A world
of difference
Welcome to a career in law
Contents
A world of difference
An introduction from Cathy and David
2
Great minds think differently
4
Our five points of difference
5
A different way of working
Our multi-specialist approach
6
A global reputation
8
Anatomy of a global deal
10
A week in the life
12
A different approach to international work
Flexibility in a fast-moving world
14
The right minds in the right places
16
An international outlook
18
Our people make the difference
Strength from diversity
20
A different view on time
24
A different culture
Genuinely together
26
Pro bono and volunteering opportunities
27
Extracurricular and social activities
30
Your career takes off here
Work experience and training contracts
32
The application and interview process
34
Your seating programme
36
Lifelong learning
37
Salaries, funding and benefits 38
Final thoughts
40
Photo opposite:
Aerial view of our office
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A world of difference
An introduction from Cathy and David
Cathy Connolly is a partner in our Intellectual Property and Technology
group. David Johnson is a partner in our Corporate and Commercial practice.
Together they are responsible for trainee recruitment.
There are few things quite so
rewarding as knowing you made
a difference. At the top end of any
profession, the margins between
success and failure can be very
fine. The quality of every detail
contributes to the final outcome.
There are many approaches to law
and many firms have outstanding
reputations for excellence. To find the
place where you will fit best and are
most likely to thrive, our advice is to
look behind the reputation and study
the culture that gives rise to it.
It is a source of immense pride
for us that many regard Slaughter
and May to be one of the most
prestigious law firms in the world.
We are honoured that governments,
multinational corporations and
financial institutions trust us with
their most sensitive and critical
business. But perhaps of greater
relevance to you, as you consider
your future, is why they should
do so. How do we manage to
distinguish ourselves in a business
that is already widely populated
with so many talented people?
The answer is that we do things
our own way. We set great store by
independence of thought and how
autonomy, both individual and
collective, gives rise to more original,
more powerful thinking. In five clear
ways we operate differently from
other global law firms, as we hope
this brochure will show.
In a world where everyone claims to
be different, we are demonstrably
unique. How we work, how we're
international, how we promote from
within, how we learn… at every turn
we have our own take on how things
should be done.
Unsurprisingly, then, our people
come from diverse backgrounds.
There is no 'type' here – Slaughter
and May is an extraordinary mix of
opinions, interests, personalities and
nationalities. This is a great strength,
but our true strength lies in how this
diversity comes together. We believe
that the way our firm is structured
helps us to support, share and
collaborate better. We feel liberated
to give and continually ask more of
each other.
This generosity of spirit is furthered
by how we allow great minds the
space to grow. Brilliant minds
should not be restricted. At
Slaughter and May we strive to find
remarkable people and provide
them with the freedom to think
and innovate. Why? Because with
the kind of work we do – often
ground-breaking international
deals – it is the ability to navigate
our clients out of a tight corner that
sets us apart from everyone else.
For those clients, this difference
makes a world of difference.
We hope this brochure inspires
your choice.
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5
Great minds
think differently
There are five distinct differences between us and other
global law firms: how we work; our international model;
our people; our approach to time and our culture.
Five differences that, in our view, lead to immensely
rewarding careers.
Our clients turn to us for leadership
on complex, ambitious projects
that are frequently time critical and
often the first of their kind. When
something has never been done
before and there are no precedents
to turn to, that's when we really find
out what we're made of – both as
individuals and as a business. How
we organise ourselves to meet these
challenges defines us.
Together, these things add up.
Being different in itself is not
important. Being able to think
and act in the most effective
manner possible is, and that is
why these points of difference
exist. We want flexible lawyers and
an adaptable business focused on
innovation, which is often what
it takes to solve really difficult
problems, whether it's a banking
system on the verge of collapse or
a deal between two of the world's
largest pharmaceutical companies
spanning over 100 countries.
Ultimately, it's done because we
want the best for our clients.
You are making one of the most
important decisions of your life.
Understanding these differences
should play a fundamental role in
your decision because they will
affect every day of your working
life at Slaughter and May.
We differ from other
global law firms in
five distinct ways
How we work
We're multi-specialist.
Performing a wider range of
transactions leads to deeper
client relationships and
gives our lawyers greater
autonomy and a far more
stimulating working life.
Our international
approach
Nearly all of our work has an
international element and we
choose to tackle the nuances
of international law by
building relationships with the
best firms in each jurisdiction.
Our people
We place great store in drawing
strength from diversity. With
92 different degree courses
from 84 different universities
and 32 nationalities among
our lawyers, our culture
is extremely broad.
Our view on time
Our culture
We don't necessarily bill
clients by the hour and
we have no internal billing
targets. This is fundamental
both for learning and for
a sense of togetherness.
We're a collegiate partnership
that has never merged
with another firm. We all
rely on each other and
our high standards would
be impossible without a
common sense of purpose.
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A different way of working
Our multi-specialist approach
Many people believe that,
at the highest end of
law, you can only be an
expert in one very specific
area. We disagree. There
are many benefits to
broadening your horizons.
At Slaughter and May we don't
pigeonhole our lawyers; all are
trained to be multi-specialists across
a broad range of legal matters. This
is in sharp contrast to the experience
that you might have at other City
firms where, as a trainee in, say, a
finance group, you may well work
in a very narrow area of finance.
As a trainee in one of our groups,
you will work on a full range of
transactions on which the group
advises over a three- or six-month
period. In a corporate group, for
example, one month you could help
guide a client through the defence
of a hostile takeover and the next
you could be advising that same
client on a bond issue. In dispute
resolution, you could attend a court
hearing on a complex civil litigation
matter in the morning, then meet a
client to prepare for a mediation that
afternoon. In the short term, this will
enable you to make a more informed
decision about which practice group
you should join on qualification. In
the long term, it makes for a far more
fulfilling career.
“Work is very varied...”
On multi-specialism in practice: Patrick, trainee
Law graduate from Trinity College Dublin
An interesting
workload, which is
exactly what great
minds need.
We give our lawyers a challenging,
varied and interesting workload,
which is exactly what great minds
need. The key point, however, is
the resulting depth of knowledge
of your client. Instead of repeating
the same type of transaction many
times over, you will develop profound
relationships with clients that are
enriched over time as you get to
know their businesses better. It is
the quality of these relationships
that defines the way we do business
around the world. This level of
insight can make the world of
difference for both parties: you'll
play a guiding role in changing
commercial and legal times.
Is there a downside? Of course. It's
hard work. You have to cover more
ground. But with our collegiate
approach, the support is always there
to make it possible. And the freedom
to choose your own direction,
the opportunity to have a more
stimulating working life and the
autonomy this flexibility brings all
more than make up for it.
You're currently three
months into your
corporate seat. What
have you covered?
I've done lots of things. I drafted
the transfer document for a player
signing by a Premier League football
club, liaising with the general
counsel of the club. I helped set
up a charity, drafting the articles
of association and carrying out
the required procedural steps with
Companies House and the Charities
Commission. I then worked on a
recommended takeover of two large
public listed companies by a scheme
of arrangement.
