Insider report Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
Joel Padi took part in BCLP’s summer vacation scheme in 2019 and will join the firm as a trainee in 2021.
No of scheme places London approx 60 Hong Kong approx 10 Location of schemes London Hong Kong Length of schemes Insight scheme London: 1 week Vacation scheme London: 2 weeks Hong Kong: 4 weeks Remuneration (per week) London £400 Hong Kong 2500 HKD Dates of schemes Insight scheme: April 2020 London: Summer 2020 Hong Kong:
What did you do while on the vacation scheme (eg, type of work, networking, presentations or social events)? The scheme lasted two weeks and I sat in the commercial construction and corporate finance/M&A teams. On a typical day I would complete a research task, draft appointments and meet with my supervisors. BCLP’s vacation scheme is unique in that you are appointed a trainee, associate and partner supervisor who all give you work and introduce you to other people. We prepared and delivered two presentations during the vacation scheme. First, we advised a charity on how they could help prevent the use of the death penalty in Sri Lanka, and we also delivered a mock M&A pitch to a real firm client to try to win their work. Throughout the scheme there were a variety of formal and informal networking opportunities, as well as social events, including a sit-down lunch with partners and a trip to a darts bar. What did you feel that you gained from the placement (eg, insight into the firm, useful contacts or an appreciation of a trainee’s workload)? I gained a really good appreciation of what a trainee actually does on a day-to- day basis. The format of the vacation scheme was new – the firm had added more networking opportunities and presentations, so we really had to manage our time, balance competing tasks and prioritise. The work was challenging but interesting, and now I know that I can do the work expected of a trainee. Which were the most enjoyable – and most challenging – aspects of the scheme? I most enjoyed being trusted to do real work. For example, in my commercial construction seat I did some work on a project regarding a development in central London, and on my way home I could actually see the development the firm was working on! It was an invaluable experience and I was given the opportunity to delve into both the legal and commercial aspects of the project. That hardest part of the scheme was also the work itself – it was definitely a steep learning curve once you got stuck in. However, I felt like I could learn from each task and gradually moved onto more complex work. At the end of the first week I presented some work I had done to a senior associate, the task was quite complex and I had been given more responsibility than earlier in the week, so it was great to recognise my development in such a short space of time. Did the scheme end with a training contract interview or some other kind of further recruitment process? There was a one-hour partner interview in the second week. The interview was competency-based and although it was clear that they were trying to test me, I also really enjoyed the genuine conversation at the heart of it and was able to learn a lot about the firm. I was offered a training contract the following week. Is there one key thing that you took away from the experience that you would pass on as advice to others? Look at the law firm as a business rather than just a place you go to practise law. Recognising that law firms are commercial entities who are looking to make money, and being aware of the challenges in the legal industry will you give you a better appreciation of how the firm and its teams fit together. A commercial candidate will always stand out.
June 2020 July 2020 Closing date for applications London/Hong Kong
vacation scheme: 31 January 2020 Insight scheme: 16 February 2020 Application procedure Online application, assessment centre, partner interview For full contact information and details of Training Contract, see the firm’s full entry in the main directory on p307
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