Insider report Jones Day
Mark Makram undertook JonesDay’s vacation scheme in summer 2019 andwill start at the firm as a trainee in 2021.
No of scheme places 70
What did you do while on the vacation scheme? The vacation scheme at Jones Day is designed to reflect the firm’s non- rotational training contract. That means that there are no seats or allocated pieces of work, and it is your job to walk the floors and seek work from the departments that you are attracted to. I had to take the initiative to find the right time to introduce myself to partners, associates and trainees. I sought work in areas such as banking, private equity and disputes, and my tasks included proofreading, research tasks and even participation in business development initiatives. I was also given the chance to assist a partner in drafting restricted covenant clauses for a live transaction. More generally, there were three fixed tasks on our timetable during the scheme – a business presentation, a negotiation skills workshop and a mid-scheme interview. I took part in a five-a-side football match, which was a great way to socialise with trainees and lawyers outside of the office and to get to know them on a personal level. There was also a trip to the London Eye and the firm hosted a reception with the lawyers which were great opportunities to meet people socially. What did you feel that you gained from the placement? The scheme gave me a greater understanding of what exactly the non- rotational style of training would look like and whether it would suit me. Working on business development tasks developed my commercial awareness and knowledge of how a law firm maintains relationships with its clients. Working on live client matters came with an exciting level of responsibility and interacting with other offices made it clear how the firm is integrated internationally – something I hadn’t expected to witness on a scheme. Most of the deals I worked on were supported by lawyers from around the world and involved a cross- border element. I enjoyed the independence that the scheme offers. Finding your own work is an organic way to discover which areas of law you enjoy the most and what route you’re going to take as a trainee. I also really enjoyed the friendly competitiveness of the negotiation workshop. The greatest challenge was prioritising my time effectively as the workload increased. Because I was working on real client matters it was essential to meet all deadlines and produce work to a high standard. As some of the live transactions I worked on developed, I received more tasks through that workflow, so I quickly learned to juggle tasks and priorities. Which were the most enjoyable – and most challenging – aspects of the scheme? Did the scheme end with a training contract interview or some other kind of further recruitment process? There is no official training contract interview as you are being assessed based on your work throughout the scheme. The partner interview during the scheme was a chance to receive feedback and ask questions. I found out about my training contract a few weeks later. Is there one key thing that you took away from the experience that you would pass on as advice to others? Forming relationships with a wide range of lawyers is really important, so don’t forget to be yourself and show your human side. Additionally, when communicating to trainees and lawyers, it’s important to remember that you’re there to learn just as much as you’re there to impress the firm.
Location of schemes London
Length of schemes 2 weeks
Remuneration (per week) £500
Dates of schemes Winter: December 2020 Spring: April 2021
Summer: July 2021
Closing date for applications Applications open on 1 October 2020. We recruit on a rolling basis. Final deadline: 8 January 2021 We expect to recruit our trainees from our placement candidates. Application procedure Online at www.jonesdaylondon.com For full contact information and details of Training Contracts, see the firm’s full entry in the main directory on p344
Remember to cite The LawCareers.Net Handbook on your application form if you apply to this law firm.
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WORK EXPERIENCE
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