Covering Letters
Firms look for specific legal motivation, such as pro bono activities, mooting, debating,
positions of responsibility in the law society or other commercial societies. It’s about
linking your skills back to the skills needed for a successful career in law
Baker & Mackenzie:
In your covering letter, please explain your reasons for wishing to pursue a career in commercial law. Please also explain your
motivation for applying to Baker & McKenzie. You should also use the covering letter as an opportunity to include any additional
information that is relevant to your application but is not covered in the form. (750 words max)*
Why them?
Why do I want to be a solicitor?
Why Baker & Mackenzie in particular?
Baker & McKenzie has been global from our inception. We offer clients and talent both the
uncompromising commitment to excellence expected of a top firm and a distinctive way of thinking,
working and behaving — as a passionately global and genuinely collaborative firm.
We seamlessly combine an instinctively global perspective with the nuanced local insights of more than
4,200 locally qualified lawyers in 77 offices around the world. This includes the knowledge and experience
of more leading lawyers in more countries in the Chambers Global Directory than any other global Top 20
law firm. Chambers lists 23 of our practices in its global rankings of the world’s leading practices.
But being global is not only about size or geography. It requires thinking, working and behaving in a
distinctively global manner. Over six decades, we have organized, governed and managed our Firm to
cultivate the global mindset, awareness of distinct business cultures, collaborative nature and practical
knowledge required to navigate complexity across issues, practices and borders with ease.
We understand the challenges of the global economy because we have had a global presence from the start.
Since our founding in 1949, we have been advising leading multinational and domestic companies on the
issues of an integrated global market. Nearly two thirds of our fees come from clients we serve in five
countries or more. We serve more than 500 of the world’s largest companies.
As a community of citizens of 60 nations, we have a deep understanding and appreciation for the language
and culture of business all over the world. This gives us a distinctive ability to help clients anticipate and
address the nuances of local markets as they pursue their global and regional business objectives with
confidence.
We also are leaders in talent management, with a focus on developing both top-tier technical legal skills
and sophisticated interpersonal skills, allowing us to deliver consistently, everywhere we operate, worldclass service tailored to the preferences of our clients.
Our clients and lawyers appreciate these differences. Surveys of general counsel and other law firms rate
our client service among the “absolute best.” We are frequently cited for the quality of our training and
workplace experience.
Areas of Law, why am I interested in them?
Banking- In Banking, we advise banks and borrowers on debt finance aspects of business acquisitions,
large-scale project and asset investments, and corporate financings and restructurings.
**Corporate- This department advises on the complete range of typical corporate matters expected from
a global law firm. This includes mergers and acquisitions, re-organisations of group structures and private
equity investments, takeovers of public companies, insider dealing and market abuse problems.
Corporate Tax- Here we provide tax advisory and transactional services to UK and multi-national
corporate clients. This is also home to our specialist transfer pricing and VAT teams.
Dispute Resolution- Dispute Resolution involves all aspects of commercial dispute resolution, as well as
dispute avoidance. We advise on litigation risk management, negotiation, alternative dispute resolution,
litigation and international arbitration.
Employment - Advises employers on the full range of employment issues. Employee Benefits advises
employers on employee share plans and executive remuneration.
EU, Competition and Trade - This is where we advise on the application of EU/UK Competition Law, as
well as trade, bribery and corruption issues.
Intellectual Property - Advice on all aspects of IP rights is available with this department. There is also a
specialist Trade Marks Unit (TMU) which is responsible for registration and portfolio management.
IT/Commercial - This department has consistently been independently ranked as one of the premier
practices in the UK. We advise clients on a broad range of contractual and regulatory issues that impact
their commercial activities.
Pensions - Here, we advise trustees and employers on all legal issues arising from the operation of pension
schemes.
Real Estate - The Real Estate department acts for corporate tenants in the negotiation, completion and
registration of leases. It also deals with property finance.
Structured Capital Markets - Structured Capital Markets specialises in a broad range of structured
financings, encompassing securitisations, derivatives and debt capital markets.
Wealth Management - The specialists in this department provide international tax, structuring and
strategic advice to ultra high-net-worth entrepreneurs, financial institutions, trust companies and other
fiduciaries in relation to multi-jurisdictional business and private assets, with particular emphasis on clients
from the emerging markets.
