Cooley works with some of the world’s most innovative and forward thinking businesses, regularly representing current and future leaders in technology and business. Read more about the firm’s practice specialisms and learn whether the diverse, collaborative culture at Cooley might be for you.
About Cooley
Cooley in London
Accolades
Training at Cooley
Professional development
Applying to train in London
London trainees
Table of contents
Our application process
Summer programme
Diversity Fellowship
Cooley culture
Diversity, equity and inclusion
Can you Be Cooley?
Events
Pay and benefits
Cooley contacts
‘Training with Cooley in London will be about a breadth of experience and opportunity – being challenged to achieve more than you may have thought possible and enhanced by
being surrounded by a collaborative and brilliant team.’
About Cooley Cooley provides the opportunity to be part of a collaborative and diverse culture, representing the most innovative companies in the world. We handle game-changing deals, groundbreaking IP matters and business-critical litigation across a wide array of dynamic industries, while at the same time counselling startups and entrepreneurs poised to become the business and technology leaders of the future.
Justin Stock London managing partner
Dating back to 1920, Cooley has a rich history in the US, where we are renowned for our work on transformative deals, complex IP and reg- ulatory matters, and high-stakes litigation, where innovation meets the law. Cooley is known for our work with tech and life sciences companies throughout the world. In 2015, Cooley established our first European office in London, bringing a profile of legal experience sup- porting and protecting innovation and technology around the world. Integration and ensuring that everyone understands they have a part to play are critical to the continued success of the London office and the firm’s further growth.
Cooley in London As a global city – a centre of finance and a hub for technology, innovation and creativity – London is a natural fit for Cooley’s international clients and for the firm’s strategic global growth. The office now has more than 110 lawyers in our new base at 22 Bishopsgate. The office provides corporate legal advice on domestic and cross- border mergers and acquisitions, capital markets transactions, debt finance and private equity and venture capital financings. The firm has deep experience of advising high-growth disruptive technology and life sciences companies as general corporate counsel on all stages of a company’s life cycle. Additionally, the London office has teams advising on technology transactions, cyber/data/privacy, competition, intellectual property, compensation & benefits, employment and tax matters. Our London-based litigators have considerable experience in complex domestic and cross-border litigation, international arbitration and regulatory matters. They have handled litigation in all commercial divisions of the English High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and Court of Justice of the European Union, and represented clients in all major international arbitration proceedings. We offer a wealth of experience in major international asset disputes, including advising governments on their anti-corruption agencies in seeking to trace, freeze and recover corruptly acquired assets of dishonest public officials, along with advising major private companies. Our white collar crime team acts for business executives in connection with high-profile and sensitive global investigations. The group also has one of the UK’s most significant insurance and reinsurance practices, covering complex insurance and reinsurance disputes, arbitration, commercial court litigation and insurtech matters. With a client-first approach and an uncompromising focus on the highest levels of knowledge and responsiveness, Cooley’s product compliance and liability team provides a unique level of support for product manufacturers navigating the rapidly changing international regulatory and liability risk landscape.
‘The office is really collaborative … everyone supervising my work has been extremely generous with their time, and patient in getting me up-to-speed and I have never felt left-out of any conversation big or small. That leaves you with the feeling that you can contribute like an equal stakeholder from very early on. We’re lucky to work in such a great new office too – in our internal café (Arthur’s) it’s like as if your favourite local coffee shop always had people you were hoping to run into, in the line.’
