SCHEME

BEST FOR CAREER PROGRESSION TRAINING CONTRACT

BEST FOR CAREER PROGRESSION VACATION SCHEME

BEST FOR JOB SATISFACTION TRAINING CONTRACT

BEST FOR JOB SATISFACTION VACATION SCHEME

BEST LEVEL OF SUPPORT TRAINING CONTRACT

BEST LEVEL OF SUPPORT VACATION SCHEME

BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN A TRAINEE & VACATION SCHEME RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN

BEST TRAINEE & VACATION SCHEME RECRUITMENT WEBSITE

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

ADVIC

Training Contracts First Year Opportunities Diversity Commercial Awareness International Secondments

ADVICE

Vacation Schemes

I WANT A VACATION SCHEME! HOW WILL IT HELP MY CAREER!?

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

ADVICE / VACATION SCHEMES — Olswang

Sponsored by

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF COMPLETING A VACATION SCHEME Securing a vacation scheme is incredibly important. According to research by AllAboutLaw.co.uk, 80% of students believe undertaking a vacation scheme will improve their chances of securing a training contract with the firm.

“We look for enthusiasm and commercial awareness, and for demonstrated examples of our values: collaboration, responsibility and innovation.” Graduate Recruiter, Olswang

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

WHAT IS A VACATION SCHEME? A vacation scheme is a period of work experience with a law firm. Typically they run for one or two weeks. Law firms use vacation schemes as a way of hunting down potential training contract recruits.

A Two-Way Process... Through a combination of talks, hands-on work experience, lunches and ‘after hours’ events, the firms will be using the schemes to get to know each of the individuals, see how they fit into the firm, and if they impressed, offer them a training contract.

WHAT WILL FIRMS BE LOOKING FOR? Firms see vacation schemes as an opportunity to assess your potential as a trainee. You will work on client matters, learn about different practice

These placements are also the best way for you to get a real appreciation for the firm, its culture and kind of people who work there. Importantly, vacation schemes are crucial in finding out whether a career in law is right for you and what type of firm will suit you best. It also looks great on your CV, as it shows your commitment to a legal career and that law firms are willing to hire you.

areas and get to know the people who work there. You will have the opportunity to demonstrate your suitability for a training contract by

When Do Vacation Schemes Take Place?

demonstrating your appetite for work, responsibility and business acumen. The firm look for people who will fit into the firm socially. Alongside your work experience, there will also be a social side to the vacation scheme.

Firms tend to organise their schemes over the summer break in a series of two or four week structured programmes, although some firms also have winter and Easter vacation schemes. The big deadline for vacation scheme applications is 31 January, although many law firms close their applications before, or indeed after this date.

This is a time to make friends, build contacts and expand your network. The way you interact with others and use your skills in a working environment is far more revealing than an application, and therefore

Typically, a vacation scheme will consist of a mixture of work experience, skills training and presentations to build up an in-depth understanding of what the firm does. Some firms in London will pay anything up to £400 per week including expenses. Outside of London, you will be paid nearer to £200 per week.

recruiters will be assessing you throughout your placement.

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

ADVICE / VACATION SCHEMES — Olswang

VACATION SCHEME APPLICATION TIPS

Showcase your Experience and Skills

Quality, Not Quantity

Whether you’re a member of

Send off five or six high quality applications rather than 30 or 40 that are lacking a personal touch. Recruiters look at vacation scheme applications every year and certainly know the difference between a good, bad and unbelievably awful application.

your university’s law society and took part in a moot, or whether you’ve previously undertaken legal work experience you should make it explicit in your vacation scheme application how this helped you and furthered your interested in law. Show off your transferable skills too; writing law essays and sitting exams means you

How to Prepare for the Vacation Scheme Interview Once you’ve nailed the application form and online tests, you’re likely to be invited to an interview. Interviews reveal you as the person behind the application and it gives you a chance to meet the people you will be working for. Be prepared for questions such as ‘Why do you

have great time management, research, analytical and

Vacation scheme applications

communication skills!

ask a set of response based

do you want to work for this

questions. If you’re planning

firm?’. Additionally, you should

to respond to the application

memorise your CV and cover

questions with standardised

letter, for when you’re asked

answers, stop right there.

about your experiences.

want a career in law?’ and ‘Why

Standardised responses stick out like a sore thumb and recruiters

With competency based

won’t even bother reading

questions, don’t be afraid to

through a generic application.

mention experiences from a

Additionally, never copy and

part-time or weekend job. Not

paste answers you found on

everything has to be related to

the internet. You’re likely to

legal work experience! It will

get found out, and recruiters

still show your hardworking

would rather see an injection of

nature and how you deal with

personality in an application.

difficult situations.

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

WAYS TO IMPRESS ON A VACATION SCHEME A vacation scheme is your opportunity to impress. Many law firms recruit their trainees from their vacation scheme intake, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vital you perform well and make a good impression. In all likelihood, the firm will be assessing you from the moment you enter the office on the first day right through to the after-hours social events.

DO prepare by researching the firm. Have a very clear idea of what the firm does before your vacation scheme even starts. This will allow you to ask in-depth questions and will reveal your enthusiasm.

DO make an effort to get involved. Students who are reluctant to help out trainees and associates, or lack enthusiasm, are unlikely to be taken on.

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

ADVICE / VACATION SCHEMES — Olswang

DON’T act inappropiately at social events. Organised social events allow the firm to get to know you outside of a formal work environment. Enjoy these opportunities to network and remain relaxed, but ALWAYS professional.

DO be confident, but not over-confident. Firms will want to see that you are able to hold your own but, equally, they do not want to be confronted with students who think they know it all already. They are looking for aptitude, but also a willingness to learn.

DON’T forget to enjoy yourself. Interact with your colleagues, get stuck in and try to squeeze as much out of the placement as you can. You want to demonstrate how confident and comfortable you are within the law firm’s working environment, so that they can picture you as an integral member of the team in the future.

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

T E R VIE W

useful online content.

Contributed by

SHOULD STUDENTS ATTEND LAW FAIRS AND LAW OPEN DAYS? I would recommend attending law fairs and open days. It’s an invaluable way of comparing a large variety of employers and are an opportunity to speak to

“Any work experience, legal, commercial or otherwise, is a good way to showcase your skills and attributes.” Interview with a Graduate Recruiter

representatives who can give you a real insight into the culture of their firm.

HOW MUCH WORK EXPERIENCE DO YOU EXPECT AN APPLICANT TO HAVE? DOES IT ALL HAVE TO BE RELATED TO LAW?

Work experience is important; however you don’t need legal work experience under your belt to obtain a vacation scheme with Olswang. Any work experience, legal or

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A VACATION SCHEME CANDIDATE?

otherwise, is a good way to showcase your skills. You should also detail other pursuits which have strengthened your skill set.

Strong A-levels and consistent, good degree marks are great but we are also looking for individuals who have really thought about why they are applying to Olswang and can communicate that in their application. We have competencies on which we assess applicants, but

WHAT WILL A VACATION SCHEME WITH OLSWANG INVOLVE?

we also look for enthusiasm, commercial awareness

You will spend a week in two of practice areas and be

and a demonstration of our examples of our values:

supported by a trainee buddy and associate mentor. Both

collaboration, responsibility and innovation.

will ensure you get to experience ‘real’ trainee tasks and responsibilities. We’re aware a vacation scheme is also an opportunity for you to experience life at Olswang so we run

HOW WOULD YOU RECOMMEND STUDENTS RESEARCH FIRMS?

interactive introductions, offer social events to help you get to know our trainees and ask questions, and try to present an honest picture of what life at the firm would be like.

There are many resources out there, it’s getting easier to get an understanding of a firm and see how it differentiates itself. Just looking up a few buzz phrases on the graduate recruitment site won’t cut it! Print publications, specialist law careers sites and the legal press remain rich sources

TYPICALLY HOW MANY VACATION SCHEME STUDENTS GO ON TO SECURE A TRAINING CONTRACT WITH OLSWANG?

of information, but nowadays firms will also have a strong social media presence, which helps you to understand

There really is no typical year! Over 60% of our 2014 class

how they project their brand and will also link you to other

received offers.

WHEN? QUALITY OR QUANTITY?

Vacation schemes can take place in the winter, spring and summer

THE DEADLINE

holidays. 84% of students would prefer to complete a summer

Start applications early and

vacation scheme.

prioritise quality over quantity.

The deadline for summer

Showcase your legal work

vacation schemes is the

experience and transferable skills,

31st January.

and thoroughly check through your application.

A TWO-WAY PROCESS Vacation schemes are a two-way process. You can enhance your CV and the firm

BE CONFIDENT, PROFESSIONAL & SOCIAL

can assess your potential discover if you fit into the firm socially as well as academically.

To impress on your vacation scheme, strike a balance between being confident and professional at all times. That’s not to say don’t enjoy yourself – the social side of a vacation scheme is a great way to make friends. Just make sure you don’t start slurring your words and belt out 80s power ballads on the karaoke.

ADVICE / VACATION SCHEMES — Olswang

SUMMARY

ME... WANT... TRAINING CONTRACT! WHEN... IS... DEADLINE?!

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

ADVICE / TRAINING CONTRACT — DLA Piper

Sponsored by

TRAINING CONTRACTS Training contracts are the final stage to becoming a fully qualified solicitor. Over the course of two years, you’ll train with a law firm whilst also earning a salary. Competition for training contracts is fierce, so it’s important you put a maximum amount of effort into your application.

“The key is to remember that every task you are given as a trainee is an opportunity to impress and demonstrate that you can be trusted.” Liam McLoughlin, Trainee Solicitor, DLA Piper

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

WHAT IS A TRAINING CONTRACT? When you first start university, graduating seems a very far away. Worrying about paying back the student loan, finding a job in the legal sector and actually earning a living feel like distant problems that should be dealt with in a year or two. However, it’s never too early to start thinking about your future as a solicitor, and that means thinking about training contracts. Students can start applying for training contracts in the second year of their LLB or the final year of their non-law degree, but application preparation starts long before that.

The Final Step A training contract is a two year placement that is undertaken by trainee solicitors after they finish the Legal Practice Course (LPC). A training contract is similar to an apprenticeship: an opportunity to put all your academic knowledge to vocational use. Trainees spend two years getting a practical legal education overseen by senior solicitors. Trainee solicitors will progress through at least three areas of work (usually four or six at larger law firms). This is known as a seat and it gives trainees the chance to sample different areas of law in order to decide which area they want to qualify in.

WILL I GET PAID? Yes! Trainees need to be paid the National Minimum Wage, but many receive more than this, with starting salaries in the City ranging from

Trainees must complete a contentious and non-contentious seat. Contentious areas of law involve disputes between parties that result in court cases whilst non-contentious law does not focus on conflict or involve the courts.

£30,000 to £40,000. Larger law firms might also offer to cover the cost of the LPC and/or GDL tuition fees.

During the training contract, trainees undertake a Professional Skills Course (PSC) that will enable them to become fully qualified solicitors. This is split into three core modules: advocacy and communication skills; client care and professional standards; and financial and business skills. In addition to the core modules, trainee solicitors will need to undertake around 24 hours of elective modules. Completing a training contract does not guarantee a job offer, although the majority of trainee solicitors stay on at the firms they did their training contract with.

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

How Hard is it to Find a Training Contract? Finding a training contract is by no means easy; there are far more applicants than there are training contracts. Thousands miss out every year and re-apply the following year. It should come as no surprise then that there is fierce competition for training contracts, especially for those at the large London firms. It’s important to start your preparation early: research law firms, get some work experience over the summer and get involved with extracurricular activities at university. You never know, it might just clinch you a training contract.

Can I Get a Training Contract With a 2:2? It’s not impossible to get a training contract with a 2:2, but it will make things harder. People with 2:1s and first class degrees struggle to get training contracts, having a 2:2 adds yet another hurdle. Many firms specify that a 2:1 is the minimum requirement for their trainee positions. Some simply won’t allow people with 2:2s to continue with the online application. It sounds harsh, but it’s the reality. If you have genuine extenuating circumstances as to why you got a 2:2 or a third, then do mention this on application forms, or better still ring up the HR department and explain your circumstances.

You could widen your net and try high street firms and medium-sized firms. Many of them won’t advertise opportunities, so you’ll need to get in touch with them. Getting plenty of work experience is very important, as is networking to find out about opportunities. You’ll need to develop a strong sense of commercial awareness and, in short, do everything you can to impress law firms.

The Effect of the Economy… The economic tribulations of the past years have taken a toll on the legal market. Rebounding from a low of 4,874 traineeships in 2009-10, the number of training contracts commencing in England and Wales during 2012-13 rose to 5,302, an 8.7% increase. Although positive, this figure still falls short of the 5,809 traineeships recorded before the financial crisis.

What Do Others Say? Getting a training contract remains “ridiculously competitive”, according to Elizabeth Greenleaf, law graduate turned waitress. In addition to waitressing, Elizabeth is currently searching for paralegal work and trying to arrange pro bono experience to bolster her chances of getting a training contract. Tamara Sternberg, graduate recruitment specialist at Allen & Overy, admits that it has been extremely competitive in recent years. The future health of the training contract market, Tamara says, will be influenced by a lot of factors, not least business demand. Law “will always be a competitive industry, no matter how well the economy is doing.”

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

ADVICE / TRAINING CONTRACT — DLA Piper

WHAT ARE MY CHANCES OF GETTING A TRAINING CONTRACT?

WHEN SHOULD I APPLY FOR A TRAINING CONTRACT? Timetables will vary depending on the type of firm you are applying to. Large City and national firms tend to have their training contract deadlines at the same time: 31 July. There are exceptions, so make sure you check with each individual law firm.

Law Students

How Late is Too Late?

Law students can apply from their second year (or third year if it’s a four year course) onwards. The training contracts you can to apply to will depend on when they start: most of the larger firms will recruit two years in advance.

When you should start applying for training contracts will depend on when applications open. The earlier, the better, particularly with applications that are open from November to July. This is because places on schemes may fill up before the deadline.

Smaller regional law firms might only recruit a year in advance, meaning that law students will have to apply in their third year of university onwards.

Starting earlier will also give you more time to spend tailoring your application and improving your application technique. You can see where you go wrong in early applications and seek help if you are receiving a string of outright rejections.

Non-law Students… Non-law students tend to start applying for training contracts in their final year or during their law conversion course – the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL). Some firms will have specific training contracts for non-law candidates which might have a different deadline for the training contract for law students.

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

T E R VIE W

HOW DID YOU FIND THE TRAINING CONTRACT APPLICATION PROCESS? ANY TIPS TO BUDDING LAWYERS CURRENTLY APPLYING?

Contributed by

I would definitely recommend applying for vacation schemes as they are an invaluable opportunity to

“The key is to remember that every task you are given as a trainee is an opportunity to impress and demonstrate that you can be trusted.”

experience the type of work at a specific firm and to see if that firm is the right fit for you in terms of culture and opportunities for progression.

WHAT STAGE ARE YOU AT IN YOUR TRAINING CONTRACT? WHAT SEATS HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED THUS FAR?

I have just started my third seat in the Corporate team,

Interview with a Trainee — Liam McLoughlin

WHAT DID YOU STUDY AT UNIVERSITY? OUTLINE YOUR ROUTE AFTER UNIVERSITY AND YOUR EXPERIENCE OF THE GDL AND/OR LPC.

having previously completed seats in Litigation and Regulatory and Finance and Projects.

HOW DOES A TYPICAL DAY LOOK FOR A TRAINEE AT DLA PIPER?

My morning routine is based around a double espresso, I studied Law and Business at the University of Liverpool. I

setting my voicemail and checking my emails. I then draw

was unsure what I wanted to do, so I took the opportunity

up my to-do list which invariably changes over the course

to combine two subjects that I had a strong interest in.

of the day!

Once I had decided that I wanted to pursue a career in

The work you are given as a trainee is incredibly varied

law, I enrolled on the part-time GDL programme at the

and will depend on your department. During my time

University of Law. This would usually take two years to

in Finance and Projects, I was asked to prepare the

complete. However, as I only had to complete three of the

corporate authorisation documents for multi-million pound

seven qualifying law degree subjects (due to my Law and

acquisitions and drafted a suite of security documents on a

Business degree) I completed the GDL in one year.

nine figure deal.

I progressed to the LPC, where there is a noticeable change

On average, we have lunchtime training once a week

as greater emphasis is placed on your ability to practically

and the subject matter of the sessions will range from

apply the law to a complex set of facts in an accurate,

legal updates and developments in the law or a review of

accessible format. The LPC is much more aligned to life as

departmental policies and procedures. I return to my desk

a lawyer and you develop skills that you will take forward in

after lunch and will work until about 7pm on quieter days

your legal career.

but later if required. AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

There is a good sense of togetherness among the trainees so we try and get together for a drink or something eat regularly. There are also a number of sports teams that trainees can get involved with; a great way to bring the office together.

HAVE YOU WORKED ON ANY INTERNATIONAL CASES YET? HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT? Due to DLA Piperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s international presence, trainees are exposed to international work right from the beginning of the training contract. One of the biggest challenges was appreciating the nuances and approach of each jurisdiction. For example, in some countries the concept of a deed is not recognised and in others, approval of the shareholders of a company is not required in order for that company to sign up to a loan or provide security over its assets.

WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S THE MOST EXCITING PART OF THE WORK YOU DO? AND THE PART OF WORK YOU ENJOY THE LEAST? The most exciting part of the work I do is its variety. One of the main benefits of being a trainee at DLA Piper is that any one department comprises a number of distinct specialisms within a particular area of law. This injects diversity into your workload and means you are constantly learning. There are, of course, some jobs which are not as engrossing but they are extremely important nonetheless. The key is to remember that every task you are given as a trainee is an opportunity to impress and demonstrate that you can be trusted.

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

Getting a training contract is simple, right? Erm… not really! If you want to secure a training contract and become a top solicitor, you need to do a lot more than just send a generic CV around! The training contract application process has a series of core stages and you need to nail every stage! Here’s a step-by-step guide to the application process.

Identify Your Target Employers It’s impossible to apply to every law firm in the country. You could try, but you probably wouldn’t have time to eat or sleep. Therefore, it’s a good idea to identify a small number of firms that you would like to work for. Each training contract application needs to be treated individually, putting some serious care and attention into each one. It’s recommended you identify between five and ten target employers and concentrate your efforts on making your applications as good as they can possibly be. If you try to apply for too many firms, you will risk spreading yourself too thin; and if you apply for just one firm, you risk putting all your eggs in one basket. It’s all about getting the balance! Before you do anything else, you need to decide what kind of law firms you want to apply to. Do you want to specialise in commercial law or criminal law? Do you want to work for a Magic Circle firm or a Silver Circle firm? Do you want to work for a City firm or a regional firm? To make sure you’re applying to the firms that are right for you, it’s important to do research.

2 Do Your Research

Before you even consider filling out your application form, you need to research every firm that you intend to apply to. Check out each firm’s profile on AllAboutLaw.co.uk and explore their graduate recruitment website. By the time it comes to sending off application forms, you should have already attended law fairs and open days to find out more about each firm. You may also have done a vacation scheme with one or two of your target firms. Understandably, location is also a crucial factor. If you want to work in the City, you need to find out what firms are based in London. If

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

ADVICE / TRAINING CONTRACT — DLA Piper

TRAINING CONTRACT APPLICATION PROCESS

you want to work in another city like Bristol, Manchester or Leeds, you need to find out what regional firms are located in that area. Furthermore, if you would like to work abroad at some point, it’d be useful to find out what firms have international offices. Each firm has a different culture and atmosphere and you need to know which ones will match your personality. For instance, do you want to work for a traditional firm or a modern firm? Or do you want to work somewhere with excellent opportunities for getting involved with pro bono work?

Get a Positive Reply Hopefully, if you’ve got a strong academic background, you’ve done some work experience and you’ve submitted a strong application form, some firms will recognise your potential and offer you an interview. Some firms will interview you over the phone, others will invite you to an assessment day and some prefer a face-to-face interview. Some firms might even do all three!

6 3 47 Finally, it’s important to think about your longterm career prospects. It’s all about identifying employers with world-beating training programmes and the best opportunities for career progression. For instance, it’s important to bear in mind that the route to becoming a partner will be significantly faster in highstreet and regional firms, where there is less competition for the top jobs.

Make Your Applications

Take your time over each application and treat each one as an individual project and make sure your answers fulfil what each specific firm is looking for.

Expect a Few Rejection Letters

Every year around 30,000 people apply for law training contracts in the UK and only around 5,000 jobs are actually up for grabs. Competition is fierce and you may receive some rejection letters. Don’t be disheartened! Even the very best candidates are unlikely to get an interview for every application they make.

Get a Second Interview

If you survive your first-round interview and impress the firm with your ambition, determination and commercial awareness, you will be offered a second interview. This is the final stage of the assessment process, so there’s every chance that it’s going to be intense. Expect to be grilled!

Be confident in your own ability. They wouldn’t have brought you this far if they didn’t think you had what it takes. Be calm, collected, patient and decisive when answering the questions that are being thrown in your direction.

Receive a Job Offer or Rejection Letter

Hopefully, if you’ve done everything right and impressed the interviewer, you will get a job offer. If so, then congratulations!

If you receive a rejection letter, don’t fret. Lots of people unfortunately fall at the final hurdle. You will be disappointed, but it’s important to treat this as a learning experience. Analyse where you might have gone wrong, make some notes and when you get another interview, you will be better prepared.

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

ADVICE / TRAINING CONTRACT — DLA Piper

SUMMARY

WHEN TO APPLY? You need to apply for a training

THE STRUCTURE

When you apply for training

contract two years in advance. Therefore, if you’re a law student,

QUALITY OR QUANTITY?

Training contracts are typically

contract applications, remember

you should apply at the end of

made up of four, six-month seats.

quality over quantity. We

your second year as you have

However, there are some firms who

recommend you apply to a

to complete the Legal Practice

have slightly different structures

maximum of ten firms and tailor

Course before starting your

so it’s best to check out what firms

your application for every firm.

training contract.

offer when you’re researching.

Law firms want to know about your academic achievement, legal work experience and commercial awareness.

THE DEADLINE The universal deadline for training contract applications is 31st July.

RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH! Research thoroughly the firms you’d like to apply to by attending law fairs and checking out the firm’s website. Consider specialist areas, structure, type of firm, location and career prospects.

THE EARLY BIRD… Don’t leave it too late to apply! It’s better to start early and receive rejections and feedback that will help your future applications than to send off loads of applications.

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I’M A FIRST YEAR, BUT STILL KEEN ON A CAREER IN LAW! ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES OPEN TO ME?

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ADVICE / FIRST YEAR OPPORTUNITIES — Freshfields

Sponsored by

THE GROWING VARIETY OF FIRST YEAR OPPORTUNITIES It’s never too early to start improving your law career prospects. Law firm open days, university law fairs, insight programmes and work experience are all fantastic ideas. You’ll enhance your CV and make some valuable industry contacts, whilst keeping ahead of your competition.

“You will have the opportunity to meet trainees, associates and partners, as well as enhance your understanding of what a career as a commercial lawyer… would entail.” Graduate Recruiter, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

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WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING IN YOUR FIRST YEAR OF YOUR LAW DEGREE Starting university can be challenging enough, and stuff like networking and looking for work experience may well be the last thing you want to be thinking about. But if you want a career in law, it’s fundamental to start early. So what should you be doing in your first year?