Training Structure
During your two-year Training Contract, you’ll spend six months in four key practice areas, referred to as
‘seats’. In each seat you’ll have a supervisor who acts as your work provider and mentor, and a Trainee
Partner who is responsible for overseeing your progress.
Our seat rotation policy ensures you experience at least three distinct areas of law, including Contentious
Law. A number of departments offer contentious experience, including Dispute Resolution, Employment,
Intellectual Property and EU, Competition & Trade.
Corporate work is at the heart of the Firm and all Trainees are required to complete six months in our
Corporate department during their Training Contract. The Graduate Recruitment and Development team
will discuss your interest in particular departments, which is considered in-line with business needs.
Midway through each seat, you’ll have an informal review to discuss your progress and development. At
the end of each seat, there’ll be a more formal evaluation with a Trainee Partner who will provide feedback
on your progress and experience.
Secondments - All Trainees have the opportunity to apply for a three-month secondment to one of our
international offices. Recent locations include Singapore, Moscow, Hong Kong, Brussels, Sydney and
Johannesburg. Applications are reviewed on an individual basis and in-line with the needs of the business
and SRA regulations.
Depending on client needs, we’re also able to offer Trainee secondments to in-house legal teams with a
variety of our clients. This will give you the chance to deepen your knowledge and skills, and gain a better
understanding of their perspective.
80% retention rate.
50% of qualified trainees go on overseas or client secondment
Day to day work: We believe in involving our Trainees in ‘live’ work from the very start, so after a couple
of weeks of training you should find yourself equipped with everything you need to start making an
immediate contribution. In each seat you’ll have a supervisor who acts as your work provider and mentor,
and a Trainee Partner who will be responsible for overseeing your progress.
Your day-to-day workload will vary with each department, but generally, you can expect to: Conduct
research for client pitches or projects; Liaise directly with clients; Write blog posts and articles; Sit-in on
client meetings; Prepare agreements, deeds, contracts and other legal documents.
Pro Bono
Providing free legal work is a fundamental professional responsibility of lawyers. Our pro bono
commitments cover a broad range of causes and organisations, reflecting the diverse interests of the people
who work here. We are signatories to the LawWorks pro bono protocol and we make no distinction between
pro bono and paid work when setting our lawyers’ hourly targets and budgets.
Our 2011 pro bono cases include:
Working with the London office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the
Supreme Court case of HJ (Iran) & HT (Cameroon). The Supreme Court determined that gay, lesbian or
bisexual asylum-seekers cannot be returned to countries where they would face persecution.
Collaborating with the Public International Law and Policy Group for Tanzania on an analysis of UN
Convention Against Torture and other international instruments governing terrorism and prohibitions
against torture.
Co-founding IbexEarth, a not-for-profit organisation that develops innovative ways for people to reduce
their impact on the environment. Our IP department also provided advice to the World Land Trust, one of
the environmental partners of IbexEarth.
We believe we have a responsibility to make a contribution beyond our commercial activities. The London
office supports two charities, chosen by employees. Our current charities are Richard House Children's
Hospice and MacMillan Cancer Support. We are also involved in community service, including reading
schemes in local schools and offering an annual paid volunteer day to all staff to support their charity work
April 2011 saw the launch of a collaboration with Slaughter and May to staff a weekly advice clinic at the
Legal Advice Centre in Bethnal Green. This is proving both successful and rewarding, with a steady number
of volunteers, all reporting positively on the value of the experience.
IT Com partner Harry Small joined the steering group of the Human Dignity Trust in
November 2010, and we have been working on a project gathering information on the various
Commonwealth countries in which homosexuality is criminalised.
Baker & McKenzie hosted a very successful seminar in July on the Bribery Act for probono partner Save
the Children.
Why you?
Why I’m suited to a career in Commercial Law
Competencies and how I fulfil them
Generic: Attention to detail, communication skills, teamwork and team leadership. Entrepreneurial instinct,
stamina & energy, motivation, teamwork & leadership.
International mindset, sound leadership skills, intellect and initiative.