Arda Tekin First-year trainee
Accolades
Training at Cooley We believe in learning by doing, and trainees will be involved in real work from the start. Cooley trainees are often pleasantly surprised by the level of responsibility they have on the matters assigned to them. Cooley’s two-year training programme will be divided into four seats of six months each. This will likely include at least one busi- ness litigation seat, where work could involve general commercial, products, employment, insurance or IP matters. Other seats will be in noncontentious corporate commercial/transactional areas, where work could involve M&A, private equity and venture capital, life sciences, finance matters, capital markets, technology trans- actions, and compensation & benefits. Seat options may evolve over time and in response to Cooley’s commercial business needs, but we work to ensure trainees obtain experience in the areas of greatest interest to them. Trainees will be supervised by lawyers at varying levels of seniority, as the experiences can be different but equally valuable to each trainee’s development. In addition to organising and supporting trainees through the Professional Skills Course, Cooley has developed a comprehensive training programme delivered by associates, partners and the professional development team at the firm. The aim is to enable trainees to develop practice-based skills and knowledge in our key areas, in addition to professional skills covering topics such as business development and finance. The support network at Cooley is extensive: Trainees have an assigned supervisor, a trainee buddy in the year above, a partner mentor, the legal talent team, the professional development team, and the training principal to help and encourage progress and growth.
Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For, 100 Best Workplaces for Women and 100 Best Workplaces for Millennials
One of the 50 Best Law Firms for Women by Working Mother magazine
Shortlisted for City Firm of the Year at The Lawyer Awards 2020
International Firm of the Year at The Lawyer Awards 2018
Legal Week’s London Office of the Year in 2015 and 2017 at the British Legal Awards
Transatlantic Litigation Team of the Year at the 2019 Transatlantic Legal Awards
Transatlantic Capital Markets Team of the Year at the 2018 Transatlantic Legal Awards
Highly recommended in eight categories and 17 lawyers ranked by Chambers UK
Highly Commended distinction for US Law Firm of the Year at the 2018 and 2019 Legal Business Awards
Highly Commended distinction for Transatlantic Firm of the Year at the 2020 British Legal Awards
18 practice areas recommended and 41 lawyers ranked by UK Legal 500
Women in Law Empowerment Forum Gold Standard Certification
Excellence in Pro Bono award by The Law Society for outstanding work on The Statelessness Project
Professional development The professional development team is dedicated to helping lawyers unlock their full potential to be their personal and professional best. Cooley’s approach to professional development promotes the mind- sets and habits of successful lawyers. By focusing on individualised, authentic development, we help lawyers leverage their personal strengths and align their personal values with Cooley’s strategy.
Substantive legal education Ongoing, coordinated learning Across all Cooley practice groups and offices, formal training helps lawyers continually develop and hone their legal skills.
Academies and workshops Learning with, from and about each other
Focused on skills critical to each stage of a lawyer’s career, Cooley’s academies and workshops are designed for interactive peer-to-peer learning that fosters social integration and actionable outcomes.
‘Cooley’s inclusive and supportive culture is obvious from the very first day. I was invited to a social event with my team the first week I joined, and everyone made me feel welcomed. When I am assigned work, whether it is partners, associates or supporting staff, everyone is always happy to take time out of their busy schedule to answer my questions or provide me with the support that I need. In less than a month as a first seater, I already feel less like a stranger and more like a teammember of the Cooley family!’
‘As part of a small intake at Cooley, I often feel like I am being given real responsibility. The pace can be quick, and it sometimes feels like you are being thrown in the deep end, but the learning opportunities that result are unique. When you add to this the vibrant pro bono programme and fun, collegiate atmosphere, it makes for an excellent training programme.’
Coaching Creative, confidential conversations
Cooley’s culture promotes lifelong learning. Our bespoke coaching service personalises the learning process so professional goals are achieved through personal ownership.
Digital learning On demand and just in time Cooley offers snackable, relevant and actionable content in a variety of formats that are ready when and where you are. Shadowing and mentoring On the shoulders of giants Learn alongside the best at Cooley – and get insights from those who have traveled further down the road.
