Trainee Yushra Raheem Graduate in Law, Queen Mary University, London
“I participated in the Vacation Scheme which gave me a really good insight into Kirkland & Ellis. I was looking for a US firm with a market leading reputation and a strong focus on private equity.”
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I graduated in law from Queen Mary University, London and started a career in banking before deciding to return to law. Having worked for a US bank I knew that the culture suited me well and that working for an international firm would give me the opportunity to work on cross border transactions. I applied for the Vacation Scheme because I wanted to know exactly what I’d been doing on a day-to-day basis if I was a trainee at Kirkland & Ellis and I discovered that you really do get stuck in straightaway. As a trainee you also have a lot of autonomy from the start. You’re given as much responsibility as you’re willing to take on, so can really get involved with a deal from start to finish. Being trusted so early on in your career can be a bit daunting but the exposure and experience you get as a result is second to none.
I’m close to completing my seat in investment funds, and have said that I’d like my next placement in financial services regulatory. They are really accommodating here. If you express an interest in a certain area of law or piece of work you’d like to get involved in, they’ll take note. In my current seat, I asked for more exposure to fund documentation and was soon given the opportunity to put together the first draft of a key fund agreement, and liaise directly with investors. Being part of a small intake means that you’re very much seen as an individual. You participate in real legal work and are encouraged to learn as much as you can on the job. At the end it means you qualify with genuine experience. They manage the gap between trainee and associate really well here.
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