Creativity and commercial acumen are important too, together with a commitment to excellence and the
desire to learn, influence and make an impact.
Immerse yourself in the international nature of the work, to understand the pressures our other offices are
under in their own markets.
Macfarlanes
Address your covering letter to Vicki Wood, Graduate Recruitment Manager. You need not repeat details
you have given in any other part of the form.
Why them?
Why do I want to be a solicitor?
Why Macfarlanes in particular?
Areas of Law, why am I interested in them?
Our main areas of practice are in banking and finance; commercial; competition; corporate and M&A;
employment, pensions and benefits; financial services regulatory; investment funds; IP and IT; litigation
and dispute resolution; private equity; private client; commercial real estate; restructuring and insolvency;
and corporate tax.
In industries:
CONSTRUCTION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
We provide specialist, in-depth expertise for clients across the construction and infrastructure industry
including developers, occupiers, contractors, institutions, banks, consultants and insurers.
CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND RETAIL
We have considerable expertise advising some of the world's leading consumer goods companies.
EDUCATION
Whatever your issue in the education sector, Macfarlanes can help.
ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES
We know the energy and natural resources sector very well. We regularly advise clients and their
stakeholders in the UK and around the world, including Africa, Western, Central and Eastern Europe, the
Indian subcontinent and Asia.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
In an increasingly complex and challenging regulatory environment, clear guidance and commercial
application from professional advisers has never been more critical.
GOVERNMENT, LOCAL AUTHORITY AND PUBLIC SECTOR
We have considerable experience advising governments, local authorities and companies active in the
public sector on a wide variety of issues.
HEALTHCARE
We have extensive knowledge of the healthcare sector and have advised a range of private and public sector
clients on many aspects of this fast-changing environment.
HOSPITALITY AND LEISURE
Our hospitality and leisure team comprises specialists from across the firm with considerable industry
experience and knowledge.
MANUFACTURING
We advise some of the world’s leading manufacturing companies across a wide range of legal and
commercial issues.
PHARMACEUTICALS AND LIFE SCIENCES
We have considerable expertise advising companies in the pharmaceuticals and life sciences sectors
PHILANTHROPY AND CHARITABLE GIVING
We have a reputation for advising both individuals and charitable entities on cross-border giving, regulatory
matters and the creation of domestic charities and overseas philanthropic structures.
PROFESSIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES
Macfarlanes provides specialist expertise for clients across the professional, scientific and technical activity
sector.
REAL ESTATE
We work on all aspects of transactions involving the investment in and management, development and
financing of real estate assets across all sectors of the industry.
SPORTS
We provide a first class offering for a range of sporting disciplines, including motorsports, soccer, golf,
cricket, tennis and horseracing. We also have a strong reputation in sports retail and the sourcing and
manufacture of sports wear and goods.
TECHNOLOGY, MEDIA AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Macfarlanes has a long history of assisting companies in the technology, media and telecommunications
industry with their legal matters.
TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS
Macfarlanes has considerable experience in the transport and logistics sector and provides quality,
pragmatic legal advice bespoke to the project in hand.
Our international strategy is founded on our independence - by bringing together our lawyers' experience
with the best local law firms, we are always able to provide our clients with advice from the best
practitioners in the field, delivered seamlessly. Accordingly, our international offering is very different to
that of the global law firms with whom we compete.
For our UK clients: when we choose an overseas law firm to work on a project, we make a wholly
independent assessment of the best lawyer for that piece of work.
We are able to do this because we spend
a lot of time on due diligence and relationship building with law firms (and lawyers) in key jurisdictions.
That is supported by years of working together and secondment programmes.
For overseas clients looking to do work either in the UK or internationally: we position ourselves as a law
firm in London that they can choose to work in conjunction with their existing relationship lawyers.
For independent law firms around the world: they can access English legal advice from a firm that has no
intention of competing with them on their doorstep, or trying to usurp the relationships that they have with
their clients.
It means that there is a firm with the same kind of independence of spirit that leading
independent firms around the world themselves embody.
Servicing clients across borders: there are two conflicting views out there in the market place.