After that, I was in charge of the
shareholder register on a hostile
takeover of another large public
company, and took part in the due
diligence process of that, drafting
disclaimers and so on.
Has anything surprised
you about this work?
I thought I'd be spending time with
just one supervisor on one set thing,
say public or private work, but in
practice I have worked with a range of
partners and associates, and that was
certainly unexpected. And work is
very varied: one minute the football
transfer, next the charity, then the
takeover… back to the transfer. The
day flies by, it's really fast-paced.
You are exposed to so many types
of deals, structures, companies…
and that leads to all sorts of client
interaction, and they also have their
different ways, different manners.
All of the things you are drafting are
different, so you're like a sponge,
constantly absorbing. Maybe there's
more pressure, it's not always easy, but
if anything the variety has convinced
me that I'm in the right place and
I think it's a better way to learn.
You draw confidence from seeing
partners and associates operate. And
when you're not sure, there is a lot of
support. I'm looking forward to being
in this seat for another three months
as the full six gives me the chance
to see transactions through from
beginning to end. Dull it is not!
Our work
6
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A global reputation
Our practice areas
At the cutting edge
Capital Markets
Reputation is a precious asset. It is because of our
reputation for excellence that we are appointed as legal
advisers to the world's leading companies on high-profile
and often landmark transactions. The nature of the work
defines how we approach it, and for that reason it shapes
the careers of our lawyers.
Competition Litigation
The calibre of
our clients has
a direct bearing
on the range and
the quality of
work you'll do.
Asset Management
Competition
We have clients all over the world
and across all industries. They range
from governments to entrepreneurs,
from funds to leading banks,
from retailers to entertainment
companies and from industrial
conglomerates to Premier League
football clubs. We have an extensive
practice providing a full range of
legal services, so it follows that our
work is tremendously varied.
We were the only law firm to have
been involved in dealing with almost
every aspect of the UK financial crisis.
Working closely with Treasury legal
advisers, we were at the centre of the
measures taken by the Government
to support the banking sector, and we
continue to advise on many aspects
of these measures.
Corporate and Commercial
Data Protection and Privacy
Dispute Resolution
Environment
Financial Regulation
We advise more FTSE
100 and FTSE 250
companies than any
other law firm.
FTSE companies' activities span the globe,
employing 8 million staff worldwide.
Financing
More recently, we acted for Shell
on its acquisition of BG Group, for
GSK on its three-part transaction
with Novartis, for Vodafone on the
disposal of its US group to Verizon for
$130 billion, and for Royal Mail on its
initial public offering. Each of these
exciting transactions attracted
a great deal of media attention.
For our trainees the benefits are clear.
The calibre of our clients, the breadth
of their business and the transactions
they bring us have a direct bearing
on the range and quality of the work
you will do every day. Of course it is
gratifying to know that your work can
affect the lives of many people or
have international significance, but
of equal importance is its challenging
nature. Great minds thrive on being
tested. Being at the cutting edge
of this profession will certainly test
you. People at Slaughter and May
never stop learning, even the most
senior partners, and that is one of the
greatest things we can offer you.
Global Investigations
Information Technology
Infrastructure, Energy
and Natural Resources
Some of the household names on our client list:
Insurance
Alibaba
Legal & General
Intellectual Property
American Express
Marks and Spencer
Mergers and Acquisitions
Arsenal FC
Morgan Stanley
Outsourcing
ASOS
Ocado
Pensions and Employment
Aviva
Prada
Private Equity
Barratt Developments
Premier Foods
Real Estate
BHP Billiton
Priceline
Restructuring and Insolvency
British Airways
Prudential
Sovereign Debt and Eurozone
Burberry
Rightmove
Sport
Coca-Cola
Rolls-Royce
Tax
Diageo
Royal Mail
Tax Disputes
Ericsson
Santander
esure
Shell
Gatwick Airport
Standard Chartered
General Electric
STAR India
GlaxoSmithKline
Tata Steel
HM Treasury
Taylor Wimpey
Hong Kong Airport Authority
Unilever
ITV
Vodafone
Ladbrokes
Whitbread
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Shell's £47bn acquisition
of BG Group
Anatomy of a global deal
This transaction was the third largest oil and gas deal
in history and, at the time of announcement, the 14th
largest M&A transaction in history, and the largest M&A
deal with a UK target. A partner, associate and trainee each
share their experience of working on it.
Overview of the
transaction
Executing a global deal of this
magnitude, particularly in a
highly regulated sector, required
extraordinary levels of coordination
across a number of teams working
on different elements. Antitrust and
foreign investment consents were
obtained in numerous jurisdictions
– including the EU, Brazil, China and
Australia – and securities law advice
taken in even more. Reflecting the
enormous scale of the transaction,
Shell issued 1,523,804,425 new Shell
shares and paid around £13 billion
in cash to former BG shareholders.
Completion involved the listing and
trading of the new Shell shares in
London, Amsterdam and New York.
The partner's perspective
Robert
History graduate from
Bristol University
It started small, just a couple of
partners in corporate, with support
from tax and competition, trying to
put together a strategy for how things
might evolve. Gradually momentum
built. We brought another corporate
partner on board, a specialist in
upstream oil and gas, to look at
regulatory and consent issues and
then the financing and employment
teams. The important point is not
to be overawed by the scale and do
the basics well, as on any deal. We
established very strict procedures to
ensure that the central team knew
what others were involved in and so
that issues could be escalated quickly
when required. My responsibilities
spanned most of the workstreams,
with particular focus on Takeover
Code issues and liaising with the
Takeover Panel.
Resilience was key to this deal,
especially post-announcement, with
an unusually long time between
announcement and closing and a
moving deadline for publishing the
offer and shareholder documents,
which was dependent on when
Chinese and other approvals for the
transaction came in. Camaraderie
and the enthusiasm of trainees and
associates helped get us there. To me
the deal illustrates the importance of
getting on well with clients – I spoke
to my main contact almost every day
for the best part of a year!
“The important point
is not to be overawed
by the scale.”
The associate's
perspective
Srijanee
Law graduate from Oxford University
Being very busy on another deal at
the time, I had no idea that when
I was given a short note to write
on a (seemingly) random point
one afternoon that it would be
the start of almost a year of work
on such a landmark transaction.
Joining the team early on in the
process, I had an opportunity to
learn how a deal was structured in
its early stages and the importance
of considering every eventuality.
My work as an associate included
negotiating engagement letters,
participating in various calls and
meetings, preparing submissions to
regulators, drafting the co-operation
agreement between Shell and BG
and, eventually, the Shell prospectus.
At times, the level of responsibility
was challenging but the partners
and senior associates on the deal
were always available to talk through
points and give guidance on how to
approach tricky topics.
