Chamber Student: A Guide to Law Firms and the Bar 2018

Product Information

Small Washington DC firm with 160 lawyers; other offices include Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Chicago. The firm's two Bright Futures programmes aim to support groups that are currently under-represented in the legal sector, by giving them the opportunity to experience life at an international law firm through interactive sessions and work shadowing. As part of the programme, students are assessed for a place on the vacation scheme the following year. Those that are offered will receive a mentor for that year, to prepare them for the vacation scheme. Although these five giants top many lists, not least for revenue and partner profits, consider carefully whether they’d top yours. Training in a magic circle firm is CV gold but not suited to everyone. One factor to consider is the requirement to work really long hours to keep profits fat and international clients happy. A great camaraderie develops among trainees, but be prepared to not see your other friends too often.

I’ve been told that our application process is tougher than other firms,” revealed training principal Jat Bains. To impress during the application process, Bains said it’s important to demonstrate certain traits: “Obviously we’re looking for brain power, but we also want people who work well with others and who are resilient to the demands of clients. Applicants need to demonstrate commerciality, practicality, ambition and a desire to work within the firm.” Full service, but London has strong transactional focus on financial services, life sciences and technology. Family Matters is a network that has been established for those with caring responsibilities in the firm. Family Matters aims to provide a space for people to discuss and share experiences openly and hold regular information events.BProud is our well established LGBT+ network. BProud welcomes both LGBT+ members and allies. The network promotes a culture where everyone is able to be open about their sexual orientation. BProud members run and attend many LGBT+ events through the year.

Nope, an undergraduate degree in any discipline will suffice. Non-law graduates will likely have to do extra preparation before sitting the exams.

2nd year salary

Pros: Often smaller and more intimate; salaries tend to be higher to match New York market; no merger-related culture clashes. Seat options: aviation; corporate; marine; energy and natural resources; real estate; insurance and financial disputes; tax; insolvency; healthcare; catastrophic injury and large loss; employment; international arbitration; projects & construction We specialise in the sectors that move, build and power our connected world. Our presence in both developed and emerging markets has seen us become one of the fastest growing law firms in the world, with ambitious plans for further growth. Some of our sectors of expertise include Insurance, Aviation, Healthcare, Marine, Energy & Natural Resources, Drones and Climate Change. Silicon Valley headquartered firm with 10 US offices as well as Beijing, Shanghai and London. Nearly 900 lawyers worldwide.

Macfarlanes receives another 1,200 applications from candidates gunning directly for its training programme; the application form is the same one that is used for the vac scheme. Vac schemers at Mishcon do real work-related tasks and learn more about the firm’s legal departments by speaking to current trainees, training principals, and other fee-earners. You’ll sit with a practice group and have a supervisor, as well as attend sessions with the early careers team and undergo individual and group assessments. The Academy Tech and Knowledge Service teams will also host training sessions on core technologies and how to conduct legal research. To top it all off, you’ll get to enjoy an evening out with your fellow vac schemers! Small UK firm Warner Cranston merged with US firm Reed Smith in 2001. In 2007 Reed Smith merged with UK mid-sized firm Richards Butler. If successful, the third stage is a virtual interview with a member of the future talent team. There will be a mixture of motivational and skills questions. These can be either a large firm taking on a smaller one specifically to gain a London office (as with McGuireWoods' absorption of Grundberg Mocatta Rakison), or two of a similar size combining to form a larger one, with better global coverage the goal (as with the Hogan Lovells or Dentons tie-ups)

1st year salary

Annually reviewed competitive salary, 25 days paid annual leave, bonus scheme, pension scheme, private health care membership, life assurance, mobile phone, Christmas gift, corporate gym membership, sports and social club. UK firm Eversheds merged with Americans Sutherland in 2017. Sutherland had a 10-lawyer London office since 2014 after merger with Arbis LLP.