Get on Top of Your Workload This really is crucial. Try to get into the habit of keeping on top of assignments, seminar preparation and your reading. This will make the exam period much more straightforward.

Wider Reading You will no doubt be reading vast amounts from numerous textbooks, but every now and then have a read of a newspaper. Keeping up to date on current legal, business and political news is good for your legal understanding as the law is ever changing,!

JOIN YOUR UNIVERSITY LAW SOCIETY This is one of the most important things you can do during your first year. Your Law Society should be providing you with extra-curricular activities as well as guidance on

Vacation Schemes

making your work experience and vacation scheme applications.

You should start researching law firms and asking about any work experience opportunities. An increasing number of firms are offering vacation schemes to first year students. First appearances and attitude count, and if you are offered a work experience placement they may invite you back or a training contract interview if you meet their expectations.

Attend Law Fairs & Other Events Law fairs and other events such as law firm open days are an invaluable way of hearing about postgraduate and professional courses, as well as to network with lawyers. Remember that your degree comes first so don’t take on more than you can manage, as lots of experience worthless if you don’t have a degree to show for it!

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

Law fairs aren’t just a chance to bag an armful of freebies! Yes, we all love freebies, but law fairs are an excellent chance to meet potential employers face-to-face.

What Are Law Fairs? Law fairs take place in universities and conference halls across the country. Law firms, barristers’ chambers and other organisations set up stands and bring representatives along who will talk to you about their organisation what opportunities they have for students and graduates. Law fairs offer you valuable face-to-face time with graduate recruiters. It’s a great chance to find out more about the different law firms and chambers, their culture and the possible direction you want your own career to take. Aside from stalls, there might be also be talks, presentations and CV workshops, which are also certainly worth attending.

I’M NOT IN MY FINAL YEAR. CAN I STILL ATTEND LAW FAIRS? Law fairs aren’t just for finalists. They are a great way of obtaining information about different careers, companies and work experience opportunities. It’s never too early to go to a law fair, particularly as they might give you some ideas on what

Why Should I Go To A Law Fair? Law fairs are a great way of getting to know the different employers. Students who use law fairs effectively might have a higher success rate of getting through to the later stages of the training contract and vacation scheme application process. They are also great places to hone your networking skills.

extra-curricular activities to do. Also, keep an open mind and don’t just talk to the representatives of the Magic Circle firms. It’s worth checking out other organisations that you might not have previously considered.

Don’t underestimate the value of personal contact with law firm representatives. It’s a great way to get an insight into life in the industry, to ask any questions you may have, to learn more about their company culture and to find out what they expect from job applications. Meeting a representative will give you a better sense of whether the law firm is right for you and it’s also a chance to find out more about the training contracts, mini pupillages, or vacation schemes they offer.

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

ADVICE / FIRST YEAR OPPORTUNITIES — Freshfields

LAW FAIRS

LAW OPEN DAYS It’s not often that you get a chance to have a nosey around top law firms, particularly if you are a first year student. There are firms, however, who do open their doors to first years through insight days or workshops. These open days can be super competitive; some firms even require students to take online tests as well as submit a written application in order to win a place.

What is a Law Open Day? Open days can last up to two days and are designed to give you an insight into the firm and information about starting your legal career. Students usually get the chance to meet employees, have a look around the firm, watch presentations and participate in workshops. However, there are usually a strict number of places. After all, law firms don’t want hundreds of students crawling all over their offices. Places are usually allocated on the strength of application forms or on a first-come, firstserved basis.

What Should I Do To Impress On An Open Day? Put on your best suit, brown-nose everyone you see, and hyperventilate if you don’t get face-toface time with a partner? Of course not. Don’t fret too much about open days; firms don’t expect to hire straight from them. Rather, it’s your chance to find out as much as you can about the firm, their practice areas, and life as a lawyer. Make sure you listen carefully, ask plenty of questions and chat to people on the day. If it helps, you might want to think up some questions to ask different types of employees (e.g. trainees, associates, graduate recruiters, partners) beforehand. It’s also worth reading up on the firm, so you can ask about things you can’t easily learn from their website. Otherwise, get stuck in, look engaged and, most importantly, enjoy yourself! It’s a great opportunity to sniff out your options and decide which firms are the right fit for you.

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

Pro Bono Work

Everyone knows about work experience, but so many students make the mistake of thinking it is not important early on. Your career starts when you first attend university, and that means getting out there, networking, and building up your CV and experience.

Does your university run a law clinic or street law project? These projects offer a great chance to develop legal skills as well as confidence. You will be helping people who need legal advice but cannot afford it. Street law enables you to go into schools or visit young offenders and teach them about a legal topic relevant to them, helping you to develop skills pertinent to your future career.

No doubt your parents and lecturers are encouraging you to start applying for work experience. You might think that it can all wait until next year. The reality is that in the current legal climate you need to do as much as you can to make yourself stand out.

The Citizens Advice Bureau and Free Representation Unit are always looking for volunteers to help out and provide advice for those who need it. This is similar to working in a student law clinic, but you will receive formal training and will be able network with those who train you.

When researching schemes and placements, you will notice a few things. Some require an application months in advance, others you can email and get booked in within a few weeks. Some will have a rigorous application form, others will just require a CV and covering email. Ensure any communication made is tailored for that placement. The problem for first years is that many (but not all) vacation schemes are only available to students in their second year or above. You’ll need to think slightly outside of the box and try and get plenty of prior experience, so that when you do apply for a vacation scheme you can demonstrate your dedication to a career in the law.

Shadow a Police Officer Police stations offer students the chance to shadow an officer for a shift. This is a good opportunity to see what goes on behind the scenes, especially if you are interested in pursuing a career in criminal law.

In-house Legal Teams Remember, large companies have in-house legal teams too. When you are sending speculative work experience cover letters to local solicitors, why not send a few to the legal departments of big companies too? It’s great to amass a variety of work experience so you can figure out what type of legal organisation you want to work for and in what area of law. Networking during your work experience is crucial. Not only will contacts help your career, but they might be able to recommend other avenues for work experience.

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ADVICE / FIRST YEAR OPPORTUNITIES — Freshfields

FIRST YEAR WORK EXPERIENCE IDEAS

T E R VIE W

HOW WOULD YOU RECOMMEND STUDENTS RESEARCH FIRMS?

Contributed by

Students should attend as many events as possible – law fairs and presentations are a good place to start. Open days and workshops are a fantastic way to meet people and find out whether a firm interests you. Interact with firms on social media, as this is a really useful way of

DETAIL THE FIRST YEAR OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE AT FRESHFIELDS. The First Year Focus Programme is an opportunity for students to gain an insight into the work and culture of

gauging the culture of the firm.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT THAT STUDENTS ATTEND LAW FAIRS AND LAW OPEN DAYS?

the firm. This helps them to decide whether to submit Attending law fairs is incredibly important and an easy way

an application.

of building up knowledge of different firms. I would highly You will have the opportunity to meet trainees, associates

recommend taking the time to attend the law fair.

and partners and enhance your understanding of what a career as a commercial lawyer at Freshfields would entail.

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN AN APPLICATION TO ATTEND OR TAKE PART IN A FIRST YEAR OPPORTUNITY?

WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND STUDENTS DO TO ENHANCE THEIR PROSPECTS OF LANDING A FIRST YEAR OPPORTUNITY AT FRESHFIELDS?

I would talk to as many people as possible to find out Background, university and degree are immaterial. But

about their experience. Start building up as much

every successful candidate should have three qualities:

work experience as you can. Remember to balance

intellectual talent, excellent English and a generous spirit.

extra-curricular activities with academics as we look for consistently strong grades.

You need a sharp, analytical mind, mental stamina, the ability to recognise the problem and the tenacity to stick with it until it’s solved. We look for a strong academic record but we take a very holistic approach when reviewing applications and will consider all elements. I would encourage students to build up as much work experience as possible – legal experience is great, but any employment

TYPICALLY, HOW MANY FIRST YEARS WHO ATTEND FRESHFIELDS’ PROGRAMMES ARE ALSO SUCCESSFUL IN LANDING A VACATION SCHEME?

can be transferred into demonstrating the qualities we look for.

This varies each year but having spent a day at Freshfields, you are in a strong position to submit an application and highlight what it is that attracts you to the firm.

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

BE PROACTIVE

BECOME A DEMON MOOTER

DO THE GROUNDWORK

can be doing in your first year to

Join your law society – they’ll hold

they’re geared toward second and

There are plenty of things you

Attend law fairs. Even though

get ahead. From reading around

regular events and workshops and

third years, it’s good experience

your subject to attending law firm

may even organise some moots

and shows graduate recruiters

open days, there’s plenty to keep

where you can develop your

that you’re motivated and

you busy.

debating and research skills.

passionate about your career.

CHECK OUT THE TALENT

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX

OOH… VACATION SCHEMES

Investigate your career options

Other work experience ideas

Some firms offer vacation

by attending law open days.

includes setting up a pro bono

schemes to first years. First year

They introduce you to a firm, its

project, working with in-house

schemes may provide more of

culture, trainees, associates and

legal teams and shadowing a

an introduction to the firm and

partners and allow you to attend

legal professional.

prepare you for applications in

a firm’s offices for a few days. It all

second and third year.

counts as legal work experience and is often considered the first rung on the metaphorical ladder that is a career with that firm. Be chatty, professional and show a willingness to learn!

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

ADVICE / FIRST YEAR OPPORTUNITIES — Freshfields

SUMMARY

I HEARD LAW IS FOR WHITE, OXBRIDGE GRADUATES. THIS MUST BE NONSENSE?!

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

ADVICE / DIVERSITY

DIVERSITY IN MODERN LAW FIRMS It’s very important that law firms establish and maintain a diverse workforce alongside an equal and fair working environment.

“Law has traditionally been viewed as white, male and elitist... However, action is being taken to tackle discrimination... and create equal employment opportunities in the profession.” Jos Weale, Editor, AllAboutLaw.co.uk

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

DIVERSITY IN THE LEGAL SECTOR Diversity in the working world is all about combating discrimination in employment and promoting equality. Related to human rights law, it spans across all areas of working life, from recruitment and dismissal issues to treatment of the individual and minority groups in the workplace. In the employment law context, The Equality Act 2010 outlines the framework of legislation to protect and enforce equality in the UK. All companies, including law firms, are obligated to adhere to equal employment guidelines, and the majority of modern law firms are now actively working on improving and promoting their diversity policies.

Diversity in the Legal Sector Legal professions have traditionally been viewed as white, male and elitist, and pretty much closed off to anybody not fitting that bill. It’s a big barrier to break down, and there are arguably still a lot of issues to overcome. However, action is now being taken to tackle discrimination, open up the sector and create equal employment opportunities in the modern legal profession.

• “Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.” • “Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.”

The Law Society carries out lot of work to support and spread word of the SRA’s regulations, and has divisions for ethnic minority lawyers, lawyers with disabilities, junior lawyers and women divisions dedicated to providing support to their members.

ASPECTS OF DIVERSITY Disability Age Sex Sexual orientation Race Religion and belief Gender reassignment Social mobility Marriage and civil partnership

Law firms must uphold diversity requirements outlined by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in their recruitment and within the workplace. The SRA works closely with a number of representative groups of protected characteristics, and states its public sector duties regarding diversity and equality to be as follows:

Pregnancy and maternity

• “Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation.”

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

ADVICE / DIVERSITY

DIVERSITY STATS The AllAboutLaw.co.uk Law Careers Market Annual Research Report 2014 extracted data from 11,000 vacation scheme applications which were submitted in 2014 via the cvmailUK online application system by aspiring lawyers (either law or non-law students). It gives a taste of how diversity currently shapes up for young law applicants.

AGE

SECONDARY SCHOOL STATUS

STATE

PRIVATE

INTERNATIOAL

31-40 2%

PREFER NOT TO SAY

26-30

21-25

16-20

12% 29%

38% 50%

FE M

GENDER

M ALE 46 %

ALE 54 %

56%

89%

MIXED

WHITE (IRISH)

PREFER NOT TO SAY

ETHNICITY

<1%

2% HETROSEXUAL

GAY MAN

BISEXUAL

LESBIAN

PREFER NOT TO SAY

BLACK

12%

ASIAN

WHITE (OTHER)

WHITE (BRITISH)

13%

CHINESE

53%

SEXUAL ORIENTATION

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HOW DO I GET AMAZINGLY IMPRESSIVE COMMERCIAL AWARENESS?

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ADVICE / COMMERCIAL AWARENESS — Sidley Austin

Sponsored by

THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMERCIAL AWARENESS All law firms will require trainee applicants to be able to display a degree of commercial awareness, that being an understanding of business and how it can be affected by certain economic trends. You need to understand what is important and relevant to a client, rather than merely what the law is.

“Commercial awareness involves knowing about current deals, transactions and issues in the business world.” Paul Harris, Director & Co-Founder, AllAboutLaw.co.uk

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

WHAT IS COMMERCIAL AWARENESS? Commercial awareness can be simply defined as staying up-to-date on daily happenings and developments in the business and commercial world. A significant portion of law today revolves around business and commerce in the marketplace, between cities and regions, and across geographies. Commercial awareness is, therefore, one of the key requirements that a good and competent solicitor needs to master.

Becoming commercially aware does not happen overnight. It must be developed over a period of time. For aspiring lawyers, commercial awareness is an important attribute which can make the difference between becoming and not becoming a lawyer. Solicitors provide clients with advice and legal assistance on matters governed by economic, social and political spheres. How a government rules and creates laws is as important as the demand and supply of various products and services, or societal developments such as education, public welfare and employment. Lawyers must have a firm understanding of these contexts for their advice to have any reliability and relevancy. Commercial awareness involves knowing about current deals, transactions and issues in the business world. Lawyers must be able to put into perspective how their legal advice will affect the workings of commerce around the world in general and for their client in particular. Commercial awareness is not a static concept; it is dynamic and constantly changing.

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

To demonstrate commercial awareness, you need to show an understanding of business. You are not expected to know everything about it, but you should at least make the effort to do some research. Graduate recruiters expect candidates to know the answers for the following questions: where are our offices? What are our main practice areas and specialities? How are we doing financially? For which deals and clients are we engaged?

You need to take information and be able to apply it to real world scenarios. What happens if there is an economic downturn? How might it affect clients, and how can the firm keep them satisfied? Which departments are likely get busier and which are not? What’s happening with the legal industry in general? And, perhaps most importantly, when are things likely to pick up again? You aren’t expected to know the definitive answer to most of these questions, but you should be able to discuss them intelligently. Clients expect lawyers to know the law and will assume we do. These days, however, solicitors also need to be able to ‘add value’; to build a relationship and demonstrate that they understand business and its complexities. You need to understand what is important and relevant to the client, rather than merely what the law is; what’s the answer to their problem? How can they do what they want to do? A perfect candidate will be able to display awareness of both the firm’s business and the current marketplace. You do not need to walk in to an interview and immediately start talking about what you would do if a client wanted to sue someone, or explaining the causes of the recession. You should, however, be prepared to respond intelligently to these issues if you are asked. Speak to your friends, watch the news, and try to keep abreast of any relevant developments. A practical, pragmatic approach is the best way to demonstrate commercial awareness.

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

ADVICE / COMMERCIAL AWARENESS — Sidley Austin

WHAT DO FIRMS EXPECT?

HOW TO IMPROVE COMMERCIAL AWARENESS Firms will test your commercial awareness as soon as you begin applying for vacation schemes and training contracts. Most application forms have sections that are devoted to gathering information on how tuned-in to the business atmosphere you are.

the needs of clients or customers met? How did the organisation market itself? Was there any legislation impacting on the delivery of its goods or services? It’s important to gain as much legal-related work experience as possible, whether it be a vacation scheme or shorter work experience at a high street firm. Experiencing life in a law firm should give you a good insight into the workings of a firm and some appreciation of how it operates as a business.

Extra-curricular Activities Learning & Research Try reading broadsheet newspapers, such as the Financial Times or The Telegraph, business publications and company newsletters, relevant books, watching relevant TV programmes and news channels or downloading business podcasts. If you are applying to a particular firm or sector, look at the website of the firm and their competitors. Before going to an interview you should research the company’s current activities, any publications they have recently released, relevant press articles and what their current deals are. A really good way of gaining an insight into the firm is to look at their annual report. This will be introduced with a statement about the past financial year and the company’s future ambitions, and will also include all the financial data you need to get a good understanding of how the company is doing.

Work Experience Any work experience in a company or organisation will have enhanced your commercial awareness in some way. What did you learn about the company? How were 48

Did you manage a student society? Did you have to publicise any events or deal with budgets and cost considerations? How did you attract new members? Take a step back and look at your various activities with a business mind. The more you question actions and their motivations, the more you will become comfortable with noticing and discussing their commercial implications.

Proving Commercial Awareness Displaying a keen sense of commercial awareness will constitute a major portion of the training contract or vacation scheme application process. It begins with the details you provide in your application forms, continues with researching the law firm, and ends with providing final proof during the interview process. Before the interview, make sure you read up on all relevant material relating to business and prepare analyses of various developments in the business world. During the interview, you’ll want to demonstrate your knowledge and aptitude in a reasoned and articulate manner.

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

ADVICE / COMMERCIAL AWARENESS - Sidley Austin

SUMMARY

KEEP ON TOP OF THINGS

ROME WASN’T BUILT IN A DAY

READ THE BROADSHEETS

Commercial awareness is,

All law firms look for trainee

Brush up on your commercial

in short, staying up-to-date

candidates to display a degree of

awareness by regularly reading

on daily happenings and

commercial awareness, there’s

newspapers such as the Financial

developments in the business

no way to wing it in the interview

Times and Daily Telegraph.

and commercial world.

or take a shortcut; you’re either commercially aware or you’re not. Every successful lawyer is commercially aware, and it doesn’t happen overnight.

EXPERIENCE GOES A LONG WAY!

GO BEYOND STUDYING

Work experience (not just legal

help you develop commercial

Extra-curricular activities also experience) is the most practical

awareness. Running a student

way to better your commercial

society, for example, allows you

awareness. Any experience

to organise and publicise events

provides an insight into how a

whilst working to a budget.

business runs and what can affect its prosperity.

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AN INTERNATIONAL WHAT? INTERNATIONAL SECONDMENT? SOUNDS GOOD. TELL ME MORE.

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ADVICE / INTERNATIONAL SECONDMENTS — Herbert Smith Freehills

Sponsored by

THE VALUE OF INTERNATIONAL SECONDMENTS International secondments allow you to develop you skills as a solicitor in a new environment, whilst also providing you with an exciting cultural experience.

“Singapore is a key hub for cross-border transactions, and the M&A seat offered fantastic exposure to high-quality, international corporate work in the region.” Laura Stuckey, Trainee Solicitor, Herbert Smith Freehills

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

WHAT IS AN INTERNATIONAL SECONDMENT? An international secondment in the legal sector is an opportunity to work abroad for a period of time, either in another of the firm’s offices or at a client’s office. A secondment could take you to another European country, or even as far afield as the United States or Asia!

International secondments that pose as a seat during a training contract period usually last for six months — just as a normal seat back in your UK office would. It tends to stand as your second seat or later to give you time to settle into the legal office environment at home first.

As law firms continue to grow and their office and client networks sprawl across the globe, it’s likely that if you take on a training contract with an international firm then one of these exciting opportunities will be an option for you. As a trainee solicitor, you won’t necessarily be taking on a different role in your new location. You are still there to learn the tricks of the trade as a lawyer in the department in which you are placed. Therefore you will still be supervised by associates and partners in your workload and in the tasks you will be asked to complete. However, there is a chance that you could gain more responsibility and more autonomy in what you do depending on the cases you face and the knowledge and skills you can contribute.

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

You’ll gain further insight and an alternative perspective into how the law firm works

as you settle into a different office and

culture. This will be highly advantageous as you develop

You can gain experience in

your legal career.

different departments or work with representatives of industries

with whom you may not otherwise have the opportunity back in your UK office. It could open your eyes to a specialist area you may not have considered previously.

Living in another country is a challenge in itself. It takes some

guts to pack your bags and jet off to foreign lands on your own. Working

Time spent working abroad looks

abroad demonstrates adaptability,

very impressive on your law CV. More

tenacity and that you are not afraid

and more clients at top law firms now

to step out of your comfort zone. All

boast extensive international client portfolios; if you can

essential attributes for the successful

demonstrate a conscious effort to learn more about this

modern lawyer!

with an international secondment then you could really open up career doors in the near future.

International secondments are your ticket to the jet setter lifestyle. You can experience life in another country, eat new foods, try new things, meet new people... It’s likely you will be

able to travel further and tick off other locations too in your free time whilst you’re away. Living the dream!

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ADVICE / INTERNATIONAL SECONDMENTS — Herbert Smith Freehills

WHY DO AN INTERNATIONAL SECONDMENT?

NAME: DESTINATION: SEAT:

E I R S HO ES

LAURA STUCKEY, TRAINEE SOLICITOR SINGAPORE CORPORATE M&A

was particularly keen on going on a secondment to South East Asia, given the firm’s increasing focus on the Asia-Pacific region. At the time I knew I was interested in qualifying into Corporate, and therefore the mergers and acquisitions (M & A) seat in Singapore particularly appealed to me. Singapore is a key hub for crossborder transactions, and the M & A seat offered fantastic exposure to high-quality, international corporate work in the region. The team is relatively small but very busy, running deals in multiple jurisdictions and sectors, which meant I had a very varied and interesting workload. The sectors I was involved in included e-commerce, telecoms, energy, and consumer goods with a particular focus on emerging markets in the region, such as Myanmar. Typical trainee tasks included coordinating due diligence, liaising with local counsel from Malaysia to Taiwan, and drafting deal documents, including shareholders’ agreements, term sheets and share purchase agreements.

firm’s international Contributed by network. Nearly every piece of work I undertook involved at least one other jurisdiction, which meant I not only became familiar with legal, political and economic developments in numerous countries, but also built direct relationships with local counsel and other Herbert Smith Freehills offices. Singapore has a great work-hard, play-hard environment and is very much set up for the expat lifestyle. Fantastic restaurants line the vibrant streets of downtown Singapore, while the city’s famous hawker centres work around the clock to supply people with everything from dim sum and chicken rice to chilli crab. Decadent brunches with free-flow champagne were also a must. There were also lots of cheap

“One of the key highlights of working in Singapore was getting a front-line feel for the firm’s international network.” and cheerful pubs, karaoke bars, rooftop bars with spectacular views, helipad parties on the top of hotels, underground clubs, beach parties, and not to forget ‘that building that looks like it’s got a ship on it.’ Changi airport also provides an excellent hop-off point to hundreds of weekend getaways and beach destinations. I would highly recommend a secondment to Singapore for anyone who is keen to expand their international network, whilst enjoying the buzz of a vibrant modern Asian city.

One of the key highlights of working in Singapore was getting a front-line feel for the 54

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ADVICE / INTERNATIONAL SECONDMENTS — Herbert Smith Freehills

SUMMARY

NOT JUST INTERNATIONAL

PART OF YOUR TRAINING CONTRACT

A secondment can be undertaken

Secondment usually lasts for six

at a client’s in-house legal

months and is treated as one of

department (client secondment)

your training contract seats.

THEY AREN’T AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE… Secondments are more widely available at larger city and international firms who have

or in a firm’s overseas offices

offices worldwide or whose

(international secondment).

clients have their own in-house legal teams.