For some,
global reach is more important than ever with some lawyers arguing that it is a pre-requisite that a firm
putting itself forward for premium work must have the in-house capability to cover any jurisdiction that is
thrown at them.
There are, however, many who take a different view and who argue that global reach, in
the form of offices in many jurisdictions, is a red herring; they would argue, as we do, that it is the depth of
local skill and knowledge which is important and that can be offered more effectively by relationships with
the best local law firms with relevant experience in the relevant jurisdiction.
What is important in servicing clients across borders is the provision of expertise. Clients want to work
with whichever is the best law firm with the relevant expertise in a given jurisdiction and that is what our
model offers - uniformly high quality worldwide.
The M&A group recently worked on Verizon's much-publicised purchase of the 45% stake in Verizon
Wireless owned by Vodafone. The £84bn price tag made this one of the biggest deals ever, and certainly
the biggest US-based corporate transaction since 2001. Hacks in the legal press were quick to point out that
working on this deal was a significant coup for Macfarlanes – you might have expected the job to go to one
of the magic circle. Typically the work isn't all 11-digit deals – you're just as likely to be staffed on a midmarket matter. Trainees tend to do either private or public work, though for some there's a mix of the two.
“There's a huge amount of responsibility in terms of project management,” sources agreed, which means a
sizeable chunk of due diligence and co-ordinating checklists. On smaller matters juniors try their hand at
drafting ancillary documents, and if you're lucky you might get a first stab at a share purchase agreement
or similar.
The other transactional teams work for some big-name clients: Lloyds and Citibank are just two of the
major international banks that have lined the pockets of the banking and finance group recently. For trainees
sitting here, there's no split between borrower and lender work, so they can get stuck into both. “It's a
fantastic seat,” crowed one trainee, claiming they were doing “associate-level work.” Well, maybe. When
pushed for examples, this source told us they had been “running checklists and drafting and negotiating
ancillary documents.” Sounds like pretty standard trainee fare to us. For some there's corporate support
work too, which can include getting stuck into the leveraged finance side of an M&A transaction. Client
contact can be in short supply, but we heard that it does come through in dribs and drabs when a matter is
coming to a close.
Training Structure
Your training contract at Macfarlanes will combine hands-on experience with a first class education
programme.
Seat rotation- As a trainee you will spend six months in four different practice areas: typically it is one seat
in corporate and M&A, two seats in either commercial real estate, private client, litigation or tax and then
a seat in one of our specialised corporate practice areas. The precise allocation of seats is flexible so that
we can offer you as broad a legal training as possible.
In each seat, you share a room with a partner or
senior solicitor who personally supervises and supports you in your work.
Development- Once you begin your training contract you will follow an intensive schedule of seminars and
lectures, presented largely by partners or senior solicitors from within the firm.
loaded' to develop your knowledge and skills.
The programme is 'front-
In some practice areas, you may even be asked to contribute
to a seminar or to update the team on recent developments in a particular area of law.
Each of your seats will feature a mid-seat and end-of-seat review, where you can discuss your progress and
which areas need focus. Throughout your contract you will also have six-monthly reviews with your
principal, who acts as a mentor, and a member of the trainee solicitor committee. All these mechanisms are
there to ensure that you get the best and most appropriate experience during these first years. What may
surprise you at the outset is how quickly you will become part of the team and how quickly people at all
levels in the firm will know your name and value your contribution.
Unsurprisingly, a Macfarlanes traineeship is heavily weighted towards corporate. Spending six months in
'mainstream' M&A is compulsory, as are another six months in one of the 'specialist' corporate seats like
banking and finance or investment funds. Trainees can, however, express their preferred choices for the
remaining two seats. “They give you a 'to die for' seat and do their utmost to accommodate you there,” one
source told us, while another confirmed: “We're all pretty happy with how seats are handed out.” A word
to the wise: seats in the smaller, specialist practices can be hard to come by and getting one is competitive.
So if you're interested in employment, pensions or competition, for example, make your desires known
early on. Macfarlanes also offers a few client secondments, but sources agreed: “It's seen as a bonus, and
they're certainly not something people single out as their reason for joining the firm.”