Morgan McCormack Second-year trainee Current seat: Corporate
Alice Wong First-year trainee Current seat: Capital markets
Applying to train in London Cooley recruits trainees two years in advance and exclusively through its summer programme. If you want to be considered for a training contract starting in August 2024, you will need to apply for our 2022 summer programme. Applications need to be submitted by 30 January 2022. You are encouraged to submit your application well in advance. Shortlisting may commence before this date, but we do not assess applications on a rolling basis. Shortlisted applicants can expect to hear from the firm within three weeks of the application deadline, with all applicants being informed of their final status within a month of the deadline.
London trainees
Victoria Barlow Second-year trainee University of Bristol Law
Morgan McCormack Second-year trainee Trinity College, Dublin European Studies and Modern Languages
Max Lees Second-year trainee Cardiff University French and Spanish
Carolina Ljungwaldh First-year trainee University of Southampton Law with International Legal Studies
Submit your application: https://www.apply4law.com/cooley
Academic requirements Cooley’s academic requirements are a minimum 2.1 at degree level for any discipline and 128 UCAS points (ABB at A Level) or equivalent, not to include points from AS levels or general studies. We will accept applications from individuals who do not meet these requirements if they have clear and valid mitigating circumstances and have other- wise demonstrated excellence at another point in their academic or professional history. Law school support For those who secure a training place prior to the start of law school, Cooley will pay the fees and will provide a living allowance of £10,000 per annum for those residing inside London or £9,500 per annum for those residing elsewhere.
Arda Tekin First-year trainee University College of London Law
Sarah Brown First-year trainee Oxford University English Language and Literature
Jack Eastwood First-year trainee Cambridge University Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic
Alice Wong First-year trainee University College of London Politics and East European Studies
‘Cooley has been a fantastic place to learn and develop. Partners and associates go out of their way to give context and provide clear explanations, as well as make you feel like a valued member of the Cooley family.’ Monica Mylordou Associate Qualified into Business Litigation September 2020
Our application process If you are successful at the initial application stage, you will then take an online appraisal designed to assess your critical thinking skills. Candidates who perform most impressively will be invited to a half-day assessment involving a business case study, which has been designed to give you the opportunity to showcase your skills in team- working, commercial sense, communication skills, logic, judgement, creativity and decision-making. Those who demonstrate a high level of ability across our core compe- tency areas will be offered the opportunity to participate in a series of individual interviews with lawyers at varying levels of seniority.
Interviews will consist of a mix of competency and scenario-based questions. In addition, there will likely be a discussion about topics designed to assess your awareness of issues affecting the work of commercial lawyers and their clients. You should be prepared to talk about your interest in Cooley, the work our firm does and the clients with whom we work. The interviews are an opportunity for us to get to know you a little better and to determine how your experiences have prepared you to work in a law firm environment, as well as an opportunity for you to assess whether Cooley is a match for your aspirations, so you should ask questions about what matters to you. If you receive and accept an offer to join Cooley, you will hear from the firm regularly throughout the period before formally joining us. It is important to us that you feel like a member of the team from the beginning.
Summer programme Cooley’s two-week programmes involve a combination of hands-on work on active matters, shadowing other trainees, dynamic skills sessions, talks, trips and social events. With the goal of involving programme participants in client work to the greatest extent possible, individuals may find themselves attending meetings, taking part in conference calls, going to hearings, assisting on deals, conducting research or participating in project work. Our aim is to plan a programme where you will learn and have the opportunity to demonstrate your potential, while simultaneously gaining as much insight as possible into the firm, our people and the work we do.
‘The vacation scheme was run very well, especially considering the challenges of virtual participation. The planned sessions were engaging, and each built into the next task in a cohesive manner. Particular high- lights included the heads of depart- ment Q&A and the pro bono ses- sions. Fee earners at all levels took a real interest in the scheme, and the work set outside of the planned sessions gave a true insight into trainee life. The magic show social was also lots of fun!’