Writing the 400-page prospectus
about Shell and BG was a brilliant way
of gaining an understanding of their
businesses and I thoroughly enjoyed
the interaction with the team at Shell
during the drafting process. Other
memorable moments included being
invited on a trip to The Hague and
being thanked for the work I had done
on the deal by the CEO of Shell during
the post-announcement celebrations.
All in all, a very rewarding experience!
The trainee's perspective
Edward
History graduate from
Cambridge University
I joined the deal at a fairly advanced
stage, taking over from the previous
trainee. Getting up to speed was a
steep learning curve, especially as I
was given a fairly dynamic role. This
included drafting parts of transaction
documents, researching points of
law and managing the transaction
timetable, all alongside my main
role on the overseas securities law
workstream… a real range of work
for the whole team, not just one
supervisor. The role also offered
great opportunities to take on
responsibility – in fact, when an
associate was away getting married
just before the publication of the
prospectus, I took a lead role in the
overseas securities law workstream.
The deal has taught me a lot about
law, about the oil and gas industry
and about how to adapt my skills to
fit the needs of clients. Looking back,
it is amazing what we achieved and,
despite a lot of hard work and some
pretty late nights, there is no doubt
that I would do the whole thing again
in a heartbeat.
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A week in the life of...
Michaela, trainee
Biological Sciences graduate from Oxford University
Monday 18th – Friday 22nd April 2016
This was a fairly typical working week. For simplicity's sake, I've excluded the smaller
five-to-ten-minute tasks that routinely break up a trainee's day: things such as looking
up precedents or certain clauses within transaction documents, small research jobs and
admin tasks such as arranging conference calls.
Wednesday
AM: Asked to produce a first draft
Takeover Code 'Rule 2.7'/firm
intention announcement for a
takeover. Start by reviewing our
standard documents and notes,
along with relevant precedents on
our system.
Lunch: Lunch at desk.
PM: Start drafting Rule 2.7
announcement.
After work: No post-work plans
today; stay in the office relatively
late to make progress with Rule 2.7
announcement.
Monday
AM: Pick up a coffee and breakfast on
my way in to work; eat/drink at desk
while reading the morning's news
online. Asked by supervisor to pull
some thoughts and slides together
on the topic of "transparency in
business" for a 30-minute slot at a
client update seminar taking place
at the end of the month. Deadline is
end of the week. Start researching.
Lunch: Attend a trainee training
session on "Introduction to
Takeovers", which considers the
City Takeover Code and the key
takeover transaction documents in
the context of a case study. Lunch
included in session.
PM: Spend afternoon researching
precedents for, and subsequently
drafting, a side letter to a
non-disclosure agreement, which
relates to the sale of some hotels.
After work: Run home (Brixton)
at around 7:30 pm.
Lunch: Lunch with a friend from my
trainee intake in the staff restaurant.
PM: Continue research on client
update seminar presentation
(including a meeting with a corporate
professional support lawyer on
AM: Finish/amend drafting of Rule
2.7 announcement with fresh eyes;
send to relevant associate. Fairly
quiet, so answer a 'capacity' email
to give support to another associate
– help with the verification of an
investor presentation.
Lunch: Attend a Corporate group
training session, which includes
two presentations (plus Q&A);
one on the Modern Slavery Act
(rather conveniently!) and one
on lessons learnt from a recent
client transaction.
Tuesday
AM: Receive comments from
associate on the side letter I drafted;
conduct further research and amend
drafting before sending to partner
for comments.
Thursday
the relevant topics, which include
the new regime on "persons with
significant control", the gender pay
gap and the Modern Slavery Act).
Put draft slides together and send
to supervisor.
After work: Attend an internal
"Town Hall" debate on Brexit, hosted
by us, and featuring a number of
high-profile external speakers.
Post-debate drinks with
attendees and speakers.
PM: Complete this morning's
verification task. Dial in to conference
call with a client on behalf of the rest
of our team to provide legal updates
on the transaction. Following call,
quick coffee downstairs with a friend,
then return to my desk to draft
an internal post-call update email
to the team.
After work: Attend group party
at a local bar and restaurant.
Friday
AM: Discuss Rule 2.7 announcement
with relevant associate; make
recommended amendments to
drafting. Sign off Monday's client
seminar presentation with supervisor.
Lunch: Prepare for this afternoon's
session with the GCSE student
I am helping with their biology
course through the Key Project,
one of the firm's Corporate
Responsibility initiatives.
PM: Conduct further verification
in relation to Thursday's capacity
request. Attend biology session,
tutee seems in good spirits. Then
tie up loose ends and log off.
After work: Start the weekend having
dinner with old school friends who
also live and work in London.
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Our world
A different approach
to international work
Flexibility in a fast-moving world
The vast majority of our transactions are international
and cross-border in nature. Our lawyers service
international clients worldwide, which means they travel
extensively. But our international work is driven by the
fundamental principle that complex transactions require
first-class legal expertise rooted in a deep knowledge of
local practice, procedures and culture.
United States
Western Europe
Russia
The United States is one of our
most active international markets
both on investment into and from
the US. We advise 90 US companies
in the Fortune 500 and multinational
businesses with significant US
interests. Major US clients include
GE, Coca-Cola and Priceline
(booking.com). We work closely
with the leading independent
Wall Street firms, as well as major
law firms in key regional centres
across all states, including
California and Texas.
We have long-standing client
relationships throughout the
continent, for example, we recently
advised Rolls-Royce in relation to the
restructuring of its aircraft engine
maintenance repair and overhaul
(MRO) joint venture with Lufthansa
in Germany. We work collaboratively,
and on a non-exclusive basis, with our
European 'Best Friends' – marketleading firms in France, Germany, Italy,
the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain–
to provide our clients with a 'best of
the best' global legal service.
Slaughter and May and leading
Russian lawyers proactively engage in
joint training sessions, secondments,
conferences and client events, which
develops our relationships with local
clients and contributes towards our
understanding of the issues facing
the Russian market.
Central and Latin America
Nordics
We regularly work with the leading
firms in Central and Latin America,
maintaining close personal
relationships with lawyers from a
variety of different firms. To develop
understanding and relationships
within the region, we participate
in an annual joint training
programme, hosted by leading
Latin American firms.
For 20 years our Nordic
secondment programme has been
strengthening our relationships
with leading local law firms, with
which we regularly collaborate
in producing joint training and
knowledge-sharing initiatives.
Africa
We have considerable knowledge
of working in this diverse continent.
We have, for example, advised the
Government of Botswana on a broad
range of work over a period of more
than 30 years. We have also seconded
our lawyers to Ghana, Kenya and
South Africa.
Asia-Pacific
We have a long-standing presence
in Asia, including an office in Hong
Kong, which we established in 1974
and a Beijing office, which we opened
in 2009. Our operations in the region
are run locally from these hubs.
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The right minds
in the right places
Building teams with the best worldwide
We have offices in London, Brussels, Hong Kong and
Beijing. In other jurisdictions, we prefer to remain agile
by leading unified, hand-picked teams of lawyers from
market-leading law firms.