Pro Bono
TOGETHER FOR SHORT LIVES- Together for Short Lives provides care and support for children and
young people who are not expected to reach adulthood, and their families. The charity was supported by
the 2013 X Factor single. We provided pro bono legal advice in relation to the merger of the two existing
children's hospice charities, ACT and Children's Hospices UK, to form Together For Short Lives.
This
required advice from a number of different practices across the firm, including advising on corporate, real
estate, IP, VAT, employment law, pensions law and specialist charity law issues.
BRITISH SKI & SNOWBOARD- British Ski & Snowboard: we acted for BSS in the creation of a new
constitution following the fallout of its insolvency prior to the Vancouver Winter Olympics.
Working
closely with Lord Moynihan, the organisation now has an opportunity to focus less on its internal
administration and more on the athletes, the first tangible evidence being the remarkable performance of a
number of athletes at the Sochi games.
CAMBRIDGE HOUSE- Cambridge House is a charity based in Camberwell which seeks to alleviate the
local effects of poverty and is working to support social change. We have a longstanding relationship with
Cambridge House and provide the organisation with pro bono legal advice on property and employment
matters.
LAW WORKS- LawWorks provides free legal advice to small charities, voluntary and community
organisations and social enterprises in England and Wales via a network of volunteer lawyers.
We provide
a range of pro bono legal advice to LawWorks, in particular, in relation to property matters.
GREAT ORMOND STREET HOSPITAL CHILDREN'S CHARITY - Great Ormond Street Hospital
Children's Charity raises money to enable Great Ormond Street Hospital to provide world-class care for its
young patients and their families.
Most recently we have provided pro bono legal advice in relation to the
review of a wide range of commercial contracts.
THE ROYAL SOCIETY - The Royal Society is the UK's independent national academy of science and is
at the cutting edge of scientific progress.
We provide pro bono legal advice in relation to their Enterprise
Fund, which raises donations from philanthropists worldwide and uses the funds to invest in start-up
businesses based on outstanding science.
The financial returns are recycled into the fund.
VIRGIN UNITE- Virgin Unite is the non-profit foundation of the Virgin Group.
Most recently we have
provided pro bono legal advice in connection with a proposal to establish Entrepreneurs Unite, a
philanthropic "club" for entrepreneurs.
IMPETUS TRUST - Impetus Trust works to break the cycle of poverty by investing in charities and social
enterprises that fight economic disadvantage.
We assisted Impetus Trust in setting up a joint venture with
The Sutton Trust, a well known educational charity. Impetus and Sutton successfully bid to set up the
Education Endowment Fund (EEF), a £125m Government fund to improve the educational achievement of
disadvantaged children.
We are now advising the EEF on a variety of commercial, employment, property
and other legal issues involved in the organisation, administration and governance of the fund.
CARBON LEAPFROG -
Carbon Leapfrog is a unique business-led not-for-profit organisation that
channels pro bono services from top businesses into activities that deliver carbon reductions. Lawyers from
our firm assisted with its creation.
Why you?
Why I’m suited to a career in Commercial Law
Competencies and how I fulfil them
As a trainee you will be expected to contribute right from the start. You will be tested in challenging
situations, working alongside some of the world's most successful and ambitious businesses and individuals.
As one of the UK's leading independent law firms, our practice is truly international and you will regularly
work with global businesses and foreign law firms.
We are confident that our trainees are of the highest
quality so when we ask them to undertake secondments we know they will make the best impression.
Because of our size, relative to some of our competitors, you will often be closer to the front line. You will
be surprised and pleased at how noticeable your contribution is.
However, it is demanding. You need not only a high level of intellectual ability, but also the character and
the drive to succeed. The hours can be long and the work is hard, but we will support you.