EXPLORE OPTIONS AND CITIES Secondments allow you to explore

THE JET-SETTER LIFESTYLE

your alternative career options and looks very impressive on

International secondments

your CV.

allow you to experience life in a different country, try new foods, meet new people and become engrossed with an entirely new culture. All whilst earning a very decent salary; it’s a win-win!

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TYPES LAW FIRM

S OF CITY INTERNATIONAL REGIONAL / NATIONAL SCOTTISH US

CITY

London calling! City firms are amongst some of the world’s leading law firms. Based in the thick of the City of London, they also tend to have offices that span across the world. These firms have turnovers of millions of pounds each year and work with some of biggest and most influential clients around. Amongst the City firms you will find the prestigious so-called Magic Circle and Silver Circle firms and the majority of City law firms will be ‘full service firms’, which means they have departments and specialist lawyers to cover all possible cases and issues. International client portfolios are increasingly important in this type of firm and so cross-jurisdictional issues as part of a City lawyer’s caseload will feature often. If you work for a City law firm, your career progression could be slower due to the size of these firms and the exceptional lawyers that work for them. However, as you gain experience and network in the City, the opportunities available will be vast. You can expect to have long working hours and may have to work at weekends if the case demands it. There are very good pay-scales to go along with an exciting, fast pace to the work. Many City law firms will provide funding and some financial support for maintenance for the GDL (Graduate Diploma in Law – the conversion course for non-law students) and the LPC (Legal Practice Course). The competition is extremely fierce and therefore you need to show outstanding potential and capabilities and some top-notch commercial awareness to get a foot in the door.

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TYPES OF LAW FIRM

INTERNATIONAL

International firms have multiple offices worldwide. If you work for one of these firms you can expect the bulk of your caseload to involve transnational work. Though you’ll start off in your UK office as a trainee, an exciting feature of career progression with an international firm is the potential for frequent travel. These types of firms often represent the legal interests of many global businesses as part of their client portfolios. Owing to individual demands, deadlines for cases and differences in time zones, long hours can be typical in the international market. Though you can work for an international firm without any additional language skills, knowledge of languages other than English is a definite advantage. If you are fluent in more than one language you could prove to be a great asset to the firm and even receive more responsibility at an earlier stage. You will also have to think on your feet as you face cases stemmed in legal systems across the world — a steep learning curve that will serve as experience to keep you at the top of today’s legal market’s international scope.

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REGIONAL/NATIONAL

Opportunities in the legal sector in the UK are in no way restricted to London alone. National firms have a very well-developed network of offices in various regions in the UK and preferred-partner tie-ups overseas. They mostly cover general practice and commercial law cases. A national firm’s expertise and business is confined to one or two regional hubs. Their work focus is a mixture of domestic general practice and commercial work for locally-based companies and individual clients. Many national firms still offer a full service. The majority of clients for national firms are UK based. This could be a good option if you’re keen to combine a successful legal career with staying in a certain area of the UK. Cities such as Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, Leeds, Newcastle, and Birmingham, as well as Edinburgh and Glasgow in Scotland, are popular hubs outside of London for national law firm offices. Work in a national firm doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be restricted to the office either; you may have to visit clients based in other parts of the country quite regularly to conduct face-toface consultations and interviews or watch a public inquiry. In comparison to the gigantic City and international firms, life at a national firm or at smaller scale offices can also potentially offer a chance for more responsibility at an earlier stage in your career. Though your salary may not quite reach the heights of that with a City, US or international firm, national and regional firms still offer good packages and a desirable work-life balance.

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TYPES OF LAW FIRM

SCOTTISH

Law firms specialising in Scots law (Scotland’s own law) are spread across various regions in Scotland, with Glasgow and Edinburgh being particular hubs for Scottish legal practices. Lawyers at these firms handle any local, national, or even international legal issues for their clients who are based in Scotland. A few Scottish firms offer a full service and have select specialist areas of law. Firms such as DWF and DLA Piper also have offices in some Scottish cities. If you undertake a traineeship with a Scottish firm, you will be qualifying into practice in Scots law upon qualification. The firms offer two-year traineeships with seat rotations around different departments. The Law Society for Scotland is also promoting so-called ‘flexible traineeships’ in which a trainee works at more than one firm or organisation across the two years, or on a parttime basis over an extended period. In order to undergo a traineeship with a Scottish firm, you must have the correct qualifications in Scots law: an LLB in Scots Law followed by the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice. Qualified lawyers in other jurisdictions must complete the relevant transfer tests in order to requalify in Scottish practice. The competition for traineeships in Scotland remains as competitive as in the rest of the UK. According to the Law Society for Scotland, in 2012 there were 472 registered traineeships. Salaries for trainee solicitors in Scotland are competitive.

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As the name suggests, these law firms have been established in the United States and are primarily based there, with offshoots in the UK and other EU countries. UK offices will mostly be based in London, falling in with the big City players of the legal sector. The kind of work these firms focus on is mostly in high-end corporate and commercial practice. Some are quite niche in their specialisms; others are full service. A training contract with a US firm will in essence be no different to a training contract with a UK firm if completed in a London office. They are still based on the UK Law Society process, and London programmes are run very much with relevance to the London office. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll complete four or six seats over the two years in exactly the same way. Though the focus will not be on the US, work for these firms will still involve plenty of exposure to international clients, and so you will gain an excellent understanding of English law whilst developing a sense of working in a global market. You can expect the work to be extremely fast-paced with some long hours depending on client demands. You can experience work on cases at various different stages in the process, and enjoy the buzzing City lifestyle. The highest remuneration packages make this type of firm a very attractive destination for trainee solicitors (employees are paid on scales according to their US rates, and the UK salaries equate to that). In some instances they may also cover your GDL and LPC fees. The annual intake of new candidates for the UK offices of US law firms tends to be considerably smaller compared to that of the UK firms. The high salaries and small intake make these training contracts quite exclusive. The competition is tough, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need to have a good balance of strong academics, work experience and commercial awareness to be in the running for opportunities with these firms. 62

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TYPES OF LAW FIRM

SUMMARY

FIVE IS A MAGIC NUMBER

CITY SALARIES ARE LUCRATIVE

WORLDWIDE OFFICES, BIG NAME CLIENTS

There are five types of law firm;

At City firms, working hours can

International firms represent

City, International, National,

be longer and career progression

global clients, and a second

Scottish and US.

can be slower, but the salaries

language can be a great

are usually higher. As a result,

asset. Frequent travel is

competition is fierce.

also a possibility.

I WANT TO PROGRESS QUICKLY…

FOR THE SCOTS AMONG US

National firms can have several

Scottish firms specialise in Scots

offices across the UK, and clients

law (duh!) and their clients are

are usually based in the UK also.

based in Scotland also. You’ll

They are more likely to be smaller

need an LLB in Scots Law and

than City and International firms,

a Diploma in Professional Legal

meaning there is opportunity for

Practice before applying for a

more responsibility and quicker

traineeship in Scotland.

progression at an earlier stage of your career.

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AREA LAW

AS OF BANKING & FINANCE

INSURANCE

COMMERCIAL

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

CONSTITUTIONAL / ADMINISTRATIVE

LAND

CONSTRUCTION

LITIGATION

CONTRACT

PERSONAL INJURY

CORPORATE

PRIVATE EQUITY

CRIMINAL

PROPERTY

EMPLOYMENT

PUBLIC

EQUITY & TRUSTS

TAX

TORT

WHAT ARE THE CORE & ELECTIVE AREAS OF LAW?

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CONSTITUTIONAL/ ADMINISTRATION The Country Without A Constitution.... The UK does not have a constitution per se, certainly not in the same way that the US or Germany does. Instead we have a series of rules, guidelines, powers and laws which govern how the country is run and where power lies. This area of law makes sure that that power is not abused and that it is used in an appropriate manner. Someone has to keep a check on the government and that is where this area of law steps up to the plate.

local council or the police. Sometimes the state does not follow the interests of the public, or works in contravention of its obligations under national and international law. For example, if a local councillor has ten parking permits and gives them all to their friends and family for no other reason than because they are related to them, then this is clearly unfair and administrative law can be applied to make sure they does not abuse their position. Similarly, if the police torture you whilst you are in custody, then there will have been a breach of the European Convention of Human Rights and your action against the state will be pursued through this constitutional or administrative law.

BREAK IT DOWN FOR ME A LITTLE BIT! If you would like to work in the public interest, either for the state or in a private practice against the state, constitutional and administrative law is a stimulating and exciting option.

Why Is It Important? What Does It Involve?

You may be dealing with high-profile cases or smaller local issues, but either way you will have to deal with lots of paper work (the public sector

Constitutional or administrative law is arguably the most important in existence; without it there could be no other laws and the state would not be able to function. It holds our country together.

is notorious for its bureaucracy and paper work) and keep up-to-date with constantly evolving case law.

Practising administrative or constitutional law means you will either be employed by the state in the Government Legal Service (GLS), or in a private practice. As a lawyer in this area, you will be working to ensure that government bodies and agencies are acting in the public interest. Therefore, you could be working alongside the NHS, your AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

AREAS OF LAW

CORE

the filing of a case, investigation, filing pleas and motions before the presiding court, negotiating settlements and even conducting the eventual trial. Often contract law is integrated into many other areas of law, such as corporate law, land law or even family law.

CORE

CONTRACT

Contract law is all about relating the facts of the real world to an agreement made between two or more parties. Your job will be to ensure your clients’ best interests are protected as much as possible.

It’s All In The Small Print… There are few areas of law that require as much attention to detail as contract law. We enter into contracts every day, whether we are using a service, having a drink in a bar or buying a bus ticket. Rarely does a problem arise, but sometimes it does. In such instances, you can figure out where the blame lies and what the potential solutions are by referring to the contract, or the laws that govern the contract.

BREAK IT DOWN FOR ME A LITTLE BIT! Attention to detail is the most important trait required for anyone working in contract law. Often contracts can bind people to considerable sums of money and to something for substantial periods of time, so if you get it wrong, or fail to

Why Is It Important? What Does It Involve?

spot something, it can be difficult or impossible to rectify.

Terms and conditions, rent agreements, mortgages, loan agreements and receipts are all contracts that bind you and someone else into a special relationship. We enter into hundreds of different contracts throughout our lives and this area of law has many everyday applications. Whether you are a legal clerk, an advocate or a judge, you will find yourself having to look through large quantities of paper work. Often contractual agreements can concern multiple parties. This means your role can often require a great deal of correspondence between various parties and therefore proceedings can sometimes last many months or even years. Contract lawyers will usually work on cases from the beginning to the end. This will involve 68

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Much of the activity in dealing with cases can involve liaising with peers and judicial authorities from other jurisdictions, taking care of extradition claims, or dealing with the fallout of delinquency or criminal negligence.

CRIMINAL

And they say crime doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pay... Criminal law covers everything from small misdemeanours to big heinous crimes, fraud and white-collar crime. It can also involve international relations and multiple jurisdictional rules, particularly concerning issues such as extradition, money-laundering, cross-border crimes and terrorism. Typically, work is of a contentious nature.

What Does Criminal Law Involve?

Ancillary tasks might include following the money trail, battling with corruption and bureaucracy, monopolies and restrictive trade practices and running through copious amounts of documentation.

What Makes A Good Criminal Lawyer? To be a criminal lawyer, you should be street-smart, quick on your feet and have a thorough understanding of criminal law, procedures and the functioning of the judicial system. You should also be able to handle large volumes of work and perform well under pressure, whilst retaining a meticulous attention to detail.

Criminal law covers some of the most serious issues in society, such as murder, rape or robbery. Opportunities are available for criminal lawyers in both private and public practice. In private practice, you can work as a defence lawyer for those accused of criminal offences. In public practice, you will be working for either the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) or for the Public Defender Service (PDS).

Your communication and negotiation skills need to be top-notch and you should be good at dealing with different kinds of people.

Criminal lawyers will usually work on the case from the beginning to the end. This will usually involve the filing of a case, investigation, visiting police stations and prisons, taking witness statements, going through medical reports, liaising with court personnel, the police department and probation officers, filing pleas and motions before the presiding court and conducting the eventual trial. Post sentencing, you might work on appeals at higher judicial levels. This will involve piles of paperwork and a

Crime, by its very nature, carries a lot of notoriety and ill-will, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important for a lawyer to maintain absolute discretion when it comes to dealing with their clients. Honesty and trustworthiness are of paramount importance.

Many of the clients that a criminal lawyer might deal with may be dangerous, mentally unstable, drug addicts, or chronic offenders, so it is crucial that you are able to set aside personal prejudices and judgment and take an objective and clinical approach in handling such people.

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AREAS OF LAW

huge amount of research.

CORE

CORE BREAK IT DOWN FOR ME A LITTLE BIT! Sometimes, trust law matters can

EQUITY & TRUSTS

be very complicated and often items, objects or money may have changed hands several times before anyone notices a problem. Consequently, unravelling these

It’s Just Not Fair...

issues can be a complex process and you will often need to digest vast amounts of information and

Equity means fairness. Our legal system is based on these rules and this area of law gave birth to the law of trusts.

follow long paper trails. Disputes often arise between partners who are looking to separate,

Trust law is a set of rules that have been established to regulate situations where one person places trust in another person to look after their affairs. This includes the way that charities are run or the way that money left to somebody in a will is governed.

especially regarding property. These scenarios are at the heart of trust law and it’s not unusual for your work to be intertwined with family law or other areas of law. You will need to be versatile and able to react to changing circumstances in a constantly evolving area of law.

Why Is It Important? What Does It Involve?

If you have a passion for understanding complex relationships, you are happy dealing with people

Equity stretches across all areas of law. It’s an incredibly important part of the legal system, but the majority of people working in this area of law will be dealing with the various intricacies of trust law.

often going through difficult periods in their lives, and are prepared to work long hours then equity and trust could be for you.

If you specialise in equity and trusts, you may find yourself making sure charities are correctly spending donated funds or resolving conflicts between families. It may often involve dealing with the affairs of people who are no longer around and therefore you will need to be sensitive to the situation of your clients.

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28 Members, One Legal Systemâ&#x20AC;Ś EU law is a system of law that is specific to the 28 members of the European Union. This system overrules the national law of each member country if there is a conflict between the national law and EU law.

Why Is It Important? What Does It Involve? EU law relates to a wide range of different matters; from agriculture to competition law. As the European Union grew in size, the idea was to create a level playing field and harmonise the laws across the Union regarding certain matters, mostly trade.

In this area of law, you will either be working for, or against, the state. There are a large number of government lawyers who are required to protect the interests of the state, whilst a number of other lawyers work for private individuals and companies to make sure that member states do not surpass the powers they are given. You might even find yourself in Luxembourg at some point working at the European Court of Justice (ECJ). This is the highest court in Europe and makes binding decisions for all countries in the EU.

BREAK IT DOWN FOR ME A LITTLE BIT! If you are interested in international law, then EU law will offer you plenty of scope for career development. Additional language skills can be useful, especially if you work at the ECJ or on cross border disputes. You

This is a relatively new area of law, which only started to develop in the latter half of the 20th century. EU law is important because it ensures that the populations of the member states are treated, and treat others, equally.

can use pretty much any language during a court hearing in the ECJ, however, you should be aware that all the deliberations of the court are in French.

There is often a large amount of paper work involved in this area of law, especially if the case has been brought to the European Court of Justice (ECJ). In order for a matter to be admissible to the ECJ, all domestic remedies must have been exhausted, which means the case must have already been considered in the highest court in the country. Often these cases can be huge and involve large numbers of people, so will require lots of AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

AREAS OF LAW

organisation and delegation. You may also find yourself working on disputes involving other national law systems and languages, which will make matters super complex and multifaceted.

CORE

Research is a key part of this area of law. You will frequently be required to draft legal documents and liaise with the land registry, other lawyers and law.

LAND

The Lie of the Land...

BREAK IT DOWN FOR ME A LITTLE BIT! Land law has evolved significantly

Land law is the set of rules that govern the land and anything attached to it, such as trees or buildings, or anything in it, e.g. treasure or oil.

over hundreds of years. Working in this area of law can be particularly interesting and stimulating. Although the remuneration is not as high as you might expect in corporate

People who work in this area of law have the task of fighting or defending disputes over land matters, such as rights of way and boundary issues. These cases may involve matters which involve landowners, private individuals or the state.

or commercial law, it can still be lucrative; especially when you consider the high value people place on land. After all, a manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house is his castle!

Why is it Important? What Does it Involve? Almost everyone will have to deal with some elements of land law at least once in their life, whether you buy a house, walk up and knock on someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s door or decide to cut down a neighbours overhanging tree. A great deal of the work of the land lawyer involves going through deeds, agreements and the land registry records to see if you can decipher who owns what and what rights people may or may not have over pieces of land. You will need to have excellent attention to detail and be able to concentrate on long paper trails and deal with the often unclear intentions of the individuals involved. Some of the disputes might require you to go back and refer to documents that are hundreds of years old. 72

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T E R VIE W

there is a physical asset that is the subject of the

Contributed by

transaction and it can be necessary to see the property to understand how the legal title and the matters affecting it work. The biggest changes have been through the use of technology - we can now see the property virtually and can review old documents and obtain searches electronically. Transactions can move faster as a result.

Interview with Land Law Partner

HOW DID YOU GET INTO LAND LAW?

WHAT’S IT LIKE DEALING WITH DOCUMENTS THAT CAN BE HUNDREDS OF YEARS OLD? WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DEAL WITH A RANGE OF CLIENTS?

Land law was one of the subjects I enjoyed most on my

The oldest documents that I’ve found were from the

degree course but I didn’t have any fixed ideas about

early 1700’s and it certainly gives you a sense of history

which area I wanted to qualify into when I started my

to unfold and read the old documents. In terms of

training contract. My real estate seat was my last and I

clients it’s important to be flexible and remember

knew within weeks that this was the area for me. I liked

to adapt your approach to suit each client’s level of

the transactional nature and the variety of the work, plus

knowledge and experience.

I was lucky enough to work with some really inspiring people and clients.

WHAT’S A TYPICAL DAY LIKE WORKING IN THIS AREA OF LAW?

WHAT’S LIFE AS A PARTNER LIKE?

Partnership goes hand in hand with taking responsibility for both your clients and their businesses and for your own

No two days are the same and, depending on what

firm, business and colleagues. It’s busy, fast paced and

transactions are happening and what stage they are at, I

challenging but fulfilling.

may be reviewing or drafting documents, negotiating with other lawyers or speaking to clients.

HOW HAS LAND LAW EVOLVED OVER TIME? IS IT STILL CONTINUALLY EVOLVING AND HOW DOES THIS AFFECT YOUR WORK?

ANY TIPS FOR ASPIRING LAWYERS WHO WANT TO SPECIALISE IN LAND LAW? Try to get as much experience in property transactions as possible, from both a legal and a practical angle. Being familiar with the processes and concepts involved in buying

All law changes with new legislation and case law, but

and selling properties, granting and taking leases will help

land law is an area that dates back a long time and we

a lot in your first transactions. An eye for detail is also vital.

still use a lot of concepts and law that have remained in place for years. It’s also one of the areas of law where AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

CORE BREAK IT DOWN FOR ME A LITTLE BIT! There are several theories as to why public law is different to private

PUBLIC

law. These have evolved over time but it’s widely regarded that a combination of the subjection theory and subject theory. The subjection theory suggests that public law

Public law refers to the relationship between individuals and the government. In the UK, public law is made up of constitutional/administrative law, tax law and criminal law.

governs the relationship between the person and the state and private law governs relationships of individuals. The subject theory suggests that if a person find themselves in membership of a public body, public law applies.

Why Is Public Law Important? What Does It Involve?

The combination of these two theories results in public law being defined as a field where an actor is an authority with the power to act

Public law is important because of the unequal relationship between the government and the public. The government is the only body that can make decisions on the rights of individuals and they must act within the law. A citizen can ask for judicial review if they are unhappy with a decision of an authoritative body.

unilaterally. If this authority is acting as a public entity, public law applies. Some areas of law do not seem to fit into either public or private law. For example, employment law falls into both – the employment contract is a private law matter, whereas health and safety in the workplace is a public

Lawyers who are concerned with public law can specialise in various areas of law including constitutional/administrative law, tax law and criminal law. These areas of law are slightly different. For example, if you worked in constitutional/administrative law, you could be working alongside the NHS, local council or other governmental bodies.

law issue.

Criminal lawyers work on all aspects of a case including investigation, liaising with police and appeals. There’s usually a lot of paperwork involved with criminal law!

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AREAS OF LAW

harm I may have caused.

CORE

TORT

Lawyers working in this area will have to work alongside individuals who feel they have suffered a loss. Their task is to ascertain whether there has been a loss, what type of loss it is and convince the court to side with their client. As with all areas of law, it will involve lots of paper work and an array of support staff are needed; from secretaries and legal executives, to reporters and court interpreters.

Something Aspiring Lawyers Tort To Know About... Torts are wrongs committed by one individual against another individual. Tort law allows individuals to claim against any losses they suffer as a result of another’s action.

BREAK IT DOWN FOR ME A LITTLE BIT! Tort law sometimes requires you to

Many of us are familiar with “no win, no fee” personal injury law firms, which are most often associated with this area of law. However, this is just one part of a much wider area of law that covers loads of different types of tort; from slander and trespass, to noise pollution and false imprisonment.

act quickly. In particular, in slander and libel cases you will be up against the clock to prevent irreparable damage from occurring, rushing to prevent articles from being published or television programmes from airing. You may also find yourself working on high-profile cases where discretion will be of paramount importance.

Why Is It Important? What Does It Involve?

Your clients will stretch the entire social spectrum, so having a knack for getting on with all types of people

Tort law encompasses a range of issues in society and offers a number of different career opportunities.

will be a great asset. Understanding and empathy are also essential traits and you will need the ability to convey complex matters in an easily

Essentially, the purpose of this area of law is to ensure that individuals do not suffer unnecessary loss. Loss can take a variety of different forms. For example, my actions may prevent someone from working due to an injury they sustain from them. In this case, the court may decide I need to pay for any losses incurred. Alternatively, I could say or write something about another person which damages their reputation (this is called slander when spoken and libel when written) and they may sue me to claim damages against the

accessible way. You should also be able to handle large volumes of work, perform well under pressure and work to tight deadlines.

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ELECTIVE

banking and finance lawyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work. You can choose to specialise in a particular class of financing, including: project, acquisition, asset, property, securitisation, derivatives, capital markets and Islamic finance.

BANKING & FINANCE

Money Makes The World Go Round... Nowhere is this popular adage more applicable than practising law in the banking and finance domain. This area of practice covers it all; from providing a loan to an individual, to complex financial deals for big companies. Banking and finance is a global leviathan; its tentacles are spread over multiple jurisdictions and, with new products frequently being offered, this is an area which can only get bigger. As a banking and finance lawyer, you can look forward to long working hours, dealing with tons of paperwork, heaps of travel and getting to grips with the law in multiple jurisdictions.

What is Involved in Banking & Finance Law? Specialisation is a must; there are too many components for a solicitor to be a general practitioner. As a lawyer in this field you will represent either the borrower or the lender and it is your job to ensure the correct documentation is completed and your clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; interests are fully covered and protected. A major portion of work in banking and finance is of a transactional nature. You will complete your part in the transaction and move on to the next. A return to a completed transaction becomes necessary when disputes arise. This constitutes the contentious element of a 76

Project finance normally involves making loans for various projects, whilst acquisition finance focuses on the lending of money to companies to purchase other entities. Asset finance, likewise, focuses on loans; however, it specifically relates to the purchase or leasing of big-ticket items. Securitisation involves transactions, where a lender offloads its loan portfolio to another company, whilst derivatives focus on the fixing of currency rates during a transaction. Capital markets is where a borrowing entity issues bonds to investors and Islamic finance involves transactions or loans that comply with Shariah principles.