Rather than opening a myriad of
local offices, we believe that it is more
beneficial to work with like-minded
experts from well-established firms
in their own jurisdictions. By not
constraining ourselves to formal
alliances we can, together with our
clients, select the firms that are best
suited to each particular transaction.
That often includes law firms with
whom our clients already have close
relationships – a clear advantage.
Not being obliged to refer work
to local offices also means
that our lawyers take a lead
on international issues.
Working in this way helps us to
see each challenge with more
clarity, respond with more agility
and then deliver more compelling
and coherent advice. It gives our
clients the edge in an ever-more
competitive world.
All the firms we work with across
the world (including our European
'Best Friends') have a reputation for
excellence and independence that
matches our own. We have made
long-term investments to help foster
connections at all levels between
our lawyers and those at our partner
firms across the world: the level of
communication and understanding
runs deep.
Many of our trainees and associates
have the opportunity to work abroad,
either in our offices or in one of the
firms we work closely with overseas.
We believe that our secondments
are especially beneficial because
they give our lawyers the chance
to experience a working culture
very different from our own.
“Intense, but very rewarding…”
On secondment in Paris: Julian, associate
History and German graduate from Oxford University
You spent six months
on secondment with our
French 'Best Friend' firm,
Bredin Prat, in Paris.
How was it?
It was intense, but very rewarding.
The training I received through my
training contract prepared me well
for the degree of responsibility I
was given while I was with Bredin
Prat. It was a great way to transition
from being a fourth seat trainee to a
qualified associate when I came back
to London. And I enjoyed the people:
they were a joy to work with and the
fortnightly drinks and nibbles are on
another level.
How was the work?
Because the practice is relatively
small, there's a wide variety of work.
I did a red flag report for a big M&A
transaction – high-level contract
analysis, writing the report, and
discussing issues directly with the
client. There was another project
around extending Monaco into the
sea; Monégasque law is a fascinating
framework to work with! I was
drafting documents in English, but
I did get to use my French during
meetings and with colleagues.
And Paris itself?
Going out to buy a baguette fresh
from the oven, walking to work
through the heart of the city, seeing
the light reflecting off the buildings
and going for a run beside the Seine,
it's quite something. Mostly, though,
I miss the cheese!
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An international outlook
Hiba, associate
Law graduate from University College London
How much of your work is
international in nature?
If you look at the inter-connectivity of
the market from a global perspective,
I think it's easy to see why so much
of the work we do is international.
It's inevitable these days. We've got
clients based in the UK but looking
to use international products;
UK-based clients that have operations
abroad, or are looking to expand
internationally; and we have foreign
clients that want to use English law
and the products we have here. The
London financial market attracts
international business, and I can't
see Brexit having a detrimental
effect on that. Almost all of our
work has an international angle.
Slaughter and May works
with the best firms in
other jurisdictions. How
does this work in practice?
Generally, we manage the
relationship with our client, and
then we maintain a close working
relationship with our partner firm
in the relevant jurisdictions. I think
the dynamic of how an international
team works is fascinating. Clearly
at one level you get an insight into
culture. On a more practical level,
you avoid pitfalls by having the right
people on the ground.
The benefits go all the way from
big ideas on structuring a deal right
down to administrative things like
being careful about time zones and
fund flows, or the way you need to
get documents signed and notarised
and how long that's going to take…
such a simple thing can really stir
up issues in a tight timetable! I work
daily with people from our 'Best
Friends' firms, for example. You
quickly become used to it.
Can you give an example
of something that you
have worked on?
Yes, I worked on the purchase of
an international airport in Istanbul
by Malaysia Airports, that used
English law, but otherwise we were
working closely with Malaysian
and Turkish legal counsels. All
sorts of really interesting issues
came up because it was an airport,
which meant heavy involvement
with the Turkish government.
As if that weren't international
enough, at the start of the deal I
was based in our Hong Kong office,
where I was on secondment.
How was that?
Great, really great. It was invaluable
to get such a different, non-London,
international angle on the financial
markets. To work with Chinese and
South-East Asian clients and see first
hand how the Hong Kong financial
market operates, the pressure on the
Asian markets, and the change in
dynamics between Hong Kong and
China was a fantastic experience.
What about Hong Kong
itself?
An amazing, vibrant, exciting place
to be. It was just so much more than
you would imagine, it's not just a
big city, there are beautiful hiking
trails and beaches. Our office has a
boat that we can use. At weekends
we could take off to neighbouring
islands… this is not something you
forget quickly.
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21
Our people
make the difference
92
Strength from diversity
When selecting trainees we certainly
look beyond their academics. This
is a people business and we work
together in teams, sometimes under
considerable pressure for lengthy
periods. We need individuals with
energy and spark who can relate to
those around them. We like common
sense, integrity and drive. We like
people who have an interesting take
on things and who have a range of
interests outside of the law. We like
people with resolve who are able to
show grit under pressure. We also like
an awareness of the business world
and backdrop, because this is key for
our clients.
Best of all for helping clients,
confounding the opposition and
managing the pressure? A sense of
humour. Try surviving without one.
84
different
nationalities
different
universities
Our people
We can talk about philosophies, systems and
differences, but only one thing truly makes us who
we are, and that's our people. We value diversity and
individuality very highly – different perspectives are
crucial when it comes to providing innovative advice.
You will find graduates from over 92 different degree
courses, 84 different universities and 32 different
nationalities at Slaughter and May. But there are shared
qualities that help bind us together.
different
degree courses
32
We aim to employ the brightest
minds regardless of what or where
they studied. We benefit from
talented people who think differently
and we strive to ensure that people
feel comfortable about being
themselves at work.
You don't need to have studied law
to join us. About half of the trainee
solicitors we recruit studied law as
undergraduates. Among us you will
find historians, biologists, linguists,
psychologists, chemists, musicians
and many others.
Diversity of thought, perspective
and experience is invaluable in
providing creative and cutting-edge
advice to our clients, and it also
fosters an open-minded and varied
work environment. We believe that
it is our ability to build collaborative
and diverse teams that helps us to
succeed. That inclusivity enhances
our business performance.
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different
languages
spoken
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23
“It's easy to fit in...”
On training and getting involved:
Graham, trainee
Politics, Philosophy and Economics
graduate from Queen's University, Belfast
“Really forward-looking...”
On people and teamwork: Neha, associate
Law graduate from King's College London
What did you make of the
application process?
What did you make of the
application process?
It's no frills, which I liked. The
interview felt like a two-way process.
The partners were very interested in
my degree and there was a real focus
on the type of character I am. I was
left with the feeling that were I to
receive an offer it was a place where
I'd be able to fit in.
It was the only interview where I
didn't feel I was jumping through
hoops. It was challenging, but
focused on testing the way I think
and the skills I would need to be a
lawyer and that made me feel like
this is a place where you are valued
for what you bring to the table and
who you are.