‘Cooley’s vacation scheme was phe- nomenal! It went beyond what is expected of a normal vacation scheme by including valuable sessions on business development, personal branding, negotiation and advocacy skills. I was impressed to see that Partners are very generous with their time, open about sharing their experi- ences and are genuinely interested to get to know you. Cooley allows you to take on real-life trainee work, but it also goes above and beyond to sup- port you, and there is a real sense of being part of a Cooley family!’ Gloriya Andonova 2021 virtual summer programme attendee (starts training in August 2023)
Shehzad Akram 2021 virtual summer programme attendee (starts training in August 2022)
Diversity Fellowship The Cooley UK Diversity Fellowship is a unique chance to gain valuable insights about a career in law with Cooley, with the opportunity to participate in Cooley’s summer programme a year sooner than students are typically eligible to participate. Our summer programme is an essen- tial part of our trainee solicitor recruitment process, as participants are traditionally considered for a training contract at the conclusion of the programme. As Diversity Fellows will be participating in the summer programme a year early, at the conclusion of the programme, they will be considered for participation in the programme again the following year. The two-year approach will provide the opportunity for Diversity Fellows to learn about our work environment, develop relevant skills, and gain invaluable contacts and experience that will enable them to perform to their best when they attend the summer programme in their second year. Award recipients will receive a paid summer programme position and a bursary of up to £12,000 to assist with university/law school tuition. The bursary will be paid in three instalments: £4,000 upon completion of the first summer programme with the firm; £4,000 upon completion of the second summer programme with the firm; and the remaining £4,000 upon joining the firm as a full-time trainee solicitor.
‘We’re devoted to this notion of being creative and entrepreneurial and that is born out of diversity – both diversity of opinion and diversity of background.’
Joe Conroy Chairman and chief executive officer
Diversity Fellowship eligibility
Application submissions
We welcome applications from all outstanding university students who:
We will consider only one complete and accurate online application from each applicant, and it must include: • A personal statement of no more than 650 words demonstrating achievement of the selection criteria for the Diversity Fellowship as outlined • Academic transcript (if available) For students in the 2021 – 2022 academic year, applications will open on 1 February 2022 and must be submitted by 14 March 2022. Selected applicants will be contacted on a rolling basis to arrange for personal interviews. For the 2021 – 2022 application cycle, interviews may be conducted virtually. Please direct questions regarding our fellowship to the diversity, equity & inclusion team at diversityfellowshipuk@cooley.com . ‘I am one of the Diversity Fellows who took part in the Summer scheme. The programme was planned with a carefully curated schedule which helped make the two weeks flow seamlessly with ease. This not only helped the programme feel less daunting but in turn, generated a real and concrete insight into the day-to-day life at the firm, one you cannot simply draw from a website. From the level of work assigned to me to the independent nature of the programme, the scheme was one of the most helpful when looking at life as a trainee and deciding if the job was a good fit for me. Doing the scheme a year early meant I could really take in all the details and quirks that make the firm and hopefully use this unique information in undertaking the scheme next year. Overall, Cooley’s summer scheme provides an unmatched experience for students looking to practice law and the caliber of training at the firm sits in a league of its own.’
• Are enrolled full time in a UK university course at the time of application, with an anticipated graduation date from a UK law school (studying for qualification as a solicitor in England and Wales) no later than 2026 • Demonstrate a commitment to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion within their local communities and/or more broadly • Can participate in and complete Cooley’s 2022 summer programme • Will not receive a diversity award from another law firm paid between 1 January 2022 and 31 August 2022
Selection criteria
We will consider applicants based on:
• Demonstrated commitment to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion • Sixth form (Years 12 and 13) and university academic achievement • Personal achievement • Demonstrated leadership ability • Community service
Soha Zaedali University of Bristol Law
Cooley culture Cooley is intent on maintaining its standing as one of the world’s greatest law firms, but also on keeping its reputation as a great place to work. We fundamentally believe that the two can, indeed must, go hand in hand. We know that simple things matter – like being thanked and appreciated for your hard work. We invest heavily in preserving our culture as we grow. This is reflected in our dedication to hiring the candidates who demonstrate the traits and values we have identified as central to success at Cooley, such as creativity, entrepreneurial savvy and commitment to collaboration. It is also reflected in how we create the space and time for people to come together to talk, share, celebrate or interact. In London, staff members are invited to regular catch-ups with Justin Stock, London managing partner. There have also been numerous planned and impromptu officewide socials, including summer and winter events, a festive quiz, and monthly relax and unwind time, in addition to tennis, netball and football matches.