What Makes a Good Banking & Finance Lawyer? A lawyer will be required to assist with negotiations, provide assistance in structuring deals and complete due diligence checks on other parties. You will also act as a mediator between parties, helping everyone to reach common terms that are satisfactory to all. Throughout, you will have to ensure that the deal is in line with all laws and regulations of the particular jurisdictions they involve, as well as completing formalities such as registration. You will have to analyse and predict future trends, which may have an impact on the transaction or deal, and communicate this in a clear and concise way to your clients. Excellent attention to detail and having an exact knowledge of the fine-print is essential.

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EVER WONDERED WHAT’S IT LIKE TO BE A BANKING & FINANCE PARTNER?

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IN T HE L

0930

Given our multi-specialist approach, no two days are likely to be the same! My work is a mixture of managing projects, dealing with clients and making sure we are doing our very best for them as well as doing the work itself (which includes reviewing and writing legal documents, answering technical questions and helping to structure transactions).

Azedeh Nassiri is a partner in Banking & Finance Law at Magic Circle firm Slaughter and May. She joined the firm in 2005 and was made partner in 2014. She covers acquisitions, structured finance, debt capital market transactions as well as corporate recovery and restructuring matters. Azedeh has worked with numerous clients, including Thomas Cook, CaixaBank and Deutsche Bank.

0800

As a trainee in one of our financing teams, you will work on the full range of transactions – one month you could be working on a bond issue and the next you could be working with the same client on the financing aspects of an acquisition.

I arrive at the office and have breakfast whilst reading the Financial Times and my client alerts.

1030 0845

I attend our weekly group Partners’ meeting, where we get together to allocate any new work and to catch-up on the previous week. These meetings help us to take stock and plan ahead and mean that we are all aware of the work we are doing as a group.

I say hello to my PA and my trainee. I write my ‘to-do-list’ for the day and then start to work through my e-mails.

I usually chat through with my trainee any legal research questions and other tasks that need to be done and also touch base with associates working with me. We have an open-door policy so it’s not uncommon for people to pop round during the day to bounce ideas off me and to discuss any queries they might have.

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1130

1300 1400

1500

1730

I attend a client meeting with my trainee and the associate working on the transaction. The purpose of the meeting is to negotiate a loan agreement and we have a quick de-brief with the client afterwards.

We often have lunchtime training sessions and also host regular cultural talks focusing on a range of subjects including art, music, history, politics and science. Today, I attend an interesting talk on “Uncovering the Myth of Human Progress: the lies and the truths” by Paul Kingsnorth (writer and journalist).

I have a number of conference calls on different transactions and review and comment on draft documents sent through to me during the day. I continue to deal with e-mails!

1900

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There are plenty of social events to attend, both within groups and with the rest of the firm. In our group, for example, we have pay-day drinks. There is also a wide variety of clubs and activities including football, rugby, cricket and netball. I have dinner with a client and head home afterwards. Depending on how busy we are, I might need to log back on when I’m at home but it’s usually just a case of keeping an eye on my phone!

Once a week, I try to block out an hour or two to read relevant about recent cases and market updates which my trainee pulls together for me in a pack.

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ELECTIVE BREAK IT DOWN FOR ME A LITTLE BIT! A commercial lawyer’s work begins with obtaining necessary instructions

COMMERCIAL

and supporting information and documents from the clients. The case is reviewed thoroughly and the important facts and data are picked out. Lawyers then research case law

Tricky Business...

and former precedents, prepare pleadings and arguments, and attend regular briefing sessions with clients.

Commercial law disputes deal primarily with contract and/or tort laws. It involves issues that arise in the course of running a business at any stage of the commercial cycle.

They will arrange for settlement where viable, and present motions and arguments before courts if the case proceeds into litigation.

Such disputes are brought before courts for legal restitution when other methods of resolution, such as arbitration or mediation, have failed to provide a solution acceptable to all interested parties.

Understanding a client’s needs is an important quality for those involved in commercial law. Other skills and talents required include negotiation, commercial awareness and time and people management. Commercial

Why is Commercial Law Important?

lawyers need to keep up to speed with the current business and commercial climate, changes and amendments in legislation, and regulations in all

Commerce is at the core of a democratic society and, in order to be strong economically, it must be attractive to businesses. One way of doing this is to have a strong set of laws and regulations protecting businesses that enter into agreements with others and providing resolutions when things don’t go to plan. Commercial law provides that platform.

jurisdictions that are involved. Commercial lawyers are normally required to have a top-class degree, experience of participation in extracurricular activities, experience in debating, public speaking and moot court trials. Work experience in a non-legal commercial sector will be an added advantage.

Most commercial disputes are heard in Commercial Court or in county business courts when the dispute relates to that particular jurisdiction. They can also be brought before the Queen’s Bench or Chancery divisions of the High Court, or the Technology & Construction Court (TCC).

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Personal Injury â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Opportunities (Irwin Mitchell) IN

E I R S HO ES

The work is certainly fast paced and... pressurefuelled, but this has meant that there has been a sense of continual progress

Jonathan Akinluyi is a trainee solicitor at Skadden and has undertaken a seat in Corporate Capital Markets. Enjoying the international aspect of his work, Jonathan recommends that aspiring lawyers take the time to attend open days, law fairs and, if possible, a vacation scheme to find out as much as possible about the firms they are applying to.

y second seat has been in Corporate Capital Markets, where I have been primarily working on an initial public offering deal in which the team has been advising the issuer. In this deal, I have undertaken a wide variety of tasks which have ranged from numerous research assignments, due diligence, processing comments in the prospectus and assisting with reviewing and drafting corporate governance documents, to coordinating the delivery of condition precedent documents and reviewing the issuerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website for its consistency with the prospectus and its compliance with legal requirements.

Contributed by

working with local counsel in relation to Dutch and Portuguese law considerations, as well as considering the wider EU regulatory framework.

The work is certainly fast paced and at times pressure-fuelled, but this has meant that there has been a sense of continual progress and that working on the deal has not become stale. I studied History at Durham University and considered a number of career paths, but chose the legal career having attended a vacation scheme at Skadden in the summer after I graduated. Between the vacation scheme and starting my training contract, I attended BPP for the GDL and LPC courses. I would advise that the application process should be as much about you finding out whether you are suited to a particular law firm as that firm assessing you. Take the opportunity at vacation schemes, open days and law fairs to ask questions about the work, peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experiences, the social culture and anything else which helps you to probe into how things work at that firm. You will get more from these experiences doing so and, in addition, this will better prepare you for the difficult question of why you specifically chose to apply to that firm.

One thing which has been apparent throughout my time at Skadden has been the international scope of work undertaken. In this deal, for example, the issuer, which is seeking a listing on the London Stock Exchange, is a Dutch holding company of an African construction business and a subsidiary of a Portuguese listed company.AllAboutLaw.co.uk As a result, we| have been Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

ELECTIVE

CONSTRUCTION

Building Your Law Careerâ&#x20AC;Ś Construction law focuses on contentious and non-contentious work. Contentious work involves early dispute resolution through settlements, arbitration, third party mediation or litigation and adjudication. Non-contentious work involves a range of different tasks, from preparation and negotiation of building projects and assisting on the procurement of various resources and materials, to advising on environment, insurance and health and safety matters. Projects might also include: infrastructure projects for roads, hospitals, public amenities, prisons and prisons, or industry-specific projects. Construction lawyers will work in collaboration with professionals in project finance and property development to see projects through to fruition.

What is Involved in Construction Law? Construction lawyers negotiate and draft agreements between interested parties, such as property companies, landowners, builders, architects, engineers, contractors and subcontractors. They also collaborate with other legal departments in finance and real estate, in order to complete the necessary duediligence, conditions-precedent and funding of the project. 82

Furthermore, construction lawyers will need to obtain necessary civil and municipal approvals and sanctions from local authorities. They might even monitor the progress of construction projects through periodic site visits and meetings with stakeholders. Finally, on completion and handover of the project, they will assist in the completion of registration and tax formalities. Contentious practice comes into play when disputes arise at any stage of construction, or after completion. In the past, litigation was resorted to frequently to resolve disputes, given the large amounts of money and certain loopholes in existing law which made it easier to litigate endlessly. In recent years, legal reforms and tighter regulation has ensured that the use of litigation as a means of dispute resolution has been curbed. The rule of thumb in the construction industry is that all agreements must have distinct provisions on alternative dispute resolution should future issues arise. Arbitration is a mandatory clause in newer contracts, and, if it becomes necessary to seek judicial intervention, then the dispute should be resolved through adjudication.

What is Needed for Construction Law? A construction lawyer should be wellequipped with skills in negotiating and drafting procedures and have excellent interpersonal skills. The personal qualities you need include creative and lateral thought-processes, the ability to breakdown complex structures and concepts into simple facts and strategic and analytical thinking. Moreover, technical knowledge and expertise in architecture or engineering, will always be a great asset.

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RKING LIFE WO

The Infrastructure, Construction and Energy (ICE) team at Nabarro are market leaders that work on projects in the UK and across the Middle and Far East. With multi-sector experience ranging from developing off-shore wind farms to urban regeneration projects, and a client base that includes major developers, governments and financial institutions, work involves contentious and non-contentious work throughout the lifecycle of a project – from high-profile office developments to complex engineering disputes across numerous jurisdictions. Nabarro have recently opened an office in Dubai to complement teams in London, Sheffield and Singapore.

Life as an ICE lawyer Non-contentious ICE requires a technical understanding of the various procurement routes used including traditional contracting, design and build, construction management, as well as those used on international projects. Lawyers act for developers, funders, end-users and consultants at various stages of the procurement process ensuring that client interests are protected across the documentation.

designing a project. A real commercial understanding is needed to get to the bottom of clients’ risks across various forms of documents.

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Contentious ICE work involves advising on all aspects of dispute resolution including litigation, arbitration and forms of alternative dispute resolution. Nabarro specialises in dealing with complex delay claims and has recently acted for a joint venture between two major utilities companies, defending a £300m claim from a contractor in relation to an offshore wind farm. It is important for contentious construction lawyers to keep up-to-date with any legislative developments and what is often complex, technical case law.

Trainees ICE offers trainees a wide variety of experience. Typical tasks on the noncontentious side will include the negotiation and drafting of appointments and warranties as well as assisting colleagues in larger-scale due diligence exercises, often involving close interaction and cooperation with other departments. The seat offers opportunities for regular client contact and plenty of scope for obtaining valuable drafting experience. On the contentious side trainees will assist on a large case by helping to review documents during disclosure, researching case law for instructions to counsel and preparing bundles for trial or mediation. Trainees also assist with smaller matters, such as adjudications and injunctions. These matters offer trainees the opportunity to get involved in drafting legal documents, making applications to the Court and drafting notes of advice on technical issues.

An ICE lawyer’s day-to-day tasks can include a range of activities, from drafting amendments to standard form building contracts, to negotiating appointments with consultants AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

ELECTIVE

CORPORATE

Big Cat Territory... Corporate lawyers are an elite group. It involves general corporate matters, such as the incorporation of companies, directors’ and shareholders’ rights, articles of association, board meetings, secretarial matters and the public listing or delisting of companies. No two transactions or deals are the same. The differences can depend upon the type of industry, whether it involves single or multimarket businesses, and the size of the companies involved. Clients in this area range from multinational corporations and investment banks to small and medium scale businesses, regulatory bodies and governments.

What Does Corporate Law Involve? As a corporate lawyer, your portfolio of work will usually involve acting on mergers and acquisitions, restructuring corporate entities and the hiving-off of unprofitable sections. You might help list clients on stock exchanges and secure finance from venture capitalists. Work on any deal will move through different stages. Firstly, you might negotiate and prepare draft documentation in association with your client’s various accountants, financial advisors and managerial representatives. Helping to 84

procure finance, securing guarantees and other assets, might form part of the deal, as will completing due-diligence and checking on the status of debts, employees, ownership details and existing liabilities. You might finalise the deal with all involved parties, getting necessary approvals through resolutions at board meetings, and completing registration and other formalities wherever necessary. Amongst the different types of deals and transactions which constitute corporate law, a large portion of work involves dealing with private equity funds and listing clients’ companies on stock exchanges. A private equity player usually holds some kind of stock or ownership in unlisted companies. A private equity lawyer’s job is to make relevant financial arrangements when it comes to floating a new business venture, further expansion of operations, a tie-up or takeover with another company, or MBO financing.

What Makes A Good Corporate Lawyer? To thrive in corporate law, you will need exemplary knowledge of business law, current trends and legislative and regulatory developments. You will to be familiar with corporate and business law in other jurisdictions where clients have operations or are looking to invest. Strong communication and negotiation skills, an excellent academic background, the ability to think ‘out-of-the-box’, exceptional analytical skills and meticulous attention to detail are all necessary. Teamwork is an essential feature of most corporate transactions. You will work with professionals who share a common objective and interpersonal and people management skills should be top-notch.

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E I R S HO ES

Sophia Maxwell-Yates

Contributed by

Natalie Davis

TRAINEE SOLICITOR

Before starting my training contract I completed a degree in Management at Royal Holloway, University of London. I then studied the GDL and LPC at BPP Law School.

Before becoming a trainee I studied Government and History and then completed the GDL. Around half of the trainee intake in my year are non-law graduates.

corporate seat provides trainees with have worked mainly on mergers and opportunities to improve their acquisitions, which have differed in terms drafting skills. I gained experience of both structure and sector, during my time drafting ancillary transaction documents, in corporate. corporate authorisations, loan note instruments While typical tasks assigned on and guarantees. I was also each deal are constant, there encouraged to communicate are differences that mean no directly with clients and local two are the same. A traineeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s TOP TIPS counsel. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not every day role focuses on co-ordination, that you are asked to contact such that drafting, maintaining, Set your home page on your personal the CFO of a multinational signing and closing agendas or work computer to the Financial organisation! and document checklists are Times or the business section of key. I have also been involved in a broadsheet newspaper to keep Corporate work is fast-paced. drafting ancillary documentation abreast of headline financial news. A deal I recently worked on and leading due diligence. Also, never underestimate where you involved a tight deadline, may meet your next contact. I have numerous jurisdictions, a small The work is naturally fastspoken to judges on trains and met deal team and a physical closing paced. Some deals can launch barristers in my local pub! room. In this environment and sign within weeks, while everyone has to work together, others take months. The there is no room to shy away amount of responsibility you from responsibility. This are given is encouraging, but provided me with invaluable means that organisation is key. experience and a sense of accomplishment Corporate trainees are often on many deals with when the deal closed. different teams at any one time, and being able to juggle priorities is important. AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

ELECTIVE BREAK IT DOWN FOR ME A LITTLE BIT! Employment law focuses on everything to do with the world of

EMPLOYMENT

work, including the hiring of resources, advertising of job openings, the recruitment process, the promotion and movement of employees, the benefits and perks that are provided, organisation restructuring, voluntary

Work It…

exits and litigation.

Employment law covers all matters related to the workplace. Beginning with hiring, it moves through a complete cycle which can end in cessation of employment, voluntary or forced.

Non-contentious work will focus on providing advice, drafting, transactional tasks, and dispute resolution through arbitration and negotiations. Contentious work will cover dismissals, breach of contracts, harassment,

Why Does Employment Law Involve? Employment law is concerned with an employee and their rights and obligations. On the other hand, it deals with the employer’s rights, duties and obligations. Into this equation come matters of legislation, statutory authorities, regulations of conduct and the processes through which the law is administered and followed. If you’re thinking about entering this area of law, the first step will be to identify the area in which you want to specialise, looking for firms and opportunities where this can be fulfilled.

redundancy/lay-off and discrimination. You need to be agile and adaptable. You should have clear and methodical thought-process, good reasoning and excellent communication skills. Furthermore, you will need to be up-to-date with legal and commercial processes. Since this area of law sometimes involves dealing with the good, the bad and ugly aspects of human nature, an employment lawyer will need to be friendly, empathetic and professional.

Solicitors who represent individuals or a group of employees will work on collecting information and research, preparing documentation (e.g. contracts, claims and pleadings), providing advice to clients and conducting negotiations and settlements on their behalf. Employment lawyers representing employers will provide advice to companies and institutions on defence against claims, HR policies covering all aspects of employment, contractual content on remuneration, early and normal retirements, and negotiate with employees and/or their unions. 86

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T E R VIE W

member talks about recent case law developments, or

Contributed by

discusses an interesting piece of work. We might have a barrister come in to talk to us about a specialist area of law. In the afternoon, I attend a witness meeting at a client with an associate. It is my job to take notes during the meeting which I use to pull together a first draft of a witness statement.

Interview with a Trainee in Employment Law

OUTLINE YOUR ROUTE TO A TRAINING CONTRACT AT SIMMONS & SIMMONS.

WHAT’S THE MOST EXCITING PART OF WORKING IN EMPLOYMENT LAW FOR YOU? I like that employment law involves people – the topics involved are something I can relate to. It is an ever-changing area of law and topics such as equal pay and flexible

I studied English and French at Oxford and then did both

working are constantly at the forefront of public debate.

the GDL and the LPC at BPP law school.

HOW ARE EMPLOYMENT LAW CASES DIFFERENT TO CASES IN OTHER AREAS OF LAW?

HOW DO YOU FIND THE WORK-LIFE BALANCE? DO YOU HAVE TO WORK THE LONG HOURS EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT?

Employment law decisions are made in an Employment

I sometimes work late if there’s a big disclosure deadline.

Tribunal. This is much less formal than a court hearing as

If I have to work late, there are other people here and I

tribunals have their own set of rules and procedures. Also,

always feel part of a team. There is certainly not a culture

the issues involved cover areas such as discrimination,

of staying late for the sake of it.

harassment and bonuses.

HOW DOES A TYPICAL DAY LOOK FOR A TRAINEE WITH THE EMPLOYMENT DEPARTMENT AT SIMMONS & SIMMONS?

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR STUDENTS APPLYING FOR TRAINING CONTRACTS? Relevant work experience will show you genuinely are

A typical day is very varied. I spend the morning reviewing

interested in a career in law. Proofread your application

emails and other documents where we have to decide

form. Attention to detail is one of the key skills required

which documents are relevant to the claim. I might also

and your form will look less impressive if it is littered with

help research and draft a note for a client on a topic such

typos. Think carefully about the type of firm you want to

as disability discrimination.

apply to – there is no benefit to adopting a scattergun approach. In fact, a targeted, well thought-out approach is

At lunch we might have a department talk where a team

more likely to be successful.

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of Disclosure (the policyholder’s duty to provide pre-contract information) and investigate damages for late payments, or for personal injury claims.

ELECTIVE

INSURANCE

Rest Insured, We’ve Got Your Back… The practice of law surrounding insurance is majorly important both to individuals and the commercial sector. It includes the regulation of the business of insurance, regulation of the content of insurance policies and claim handling.

What Does Insurance Law Involve? You can trace the roots of insurance law back to the 12th and 13th century. The growth of industry came hand in hand with the rise of the maritime industry and trade, and for this reason, London is the centre of the insurance market. Insurance law work can be directly linked to external events, for example claims put forward as a result of war, piracy, terror attacks or financial crises. Cases will stem from a whole manner of matters – both contentious and noncontentious – and also cover international cases.

Within an insurance company they can also deal with reinsurance disputes (when a company buys insurance from another or multiple insurance). In the case of individuals, they may work on behalf of the policyholder in an insurance claim dispute.

What Makes A Good Insurance Lawyer? A real investigative edge is needed in order to put together a picture of what exactly happened in claims. Depending on the case, you could be called to interview a number of people from different backgrounds and professions, meaning that strong communication skills and adaptability are necessary. Empathy and a knack for handling sensitive situations is required, particularly when it comes to areas such as personal injury claims. Cases can be complex and an ability to understand a client’s situation whilst staying true to the facts and commanding reason is essential. Strong knowledge and understanding of contract law is necessary – policy drafting and assessing potential breaches of warranty is integral to this area of law. Those working in the commercial sector in particular will need to possess an in-depth understanding of financial risk in these markets.

An insurance lawyer will discern whether or not their clients are liable for damages for claims or eligible for in relation to the warranties stipulated in the relevant contracts. They will collect evidence from a range of sources in order to build a picture of what has happened and advise their client or employer accordingly. They will also negotiate and draft insurance policies, cover regulatory aspects such as Duty 88

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relation to a new product, innovation or idea brought forward by a client.

ELECTIVE

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Patently The Best Area of Law… Intellectual property law (commonly known as IP) governs the ownership and accessibility of ideas and inventions on tangible and intangible concepts. In an extremely competitive world, IP is an integral part of business.

If any disputes arise, an intellectual property lawyer will be required to initiate discussions between parties, as well as challenging decisions and rulings that might go against client’s interests.

What Makes a Good IP Lawyer? IP lawyers get the opportunity to deal with fascinating yet technically complex subjectmatters. Consequently, it’s important for these lawyers to be up-to-date with business and innovation trends, and understand and appreciate creativity.

There are many different ways to protect the ownership of ideas, products or concepts, but these usually come in the form of patents, trademarks or copyrights.

Drafting expertise is essential, since contracts and agreements are the lifeblood of any IP deal. Additionally, you will need to be flexible in your working style, as you will often work simultaneously on several projects at the same time.

Why intellectual property law important? What does it involve?

It also helps to be organised so you can keep track of your workload. Furthermore, you will need to be able to discuss complex situations in a clear and concise way.

Much of an IP lawyer’s activity will involve providing legal advice on usage, commercial viability, marketing and distribution mechanisms, infringement or duplication, vesting of ownership and usage rights for any product or matter which falls within the ambit of IP. Like most legal areas, IP also has contentious and non-contentious components. Most large firms will have separate departments handling IP, I.T. and life sciences, where the maximum amount of patent, copyright and trademark usage is concentrated. An IP lawyer’s day-to-day tasks can incorporate a wide array of activities, from issuing notices to parties infringing on a client’s rights, to trawling through various patent registries in 90

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T E R VIE W

has also made it easier to infringe IP rights.

Contributed by

Copying valuable IP assets, such as music, films, or counterfeiting branded goods and distributing them is much quicker, cheaper and can reach a wider audience. It is also easier to spot infringing activity. Copyright and other laws have being playing catch up but the voice of online users is being increasingly heard. The result has

Roland Mallinson is a partner at Taylor Wessing, specialising in IP law.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW?

been that IP has a significantly greater profile, and sits much higher up politicians’ agendas.

WHAT’S LIFE IN IP LIKE?

If I didn’t enjoy my job and find it interesting and

I originally wanted to be a construction lawyer, to apply

challenging, I would stop. IP has the advantage of relating

what I’d learned in my civil engineering degree. However, I

to the real world. Everyone buys branded goods, uses the

was steered to the IP department for a seat in my training

internet and have secret ambitions of inventing something.

contract and loved it! As IP has become recognised as a major business asset, more law firms have IP teams. The IP bar remains small

WHAT’S A TYPICAL DAY LIKE WORKING IN IP?

and there are only a handful of specialist judges, so we know the key ones fairly well. There’s also an online community discussing topical and interesting IP issues.