Has the training met
your expectations?
I think it's second to none. The
formal training is excellent, and
I have also benefited greatly from
the time my supervisors, whether
senior associates or partners,
have taken to offer advice and
explain new concepts to me. You
don't realise quite how much
you're picking up. You also learn
by being trusted, and working to
deadlines. As I approach the final
stages of my training contract,
I have started to fully appreciate
the pace of my development.
Was it as easy to fit in
as you anticipated?
The positive atmosphere makes
it easy to fit in and there's a huge
range of things available – I love
sport and have got really involved:
we've got a firm-wide football fivea-side over the summer, there's a
mixed beach rugby tournament
coming up and rugby sevens. I
did wonder if the environment
would be quite formal, despite the
first impression at the interview,
but this hasn't been the case.
You're working in
competition law –
what drew you to it?
It's really forward-looking: new
products, new services, new ways
of doing things. It's vital you
understand your client and what's
going on in their market – you're
always learning, whether it's about
hotels, airlines or perhaps the
less glamorous petrochemicals!
The legal and strategic are closely
intertwined, so we have an
extremely close relationship with
clients and a big role in developing
and evolving their business.
Has anything
surprised you?
I actually enjoy working here!
Everything is important. Everything
has weight. You tackle it in teams
who support each other and make
the task more enjoyable. People like
being together – even outside the
office! I have made some very good
friends. Twenty or so from my group
went to France recently to take part
in La Champenoise (an 18km run
with champagne!). Then the firm's
Women's Network organised a 'Beer
and Pizza' evening recently, where
women invited male colleagues
along. As a network member I go to
the 'Network of Networks' to share
ideas and arrange joint activities with
other networks around the firm. Even
small things count, details like people
who enjoy baking just bring things in
to share. There are more bakers than
you would think…
Does any day in particular
stand out as special?
Probably the day I got feedback on
the first document I drafted from
start to finish. It helps enormously
when hard work gets appreciated and
knowing that you really can 'bring
something to the table' does
wonders for your self-belief.
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A different view on time
Great ideas aren't measured by clocks
How do you create an atmosphere in which people share their
expertise and time willingly with one another? How do you
make it collaborative, not counter-productively competitive?
How do you create an environment in which the quality of the
work takes precedence over how long it takes?
We don't necessarily bill our clients
by the hour either – we're flexible
on that too, which allows us to bill for
the value we bring if it is appropriate.
Some ideas take a matter of
seconds but are capable of saving
companies millions of pounds a
year. The type of work we do is not
always measurable in minutes.
This is not done for an easier life,
it's done to achieve better results.
We believe our system provides
greater emphasis on quality, greater
efficiency and engenders a firm-wide
ethos of sharing expertise. It means
people have time to offer advice,
which for a trainee is exceptionally
good news.
The 'open-door' policy is more than
management-speak here, it genuinely
exists. You will find that even senior
people are happy to help you.
While talking about clocks, it's worth
mentioning that, as at all City law
firms, now and then there are periods
of intense effort – that's the nature
of the job. Most trainees experience
this at least once in their first year:
long hours, long nights, maybe even
a long weekend. The positive side is
that we have no 'face-time' culture.
If you've no work to do at the end of
the day, you go home. We don't keep
people hanging around twiddling
their thumbs.
“If the hour is what
drives you, you
create the wrong
incentives.”
Steve Cooke,
Senior Partner
Our billing
The answer to these questions is to
leave the clocks outside. Although
we record time, we have no billing or
time targets. This means our lawyers
are not forced to compete with each
other to find the jobs or clients that
bill the most hours. Equally, we are
not forced to live under the stress
of finding someone to bill for a set
number of hours a day. This way,
people have everything to gain from
being selfless.
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27
A different culture
Making a difference
Genuinely together
Pro bono and volunteering opportunities
We have already mentioned how an unconventional
approach to billing can inspire collaboration.
But there are many other ways in which we
create a strong sense of togetherness and loyalty.
We go to great lengths to support one another
– we are fair, respectful and supportive.
We think very carefully – and creatively – about the
role we can play in giving back to the community, and
there are more than 20 volunteering and pro bono
opportunities available to our lawyers and business
professionals across the firm. About half take part in
corporate responsibility (CR) programmes.
Many of our people choose
to spend their entire career with
us. Of 99 partners in London,
79 joined as trainees, others
worked as associates here before
being elected to our partnership –
generally we do not elect anyone
from outside the firm directly into
partnership. This in itself fosters
unity. It is a lockstep partnership:
we have never merged with another
firm, and we grow together by
working for our mutual benefit.
For others, it will be the collaborative
ethos and friendly atmosphere.
It helps that people are well paid.
Even so, generous offers to move
elsewhere do come in, but when that
happens the decision is more often
than not to remain with us.
We focus on our own borough of
Islington, which beneath an affluent
façade has an often overlooked side:
it has the fourth highest rate of child
poverty in the country. We aim to
address three areas: education, social
mobility and access to justice.
That is a matter of great pride. We
think that the loyalty the firm shows
its people is an important factor.
We believe that's also reflected in
the extraordinarily high percentage
of trainees who remain with us on
qualifying. We do things right, with
integrity and with consideration.
The Key Project
People remain loyal if they are
challenged, rewarded and happy.
For some, the important thing will
be the interesting nature of the work.
People often talk of the sense of
belonging at Slaughter and May
and, while it is hard to pinpoint
exactly where this comes from,
one enduring characteristic of
the firm is that the people here
just do not let each other down.
This is a rare and valuable asset.
Our innovative approach has seen
us partnering with our clients to run
community initiatives. One example
is the CoRe (Community Resourcing)
programme that we run with our
client Macquarie, which helps
Islington charities become more
sustainable. Teams of volunteers
from both businesses tackle a
strategic issue facing a charity
over a period of six months.
The Legal Social
Mobility Partnership
This collaboration of law firms, client
in-house legal teams, professional
sports teams and commercial
partners aims to broaden access to
the legal profession by delivering a
comprehensive work insight and
skills programme to secondary state
school students. The programme
seeks to break down barriers, develop
skills and provide experiences that
help students build their CVs.
Firm Futures
Our Firm Futures project, run
in collaboration with St Luke's
Community Centre, helps local
entrepreneurs who have previously
been unemployed set up their own
businesses by providing them with a
cash bursary, a business mentor and
access to a range of training.
Law centres and pro bono
We provide teams of volunteer
advisers each week to staff Islington
Law Centre, and a team of qualified
litigators also serve as advisers at the
Royal Courts of Justice Advice Bureau.
The benefits of our CR work go both
ways. Not only do our volunteers
have the chance to develop certain
key skills such as listening, coaching,
communication, strategic thinking
and problem solving, but they also
gain personal satisfaction from being
able to make a difference to their
local community. Furthermore, it is
often great fun.