Bird & Bird
About
At Bird & Bird, the flavour is definitely international - 75% of our major clients will deal with more than
one of our 26 offices across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Our lawyers know their local legal
frameworks in exceptional detail and we work collaboratively across all our offices. It's why we're able to
manage complex, cross-border projects and deals seamlessly and successfully, working closely with our
clients to deliver high-quality service. In 1998, we became one of the first law firms to organise itself
around key sectors so that we could share our in-depth industry knowledge more effectively across the
firm. Today, we're involved in a broad range of sectors, from Aviation and Defence through to
Communications and Electronics, Energy and Utilities, Food and Beverage, Financial Services, as well as
IT, Life Sciences, Media and Sport. Our professionals don't just understand the law in these sectors; they
enjoy learning about the wider context of their clients' businesses so that they can apply their skills to the
commercial challenges of some of the world's most exciting companies. We understand the trends that are
shaping the markets, and the technological and regulatory issues that are transforming industries. The
depth and length of our experience in each sector means our clients work with legal teams that already
understand the challenges they face. Many of our 1100 legal practitioners worldwide have degrees in
subjects that complement their legal expertise. They may also have previously worked in-house. It's this
kind of breadth of knowledge and vision which allows us to deliver an exceptionally high quality of
service.
Bird & Bird wins key applications in Nokia’s claim against LCD cartel participants
Bird & Bird helps Just-Eat secure new round of funding
Why do you think you will be successful as a commercial lawyer? [400 words]
How Bird & Bird are you? [400 words]
Our lawyers are independent thinkers who are commercially-minded and at the top of their game
technically. However, clients also expect us to offer something more: a passion for their particular
industry and the technologies that are transforming it. A first-class or 2:1 degree and excellent A-levels
are a must. But it's just as important that you're inquisitive with a curiosity to learn and develop your
skills. You'll have a creative approach when responding to challenges; and be a well-rounded team player
who can demonstrate that you fit with our open, fast-paced culture. We'll need to know you're excited by
the high-quality work at Bird & Bird and the prospect of learning about our clients' industries. We also
want you to have a strong international perspective. While this doesn't necessarily mean that you'll speak
a variety of languages or have visited every corner of the globe, you'll take a keen interest in different
cultures and understand the importance of multinational co-operation. You'll have an interest in our sector
specialisms and a willingness to learn more about them as you progress at the firm, developing a deep
understanding of the wider economic and cultural context and using your knowledge to the best possible
effect.
At the same time, however, we're proud of our long-standing reputation as a supportive firm. Our
structure means that you're given the support to be able to take on greater responsibility at an earlier
stage, and to work alongside experts who are renowned in their field. You are never far away from
You'll quickly find that you're part of the active social life of the firm too. Whether you're musical and
think you could make a contribution to our band, have a sporting talent and would like to play on one of
our sports teams, or you're simply someone who enjoys winding down with your colleagues after a busy
week at work, you'll find there's always something going on.
Mayer Brown
Please address your covering letter to Caroline Sarson, Graduate Recruitment Manager
Why them?
Why do I want to be a solicitor?
Why Mayer Brown in particular?
London operates as the business and finance hub of Europe with over 16,000 national and international
companies based in the City, including companies from more than 60 different countries. Many of these are
among the world’s leading corporations and financial institutions.
You can tell a lot about a firm by the company it keeps. We are a trusted adviser to some of the world’s
biggest brand names, helping them to develop, grow and protect their businesses. From Corporate and
Banking & Finance to Real Estate via Intellectual Property, Insurance & Reinsurance, Construction,
Competition, Tax, Financial Services Regulatory & Enforcement, Pensions, Employment, Litigation &
Dispute Resolution – our teams are hard at work helping the business world to keep on turning. Who can
you expect to work for if you join us? Our client list keeps on evolving, but you will find a snapshot below.
BG Group, BHP Billiton, BP, British Land, Entertainment One, Fujitsu, GE Capital, Moody’s, Rio Tinto
Group, Thomson Reuters, Unilever, Wells Fargo.
Mayer Brown’s corporate group has a global management structure and focuses primarily on three
industries: energy, funds and insurance. This brings a cross-border flavour to many of London's deals. For
example, the team recently acted for GAW Capital on the €240m acquisition of the Waterside Building –
the global headquarters of Marks & Spencer – on behalf of a Korean consortium. Trainees are exposed to
this international side of things too,
The dispute resolution group is the firm's largest. It comes highly recommended by Chambers UK and
includes commercial, construction, employment and insurance subgroups. Its client list boasts big names
like UBS, Unilever and HSBC, with the firm recently advising the first of these in a major cross-border
dispute relating to credit default swaps
Training Structure
As a trainee in London, you will undertake four rotations during your two-year training contract, and these
are known as ‘seats’. During each seat you will share a room with either a partner or a senior associate who
will be responsible for supervising your work and continuing development throughout your seat.