My practice focuses on ‘soft’ IP, which mainly means brands, designs and copyright. Disputes tend to be smaller and quickly concluded, often not going to court. It means I may be involved in many cases in any one day, supervising my team on strategy, settling letters or emails and taking

ANY TIPS FOR ASPIRING LAWYERS WHO WANT TO SPECIALISE IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW?

part in calls with clients, opponents or foreign lawyers. I do a lot of my work by email and otherwise have lots of people

IP is now taught more widely at university, so choose it

popping into my room to discuss IP issues.

as an option. Read some IP-related blogs (e.g. IPKat) and subscribe

HOW HAS IP LAW CHANGED SINCE THE PROLIFERATION OF INTERNET ACCESS?

to relevant Twitter feeds. Many IP cases and issues are also the subject of widespread reporting; think Apple/ Samsung “tablet wars”. It is fairly easy to acquire knowledge and form opinions to help you convey your interest in an interview.

There will always be claims and counter-claims. Whilst the internet has created opportunities for businesses, it

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complex activities as you gain experience.

ELECTIVE

Litigators usually work closely with colleagues from other departments (e.g. banking and finance, corporate, commercial and real estate) and a whole host of other support staff.

LITIGATION

Undisputedly, A Class Area of Law… Litigation, or dispute resolution, involves assistance with disputes and claims which may arise in the course of any commercial transaction or deal. Such matters could arise between different companies, or between companies and individuals. Issues which fall under litigation can range from contractual matters, banking transactions and fraud, to mergers and acquisitions, regulatory mechanisms or competition, corporate management and restructuring problems.

Why Is Litigation Important? What Does It Involve?

Litigation is subject to frequent changes and developments over a period of time. In the UK, there are growing trends of American style class action suits, protests against the escalating costs of litigation, third party funding and a noticeable growth in the number of solicitor advocates.

What Makes A Good Litigator? A litigator requires good communication and negotiation skills. However, it’s not so much about arguing cases but making a cogent and reasoned case in favour of your client’s interests. You’ll need to have a strong academic background and be flexible and creative when it comes to tackling new challenges. In order to be a good litigator, you will need a keen sense of commercial awareness, a good command over legal and technical principles and the ability to present facts, law and strategies in a reasoned and persuasive manner.

Often when people think of litigation, they think of lawyers taking claims to court or defending claims brought against their clients. However, due to the cost and damage to business relationships that occur during court battles, dispute resolution is often used. Most top law firms have specialist litigation and dispute resolution departments, whilst smaller or specialist firms concentrate all their resources on litigation. Work as a trainee will begin by preparing documentation or conducting research on relevant laws and case histories or drafting preliminary motions before the court. Eventually, you will move on to more 92

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IN T HE L IF

Contributed by

Melody Munro is a trainee in the litigation and dispute resolution department at Macfarlanes. The firm is renowned for their work in this area and recent clients and disputes include household names such as B&Q, Umbro and Lotus. Here, Melody outlines a typical day in the practice area…

MORNING My first task is to check any emails. There is often a lot of correspondence flying around on each case and it is a trainee’s job to keep correspondence files updated. It is also important to keep the client and Counsel updated. If I have anything to file at court I make sure this is done in the morning. I’ve helped file and draft consent orders dealing with procedural issues. These have to be approved by all the parties (who often make their own changes) then taken down to be sealed. I also collate and review documents, which involves liaising with clients to obtain their relevant documents and then flagging documents that may prove helpful or problematic in court.

LUNCH

AFTERNOON

I’ll normally meet a few trainees for lunch and the firm also runs lunchtime training sessions. Trainee sessions run through a case from start to finish and culminate in a mock mediation.

The afternoon is full of dealing with issues that have arisen during the day. This often involves researching points of law to answer questions from the client or to plan the next step in a case. Research is particularly important as everyone needs to get up to speed.

Each trainee has two reviews with their supervisor. One review occurs after three months and one at the end of the seat. It helps highlight areas for improvement and has been a good opportunity to discuss the areas of work or type of work I would like to do more of.

I have been involved in drafting too; this involves drafting letters to the other side, setting out our client’s position or responding to their claim. When court deadlines approach it involves talking to clients to help provide information for Counsel’s drafts of Statements of Case (such as a Defence).

ELECTIVE BREAK IT DOWN FOR ME A LITTLE BIT! You begin by collecting and verifying the details of the claim filed. You

PERSONAL INJURY

will then document the injuries received and the expenses incurred. Furthermore, you will extrapolate the time and earnings lost on account of the injury and calculate the appropriate

It’s Not All No Win, No Fee...

compensation or damages. You will check medical reports to

Personal injury law is also related to clinical negligence. Together they involve helping clients gain compensation for injuries suffered in accidents and injuries inflicted on account of negligence by medical practitioners.

ascertain the facts of the case. Defendants’ lawyers try to reduce the liability and compensation due and look into the claimant’s culpability during the accident. They aim to reduce the amount of compensation

This area of law is plagued by stereotypes that have derived from perpetual “no win, no fee” advertising and the perception of personal injury lawyers as ambulance chasers. However, the reality is far from these misconceptions.

and may do this through a settlement or in court proceedings. Personal injury lawyers require exceptional people management skills. It is also essential they are empathetic, show interest in resolving

Why Is Personal Injury Law Important? What Does It Involve?

their problems and have patience. You need to be up-to-date with relevant legislation and will also need

Equity is a cornerstone of the UK legal system. If someone has caused physical injury or financial loss to you, then this situation should be made fair. Effectively, the aim is to right any wrongs that others have caused.

a knowledge of medical matters and the ability to pick up on the complexities which arise from claims. Creative thinking, communication and negotiation skills are a must. An understanding of insurance

Claimants’ lawyers act on behalf of injured parties, whilst defendants’ lawyers will operate on behalf of the party accused of causing or exacerbating the injury suffered. Most defendants carry malpractice or accident insurance. As a result, in a suit filed for personal injury, the insurance company or carrier also becomes a defendant in the proceedings.

law, professional negligence and malpractice liability are critical.

An insurance lawyer will represent private individuals, local authorities, medical practitioners and employers. 94

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T R Y I N SI

Contributed by

Rebecca Hearsey, Associate Solicitor, Personal Injury, Birmingham

Irwin Mitchell have a strong ethos in allowing junior lawyers to be an integral part of the team, including involvement in the strategic issues in a case from the early stages

joined Irwin Mitchellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Personal Injury team in Birmingham in June 1999 having successfully undertaken the Bar Vocational Course (now the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC)) to qualify as a Barrister. During my time at Irwin Mitchell I have progressed from a Paralegal to qualifying as a Solicitor in 2002 and was promoted to Associate in 2006. Prior to joining Irwin Mitchell, I had limited experience in personal injury cases and my experience had been with relatively straightforward cases, certainly not dealing with cases involving life-changing injuries. Joining Irwin Mitchell has given me the opportunity to become involved in very complex injury cases involving life-changing injuries, including road traffic matters, occupiers/employers liability and, in the early stages of my career at Irwin Mitchell, clinical negligence work. Irwin Mitchell have a strong ethos in allowing junior lawyers to be an integral part of the team, including involvement in the strategic

issues in a case from the early stages, which leads to the important development of talent. Individuals will also come to understand far more about the nature of assistance clients genuinely need and confirm that much of what appears in the press regarding the compensation culture is very far removed from the reality of managing personal injury and clinical negligence matters. Involvement in personal injury and clinical negligence matters at Irwin Mitchell can lead to opportunities to be involved in complex issues in other areas of law, notably Insurance, Court of Protection, Public Law and an understanding of Criminal Law relating to road traffic and Health and Safety matters. It can also lead to developing experience in Coronial Law and issues involving the General Medical Council. At Irwin Mitchell Personal Injury and Medical Law and Patientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Rights, we are very proud of the fact that we only represent claimants who are individuals who need our help and we are equally proud of our emphasis on rehabilitation and that compensation is only part of the story.

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

terms for the acquisition and advise on tax and disclosure. Usually, these are in time sensitive situations where confidentiality is key.

ELECTIVE

PRIVATE EQUITY

Private equity is an investment where investors’ money is used to buy out businesses. It’s like Dragons’ Den! In private equity deals, the investor buys a controlling stake in the business. So next time you’re watching the BBC show, that’s what Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden and their fellow Dragons are striking a deal upon – a controlling share of a business. Private equity firms or individuals want to increase the value of the company they’re investing in and then look to sell their share of the company after a few years.

Private equity lawyers’ work with some very influential private equity investors and are expected to provide sound legal advice on all aspects of a deal as well as displaying commercial expertise. Given that private equity lawyers spend every day working for clients in the financial market, they should be able to solve business problems.

BREAK IT DOWN FOR ME A LITTLE BIT! Private equity lawyers will draw on many of the skills a ‘normal’ mergers and acquisitions lawyer possesses. However, due to the different nature of investing in comparison to merging or acquiring (i.e. keeping the same management rather than replacing them), the exact terms of a deal may be more complex. Additionally, and

Why Is It Important? What Does It Involve?

for obvious reasons, private equity law overlaps with finance and tax law and also competition law at different stages in the deal.

Private equity lawyers have an important role as they help the private equity firm or individual negotiate the terms on how they contribute their cash. They also act on behalf of the firm or individual when it buys and sells investments.

To succeed as a private equity lawyer, you will need to possess an abundance of energy, be able to work effectively as part of a team and also be pretty handy at problem solving. Commercial awareness is vital as it

The private equity lawyer has the job of making deals happen and keeping clients in line with the law. When businesses are being bought or invested in, lawyers’ structure and negotiate the acquisition and finance documents. They then close the transaction and establish the business and legal structure for the new company.

means your advice will be on point and up-to-date.

When a firm or individual wish to sell a company, private equity lawyers negotiate 96

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EIR S H O

“there is always a real sense of satisfaction seeing a deal you have spent the past few months working on reported as headline news in international media outlets.” Will Carlyle is a trainee in the Private Equity group at King & Wood Mallesons having previously studied Classics at Warwick University. Having been involved in international headline deals, Will outlines his training experience so far…

am in the second seat of my training contract in the private equity team at King & Wood Mallesons. I entered the profession with a Classics degree from Warwick University, after completing the GDL. I have worked on a large range of corporate transactions including buy-outs, mergers, take-overs and venture capital work. With the excellent reputation that our corporate department has for both mid-market and highend deals, the work over the past six months has been varied and interesting.

The international Contributed by dimension of the work and complexities of each deal has meant that I have directly influenced the structure of a deal. I have discussed the intricacies of Nigerian Company and Banking Law, the drafting of African competition legislation, and listing rules in relation to Chinese PLC’s with local counsels across the globe. On the acquisition of a Rwandan bank, my research into Rwandan law ultimately affected the entire deal structure and thus there is a need to think on your feet, balancing legal issues with the client’s commercial aims. This relates to another important role for a trainee - to make the transaction run smoothly. On an M&A transaction there is a huge raft of documentation and as a trainee, I have often been involved in first-drafts of both the main documents, such as the Shareholder Agreements and ancillary documents. I was responsible for maintaining up to date records of the current status documents and ensuring they fitted with the transaction as a whole, as well as being involved in the due diligence process of corporate documents and company structures, highlighting any issues that arise. A trainee, therefore, plays an integral part of any team. The first six months of my training contract has been fast-paced, varied and challenging and there is always a real sense of satisfaction seeing a deal you have spent the past few months working on reported as headline news in international media outlets. If I could give a tip to a potential trainee, it would be to read the book “Too Big to Fail” written by Andrew Sorkin, which provides a fascinating insight on the 2007-08 financial crisis. Once you’ve secured a training contract, you should enjoy yourself and take full advantage of the work and the insight it offers into law and international business.

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

ELECTIVE

PROPERTY

As Safe As Houses... Property law is a thriving area of practice, especially during periods of economic boom. The value of land, as an immoveable asset, has always been high throughout history and there will always be a market to buy, lease, sell, or develop. As a lawyer in this field, you could work on residential or commercial property matters. Commercial property work can be further divided into private and public sector projects. If you get your teeth into property law, you might provide legal services for individuals, groups, companies, investors, developers, public bodies or governments.

The daily tasks of a property lawyer include negotiating property transactions, structuring arrangements for conveyancing or investments, and preparing documentation, such as contracts, to finalise transactions. Solicitors will also collect relevant property information from surveyors and confirm that the party selling the property is the rightful owner.

What Makes A Good Property Lawyer? To be successful as a property lawyer, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need attention to detail and the ability to meticulously collate and present information. You must be logical in dealing with all concerned parties. Your drafting skills should be first-class and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need to have a thorough understanding of the various laws and regulations that govern property. Furthermore, your negotiation and communication skills should be top-notch, since most of the work involved is of a consensual nature. Client management is also important and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need the ability to convert complex jargon and terminology into simple terms for your clients.

What Does Property Law Involve? For most people, purchasing a property is the single biggest transaction they will ever make. Often, they will commit to a large level of debt, which they may be paying off for the rest of their working life. As a property lawyer, you could be involved in many types of property-based transactions. At the start of your career, you will work on drafting contracts and related documents, and progress towards negotiations between parties. In most firms, junior lawyers often handle small value property matters on their own.

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T R Y I N SI

Contributed by

At its core, property law is buying, selling and leasing land. This may be for owner-occupiers or for investment purposes. Tom Nash, Solicitor, Mills & Reeve

y work involves buying and selling investment properties for large investor clients and helping them manage properties in a way that will add value to their investments. I am part of a team acting for Trinity College, Cambridge managing their £800 million property portfolio which includes The O2 Arena and Cambridge Science Park. I also give advice to health sector clients.

Mills & Reeve is renowned for the quality of its property team, which includes specialists in investment, development, alternative assets, property finance, management, planning and environmental, agriculture, litigation,

be exposed to a broad range of property work for a broad range of clients. Trainees are valued members of the property team and work very closely with partners and senior associates on large, complex property transactions. They are also involved in due diligence and in drafting and negotiating licences, leases and other property documents.

“As a property lawyer you will need to think creatively to find practical solutions to tricky technical problems… this challenge is what makes property law so interesting.”

Property law requires a good understanding of black letter law, and an awareness of the commercial imperatives behind a transaction. You will need to think creatively to find practical solutions to technical problems. This challenge is what makes property law so interesting.

construction and property tax. We are also recognised as a top 20 UK real estate firm and were awarded Real Estate Team of the Year 2013 by Legal Business. As a trainee at you will learn from senior lawyers and you can expect to

Mills & Reeve has a reputation as a friendly and welcoming place to work. We are the only UK law firm to be listed 11 years consecutively by The Sunday Times as one of the “Best 100 Companies to Work For”. We work hard to challenge our trainees so they have the opportunity to excel whilst ensuring they always have the support they need to do so.

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tax statutory bodies and panels. Their work will include investigating tax evasions, auditing the tax accounts of companies, prosecuting tax offenders, assisting in interpretation of tax rules and regulations and defending public authorities against private sector claims.

ELECTIVE

TAX

Tax law is an important ingredient of every commercial, corporate or personal transaction. Every facet of life today involves tax in some respect. It’s a big source of revenue for authorities and its subject-matter is voluminous and complex.

What Does Tax Law Involve? Tax law involves contentious and noncontentious work and is a crossover service, which is associated with almost all other areas of law practice. Much of a tax solicitor’s work covers what used to be the domain of accounting firms. More and more clients are looking for professionals who combine legal and accounting expertise to ensure the uniformity and quality of advice that they receive. Tax lawyers are required in both private and public domains. A private sector tax practitioner’s workload will cover various core areas; normally this involves focusing on the best way to structure assets, assisting with documentation, negotiating transactions and jockeying the deal to completion. They will advise clients on the implications of tax during transactions, especially when structuring financial and administrative frameworks in different markets.

Tax law is a particularly lucrative area for solicitors, as good advice can often result in clients saving literally millions of pounds.

What Makes A Good Tax Lawyer? Clients now often expect their law firms to act as their accountants too. As such, many departments at law firms are now looking to bolster their accounting credentials by way of boosting their client rosters. Tax law can be very complex; hence a strong background in academic excellence is a must. Tax solicitors require exceptional skills in analysis, communication and negotiation. They scrutinize and study business structures and constitutions to provide clients with the best possible advice. Furthermore, the job involves plenty of study and research and tax solicitors need to have a close eye for detail. Extra qualifications in accounting will be an added advantage. Clients will be very interested in getting all their business advice in one shop. Tax is an integral part of every business transaction and therefore, it makes sense to have a good, solid all-round knowledge.

Tax lawyers in the public sector will work for governmental tax and revenue departments, 100

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KING LIF OR E W

Contributed by

“Trainees are generally heavily involved in preparing for hearings and there are usually plenty of opportunities to attend hearings as well.”

y name is Holly and I’m a newly qualified solicitor in the Tax Disputes department at PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal LLP (PwC Legal). Prior to qualification I spent my third seat, which lasted six months, in the tax department.

PwC Legal’s Tax Disputes department deals with both indirect and direct tax matters, but during my seat I probably spent roughly 75% of my time doing indirect work. I was fortunate enough to get plenty of tribunal and court experience and attended hearings at the First-tier Tax Tribunal, the Upper Tier Tax Tribunal and the Court of Appeal. Trainees are generally heavily involved in preparing for hearings and there are usually plenty of opportunities to attend hearings as well.

firm is also regularly involved with applications for judicial review. The variety is great and I can honestly say that I haven’t worked on a matter to date which I’ve not found interesting. PwC Legal’s clients are usually businesses or public bodies, as opposed to individuals, and we often work alongside our colleagues in PwC. In addition to the client work there are plenty of opportunities to get involved in proposals, as well as business development work such as writing articles for journals.

In order to get the most out The cases which PwC Legal of a seat in this area you deals with are extremely need to be willing to spend broad in nature. During my time completing independent seat I was involved in cases reading whenever you come on the VAT liability on hire across something you don’t purchase agreements, payment understand, but if you’re the handling charges and gym type of person who’s happy memberships, and one of the to do this then I believe a seat matters I’m currently working spent working in tax disputes on is concerned with the VAT can be really rewarding. liability on sandwiches given to 101 AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Topclients Law Firms for Training Contracts at client meetings. The& Vacation Schemes 2014-15

FEATU FIRMS

URED S

Addleshaw Goddard specialises in six practice areas: Commercial Services, Corporate, Finance and Projects, International, Litigation, and Real Estate. The firm is an FT Innovation Award winner and prides itself on pioneering new ways of delivering services.

OPPORTUNITIES

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts International Secondments First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY £25,000 (Leeds/Manchester)

% % 90.3

82.7

VACATION SCHEME NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15 TRAINING CONTRACT NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

Trainees at Addleshaw Goddard undertake four six-month seats. There are regular two-way performance reviews with the supervising partner or solicitor during each seat and each trainee has a mentor for the duration of their training contract and beyond. Trainees may have the opportunity to spend a seat in one of the firm’s other offices and there are a number of secondments to clients available.

Addleshaw Goddard conducts two vacation scheme placements each year. These are run during the Easter and summer period at each of the firm’s three locations - Leeds, London and Manchester. Interns will work under the supervision of qualified solicitors, and will gain practical experience on cases in addition to undertaking formal training sessions.

£37,000 (London)

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES

BEST FOR

Team Relationship

83.7%

VACATION SCHEME PLACES

Level of Responsibility

83.5%

Company Culture

83.5%

BEST FOR Career Progression

96.8%

Company Culture

95.9%

Job Satisfaction

93.4%

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/addleshaw-goddard

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Ashurst offers its clients and trainees an alternative to other law firms by cutting through complexity. With 28 offices spanning Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and the USA, Ashurst operate at the cutting edge of the financial, corporate, infrastructure, disputes and resources markets.

OPPORTUNITIES Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts International Secondments First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY ÂŁ40,000

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 40

VACATION SCHEME PLACES

% 78.2

TRAINING CONTRACT LAST YEAR: 72.5%

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

In addition to the legal skills taught by all leading law firms, Ashurst help trainees to develop the broad based acumen that will one day make you a trusted advisor to governments and the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading businesses. Trainees at Ashurst become not only a highly technical lawyer, but also a shrewd negotiator, an incisive reader of any balance sheet and a business strategist with a deep understanding of specific industries. In setting out to learn these skills, trainees complete four seats of six months. Trainees will also be encouraged to join an overseas office or go on secondment to one of our most valued clients.

The best way to learn what it is really like to work at Ashurst is to undertake a vacation scheme. Ashurst offers a oneweek winter vacation scheme for all non-law students and graduates from all disciplines. Two sets of twoweek schemes are open to penultimate year law students during the summer vacation.

BEST FOR Confidence

87.9%

Team Relationship

87.5%

Skills Development

87.2%

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/ashurst-llp

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Baker & McKenzie is a global law firm that operates in over 70 locations across 47 countries and has a presence in all of the world’s leading financial centres. They offer a personal and professional approach to its graduates, offering the best possible start to a legal career.

% % 82.3

85.1

VACATION SCHEME LAST YEAR: 91.3% TRAINING CONTRACT LAST YEAR: 84.5%

AWARDS WINNER – Best Training Contract — International or City Firm

OPPORTUNITIES

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

Trainees at Baker & McKenzie will undertake four six-month seats. Compulsory seats include a corporate and a contentious seat, usually within the firm’s highly regarded dispute resolution department. There is also the opportunity of a secondment, either internationally or with a client. Each seat will include formal and informal reviews with a supervising solicitor.

Baker & McKenzie offers both a London and an international vacation scheme. The London scheme is run during Easter and summer. Interns will spend time gaining practical experience in two of the firm’s practice areas. The international scheme lasts six to 12 weeks, divided between London and an international office. Recent locations have included Hong Kong, Sydney, New York and Singapore.

Training Contracts International Secondments First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY £39,500

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 30

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 40

BEST FOR Company Culture

89.7%

Skills Development

89.6%

BEST FOR Career Progression

91.2%

Level of Support

88.9%

Confidence

90.4%

Work-Life Ballance

90.2%

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/baker-mckenzie-llp

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With 11 global offices and strong relationships with more than 100 leading preferred firms in over 65 countries, Berwin Leighton Paisner is a truly international, full service firm. Its clients include over 30 FTSE 100 companies, seven of the world’s top 10 banks and each of the country’s largest retail, water and construction companies.

% % 88.4

82.5

VACATION SCHEME LAST YEAR: 82.5% TRAINING CONTRACT LAST YEAR: 83.6%

AWARDS WINNER – Best Trainee & Vacation Scheme Recruitment Website

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

Trainees at BLP will undertake four six-month seats with compulsory seats in real estate and corporate finance. There is also the option to go on a client secondment or an international secondment to either the Singapore, Brussels, Hong Kong or Abu Dhabi office.

BLP vacation schemes offer candidates the opportunity to work in a department of their choice, providing a real insight into life at a City law firm. The firm also runs a series of events during the placement, including department presentations and workshops, social events with trainees and partners and a final round interview for a training contract.

OPPORTUNITIES Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts International Secondments First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS BEST FOR STARTING SALARY

Team Relationships

88.4%

£39,000

Skills Development

87.5%

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES

Training

85.7%

BEST FOR

Career Progression

98.3%

VACATION SCHEME PLACES

Confidence

93.3%

80-100

Skills Development

92%

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/berwin-leighton-paisner

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Bevan Brittan is a national law firm dedicated to public services and they offer a full range of services. Bevan Brittan seek energetic individuals who can think logically and clearly. Trainees need drive, commitment, a willingness to take responsibility and the ability to work well with others.