Our culture
We also support each other by
respecting autonomy through
trust. We place our emphasis less
on how work is done and more
on the fact that it is done – on
time and to standard. There is no
'face-time' culture, which means
that people are better enabled to
live a full life outside work, leading
to a better life within work too.
This award-winning initiative aims
to place disadvantaged students
into top universities. More than
70 volunteers help on a variety of
projects, including tutoring GCSE
or A-level students, drafting UCAS
personal statements, delivery of
employability and career insight
sessions and participation in
debating competitions.
Client collaborations
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“Difference and variety
is our strength...”
On culture, work-life balance and pro bono: Robert, partner
Law degree from Bristol University
What does the 'culture' of
the firm mean for you?
What I like about this firm is that you
could probably have two partners
give the same presentation, and
you would have a quite different
experience. We're comfortable
holding differing outlooks and
opinions. For us, there's no party line.
Difference and variety is our strength.
I like the autonomy we give to
choose the direction of your
career, to do the type of work you
want to with the clients you want.
It encourages relationships. I've
worked with one particular client
since 2002, through a whole range
of transactions and economic
backdrops. You get to know them
and go through many different
types of transactions together. That
knowledge filters into other work and
gives you an advantage. You're not a
lawyer stuck in an ivory tower, you're
making sure you are getting the
right terms for your client's business.
You're on a journey with them, and
that makes life interesting.
How would you describe
people at the firm?
We have people of great calibre,
which is not just academic, but
with real character, energy, curiosity,
integrity, people who want the best,
not only for their clients but also
for their colleagues. We are only as
good as our next job. People work
for each other to make sure we
get that next job. People give of
themselves. All of the partners here
have been associates before being
made partners and many of them
have also been trainees so you
learn from observing the approach
of partners and associates before
you. That's vital to our culture.
We're a lockstep partnership and
we rely on each other. No one
needing help is turned away.
Does the commitment
required affect your
work-life balance?
My view on work-life balance is
that it's an unhelpful tag because it
implies that when you're working
you're not having a life. As a partner,
I view all of it as a balance: my life
spills into my work and vice versa,
whether it be coffee with a friend,
lunch with a colleague, having a
chat with a client at a meeting or
finding my 12-year-old daughter
is on the phone wanting to order
something from Amazon.
For me, it is important that I take
my children to school – that's pretty
sacrosanct and has never been an
issue. I know others who try to get
home to put their children to bed
and then, if necessary, log on later
from home or sometimes go back in
to the office. If there's a desperately
important work issue, I'll be there –
whether on the end of the phone
or in the office. If you get the work
done and do it well and you're
available and flexible and still working
effectively within the team then you
get the autonomy to operate in the
way that suits how you want to live
your life. That helps you feel loyal.
There's no way I would do this job
with its commitment if I didn't love
it. But I love the job I do.
Do you get involved in
pro bono work?
I do. I remember, as part of our
schools' project, trying to control
a group of 15- and 16-year-olds
whose major preoccupations were
how much I earn and when my
last murder case was! It was a real
challenge, but great fun. I'm currently
mentoring for the 30% Club, aimed
at getting more women into senior
roles, and meet with my mentee
every month or so. I like the fact
that the firm thinks carefully and
innovatively about how we can make
a difference and does not require
people to be involved: you get so
much more engagement where
people have choice.
Does one day in your
time at Slaughter and May
stand out?
It was a Friday. I had only walked into
my fellow partner's room to ask if he
wanted lunch. He was on the phone
but when he finished he explained
to me that some of the main UK
banks were having some challenges.
What followed was a weekend spent
restructuring the banks. From
my point of view, I say, well, what
a privilege to have my weekend
taken up doing something quite so
fascinating, and observing brilliant
people at their best.
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A sense of
togetherness
Extracurricular and social activities
We're lucky that we enjoy
each other's company, and
this extends into social and
sporting activities. We will
encourage you to continue
with the interests that
made you interesting to us.
Your first day with us won't be the
daunting experience you might
expect. After accepting your training
contract, you will have regular contact
with us. You are allocated a trainee
buddy and attend in-firm training
sessions and social events while you
study the GDL and LPC. During the
GDL you also have the opportunity
to participate in the firm's
community and pro bono activities.
Once you join us there are plenty
of activities to get involved with.
Clubs and
networks
Our Trainee Solicitors' Committee
is a group of trainees elected by
their peers to organise activities
and parties at various venues in
London throughout the year. They
also arrange welcome drinks for new
trainees. Once in the firm, there will
be many social events to attend –
both within your group and with the
rest of the firm, including our annual
dinner dance.
There is a wide variety of clubs
and activities within the firm,
including football, rugby, cricket,
netball, visual arts and a book club.
Our diversity networks organise
lunchtime talks on a range of
subjects and hold regular social
nights open to everyone in the firm.
We also have close links with the
arts, and you will be able to take
advantage of numerous corporate
membership benefits at London
theatres and galleries, such as
free or discounted tickets.
From time to time, you may
have to work long hours. So, to
make life a little easier, we have
an excellent restaurant and
coffee bar on site and a concierge
service. We also have a prayer and
contemplation room, as well as
support and networking groups.
Clubs
Networks
Art Club
Christian Network
Book Club
Choral
DIVERSE (ethnic and
racial diversity)
Cricket
J-Net (Jewish Network)
Cycle Club
Muslim Network
Football
Parents' Network
Gardening Club
PRISM – Pride at Slaughter
and May (LGBT)
Hockey
Netball
Rugby
Softball
Women's Network
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Your career takes off here
Work experience and training contracts
From your first year at university, we offer a variety of
open days, schemes and workshops so please visit our
website slaughterandmay.com/careers to see which are
available to you, as well as when applications for training
contracts are open.
Work experience
Our work experience scheme will
give you a useful insight into the
firm and day-to-day life as a City
lawyer, but you do not need to have
completed legal work experience to
apply for a training contract with us.
On longer schemes, you will share
an office with one of our associates
who will involve you as much as
possible in their work. You will also
be paired with a trainee solicitor
who will help you settle in and be on
hand to answer your questions and
assist with tasks you may be given.
We also arrange training, workshops
and interactive case studies for
you and will invite you to social
events to meet partners, associates
and trainees outside the office.
GDL
Insights on application: Emma, trainee
Law graduate from Edinburgh University
How was the application
process for you?
future trainees, you may also study
at one of BPP's other campuses in
Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge,
Leeds, Liverpool or Manchester.
LPC
Before joining us, you will need
to complete the LPC, which lasts
seven and a half months. The
course has been developed by us
and four other City law firms, along
with BPP, to ensure it is tailored to
the nature of the work you will do
with us. It runs at BPP's London
campus, with two LPC intakes
each year, in February and August.
You would then join the firm in
March or September, respectively.
If you are thinking of taking off any
time before starting your training
contract, you should do this before
starting the LPC. We pay all tuition
and examination fees and provide
you with a maintenance grant while
you study for the GDL and the LPC.
