BEST TRAINER – US FIRM IN THE CITY
them, and what they’ve experienced elsewhere that we can learn from. In terms of the vacation scheme itself, we want it to be as close to the experience of a trainee or junior associate as possible; so while there are sessions and talks, the bulk of it is sitting with a supervisor doing actual work. We want them to have the experience of day-to-day trainee life in a firm like this.” A ‘firm like this’, as Vance explains, is “a commercial corporate firm that focuses on a number of key areas including hedge funds, distressed and financial restructuring, and emerging markets”. That tends to attract a certain type of self-starter, keen to work in a dynamic and fast- paced environment. “It won’t suit all personalities, so we’re looking
for people with intellectual curiosity who are solutions-focused, who enjoy immersive learning and are after complex work,” explains Vicky. “They will thrive here.” “Our practice areas are attractive to some because they’re in the news,” adds Vance. “We also give our lawyers the chance to express themselves and make the most of the opportunities that are given to them; so again, we tend to attract people who want that sort of training. We are about 100 lawyers here, so it’s small enough to feel that you know everyone – it’s not a factory! We are a warm and open office, and although people are busy and getting on with the job at hand, it’s also non-stuffy and there is limited hierarchy. That’s a virtue of the size and the specialisations – everyone
works very closely with one another – and what we’re trying to create.” Small size, solid reputation and interesting work were just a few of the draws for first-year trainee Rachel Beddoe when she applied (to what at the time was Bingham): “By training at a smaller firm I really liked that I wouldn’t be compromising on the quality of work – that was key. The vacation scheme gave me the chance to sit in a number of different departments, meet interesting people and get involved in actual matters. I felt that I got true insight into what life as a trainee would be like.” When it comes to smoothing the transition from academic law to life as a commercial lawyer, the firm does all it can to help its prospective trainees. Rachel appreciated its efforts to help arrange a work visa (she is Australian) and to advise which LPC subjects would best suit the training contract that awaited her. “We are in constant email touch with our future trainees all the way through the LPC and they are invited to our summer party and a Christmas event, which is a great way of introducing them to people at the firm,” Vicky adds. “We also encourage them to pop in if they’re ever in London. There is an ongoing dialogue, but it’s not forced. When they arrive, we run a comprehensive on-boarding process, filled with firm knowledge and training. We encourage them to always ask questions – there is no such thing as a bad one – and they tend to settle in very quickly. We keep an eye on how things are going and always ask whether they have enough or too
We are a warm and open office, and although people are busy and getting on with the job at hand, it’s also non-stuffy and there is limited hierarchy
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