% % 89.4

82.8

VACATION SCHEME NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15 TRAINING CONTRACT NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15

AWARDS THIRD PLACE – Best for Career Progression — Vacation Scheme FINALIST – Best for Job Satisfaction — Vacation Scheme

OPPORTUNITIES

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

During each six-month seat, training will be practical work experience in conjunction with an educational programme. The training develops attitudes, skills, legal and commercial knowledge. Trainees are encouraged to take on plenty of work and responsibility, which will be reviewed regularly with a supervising partner. The firm is friendly and supportive with an open-door policy.

Bevan Brittan offers summer vacation placements in each of its three locations. The programme runs for two weeks in which interns will experience work in two different practice areas. There is also the opportunity to attend an assessment centre for a future training contract position.

Training Contracts

International Secondments

First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY £22,000 (Birmingham/Bristol) £28,500 (London)

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 10

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 20

BEST FOR Team Relationships

BEST FOR Career Progression

99.6%

Company Culture

98.3%

Job Satisfaction

96.7%

89%

Company Culture

99.1%

Skills Development

86.3%

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/bevan-brittan-llp

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OPPORTUNITIES Bingham McCutchen is an internationally focused US law firm with 14 offices across Europe, US and Asia, and is recognised as one of the world’s top-tier financial restructuring firms. The London office currently has 50 solicitors working together to provide a seamless and responsive service to the firm’s international financial institutions clients, including some of the world’s most prominent hedge funds, insurance companies, distressed debt investors and investment banks. The firm provides special expertise in financial restructuring, finance, litigation, financial regulatory, EU/competition and corporate law.

WINTER WORK PLACEMENTS

VACATION SCHEMES

TRAINING CONTRACTS

INTERNATIONAL SECONDMENTS FIRST YEAR OPPORTUNITIES

TRAINING CONTRACT Winners of the ‘Best Training Contract - US Firm’ award at the 2013 AllAboutLaw Awards, trainees at Bingham McCutchen can expect a high standard of training and support during their contract. Trainees undertake four six-month seats, which are chosen from the following practice areas: financial restructuring, finance, litigation, corporate, financial regulatory, EU/competition and tax. Bingham trainees are smart, keen, intellectually curious problem solvers who enjoy a challenge.

VACATION SCHEME Bingham McCutchen does not currently offer a formal vacation scheme.

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY £40,000

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES Up to 3

VACATION SCHEME PLACES N/A

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/bingham-mccutchen

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A result of the merger between Bond Pearce and Dickinson Dees on 1 May 2013, Bond Dickinson LLP is one of the newest leading national law firms. The firm is especially recognised for its work in the chemicals and manufacturing, energy, retail, financial institution and private wealth sectors, to name but a few.

OPPORTUNITIES

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts

International Secondments

First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS

% % 85.8

85.3

VACATION SCHEME NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15 TRAINING CONTRACT NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

A training contract at Bond Dickinson consists of four six-month seats in the firm’s different Business Groups. The emphasis is on gaining a broad range of experience before specialisation, and trainees are often seconded to the firm’s most highprofile clients in the firm’s commitment to providing high quality training.

Bond Dickinson offers a flexible work placement scheme, with one and twoweek placements available at both Easter and during the summer, across four of the firm’s key locations (Newcastle, Leeds, Bristol and Southampton). The placements are used as part of the recruitment scheme for training contracts so candidates should apply to the office that they would like to train with.

BEST FOR Company Culture

92%

STARTING SALARY

Skills Development

89.5%

Market Rates

Level of Responsibility

89.2%

BEST FOR

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES

Career Progression

93.9%

Work-Life Balance

93%

VACATION SCHEME PLACES

Company Culture

91.1%

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/bond-dickinson

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Bristows LLP is a Londonbased, full-service firm that is widely recognised for its IP practice. While the firm employs only 250 people, who are based in its single London office, it boasts a high-profile client list. Indeed, 80% of the firm’s revenues come from international clients.

OPPORTUNITIES

% % 93.6

VACATION SCHEME NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15 TRAINING CONTRACT NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15

AWARDS WINNER – Best Vacation Scheme — National Firm RUNNER UP – Best for Training — Vacation Scheme RUNNER UP – Best for Job Satisfaction — Vacation Scheme FINALIST – Best Vacation Scheme

Winter Work Placements Workshops Training Contracts

TRAINING CONTRACT

WORKSHOPS

Trainees at Bristows are offered a mixture of sixmonth or three-month seats, with a guaranteed seat in IP litigation. Trainees are likely to experience a seat in corporate, real estate and commercial disputes. Most trainees can expect the opportunity to be seconded to the UK in-house leading department of an industry-leading client for a period of three months.

Bristows offers a number of two-day workshops, which run throughout the year. During the workshop, attendees take part in casestudies, receive presentations from the firm’s different departments, and attend social events, enabling them to get a real sense of what it means to work at Bristows.

International Secondments First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY £36,000

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 10

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 36

BEST FOR Company Culture

88.8%

Skills Development

87.6%

Training

87.6%

97.2%

Training

95.8%

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/bristows-llp

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99.4%

Job Satisfaction

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

35% only expect to be

paid between £20-£25k on their training contract. ALLABOUTLAW.CO.UK’S THE LAW CAREERS MARKET 2014, ANNUAL RESEARCH REPORT

Burges Salmon consistently ranks as one of the UK’s top commercial law firms. Their national and international client base ranges from private individuals to government departments and FTSE 100 companies, including The Crown Estate, Discovery Channel, Lloyds Banking Group, The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and First Group.

% % 85.3

88.3

VACATION SCHEME LAST YEAR: 83.2% TRAINING CONTRACT LAST YEAR: 86.4%

AWARDS THIRD PLACE – Best for Training — Training Contract FINALIST – Best Training Contract FINALIST – Best Training Contract — National Firm

OPPORTUNITIES

Winter Work Placements

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

Trainees undertake six fourmonth seats. Throughout the first five seats trainees will alternate between the main practice areas and spend their sixth seat in the department in which they intend to qualify. Trainees must complete a Real Estate seat and a contentious seatand are always sat with their supervisor.

Burges Salmon runs four vacation schemes each year. In 2015, one will be held in April and three will run throughout June and July. Summer placements run for a period of two-weeks. Interns will spend a week in two different practice areas, under the supervision of a qualified lawyer. Candidates must attend an assessment centre in February.

Vacation Schemes Training Contracts

International Secondments First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY £34,000

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 28

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 36

BEST FOR Team Relationships

93%

Work Environment

92.8%

BEST FOR Company Culture

Training

92.7%

Working Environment 89.8%

93.5%

Career Progression 89.7%

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/burges-salmon

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OPPORTUNITIES CMS Cameron McKenna forms part of a leading network of law firms known as CMS, which spans 58 offices across 32 countries. CMS prides itself on its ability to provide a high-quality, tailored service to its broad range of clients. The launch of its comprehensive client feedback programme has won the firm a number of prestigious awards.

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY £38,000 (London)

WINTER WORK PLACEMENTS

VACATION SCHEMES

TRAINING CONTRACTS

INTERNATIONAL SECONDMENTS

FIRST YEAR OPPORTUNITIES

TRAINING CONTRACT Training contracts are offered in London, Bristol, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow. Trainees will undertake four six-month seats across the firm’s broad range of practice areas. They will also be guaranteed to spend a seat outside of their ‘home’ office, be that in a different office in the UK or in an office wider afield. International opportunities include Rio de Janeiro, Prague or Moscow.

VACATION SCHEME

£32,000 (Bristol) £22,500 (Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow)

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 80

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 80

CMS Cameron McKenna offers two-week vacation schemes in London during the spring and summer, and in Bristol, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow over the summer. Interns will undertake practical work, attend presentations and workshops, and get the opportunity to socialise with solicitors and partners. Training contracts are often offered to vacation schemers who have impressed.

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/cms-cameron-mckenna

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

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OPPORTUNITIES With 10 offices worldwide, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP is one of the world’s premier law firms. Our Londonbased lawyers cover a range of high-profile capital markets, M&A, finance and restructuring transactions throughout Europe and in the Middle East and Africa. The corporate and finance teams are supported by first-rate corporate tax and regulatory experience.

WINTER WORK PLACEMENTS

VACATION SCHEMES

TRAINING CONTRACTS

INTERNATIONAL SECONDMENTS

FIRST YEAR OPPORTUNITIES

TRAINING CONTRACT Trainees at Davis Polk will undertake the following seat rotations: M&A, Equity Capital Markets, Debt Capital Markets, Credit, and Tax/Regulatory. They will also have the opportunity to spend a seat at the firm’s New York office. A senior lawyer is assigned to each trainee, serving as a mentor and providing guidance and support throughout the training contract.

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY

VACATION SCHEME

£50,000

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES Approximately 4

VACATION SCHEME PLACES Approximately 20

Two-week vacation schemes are offered every year, in the summer period. Interns will have the opportunity to work on international transactions for a variety of the firm’s clients, alongside attending training sessions and social events.

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/davis-polk-wardwell-london-llp

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AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

Dentons is the result of a merger between two international law firms and one Canadian law firm in March 2013. As such, it now boasts approximately 2,600 lawyers in 79 locations worldwide, and is highly regarded for its global practices in energy, banking and finance, real estate and insurance.

OPPORTUNITIES Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts International Secondments First Year Opportunities

% 74.1

TRAINING CONTRACT NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

Training contracts are offered in both the London and Milton Keynes offices. Trainees will undertake four six-month seats with transactional experience in banking if in London, and corporate, construction or real estate if in Milton Keynes. Emphasis is placed on giving trainees as much responsibility as they can handle, including running parts of cases and meeting with clients.

Dentons offers a one-week summer scheme in London for law students, and in Milton Keynes for both law and nonlaw students. Open Days are also held in London for final year non-law students, usually in December and first year law students in April. Activities include shadowing current trainees, visiting the firm’s various departments and attending social events. These placements are designed to allow you to gain a true insight into whether Dentons is the right law firm for you.

BEST FOR

KEY STATISTICS

Skills Development

86.2%

Confidence

83.2%

Team Relationship

82.8%

STARTING SALARY £39,000 (London) £25,500 (Milton Keynes)

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 20

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 15

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/dentons

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

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DLA Piper is a global law firm with 4,200 lawyers located in more than 30 countries throughout the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. They became one of the largest business law firms in the world in 2005 as the result of a merger and provide clients with essential business advice.

% % 89.5

82.8

VACATION SCHEME LAST YEAR: 88.2% TRAINING CONTRACT LAST YEAR: 75.3%

AWARDS FINALIST – Best Use of Social Media in a Trainee & Vacation Scheme Recruitment Campaign

OPPORTUNITIES

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

Upon joining the firm all trainees attend a residential induction course, which offers the opportunity to network with colleagues and learn more about DLA Piper’s strategy, visions and values. Trainees complete four sixmonth seats and are given an opportunity to express what areas of law they would like to experience during their training contracts. They also have the opportunity to do a seat abroad, or a client secondment.

DLA Piper offer 130 placements in their UK offices and use these to recruit their trainees. Participants spend time with two different departments and are fully immersed into life at the firm. They are given real work to develop their legal and wider workplace skills, as well as demonstrate their ability. In addition they take part in work shadowing, court visits, bespoke presentations, group activities and social events with current trainees.

BEST FOR

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts International Secondments First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY £23,000 - £40,000 (depending on location)

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 80

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 130

Skills Development

86.7%

Career Progression

97.9%

Training

86.6%

Job satisfaction

91.9%

Team Relationship

86.5%

Salary & Benefits

91.7%

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/dla-piper

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OPPORTUNITIES DLA Piper offers big opportunities to ambitious graduates

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Don’t just take our word for it. Find out more at www.dlapipergraduates.co.uk

AMBITIOUS FOCUSED

DWF LLP is a UK law firm with international reach. Described by market commentators as “blazing a trail”, DWF combine commercial understanding with sector knowledge to help clients, reinforced by their award-winning reputation for client service excellence and effective operational management.

OPPORTUNITIES

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts

International Secondments First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS

% % 86.3

82.7

VACATION SCHEME LAST YEAR: 83.5% TRAINING CONTRACT LAST YEAR: 86.6%

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

Trainees at DWF can expect to sit six four-month seats, allowing them to get a real taste for the wide variety of work that the firm does. Reviews with HR, seat supervisors and training principles occur throughout the process so that trainees can express their future aspirations and really take charge of their training contract.

DWF offers a two-week vacation scheme, during which interns will become immersed in two of the firm’s many practice areas. BEST FOR Career Progression

93%

Company Culture

92.2%

Job Satisfaction

91.7%

BEST FOR Skills Development

91.6%

STARTING SALARY

Team Relationship

89.4%

Competitive

Job satisfaction

87.1%

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 48

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 60

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/dwf-llp

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Farrer & Co provides expert legal services in fields as diverse as matrimonial law, offshore tax planning, employment, heritage work, charity law, defamation and sports law. Such a wide variety of expertise gives rise to the firm’s broad client base, which includes prominent private, institutional and commercial clients.

OPPORTUNITIES

% % 90.8

90.8

VACATION SCHEME LAST YEAR: 91.8% TRAINING CONTRACT LAST YEAR: 93.6%

AWARDS WINNER – Best Training Contract WINNER – Best Training Contract — National Firm RUNNER UP x3 – Find out more online — see URL below THIRD PLACE – Top Law Firm for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15 FINALIST x2 — Find out more online — see URL below

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts

International Secondments

First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY £35,000

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

The training contract consists of six four-month seats, with the final seat always spent in the team that the trainee will be joining upon qualification. Four seats will focus on commercial, litigation, private client and property law.

The firm runs two-week vacation schemes in Easter and summer. Interns will spend each week in a different team. Other activities include seminars, Q & A sessions, a tour of the Courts and social activities.

BEST FOR

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 30

Skills Development

97.3%

Work-Life Balance

96.3%

Level of Responsibility

96%

Company Culture

95.3%

Level of Support

94.1%

Level of Support

94.7%

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/farrer-co

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

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Fieldfisher is a European law firm and is recognised for its considerable expertise in niche practices. The firm has offices in Brussels, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, London, Manchester, Munich, Palo Alto, Paris and Shanghai.

OPPORTUNITIES

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts International Secondments First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS

% 70.6

TRAINING CONTRACT LAST YEAR: 72.3%

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

Trainees at Fieldfisher will sit in four six-month seats. While they will be working under the supervision of a partner or associate, trainees are expected to take on as much responsibility as possible at an early stage. Work will include documentation, research, handling small claims and cases, meeting with clients and visiting the courts if and when necessary.

Fieldfisher offers twoweek vacation schemes in both spring and summer. The entire duration of the placement is spent in one department and interns will take part in real work for real clients under the supervision of a partner or associate. Alongside other activities and presentations, interns will also get the chance to meet with members of the Board and have afternoon tea with the managing partner.

BEST FOR Working Environment

85.8%

STARTING SALARY

Skills Development

85.2%

ÂŁ35,000

Team Relationship

84.5%

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 12

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 20

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/fieldfisher

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52%

of vacation scheme offers went to non-law students in 2013. ALLABOUTLAW.CO.UK’S THE LAW CAREERS MARKET 2014, ANNUAL RESEARCH REPORT

Foot Anstey is a leading Top 100 UK law firm operating from five offices in the South West. The firm cater to regional, national and international clients, formed of both businesses and individuals. The company puts its growth down to their bold, agile strategies.

% % 88.9

85.9

VACATION SCHEME NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15 TRAINING CONTRACT NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15

AWARDS THIRD PLACE – Best for Training — Vacation Scheme

OPPORTUNITIES

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

The firm welcomes trainees from both law and nonlaw backgrounds into an environment of challenging but rewarding work. Due to Foot Anstey’s varied client portfolio, trainees experience a range of disciplines across different offices.

Vacation placements are on offer to undergraduates and post graduates and offer the opportunity to gain experience with the Foot Anstey legal teams.

Training Contracts

International Secondments

First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY Competitive

BEST FOR

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES BEST FOR

VACATION SCHEME PLACES Up to 20

Skills Development

Team Relationships

98%

Company Culture

97%

Job satisfaction

95%

91.9%

Team Relationships

90%

Training

89.9%

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/foot-anstey

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A better balance

At Foot Anstey, our award-winning approach to business has helped us build an impressive national and international client base. And our continued growth means our trainees gain exposure to high-profile work with top-quality lawyers. Regular, open communication with your supervisors comes as standard. As does contact with our Managing Partner. All in a working environment thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s both progressive and supportive. Find a better balance. Join us for an exceptional experience and South West quality of life. AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15 Visit www.footansteycareers.com

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OPPORTUNITIES Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is a leading international law firm with offices across the world. Their clients are mainly well-known big commercial businesses and the firm is dedicated to ensuring that its practices remain diverse and flexible in order to meet the ever-evolving needs of its client base.

KEY STATISTICS

WINTER WORK PLACEMENTS

VACATION SCHEMES

TRAINING CONTRACTS

INTERNATIONAL SECONDMENTS

FIRST YEAR OPPORTUNITIES

TRAINING CONTRACT Trainees will get the opportunity to change department every three-months, making the training contract at Freshfields one of the most flexible in the City. This means that trainees could experience all of the firm’s eight departments. There is also the opportunity for client and international secondments.

STARTING SALARY £40,500

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES

VACATION SCHEME

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 60

Freshfields offers three-week vacation schemes during the summer period, which are open to penultimate-year undergraduates.

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/freshfields

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You’ve come too far to be ordinary And now you’ve set your sights on a career in international commercial law You want colleagues who are bright, friendly and fun to work with. And work that’s interesting, complicated, intellectually challenging, high-value and international. You want the best (and the broadest) training you can get. Training that’s not run-of-the-mill. Training where you can explore up to eight areas of law – double that offered by other firms.

80 training contracts 8 seats 46 overseas secondments Find out more at:

Nicole Shui Trainee

Philosophy and Economics, UCL Nicole’s story: freshfields.com/ uktrainees/nicole

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP

freshfields.com/uktrainees @uktrainees FreshfieldsUKTrainees Freshfields

Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) is a global force with a market leading position in Asia Pacific. With 2,800 lawyers in offices spanning Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and the US, HSF is the eighth largest law firm in the world.

% 82.3

TRAINING CONTRACT LAST YEAR: 82.7%

AWARDS RUNNER UP – Best Use of Social Media in a Trainee & Vacation Scheme Recruitment Campaign FINALIST – Best Training Contract — International or City Firm FINALIST – Best Trainee & Vacation Scheme Recruitment Website

OPPORTUNITIES Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

Trainees will spend time in disputes and corporate and will be offered seats in finance, real estate, employment, pensions and incentives, competition and regulation and trade, and specialist areas such as IP, tax and advocacy. HSF will also provide the chance to go on secondment – either to a client or overseas. Trainees will be assigned a supervisor in each of their seats.

Every winter, spring and summer HSF run two day workshops exclusively for first-year students at their London office. Students will hear from leading lawyers, take part in interactive projects that show the breadth of practice and shadow one of HSF’s current trainees. Accommodation is provided and attendees are invited to an evening social event.

Training Contracts International Secondments First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY £39,500

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 70

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 100

BEST FOR Skills Development

90.5%

Confidence

90.4%

Company Culture

89.1%

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/herbert-smith-freehills

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AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

Hill Dickinson is an awardwinning, full service international law firm with big clients, great people and fantastic opportunities. With around 1300 people, including 180 partners, they have offices in London, Manchester, Liverpool, and Sheffield in the UK, alongside international bases in Singapore, Piraeus, Monaco and Hong Kong.

OPPORTUNITIES

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts International Secondments

First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS

% % 90.8

85.8

VACATION SCHEME NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15 TRAINING CONTRACT NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

Trainees will undertake four seats during their contract, from a choice of over twenty different areas of law depending on their office location. Each trainee is allocated a mentor to offer guidance, advice and support throughout the process. The relatively small trainee intake means that trainees receive a vast amount of responsibility from the get-go.

Hill Dickinson offer one week vacation placements at departments in their Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield and London offices. Students will get involved in all aspects of a department’s work, from attending client meetings and taking witness statements in court, through to providing liability and quantum assessments and drafting. Vacation scheme students will work alongside partners, qualified lawyers and trainee solicitors, providing them with a good idea of what it’s like at each end of the spectrum.

BEST FOR Team Relationships

93%

STARTING SALARY

Level of Responsibility

87.1%

£24,000 Northern offices

Working Environment

87.1%

£32,000 London

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES BEST FOR

VACATION SCHEME PLACES

Job satisfaction

95%

Level of Support

93.8%

Work-Life Balance

93.6%

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/hill-dickinson

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AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

Hogan Lovells is a leading global law firm, with over 2,500 lawyers working out of more than 40 offices in the US, Europe, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Their scale and capability positions them amongst the global elite of law firms, and provides their trainees with an international stage on which to develop their legal career.

% % 93.9

83.9

VACATION SCHEME NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15 TRAINING CONTRACT LAST YEAR: 78.7%

AWARDS TTHIRD PLACE – Best Vacation Scheme — International or City Firm THIRD PLACE – Best Vacation Scheme FINALIST x3 – Find out more online — see URL below

OPPORTUNITIES

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

The training contract is split into four six-month seats. Trainee solicitors move around four different practice areas during their two years at the firm, gaining a range of experiences and spending time in either corporate or finance, as well as litigation. During the second year there is an option for secondment at international and client offices.

Vacation schemes are split between spring, summer and winter periods. Students will have the opportunity to work alongside partners, associates and trainees gaining insight into practice areas. Students are exposed to projects and learn to draft documents, carry out research and coordinate meetings. This is complemented by tailored workshops and social events.

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts International Secondments First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY £39,500

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 60

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 90

BEST FOR Company Culture

90.3%

Working Environment

88.5%

BEST FOR Company Culture

97.8%

Skills Development

86.7%

Team Relationship

96.7%

Level of Support

95.8%

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/hogan-lovells

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AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

OPPORTUNITIES Holman Fenwick Willan is an international law firm, specialising in international commerce. With headquarters in the UK and 13 offices based across the globe in Europe, the Middle East and AsiaPacific, the firm focuses on practicality through creative and effective solutions.

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY ÂŁ36,000

WINTER WORK PLACEMENTS

VACATION SCHEMES

TRAINING CONTRACTS

INTERNATIONAL SECONDMENTS

FIRST YEAR OPPORTUNITIES

TRAINING CONTRACT HFW recruit a small number of trainees, to ensure they can devote their full attention to each graduate. Each trainee will have four six-month seats, sitting with a Partner or Senior Associate and should expect time in an overseas office, or secondment to a client. The scheme features structured inhouse training, including regular workshops.

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 15

VACATION SCHEME PLACES

VACATION SCHEME

30-35

A one-week spring scheme runs each year alongside two, twoweek summer schemes. The schemes are open to penultimate year law students as well as final year law and non-law students.

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/holman-fenwick-willan

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

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First established in 1870, Ince & Co started its work as specialists in shipping and insurance. Since then the firm’s practice has developed significantly and now covers aviation, energy and offshore, insurance and reinsurance, international trade, and shipping. The firm is ranked among the top 50 law firms in the UK and has 11 offices across the globe, including its base in London.

% % 92.8

75.2

VACATION SCHEME NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15 TRAINING CONTRACT NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15

AWARDS THIRD PLACE – Best Level of Support — Vacation Scheme FINALIST – Best Vacation Scheme — International or City Firm

OPPORTUNITIES

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

Like many other firms, Ince & Co operates a six-month seat rotation system where trainees will work under the supervision of four different partners. However, unlike many other firms trainees can undertake work from anyone in the firm during these seats, regardless of their practice area. This allows trainees to try a wide variety of work and to see their cases through from beginning to end.