We are keen to make sure that our
future trainees begin our training
programme already feeling a part
of the firm so we offer plenty of
opportunities for you to meet us
at different events, giving you the
chance to get to know the firm and
your future colleagues.
I liked the simplicity of just a cover
letter and a CV, rather than an
extensive list of skills-based questions,
but it is unnerving in a way because
you feel you really have to make
your cover letter count. I remember
cutting mine to fit on a single page.
With the benefit of hindsight, my
advice is that there's little point in
repeating what you have already
said in your CV. Say something
different, explain any extenuating
circumstances or, even better, be
brave enough to keep it short and
simple – a few sentences may be all
you need. Easier said than done!
How was your interview?
It felt fair and was inquisitive rather
than aggressive. It wasn't a case of
trying to trip me up but a genuine
attempt to get to know me. We
discussed an article I had been
given about companies not paying
much tax in the UK. That was more
challenging and my views were
tested by the partners. I remember
coming back on a few points and
then eventually having to concede
because I was completely boxed into
a corner.
Did you think it was all
over at that point?
The two partners had a bit of a
grin, so it wasn't really an awkward
moment. Obviously, I wasn't going to
win a debate on tax avoidance with a
partner in our tax department! The
aim is for them to see how you think.
Clearly, they don't want you to roll
over on the first challenge, but being
belligerent regardless might not help
either. I think it's important to listen.
Looking back, you could argue that
there is some flexibility of mind in
accepting the flaws in your position
and modifying it accordingly.
Your career
If you have not studied a qualifying
law degree, you will need to complete
the Graduate Diploma in Law
(GDL), which lasts one academic
year, before you can progress to the
accelerated Legal Practice Course
(LPC). We ask our future trainees
to study at BPP Law School, one of
the UK's leading law and business
schools and, although we prefer
you to study with BPP in London
so you can meet the firm's other
“A genuine attempt to
get to know me...”
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A two-way dialogue
The best possible grounding
The application and interview process: training contracts
Your seating programme
Please submit your application
using the online form, which can
be accessed via our website. You will
be asked to provide some personal
details (including a full breakdown
of all your examination results) and
to attach your cover letter and CV.
Your cover letter should be no longer
than one side of A4 and be addressed
to Mrs Janine Arnold, Trainee
Recruitment Manager.
The interview process
Interview
Our interviews take the
following format:
If we decide to invite you for
interview, we will ask you before
your interview to complete a short
online personality questionnaire that
provides the interviewing partners
with more information about you.
The interview process begins with
a one-hour written exercise, and
you have the option of writing or
typing your answer. This will be based
around a business case study and,
while you cannot prepare specifically
for this, general commercial
awareness will prove useful.
Once you have completed the
written exercise, you will be given
a short current affairs article to
read for approximately 15 minutes.
This article will then form part of
your discussion with the partners,
along with questions relating to
your CV. The partners will want you
to summarise the main points of
the article, form an opinion on the
subject matter and have a sensible
debate on the issues raised. You
should expect to be challenged
on your views and be prepared to
support them.
- a written exercise – this takes
about an hour
- an interview with two partners
- a chat and office tour with a
current trainee
- a short HR interview.
Written exercise
The interview is structured to
allow us to get to know you, what
motivates you, how insightful and
articulate you are, and how well you
can think on your feet. It will be a
dialogue between you and the two
partners, not a one-way grilling. Our
approach reflects the kind of firm
we are and the value we place on
personal judgement.
Chat and office tour
with a current trainee
After your interview with the
partners, which will last 40-60
minutes, one of our current trainees
will give you a tour of the office.
What we look for
Your seating programme Choices
How it works
Our trainees come from a range of
universities – it is the quality of the
candidate, not the university, that is
important to us.
Your two years as a trainee will
involve a great deal of change as
you move between groups and
supervisors. Our HR department
provides excellent support to our
trainee lawyers.
During each seat you will share an
office with a partner or associate
(your "supervisor") who will guide
you and ensure that you are
actively involved in their work. A
partner in your group will regularly
review your progress and, in
addition, your supervisor will give
you a full appraisal at the end of
each seat. You will also receive
regular informal feedback. These
opportunities provide a forum
for you to discuss your progress
and how to develop your legal
knowledge, skills and experience.
We like people with:
The interview is a two-way process
and you need to be sure that we are
the right firm for you. The trainee
will not have been prepped on what
to say and they will not be reporting
back. Please take advantage of this
opportunity to question them about
life as a trainee at the firm.
- a sharp intellect – our work is
intellectually demanding, so the
minimum standard we look for is
three strong A levels (or equivalent)
and either a high 2:1 or a 1st in
your first degree
HR interview
- e nergy and commitment
Our interview process ends with a
short chat with a member of the
Trainee Recruitment Team. You will
have the opportunity to ask about
practical matters, such as funding/
timings for the GDL/LPC, and to
ask any questions we have not yet
answered for you.
- t he ability to relate to others
Please notify the Trainee Recruitment
Team if you need any adjustments
made to any part of the process.
- independent thought and curiosity
- c ommercial awareness
- c ommon sense and judgement
- integrity
- a range of interests outside
of the law
- a n interesting take on things
- r esolve and the ability to show grit
under pressure
- a good sense of humour
- a willingness to take on
responsibility.
Seats
During your two years as a
trainee solicitor you will spend
time in different practice areas,
which are referred to as "seats".
The experience in different
seats will help you to decide
which area of law you are most
interested in and to start to
develop the versatility and vision
essential to becoming a trusted
legal adviser to your clients.
All trainees complete at least
two six-month seats in our
multi-specialist Corporate and
Commercial, and Financing
groups. You must gain some
contentious experience, but you
are free to choose how to spend
your remaining time – open
out the page to see our guide.
We will ask you for your seat
preferences during the LPC. To
help you to choose, we hold an
event at the firm to give you
further information on the
groups before you decide. We
then allocate your first seat. Once
you join the firm, we meet with
you again to discuss your choices
before confirming your remaining
seats. We aim to give everyone
their first choices. If you later
change your mind, you can always
ask to alter your choice once you
have started with us and we will
do our best to meet your request.
International
secondments
As a trainee, you will have
the chance to apply for an
international secondment. It
is an excellent opportunity to
develop, enjoy another culture
and gain experience in a different
working environment in a new
jurisdiction. Not all trainees
choose to apply, however, and a
secondment is not compulsory.
Fold out page to learn more
>
about your seating programme
slaughterandmay.com/careers
Trainee seating programme
Given our breadth of groups and practice areas, there are
numerous seat permutations for a training contract.
Below are just a few examples:
Seat 1
6
Corporate and Commercial
Seat 2
3
3
Competition (London)
Competition (Brussels)
Seat 3
6
Financing
Seat 4
6
Qualification
Trainee induction
Legal
Practice
Course (LPC)
37
Newly
qualified
solicitor
(associate)
Corporate and Commercial
Never stop growing
Lifelong learning
We believe that training is essential to becoming an excellent lawyer.