Diversity, equity and inclusion Cooley’s commitment to attracting, mentoring and retaining an exceptional team of lawyers from as many backgrounds as possible is embedded in our culture. We are dedicated to maintaining a truly diverse workplace that values and celebrates differences – from the way we relate to and support each other to the way we work together to meet our clients’ needs. We have several affinity groups at Cooley with active membership in our London office, including the Cooley Inclusion Alliance, LGBTQ+ Affinity Group, Black Attorney and Professional Staff Affinity Groups, Asian Pacific Islander Attorney Affinity Group, Women’s Initiative and Caregivers Attorney Affinity Group. Our affinity groups provide resources and networks to support the retention and inclusion of our lawyers. Additionally, a London partner and associate sit on Cooley’s diversity committee, a firmwide committee that meets bimonthly to strategise ways to maintain and strengthen a culture of equity and inclusivity across Cooley. We’re proud of our annual commitment to Pathways to Law, which provides legal work experience to academically able, A-level students from underrepresented backgrounds. In addition, we review summer programme applications on a name-blind basis and conduct behavioural interviewer and unconscious bias training for all our lawyers, directors and managers. We also implement the Rare Contextual Recruitment System as part of our application system. We are excited about what lies ahead in continuing to attract, develop and retain diverse talent. Learn more about diversity, equity and inclusion at Cooley: www.cooley.com/about/diversity.
Can you Be Cooley? Cooley lawyers are stimulated by solving business and legal challenges. The work we do is complex, so our lawyers must relish developing the intellectual and analytical mastery needed to find difficult answers to thorny questions. We’re seeking candidates who share this passion, as well as an appreciation of how to develop effective business and working relationships. In addition, applicants should be able to demonstrate:
Events
In addition to attending university and national virtual law fairs, we will be hosting our annual Meet Cooley insight days. The first event will take place virtually on 9 December 2021 and is aimed at those who are planning to apply for our 2022 summer programme. Priority will be given to those who have reached at least their penultimate year of a law degree or final year of a non-law degree. The second event will take place in May 2022 and is aimed at those who are at an earlier stage in their academic pathway. Priority will be given to those who haven’t applied for the summer programme/period of recognised training at Cooley. Both events are a great opportunity to get an exclusive insight into the firm, and learn more about our practice areas and culture, in addition to networking with our lawyers. It’s a great chance to decide if the working environment is right for you and if you can see yourself developing your career here.
• Motivation and initiative • Communication skills and leadership • Service orientation and work ethic
• Superior judgement and problem-solving skills • Commitment, enthusiasm and team spirit • Professionalism
Meet Cooley May 2022 deadline: 28 February 2022
www.cooley.com/uktrainee
Pay and benefits The starting salary is £50,000, rising to £55,000 in second year of training. The newly qualified salary is £142,000. Other benefits include:
• Modern Health employee assistance program • Fertility treatment • Childcare vouchers • Sports, social and celebratory events • Wellbeing programme
• 25 days of annual leave • Gym membership subsidy • Season ticket loan • Critical illness insurance • Private medical insurance • Life assurance • Pension scheme and firm contribution
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Cooley contacts
Sarah Warnes Trainee recruitment & legal talent manager Lois Colquhoun Legal talent assistant
Cooley (UK) LLP 22 Bishopsgate London EC2N 4BQ +44 (0) 20 7583 4055
Claire Temple Special counsel & training principal
uktrainee@cooley.com
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