Ince & Co run two Trainee Recruitment Placement Schemes each year, over the Easter holidays. Each intake lasts for two weeks, during which the intern will undertake real casework under the supervision of a partner. Interns are also assigned a current trainee as a mentor.

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts International Secondments

First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY £36,000

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES Uo to 10

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 10

BEST FOR Confidence

BEST FOR Career Progression

98.3%

Level of Support

96.9%

Company Culture

96.6%

81.7%

Salary & Benefits

79.1%

Skills Development

78.7%

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/ince-co

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62% of students are likely to apply to a City Firm. ALLABOUTLAW.CO.UK’S THE LAW CAREERS MARKET 2014, ANNUAL RESEARCH REPORT

Irwin Mitchell ranks amongst the UK’s leading national law firms, employing 2,100 people in offices across the UK, in Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield and Southampton. As a fullservice law firm, it offers a broad range of legal services for individuals and businesses.

OPPORTUNITIES

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts

International Secondments First Year Opportunities

% % 85.3

81.7

VACATION SCHEME NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15 TRAINING CONTRACT NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

Irwin Mitchell’s legal services are divided into Personal Legal Services and Business Legal Services. Trainees at Irwin Mitchell are asked to choose which area of the firm they would like to join. All trainees will complete three ‘training’ seats and one ‘qualification’ seat in whichever area of the firm they decide to join.

Legal Work Placements at Irwin Mitchell run for two weeks and are held during June and July. Applications for these placements are automatically considered for a training contract so getting on to one of these schemes and impressing those around you is a great way to secure your future at Irwin Mitchell. BEST FOR Career Progression

92.9%

Skills Development

88.6%

Team Relationship

90.7%

STARTING SALARY

Team Relationship

87.7%

Company Culture

90.3%

£25,000 (regional offices)

Training

87.4%

KEY STATISTICS

BEST FOR

£36,000 (London)

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 40

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 60

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/irwin-mitchell

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King & Wood Mallesons was formed by combining with SJ Berwin in 2013. The firm brings a fresh perspective to commercial thinking and client experience. Over 2,700 lawyers in more than 30 international offices cut through the challenges facing business, providing commercial solutions and transforming the way legal services are delivered.

OPPORTUNITIES

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts International Secondments First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY £39,250

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 30

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 60

% % 85.6

80.3

VACATION SCHEME NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15 TRAINING CONTRACT NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

Trainees complete four sixmonth ‘seats’, ensuring for the development of skills and expertise in particular areas and to experience different stages of transactions. Two seats would be in corporate focused areas, with others in a contentious area and non-contentious area. There are also secondment opportunities to client and international offices.

The firm runs a one-week placement during Easter and two two-week placements during the summer holidays. Participants will be placed in a chosen department and will attend lectures, workshops and social events. The schemes allow students to meet current employees and see what the firm is about. It is also an important way for the firm to meet students, with 80% of the current trainee intake having previously completed a vacation scheme with the firm.

BEST FOR Confidence

94.4%

Skills Development

90.7%

Training

87.7% Career Progression

96.2%

Job satisfaction

92.8%

Team Relationships

89.9%

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/king-wood-mallesons

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57%

of students use AllAboutLaw.co.uk to research law firms. ALLABOUTLAW.CO.UK’S THE LAW CAREERS MARKET 2014, ANNUAL RESEARCH REPORT

OPPORTUNITIES Kirkland & Ellis is an international law firm, with more than 1,600 lawyers representing global clients in offices around the world. Kirkland is ranked in the top 10 of the Global 100 (Legal Business 2014) and based in the heart of the city in the iconic Gherkin building. Their London office - comprising around 130 lawyers - acts in some of the most complex high value and high profile transactions in Europe. Although Kirkland are renowned for their private equity work in London, they are also active in restructurings, capital markets, private funds, debt finance, taxation, regulatory, international arbitration, intellectual property and competition law.

KEY STATISTICS

WINTER WORK PLACEMENTS

VACATION SCHEMES

TRAINING CONTRACTS

INTERNATIONAL SECONDMENTS FIRST YEAR OPPORTUNITIES

TRAINING CONTRACT Trainees at Kirkland & Ellis undertake four six-month placements, one of which will be a compulsory seat in corporate law. Trainees can choose seats in the firms other practice areas and also apply to spend six months in one of the firms overseas offices. During the two-year training contract, trainees also benefit from a comprehensive in-house Trainee Training Programme, alongside one-to-one guidance from senior associates and partners and the support of a mentor.

VACATION SCHEME Kirkland & Ellis offers two-week vacation schemes throughout June and July to experience life at the firm. During this time, attendees will take part in real project work, attend training sessions and a mock transaction and enjoy a busy social calendar. They also receive £350 in expenses per week.

STARTING SALARY £41,000

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES Up to 10

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 16-18

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/kirkland-ellis-international-llp

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Latham & Watkins has more than 2,000 fee earners in 31 offices across Europe, the US, the Middle East and Asia. The London office advises on some of the most significant and groundbreaking crossborder transactions in Europe. The firm believes that its non-hierarchical management style and ‘one firm’ culture makes Latham & Watkins unique.

% % 93

82.2

VACATION SCHEME LAST YEAR: 90.8% TRAINING CONTRACT LAST YEAR: 86.3%

AWARDS RUNNER UP – Best Vacation Scheme — US Firm THIRD PLACE – Best Training Contract — US Firm FINALIST – Best for Career Progression — Vacation Scheme

OPPORTUNITIES

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

Latham & Watkins trainees will undertake four six-month seats, including mandatory Corporate, Finance and Litigation seats. During the third or fourth seat there is also an opportunity to spend six months in one of the firm’s overseas offices such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, Paris, Moscow or New York.

Latham & Watkins London office offers two vacation schemes during the summer, lasting two weeks. Participants will spend a week in two different departments. The firm will attempt to place students in a seat of their choice. Students will share an office with a supervisor and will experience what it is like to be a Latham & Watkins trainee.

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts International Secondments

First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY £42,000

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES BEST FOR

VACATION SCHEME PLACES

Skills Development

92.7%

Level of Responsbility

89.5%

BEST FOR Career Progression

99.4%

Salary & Benefits

89%

Team Relationships

97.6%

Company Culture

97.2%

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/latham-watkins

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OPPORTUNITIES Macfarlanes is a leading City law firm with a straightforward, independently-minded approach. They bring smart, thoughtful solutions to the complex legal challenges faced by clients around the world. With main areas of practice in Corporate and M&A, Litigation, Private Client and real estate to name but a few, Macfarlanes are recognised for the quality of their work and advise many of the world’s leading businesses.

WINTER WORK PLACEMENTS

VACATION SCHEMES

TRAINING CONTRACTS

INTERNATIONAL SECONDMENTS

FIRST YEAR OPPORTUNITIES

TRAINING CONTRACT The training contract at Macfarlanes combines hands-on experience with a first class education programme. Trainees will spend six months in four different practice areas: one seat in corporate and M&A, two seats in either commercial real estate, private client, litigation or tax and a final seat within one of the firm’s specialised corporate practice areas. In each seat, trainees share a room with a partner or senior solicitor who personally supervises and supports their work.

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY

VACATION SCHEME

£39,000

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES Up to 30

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 55

Macfarlanes offers two-week vacation schemes in Easter and during the summer. Each week will be spent in a different department, under the supervision of a partner, solicitor or trainee. The highlight of a Macfarlanes vacation scheme is the mock transaction that runs for the duration of the placement, which all interns will undertake to get a real taste of the work that the firm does.

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/macfarlanes-llp

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MAKERS OF FINE LAWYERS We have a single objective: to create lawyers of extraordinary quality. We carefully select and nurture individuals with character, commitment and curiosity. We then give them the opportunities and the support they need to become exceptional lawyers, capable of advising the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading businesses and business leaders. www.macfarlanes.com

Mayer Brown is a leading global law firm, with clients from the Fortune 100, FTSE 100 and DAX and Hang Seng index. Key sectors include banking, insurance, communications, industrials, energy, constructions, pharmaceuticals and mining. The firm has offices in key business centres across Asia, Europe and the Americas.

% % 95.9

83.1

VACATION SCHEME LAST YEAR: 84.7% TRAINING CONTRACT LAST YEAR: 81.3%

AWARDS WINNER – Best Vacation Scheme WINNER – Best Vacation Scheme — International or City Firm WINNER – Best for Training — Vacation Scheme RUNNER UP – Best for Career Progression — Vacation Scheme FINALIST x2 – Find out more online — see URL below

OPPORTUNITIES

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

The training contract at Mayer Brown consists of four six-month seats and are chosen from a list of London practice areas. There are also opportunities for client secondments and international secondments to the firm’s offices in New York or Hong Kong.

Mayer Brown offers three vacation schemes annually, with one conducted in spring and two over summer. Vacation scheme students work across two departments, sharing an office with a partner or senior associate, attending presentations and getting a general feel for the trainee experience.

International Secondments First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY £37,500

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 15

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 30

BEST FOR Skills Development

89.7%

Training

89.2%

BEST FOR Career Progression

99.6%

Confidence

88.7%

Training

98%

Job Satisfaction

95%

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/mayer-brown-llp

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LOCATION is the most influential factor for aspiring lawyers when choosing which firms to apply to. ALLABOUTLAW.CO.UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S THE LAW CAREERS MARKET 2014, ANNUAL RESEARCH REPORT

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

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Repeatedly ranked in The Sunday Times “100 Best Companies to Work For”, Mills & Reeve is recognised for its unique culture and high quality work. As a leading full-service law firm, Mills & Reeve has offices across the UK to service a client base that comprises everything from PLCs and multinationals, to start-ups and small-tomedium-sized firms.

OPPORTUNITIES

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts

International Secondments

First Year Opportunities

% % 86.3

83.3

VACATION SCHEME NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15 TRAINING CONTRACT NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

Training contracts are offered at the firm’s Birmingham, Cambridge, Manchester or Norwich offices, with the opportunity to temporarily move to the Leeds or London offices. Trainees will undertake six four-month seats, which will be assessed by a mixture of informal and formal reviews.

Mills & Reeve offers a twoweek summer placement at its Birmingham, Cambridge and Norwich offices. During the placement, interns will be supervised by a senior solicitor and paired with a current trainee. They will undertake real legal work, including research, drafting and attending court and client meetings.

BEST FOR

KEY STATISTICS

Team Relationship

89.4%

Skills Development

87.7%

Company Culture

87.7%

BEST FOR Career Progression

93.1%

Company Culture

90.9%

Job satisfaction

87.3%

STARTING SALARY £25,000

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 17

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 30

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/mills-reeve

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spark enthusiasm commitment bright idea Some law firms try to mould their trainees into what they think a good lawyer should be. At Mills & Reeve we give you the opportunity to find out who you are. As the future of our firm, we’ll encourage you to think independently and come up with better ways of doing things. The actual training you receive will be second to none and you’ll find yourself working closely with some of the UK’s leading lawyers. Number of vacancies: 30 summer placements, 17 training contracts How to apply: by 31 January for 2015 summer placements, by 31 July for training contracts commencing 2017. Contact: Fiona Medlock, Graduate Recruitment Manager Mills & Reeve LLP, Botanic House, 100 Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 1PH Tel: 01223 222336 Email: fiona.medlock@mills-reeve.com website: www.mills-reeve.com/graduates

Mishcon de Reya is an international law firm with offices in London and New York. Its expertise lies in five key areas: analysing risk, protection of assets, managing wealth, resolving disputes and building business. The firm takes pride in its commitment to solving problems quickly.

OPPORTUNITIES

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts

International Secondments

First Year Opportunities

% 75.6

TRAINING CONTRACT NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

Trainees at Mishcon de Reya can expect to undertake four six-month seats involving both contentious and non-contentious work. The relatively low trainee intake means that trainees can be assured of receiving highquality work with lots of responsibility from very early on in their legal careers.

Mishcon de Reya offers two-week vacation schemes during the Easter and summer holidays. The aim of the vacation schemes is to give interns an insight into trainee life at the firm. All practice areas of the firm will be covered during the workshop programme and there will be opportunity for both individual and group work.

BEST FOR Level of Responsibility

87.9%

Skills Development

87%

Training

85%

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY ÂŁ33,000

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 12

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 35

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/mishcon-de-reya

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78%

of students would like to work in London when they graduate. ALLABOUTLAW.CO.UK’S THE LAW CAREERS MARKET 2014, ANNUAL RESEARCH REPORT

OPPORTUNITIES Nabarro is a full service commercial law firm, with headquarters in London and offices in Manchester, Sheffield, Brussels, Dubai and Singapore. The firm offers a broad-range of legal services to major national and international clients. International work is conducted through Nabarro’s long standing relationships with a network of preferred firms, including GSK Stockmann + Kollegen in Germany, Nunziante Magrone in Italy and Roca Junyent in Spain.

WINTER WORK PLACEMENTS

VACATION SCHEMES

TRAINING CONTRACTS

INTERNATIONAL SECONDMENTS FIRST YEAR OPPORTUNITIES

TRAINING CONTRACT Trainees at Nabarro will undertake six four-month seats across a range of practice areas. These include corporate and commercial law, banking, finance, real estate, dispute resolution, IP/IT, tax and environmental law, to name but a few. Client secondments are also available, as is the opportunity to undertake a seat in the Brussels office.

VACATION SCHEME KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY £37,000

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 25

VACATION SCHEME PLACES

As opposed to the usual two-week vacation scheme spent in two departments, Nabarro offers a three-week vacation scheme during which interns will work in one department. The firm recruits all its trainees from the vacation scheme programme so interns are advised to socialise and network to the fullest extent during their placement.

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/nabarro-llp

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Our Summer Scheme. A dozen awards, and counting.

What are your chances of winning a Training Contract with Nabarro without first getting to know us on our Summer Scheme? In a word, non-existent. These days, every trainee who joins us starts here. To find out why joining Nabarro, via our multi-award-winning Summer Scheme, will greatly increase your chances of building the kind of career you want, just roll up for a chat at the next Law Fair you see us at. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d love to meet you. Or visit: graduates.nabarro.com

Your futureAllAboutLaw.co.uk as a lawyer. Leave nothing to chance. | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

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With more than 3,800 lawyers based in over 50 cities across the world, Norton Rose Fulbright is a truly global law firm. Key industry sectors across the practice include energy, financial institutions, infrastructure, mining and commodities, transport, technology and innovation, life sciences and health care.

% % 81.3

73.8

VACATION SCHEME LAST YEAR: 92.3% TRAINING CONTRACT LAST YEAR: 82.9%

AWARDS WINNER – Best Use of Social Media in a Trainee & Vacation Scheme Recruitment Campaign RUNNER UP – Best Trainee & Vacation Scheme Recruitment Website

OPPORTUNITIES

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

Trainees at Norton Rose Fulbright undertake four six-month seats to gain an in-depth insight into its core practice areas and key sectors. Corporate, M&A and securities, banking and finance, and dispute resolution and litigation will make up three of these seats. One seat can be spent on a client or international secondment.

Vacation schemes at Norton Rose Fulbright are designed to provide an insight into life and work at the firm. The winter scheme takes place over eight days in December. The summer schemes take place over two weeks in June and July. Students undertake real work for real clients and attend training sessions and briefings. They also have the opportunity to socialise with trainees, associates and partners.

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts International Secondments First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY £39,500

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 55

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 45

BEST FOR Working Environment

82.2%

Company Culture

79%

Skills Development

78.5%

BEST FOR Working Environment 86.1% Career Progression 86.1% Company Culture

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/norton-rose-fulbright

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84.6%

84%

of students would prefer to complete a vacation scheme in summer. ALLABOUTLAW.CO.UK’S THE LAW CAREERS MARKET 2014, ANNUAL RESEARCH REPORT

Olswang is an international commercial law firm, with headquarters in London and a network of offices in Europe, Singapore and the UK. Olswang’s Technology, Media and Telecoms groups are highly esteemed, with a strong heritage and an unrivalled depth of expertise that makes them some of the most insightful and inventive legal teams in the industry.

% % 92

72.4

VACATION SCHEME NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15 TRAINING CONTRACT NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15

AWARDS WINNER – Best for Career Progression — Vacation Scheme FINALIST – Best Vacation Scheme — International or City Firm

OPPORTUNITIES

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

Training contracts are offered at the firm’s London office. Trainees undertake four sixmonth seats. These seats will be chosen from corporate, real estate, commercial litigation, finance, tax, employment IP and commercial law. Many of Olswang’s trainees undertake secondments with one of the firm’s clients, most commonly within the media or technology world.

Vacation schemes are conducted during the spring and summer holidays, for a duration of two weeks. This time will usually be spent in two of the firm’s departments and under the supervision of an associate and trainee. A structured timetable will also provide interns with a combination of presentations, skill workshops and social events.

BEST FOR

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts International Secondments

First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY £37,000

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 12

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 20

Team Relationship

80.6%

Career Progression

99.8%

Skills Development

78.3%

Working Environment

99.5%

Company Culture

77.8%

Company Culture

95.3%

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/olswang

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Individuality. One thing we all have in common. We celebrate diversity. We relish in people being different. We’ve found that a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives are what make our people so distinctive. At Olswang, it’s part of our ethos. Having the confidence to think beyond the everyday and deliver the extraordinary is what talent is all about. Our people are our business. They’re what make us the law firm of choice for true innovation and excellence for clients in a wide range of industries across the UK and internationally. If you think you’re exceptional then get in touch and tell us why.

Open minds open doors www.olswangtrainees.com

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OPPORTUNITIES Orrick is a leading international law firm with more than 1,100 lawyers in 25 offices located throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Orrick has earned a global reputation advising both established and emerging companies, banks and international finance institutions. The firm’s London office is primarily staffed by UK qualified lawyers but there is also a US law capability in the London office and cross-border transactions make up an increasing proportion of the work that the firm does.

WINTER WORK PLACEMENTS

VACATION SCHEMES

TRAINING CONTRACTS

INTERNATIONAL SECONDMENTS

FIRST YEAR OPPORTUNITIES

TRAINING CONTRACT The two-year training contract at Orrick consists of four sixmonth seats. The small trainee intake means that trainees can expect a vast amount of responsibility from very early on. However, the firm takes pride in its genuine open-door policy, which means that trainees are able to work closely with partners and associates, and can gain support and advice whenever it is required.

VACATION SCHEME KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY £38,000

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES

Rather than the usual format of a vacation scheme, Orrick offers two Open Days in the spring. These are split into two parts: presentations from each practice area, and participation in a business game. Candidates are watched closely during this task and those that impress are invited to attend a second interview for a training contract.

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 30 Open Day places

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/orrick

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Osborne Clarke has particular expertise in Digital Business, Energy & Utilities, Financial Services. Life Sciences & Healthcare, Real Estate & Infrastructure and Transport & Automotive. They are well versed in a range of legal services, from business regulation to tax. Offices in the UK, Europe and US mean that the firm is able to give its clients access to global expertise.

% % 88.8

87.3

VACATION SCHEME LAST YEAR: 90.9% TRAINING CONTRACT LAST YEAR: 78.8%

AWARDS FINALIST – Best Training Contract — National Firm

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

Trainees work in four seats for a period of six months each with compulsory seats in corporate, litigation and an option between real estate and tax. Departmentspecific training is provided at the beginning of each seat and a training supervisor is assigned to allocate and supervise work activities, and provide feedback.

Osborne Clarke runs a two-week summer placement programme. Interns spend one week each in two different departments. Each intern is allocated a trainee solicitor for support and a senior lawyer as work supervisor. Interns who impress are invited to an interview for a training contract.

BEST FOR

OPPORTUNITIES

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts

International Secondments

First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY £33,000

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 20

Skills Development

93.4%

Company Culture

97.8%

VACATION SCHEME PLACES

Confidence

91.6%

Work-Life Balance

94.7%

Team Relationship

90.6%

Career Progression

93.9%

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/ law-careers/law-firms/osborne-clarke

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

159

Penningtons Manches LLP has a 300-year history. The firm provides a range of legal services for its clients, and operates out of London, Basingstoke, Cambridge, Godalming, Guildford, Oxford and Reading. Overseas work is handled through the firm’s membership of two international networks.

% % 91.8

82.7

VACATION SCHEME LAST YEAR: 94.2% TRAINING CONTRACT LAST YEAR: 86%

AWARDS THIRD PLACE – Best Vacation Scheme — National Firm

OPPORTUNITIES

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

Trainees at Penningtons Manches will undertake four seats across the firm’s three divisions, normally in one location, although there is sometimes the opportunity or need for a trainee to spend a seat in another office or on secondment. Each trainee is allocated a seat supervisor, a buddy (a second-year trainee), and a mentor (one of the firm’s partners).

A one week paid placement programme is offered in London, Basingstoke/Reading, Godalming/Guildford and Oxford during July. Interns spend time in one of the firm’s practice areas to get an idea of life as a trainee at the firm. These placements are open only to those candidates wishing to commence a training contract in two years’ time.

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts

International Secondments

First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY £31,500

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 10-12

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 30

BEST FOR BEST FOR

Career Progression

97.2%

84%

Work-Life Balance

95.2%

Job satisfaction

87.8%

Team Relationships

95%

Company Culture

85.9%

Team Relationship

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/penningtons-manches-llp

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Best thing about doing a vacation scheme?

Most students say, ‘It’s all about gaining EXPERIENCE.’ ALLABOUTLAW.CO.UK’S THE LAW CAREERS MARKET 2014, ANNUAL RESEARCH REPORT

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With more than 2,000 lawyers in over 80 countries, PwC Legal has one of the most extensive legal services network in the world. Their links to PwC mean they can offer their clients rounded solutions incorporating multidisciplinary advice.

OPPORTUNITIES

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts International Secondments

First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY ÂŁ37,000

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES Filled from vacation scheme

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 16

% % 89.9

78.9

VACATION SCHEME NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15 TRAINING CONTRACT NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

As well as legal expertise, trainees build strong business advisory skills. Training in a stimulating, multifaceted environment, trainees quickly gain practical, hands-on experience and lateral thinking skills. The practice groups trainees can work in include Mergers & Acquisitions, Banking, Commercial Litigation, Commercial Fraud, Corporate Structuring, Employment, Immigration, Intellectual Property & Information Technology, Pensions, Real Estate and Tax Litigation. Trainees may also complete a seat in Dubai.

The three-week paid Summer Vacation Scheme is a great way to find out more about PwC Legal and see the ways in which PwC are truly unique in the legal marketplace, gaining valuable legal work experience. Interns have the opportunity to join client meetings and calls, conduct research, practise legal drafting, join seminars and training programmes and work directly alongside lawyers. The scheme is the principal route towards securing a training contract with PwC Legal. BEST FOR Salary & Benefits

BEST FOR Working Environment

92.4%

Salary & Benefit

89.1%

Skills Development

86.1%

Work-Life Balance

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/pwc-legal-llp

162

98.3%

Career Progression 93.2%

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

91.8%

The experience stays with you

Sacha at PwC’s Embankment Place office

Training Contracts Summer Vacation Scheme All degree subjects 2:1 or above From 320 UCAS tariff or equivalent

Training contracts with PwC Legal – London Your career is just that; yours. You choose it. You live it. You make it happen. To get the best from it, you need the best opportunities. That’s why opportunities are at the heart of a career with us. Opportunities to grow as an individual, to build lasting relationships and make an impact in a place where people, quality and value mean everything. For Sacha, that means launching her legal career with a training contract that’s giving her commercial experience too. In her first seat in immigration law she worked on government policy and the visa applications for the staff of our big corporate clients. While her second seat, in corporate law, involved getting into the detail of multi-million pound merger and acquisition deals. Join PwC Legal – we’re focused on helping you reach your full potential.

PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal LLP

With lawyers across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the United States, global firm Reed Smith are known for their work across an array of industry sectors, particulalry their work advising companies in financial services, life sciences, energy and natural resources, advertising, technology and media.

% % 94.3

80.1

VACATION SCHEME LAST YEAR: 89.9% TRAINING CONTRACT LAST YEAR: 79%

AWARDS WINNER – Best for Job Satisfaction — Vacation Scheme WINNER – Best Level of Support — Vacation Scheme RUNNER UP – Best Vacation Scheme — International or City Firm RUNNER UP – Best Vacation Scheme

OPPORTUNITIES

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

Reed Smith trainees undertake four seats of six months duration and are able to choose from a wide range of practice areas as well as international and client secondments. During each seat trainees receive regular feedback from supervisors and also support and guidance from the graduate recruitment team.

Vacation schemes take place in June and July and are targeted at penultimate and final year law students and final year nonlaw students. Vacation students undertake two ‘mini seats’ in two practice areas and also take part in a range of social activities and skills sessions. All students on the scheme are offered the opportunity to interview for a training contract.

BEST FOR

Training Contracts International Secondments First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY £37,000

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 24

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 24

Working Environment

85.7%

Level of Support

99.4%

Skills Development

84%

Job Satisfaction

98.6%

Training

83.7%

Career Progression

97.8%

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/reed-smith

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From one of the oldest law firms in the US, Shearman and Sterling is now a global force with 2000 staff worldwide and 18 offices in top commercial cities. One of the first firms to expand globally, Shearman’s UK office opened in London in 1972.

% % 88.8

87.3

VACATION SCHEME NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15 TRAINING CONTRACT LAST YEAR: 76.6%

AWARDS FINALIST – Best Trainee & Vacation Scheme Recruitment Website

OPPORTUNITIES

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

Training contracts consist of four six month seats; at least two in the firm’s core sectors whilst one may be completed overseas or in one of the advisory groups. Training begins with induction where trainees meet the partners and learn about the firm’s history and work. From here training operates at a range of levels; firm wide, practice group specific and trainee focused.

Shearman and Sterling have a two week vacation scheme running in spring and summer. Participants are placed in two departments, gaining hands on experience working on tasks and learning about the firm’s core areas of practice. Each participant will be assigned a supervisor and mentor ensuring access to a wide range of work, as well as a participant buddy to provide an extra level of support.

International Secondments First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY £39,000

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 17

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 30

BEST FOR Skills Development

89.7%

Training

85.6%

BEST FOR Career Progression

93.2%

Confidence

84.6%

Confidence

88.2%

Job Satisfaction

85%

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/shearman-sterling

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

165

Shoosmiths’ focus on people, relationships and results has defined its achievements for more than 160 years, a national firm employing over 1,400 people in ten UK offices.

% % 92.6

90.6

VACATION SCHEME LAST YEAR: 96% TRAINING CONTRACT LAST YEAR: 84.7%

AWARDS OPPORTUNITIES

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts

International Secondments

First Year Opportunities

WINNER – Top Law Firm for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15 WINNER – Best for Job Satisfaction — Training Contract RUNNER UP x3 – Find out more online — see URL below THIRD PLACE – Best Trainee & Vacation Scheme Recruitment Website FINALIST x3 – Find out more online — see URL below

KEY STATISTICS

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

Shoosmiths’ training contracts are location specific meaning the four seats of six months duration will all be completed in the same office. The two years are a mix of formal sessions and ‘live’ experience with six month secondments available in clients’ offices.

Vacation schemes are available in offices nationwide and last for one week. Interns provide a preference for the practice group and placement is completed within an office of their choice.

STARTING SALARY £24,000

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 20

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 50

BEST FOR

BEST FOR Skills Development

97.2%

Team Relationship

95.6%

Company Culture

94.2%

Company Culture

96.9%

Job Satisfaction

96.9%

Team Relationship

96.3%

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/shoosmiths

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FULLY CHARGED Join a firm with the scale, stature and clients to provide you with the quality and variety of work and opportunities that you need to grow your career. Be a part of it. Apply now at www.shoosmiths.co.uk

www.twitter.com/shoosmithsgrads 167 www.facebook.com/shoosmithsgraduates

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YOUR LEGAL CAREER STARTS HERE. CVMAILUK.COM REUTERS/Pichi Chuang

Student users gain free access to a variety of benefits on the CVMail platform. With a FREE student account on CVMAIL - it has never been easier to apply for Training Contracts and Vacation Work at UK and international law firms. OUR SIMPLE APPLICATION PROCESS: 1. Apply to any law firm 2. Your common details will be transferred to application forms you start for other firms listed on cvmailuk.com e.g. academics, personal contact details etc. 3. Save to your PC and then send your applications EXCLUSIVE FEATURES: • Never miss an email again. CVMAIL manages all of your correspondence with law firms, all in one place • Schedule interviews online • Complete and manage firm specific online assessments Register now for FREE and launch yourself into your legal career

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Established back in 1866, Sidley Austin LLP is now an international US law firm employing 1,800 lawyers in 18 world-wide offices. The firm has a global reputation for its litigation, regulatory and transactional expertise.

% 81.1

TRAINING CONTRACT LAST YEAR: 84.1%

AWARDS FINALIST – Best Training Contract — US Firm

OPPORTUNITIES

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

Four seats are undertaken by trainee solicitors, each for a period of six months during which they sit with a partner or senior lawyer. Work is provided by the seat supervisor who also reviews performance and provides guidance to successful candidates.

Sidley Austin offers a paid two week placement across June and July. Applications are accepted up until the 31 January, although places are assigned to leading candidates on a first come first served basis.

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts International Secondments

First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY £41,000

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES

BEST FOR

Team Relationship

86.3%

VACATION SCHEME PLACES

Company Culture

85.8%

Confidence

85.2%

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/sidley-austin-llp

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Our search for standout trainees. Sidley Austin LLP is one of the world’s largest law firms, with more than 1,800 lawyers across 4 continents. We are looking for outstanding individuals to join us as vacation scheme students in Summer 2015 and trainees in our London office in September 2017. Our London team is energetic, dynamic and collegiate. The London office currently has approximately 230 lawyers and staff, but still retains the intimacy and camaraderie of a smaller firm. For information on our training programme please request a brochure from our graduate recruitment team on 020 7360 3677 or via ukrecruitment@sidley.com or visit our website at sidleycareers.com/europe. Sidley Austin LLP is an equal opportunities employer. TALENT. TEAMWORK. RESULTS.

Woolgate Exchange 25 Basinghall Street London, EC2V 5HA

sidley.com AMERICAS • ASIA PACIFIC • EUROPE Attorney Advertising - For purposes of compliance with New York State Bar rules, our headquarters are Sidley Austin LLP, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019, 212.839.5300; One South Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60603, 312.853.7000; and 1501 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005, 202.736.8000. Sidley Austin refers to Sidley Austin LLP and affiliated partnerships as explained at www.sidley.com/disclaimer. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Simmons & Simmons is a leading international law firm with fully integrated teams working throughout offices in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The firm’s strategy is designed to ensure it provides its clients with high quality advice and to deliver value through new ways of working.

% % 91.1

78.7

VACATION SCHEME NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15 TRAINING CONTRACT NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15

AWARDS FINALIST – Best Vacation Scheme — International or City Firm

OPPORTUNITIES Winter Work Placements

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

Simmons & Simmons offer 40 training contracts a year and are currently recruiting their intake for September 2017 and March 2018. The firm’s six month system enables trainees to experience four different areas of the business hands on, developing knowledge in different service areas and dealing with important clients.

The firm’s placements enable students to gain a first-hand experience of a busy and dynamic international law firm, with exposure to the deals and transactions the firm works on.

Vacation Schemes Training Contracts International Secondments First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY £37,500

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 40

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 80

BEST FOR Skills Development

85.2%

Training

83.9%

Confidence

82.3%

A two day workshop, designed to equip students with a range of key skills and commercial knowledge, and a one-week winter vacation scheme is also available. BEST FOR Company Culture

93.6%

Career Progression

93.4%

Skills Development

93.1%

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/simmons-simmons

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you

ur ur fut o y e e s

? w a l n I

Training Contracts and Vacation Schemes £37,500 per annum starting salary

We’re known for advising and looking after our clients in an innovative way, so we develop our trainees into interesting, imaginative lawyers. From our groundbreaking MBA programme to international and client secondments, we make sure our trainees are stretched and can experience business and legal worlds from different angles. That’s why whether you join us as a law or non-law student, at Simmons & Simmons, you’ll see more, learn more and achieve more. simmons-simmons.com/ graduates

See our world

OPPORTUNITIES With the mantra “hard-work does not kill” and over 2000 lawyers across 23 global offices, Skadden Arps is a force to be reckoned with. Lawyers focus on corporate transactions and the litigation and arbitration team are a strong part of the firm.

WINTER WORK PLACEMENTS

VACATION SCHEMES

TRAINING CONTRACTS

INTERNATIONAL SECONDMENTS FIRST YEAR OPPORTUNITIES

TRAINING CONTRACT KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY £42,000

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES

The Skadden Arps training scheme runs for two years. In the first, trainees attend two seats in international arbitration and corporate law and litigation. In the second, trainees chose seats in their preferred specialist areas which can include secondment to an overseas office. Each trainee has a senior mentor and regular performance reviews.

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 40

VACATION SCHEME Vacation programmes run for two weeks over Easter and summer and are open to penultimate year law and final year non-law students with selections being made in January and February. Interns work in two of the firm’s practice areas but can choose to concentrate on one during the course of their placement.

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/skadden-arps

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Slaughter and May is a internationally renowned law firm advising on high profile international transactions with a strong and varied array of clients. The firm works closely with its ‘best friend firms’ made up of leading independent law firms across the world.

OPPORTUNITIES Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts International Secondments First Year Opportunities

% 76.5

TRAINING CONTRACT LAST YEAR: 80.3%

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

Slaughter and May’s contract, which includes extensive training and hands on experience, sees trainees spending time in different areas of the practice, experiencing both contentious and noncontentious work. Candidates develop essential skills including using the firm’s research resources. International secondment is available in a range of jurisdictions.

The schemes involve workshops on legal skills, case studies and mock exercises as well as hands on experience in real casework. Successful candidates will also learn about the Slaughter and May profile and working in a city firm. Available vacation schemes include three summer schemes, one Easter scheme and two yearly Christmas workshops.

BEST FOR

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY

Training

85%

Skills Development

81.9%

Work Environment

81.7%

£39,500

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 70

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 80

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/slaughter-and-may

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54%

of students believe a firm’s client-base best demonstrates a good reputation. ALLABOUTLAW.CO.UK’S THE LAW CAREERS MARKET 2014, ANNUAL RESEARCH REPORT

Taylor Wessing is a leading international law firm combining a pan European network with a strong presence in the Middle East and Asia. The firm works for 60% of the world’s Top 50 brands and is expert in IP protection and international enforcement rights.

% % 86.9

VACATION SCHEME NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15 TRAINING CONTRACT NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15

AWARDS THIRD PLACE – Best Training Contract — International or City Firm

OPPORTUNITIES

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

Running over two years, Taylor Wessing’s training contract is split into four six-month seats. All trainees undergo one seat in the corporate practice while the remaining three are the trainee’s choice. The Professional Skills Course is run in-house meaning training is tailored to life at Taylor Wessing.

Summer placement runs for two weeks and is open to penultimate year law students and final year non-law students. Trainees spend a week each in two departments whilst assigned to a partner or senior associate. There will be frequent opportunities to contribute to the daily workings of their assigned department.

Training Contracts International Secondments

First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY £37,000

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 24

VACATION SCHEME PLACES

BEST FOR

Career Progression

94.5%

88.2%

Company Culture

93.1%

Working Environment

87.7%

Job satisfaction

91.5%

Training

87.6%

Skills Development

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/taylor-wessing

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TRAINING CONTRACTS AND SUMMER VACATION SCHEME Early exposure. Ongoing development. A focus on helping you become Scan the code to learn more about a trusted commercial advisor, as well as a good lawyer. You can Michelle’s story at expect all of this – and more – when you start you career with Taylor Taylor Wessing Wessing. We’re a top 20 international law firm with an impressive global network and a client list spanning sectors ranging from Energy and Life Sciences to Private Wealth and Technology, Media and Communications. We are currently accepting applications for our summer vacation scheme and our 2017 training contract. So if you have a commercial outlook, expect to achieve a 2.1 or higher, and want to take your career forward faster, let us put you in the picture. >> Forward Faster Apply now at www.taylorwessing.com/graduate

TLT is a rapidly growing firm, having trebled in size since 2002. New offices have opened in Belfast and Manchester, bringing in clients such as Boohoo. com and E.ON whilst the company continues to expand into Scotland.

% % 88.3

85.9

VACATION SCHEME NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15 TRAINING CONTRACT NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-152014-15

AWARDS THIRD PLACE – Best for Job Satisfaction — Training Contract

OPPORTUNITIES

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts

International Secondments

First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY £34,000 (London) £27,000 (Bristol) £25,000 (Manchester)

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 15

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

Training contracts are tailored to individuals. All successful candidates begin with an induction course and from there the firm works to create a tailored programme to suit each individual trainee, matching their career goals and personal ambitions. There are no compulsory seats so there is maximum flexibility for the candidate.

The TLT vacation scheme runs during summer and Easter and is available for second year law students, final year non-law students or law students, graduates and mature candidates. Assessments are built into the week and candidates who impress could be invited to complete a full training contract with TLT.

BEST FOR

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 46

Company Culture

90.7%

Career Progression

96.1%

Job Satisfaction

90.6%

Company Culture

93.1%

Level of Responsibility

90.6%

Confidence

92.1%

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/tlt-solicitors

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Based in Leeds, Walker Morris is one of the largest firms in the north of England and a top 100 UK law firm. The firm have deliberately not expanded beyond Leeds in order to keep all their expertise and knowledge under one roof. A full range of services are offered to its national and international commercial clients.

OPPORTUNITIES

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts

International Secondments

First Year Opportunities

KEY STATISTICS

% 82.6

TRAINING CONTRACT NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

Contracts commence in September each year with trainees undergoing a two year programme which includes six four-month seats rather than the standard four. This system provides a broader range of insight and experience with seats on offer in all areas of Walker Morrisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; commercial departments, including the chance to undertake client secondments. You will be given the opportunity to choose your seats in the second year.

A one week scheme runs each summer. The whole idea is that student will get as much useful experience as possible. They will sit with solicitor or partner in our commercial departments and will also be allocated a trainee buddy for support during the week.

BEST FOR Company Culture

89.1%

STARTING SALARY

Training

89%

ÂŁ25,000

Level of Support

88.3%

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 30

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 48

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/walker-morris

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Weil is one of the world’s elite international firms. The firm has approximately 1,200 lawyers in 20 cities throughout the US, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The London office was established in 1996 and has grown to become the second largest of the firm’s worldwide offices.

OPPORTUNITIES

% % 93.7

88.8

VACATION SCHEME NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15 TRAINING CONTRACT NEW ENTRY FOR 2014-15

AWARDS WINNER – Best Training Contract — US Firm WINNER – Best Vacation Scheme — US Firm RUNNER UP – Top Law Firm for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15 THIRD – Best for Career Progression — Training Contract FINALIST x4 – Find out more online — see URL below

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts International Secondments

KEY STATISTICS STARTING SALARY £41,000

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 12-14

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 30

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

Trainees undergo four seats of six months duration. One seat must be taken in corporate and another in either banking and finance or structured finance. Weil offers sophisticated programme with input from leading partners alongside a tailor made approach to mentoring, career progression and development.

Two week paid vacation schemes run over spring and summer at Weil and are open to all postgraduates, and undergraduates from second year upwards. Students experience two different practice areas and become involved in real work, contributing to live matters.

First Year Opportunities

BEST FOR BEST FOR

Career Progression 99.2%

Level of Responsibility

94.1%

Salary & Benefits

93.6%

Team Relationship 97%

Skills Development

93.3%

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/weil-gotshal-manges

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97.8%

Still waiting!

With a strong reputation for family law and landed estate work, Withers LLP has 11 offices across the US, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. As these locations suggest, Withers is known for its private client practice consisting of wealthy and influential individuals.

% % 84.9

80.2

VACATION SCHEME LAST YEAR: 83% TRAINING CONTRACT LAST YEAR: 81.3%

TRAINING CONTRACT

VACATION SCHEME

KEY STATISTICS

Trainee solicitors undertake four seats of six months duration from a selection of 16 practice areas. Each trainee sits with a seat supervisor who monitors their progress and provides mid and end of seat reviews. Training is formal and structured and runs alongside in-house Withers-specific practicebased programmes.

Three placement programmes run over the course of Easter and summer holidays, each lasting two weeks. Successful candidates work in two different departments under supervision of a qualified solicitor. Interns are assigned a case study to work on as a group including a client meeting, drafting and mediating a settlement.

STARTING SALARY

BEST FOR

OPPORTUNITIES

Winter Work Placements Vacation Schemes Training Contracts

International Secondments

First Year Opportunities

ÂŁ34,000

Confidence

88.7%

Level of Support

93.3%

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES

Skills Development

86.6%

Training

88.8%

Training

83.4%

Job satisfaction

87%

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 18

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/withers-llp

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51%

believe first year of university is the best time to start researching firms. ALLABOUTLAW.CO.UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S THE LAW CAREERS MARKET 2014, ANNUAL RESEARCH REPORT

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OPPORTUNITIES Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co is a UK-headquartered international law firm providing a full service to clients worldwide. Businesses around the world choose Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co to help them thrive, prosper and become their best. The key to the firm’s success is down to bright, talented individuals who work together to deliver a first-class service.

KEY STATISTICS

WINTER WORK PLACEMENTS

VACATION SCHEMES

TRAINING CONTRACTS

INTERNATIONAL SECONDMENTS FIRST YEAR OPPORTUNITIES

TRAINING CONTRACT Applicants are expected to be talented, carry a lot of potential and have a strong work ethic. Trainees should share Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co’s passion for working together to deliver brilliant legal services. Diversity is their strength: age, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability are irrelevant - ability is everything.

STARTING SALARY £26,250 (Birmingham) £36,250 (London)

TRAINING CONTRACT PLACES 30

VACATION SCHEME PLACES 60

VACATION SCHEME Four schemes are available with Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co; two summer schemes in London and one summer and one Easter scheme available in Birmingham. Students will get hands on experience with live work for clients with time to quiz current employees on their career with the firm also.

FIND OUT MORE: allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms/wragge-lawrence-graham-co

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Our strength lies in our diversity. In the skills, experience and expertise that different people bring to the firm â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and to our clients. Individuals working, learning and growing together. No wonder, then, that businesses around the world choose us to help them thrive and prosper. Come and work as part of one team, with incredible depth and breadth of legal and commercial expertise. Choose a 187 AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15 graduate.wragge-law.com career with Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co.

ALL ABOU YOU

UT ... YOUR SKILLS ... YOUR NOTES ... YOUR APPLICATIONS

ALL ABOUT YOUR SKILLS Every law firm has a list of key skills and attributes that they look for when assessing vacation scheme or training contract candidates. Use this checklist to tick off the skills you’ve displayed in academia, work experience placements or university societies. THIS IS A HANDY WAY TO WORK OUT WHAT YOU NEED TO FINE TUNE BEFORE SENDING OFF THOSE ALL-IMPORTANT VACATION SCHEME AND TRAINING CONTRACT APPLICATIONS.

Law Specific Requirements Have you performed well academically?

Key Competencies

Note down a time you have used problem solving skills

Tell us about a time you worked as part of a team

How’s your commercial awareness?

How about those communication skills?

• Are you a part of any university societies? • Do you read The Telegraph, The Times or the Financial Times regularly? • Have you checked out the articles in the commercial awareness section (allaboutlaw.co.uk/ law-careers/commercial- awareness) of AllAboutLaw. co.uk? • Do you know about the firm you’re applying to? Where they’re located? What type of firm they are? What are their main practice areas?

Tell us how you manage your time and organise your work load.

Provide an example of when you’ve displayed top notch attention to detail.

List any relevant legal work experience below

To check out what other transferable skills you can pick up from studying a law degree, visit allaboutlaw.co.uk/stage/ law-degree/law-degree-transferable-skills.

ALL ABOUT LAW CHECKLIST

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

Have you signed up to the AllAboutLaw.co.uk weekly newsletter? Have you picked up the AllAboutLaw.co.uk newspaper from your university campus? Have you spoken to the AllAboutLaw.co.uk team at a law fair? Have you identified your skills and experience, and where you need to improve? Have you checked out the AllAboutLaw.co.uk employer profiles for your favourite firms at allaboutlaw.co.uk/law-careers/law-firms? Have you created an up-to-date CV? Have you used your university careers service to check over your application? Are you recording the progress of your applications using the AllAboutLaw.co.uk Top Law Firms 2014-15 handbook? Have you arranged a mock interview with your university careers service? Are you continually improving your commercial awareness? Have you sent your vacation scheme application off by 31st January? Have you sent your training contract application off by 31st July?

ALL ABOUT YOUR NOTES Researching a law firm is vital before applying for a vacation scheme or training contract. Use these pages at law fairs to make notes about your favourite law firms and jot down any useful information from workshops and lectures.

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ALL ABOUT YOU

LAW FAIRS TAKE PLACE ACROSS THE COUNTRY BETWEEN OCTOBER 2014 AND JANUARY 2015. DON’T MISS OUT!

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

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ALL ABOUT YOUR APPLICATIONS Vacation Scheme Application Diary

DATE

LAW FIRM

Use this to track the progress of your vacation scheme applications!

DEADLINE 31ST JANUARY

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APPLICATION RECEIVED?

ASSESSMENT CENTRE (DATE/TIME/LOCATION)

ALL ABOUT YOU

INTERVIEW INFORMATION (DATE/TIME/LOCATION)

POSITION OFFERED/ FEEDBACK REQUESTED?

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

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Training Contract Application Diary

DATE

LAW FIRM

Use this to track the progress of your training contract applications!

DEADLINE 31ST JULY

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APPLICATION RECEIVED?

ASSESSMENT CENTRE (DATE/TIME/LOCATION)

ALL ABOUT YOU

INTERVIEW INFORMATION (DATE/TIME/LOCATION)

POSITION OFFERED/ FEEDBACK REQUESTED?

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FANCY WINNING

£50 IN COLD, HARD CASH? OF COURSE YOU DO.

Simply snap a ‘training contract game face’ selfie with the back cover of this student guide! Tweet it using #MyTCGameFace and include our Twitter handle @AllAboutLaw. The deadline for entries is 5pm on December 12th 2014. The lucky winner will be contacted on December 19th 2014. For full terms and conditions, visit allaboutlaw.co.uk/about-us

AllAboutLaw.co.uk | Top Law Firms for Training Contracts & Vacation Schemes 2014-15

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MY TC GAME FACE SEE INSIDE FOR COMPETITION DETAILS

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