Our Learning and Development team organises a wealth of training
for our lawyers – this starts before you join the firm (by doing
the GDL, our bespoke LPC and attending events at the firm) and
continues during the training contract with a comprehensive legal,
skills and commercial education programme.
Qualification
3
3
Competition (London)
Competition (Brussels)
6
3
Corporate and Commercial
Pensions and Employment
Tax
6
3
Financing
Real Estate
Dispute Resolution
6
International Secondment
6
Financing
6
Intellectual Property/
Information Technology
6
Financing
6
Corporate and Commercial
6
Financial Regulation
6
Financing
6
Dispute Resolution
6
International Secondment
6
Corporate and Commercial
3
3
6
Corporate and Commercial
During your final seat we will begin
discussions with you about your
preferences on qualification.
We consistently retain about 90% of
our trainees with most qualifying into
their preferred practice area.
Our HR team will fully support you
during your transition to becoming
a newly qualified solicitor.
Trainee induction
Professional skills course
On joining the firm, trainees attend
a two-week induction that provides
you with the key skills and knowledge
you will need to start work. You can
start to network from day one as you
meet people from various groups
and teams in the firm.
This course will help you to develop
the skills that are vital for today's
lawyers. It is delivered by our lawyers
and by external providers. Subjects
covered include presentation,
negotiation and advocacy skills,
company meetings, client care and
professional standards.
Commercial awareness
Training contract structure
Specialist groups
We aim to be trusted business
advisers as well as lawyers and so
it is important to us that we are
at ease in our clients' world and
able to converse in their language.
To that end, trainees participate
in commercial awareness courses
designed to improve their financial
awareness and knowledge of the City.
During your training contract you will sit in different legal groups. Your training
period will always include:
You can choose to spend time in our specialist groups. Some of our specialist
groups offer a 3-month option enabling you to spend time in two specialist groups
within one 6-month seat.
Trainee in-practice
sessions
- one seat in a Corporate and Commercial group
- one seat in a Financing group
- at least 3 months' contentious experience.
International secondment
You can apply for an international secondment to take place in your 3rd or 4th
seat. In addition, you can apply to spend 3 months in Brussels as part of your
Competition seat.
We have seven specialist groups
Competition (6-month seat, which can include 3 months in our Brussels office)
Dispute Resolution (3- or 6-month seat)
Financial Regulation (6-month seat)
Intellectual Property/Information Technology (6-month seat)
Pensions and Employment (3- or 6-month seat)
Real Estate (3- or 6-month seat)
Tax (3-month seat)
Key
Corporate and Commercial
and Financing seats
Specialist groups
Specialist groups –
contentious experience
International secondment
Trainees attend sessions to
develop their legal knowledge
throughout their training contract.
These sessions, which are
delivered by senior lawyers, cover
a wide range of legal topics.
Individual support
We offer one-to-one support to
you in any areas of individual
development, so that all of our
trainees can develop into the best
possible lawyers.
Qualification transition
programme
Towards the end of your training
contract we will run a 'qualification
transition programme' that focuses
on developing crucial skills you'll
need as a qualified lawyer, including
management and delegation skills,
personal impact and client care.
Trainees are also invited to attend
regular firm-wide training sessions
on topical issues, updates in the
law, our practice and interesting
recent transactions. Each group also
organises trainee training to further
develop your understanding of each
practice area.
Mentoring
We offer a number of mentoring
opportunities that involve being
mentored by a partner internally or a
senior leader from the wider external
business community. The aim is to
support the career development of
individuals by building relationships
and accessing advice and guidance
from seasoned professionals. These
are open to all associates and in line
with our focus on inclusion: there
are opportunities to be mentored by
women, BME or LGBT leaders.
slaughterandmay.com/careers
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38
39
Investing in you
Salaries, funding and benefits
The salaries and benefits that we currently offer
our trainees, as at August 2016, include:
Financial benefits
Key benefits
Lifestyle benefits
Wellness benefits
Salary for first 12 months: £43,000
25 days' annual leave rising to 28
days with service, with the option to
apply annually for up to five days'
unpaid leave for holiday purposes
Qualification leave
Subsidised health club membership
Subsidised restaurant and coffee bar
Private medical insurance
Enhanced family leave pay
Health screenings
Up to £2,000 interestfree loan on joining
Concierge service, offering a
range of services and discounts
Personal accident cover
Interest-free season ticket
loan on joining
Variety of entertainment benefits
at London theatres and galleries
Money purchase pension scheme
Bike racks, lockers and shower rooms
Life assurance
Cycle to Work scheme
Salary for second 12 months: £48,000
Salary on qualification: £71,500
We offer a £500 award for our future
trainees who go on to achieve a
First Class undergraduate degree
We pay the course fees for
the GDL and LPC and also
offer a maintenance grant
while you are studying
Childcare voucher scheme
Payroll giving for tax-free
donations to charity
Matched funding for
individual fundraisers
Seven diversity support networks
Annual dinner dance and
quarterly drinks
Confidential Employee
Assistance Programme
A range of sports and clubs
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40
41
“Don't believe you
cannot be one of us...”
Steve Cooke, our Senior Partner
If you take just one thing
from the phrase "a world
of difference", then I'd
suggest it should be the
sheer diversity of the
people here.
This gives rise to everything else,
because it's about how minds work.
We have a fantastically broad church
of individuals. There is never a boring
conversation; hardly a day goes
by when I don't learn something
surprising about one individual or
another. We've just made partner of
someone who was a rifle shooting
world champion. We have a UK
chess champion and a UK bowls
champion. One of my interests
is music; I played in the firm's
16-piece jazz band for many years.
The building is full of life, there are
so many different interests, and this
depth of engagement, not just with
work but the world around us, is one
of the most refreshing things about
the place.
If we have a USP it is that we come
up with ideas and think in ways
that others don't. The diversity of
people and thought processes is
the key to that. It is the difference
between being another straight-offthe-production-line lawyer that does
it the same as everyone else… and
being a trusted adviser to some of
the most important people in some
massive institutions, which is what we
are. But you have to earn that trust.
At the level we're operating, pure legal
advice is not enough. We have to
understand the business element, see
the way ahead for them, and, however
complex, express the issues simply.
The ability to be unconventional
or creative when the moment
demands, not just with big ideas but
in small details – where enormous
transactions can stand or fall – is
probably what sets us apart.
There's more, however, because it's
a profession where relationships can
define your career. The ability to add
a touch of seasoning into the dish –
humour, personality, humanity – is
completely integral to it. It's only a
small example, but I can think of
various occasions where we have
entertained extremely senior people
in the unlikeliest of places – scruffy
jazz bars, for example – because it
was the appropriate thing to do.
There's no formula for getting
on here, but if you recognise this
appetite for life, depth of curiosity
and sense of energy in yourself, then
I am quite sure that you would enjoy
it here. If that's you, don't believe for a
second that you cannot be one of us.
September 2016
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