One of the advantages of joining Mayer Brown is the seat choice available to you. Our trainees can tailor
their training contract from a range of different seats, including our main practice areas in London and
secondments to one of our international offices (currently Hong Kong and New York). If you don’t want to
stray too far, a wealth of in-house experience is also available via our client secondments within the UK.
For a large global firm, our London office remains a tightly knit team with an open and inclusive culture.
You will nevertheless be given significant opportunities to assist on matters which may be multi-disciplinary,
cross-border, complex and high-profile in nature.
Over the course of your training contract, we will take time to ensure that you are aware of the
responsibilities of each seat by providing comprehensive training that goes far beyond the requirements of
the Professional Skills Course (PSC). Additional training will equip you with skills to understand the
international business world, develop client relationships and undertake advanced legal research.
You will also benefit from the expertise of professional support lawyers who are responsible for providing
briefing sessions on key legal developments and maintain in-house precedent databases.
We will make
sure your expectations are being met and provide you with guidance and support throughout your two years
at Mayer Brown. You will have an appraisal with your supervisor halfway through and at the end of each
seat. There are weekly drop-in sessions with the Graduate Recruitment team and also regular Career
Development meetings.
Whether secondments were undertaken with clients or abroad, trainees gave a massive thumbs-up to the
experience. Do bear in mind that a trip to New York is essentially a finance seat while Hong Kong is
corporate-focused, so spending time abroad will likely make your training contract transaction-heavy.
However, for those so inclined: “You get a lot of responsibility because of the way training is organised
abroad,” one export to the Big Apple told us.
Back in Blighty, all trainees are paired up with a different supervisor in every seat.
The mandatory secondment at Mayer Brown means this firm will suit “outgoing and confident individuals”
who are willing to test themselves.
Pro Bono
Mayer Brown received the 2013 Pro Bono Partner Award from United Way of Metropolitan Chicago
in honor of its significant pro bono support and commitment to the community. United Way focuses
on creating social change by investing in education, income and health programs to ensure people
have the tools they need to thrive.
Mayer Brown was honored by the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) for assistance the
firm provided in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
Mayer Brown was the recipient of The Legal Aid Society of New York’s 2013 and 2012 Pro Bono
Publico Award for outstanding service to the Legal Aid Society and its clients.
Mayer Brown was named “Law Firm of the Year” by Community Legal Services of East Palo Alto
(CLSEPA) for providing significant pro bono legal counsel to CLSEPA clients during the past year.
Mayer Brown was recognized as a member of Appleseed’s “Orchard of Justice,” which honors law
firms that have donated $1 million in pro bono hours within the past five years. Appleseed is a
nonprofit network of 17 public interest justice centers in the United States and Mexico that uncovers
and corrects injustices through legal, legislative and market-based structural reform.
Mayer Brown was named the “Best Firm for Pro Bono Work” at the 2012 Asia Women in Business
Law Awards organized by International Financial Law Review. In addition, Restructuring, Bankruptcy
& Insolvency senior associate Justine Lau (Hong Kong) was named a “Rising Star.” The awards
recognized the firm’s commitment to advocacy for women in pro bono activities.
Mayer Brown was honored in 2011 by the Thomson Reuters Foundation for its work with
Transparency International on the United Nations Convention Against Corruption Global Review
Project.
Mayer Brown was the recipient of The Legal Aid Society of New York’s 2010 and 2011 Pro Bono
Publico Award for outstanding service to the Legal Aid Society and its clients.
Mayer Brown received the 2011 LatinoJustice PRLDEF Cesar A. Perales Award for our work on the
annual “How to Succeed in Law School” program.
Mayer Brown was the recipient of 2011 Pro Bono Initiative Award from the Public Interest Law
Initiative.
Mayer Brown was named to the Public Interest Law Initiative’s inaugural Pro Bono Recognition
Roster in honor of our noteworthy pro bono contributions in 2010 and 2011.
The Financial Times recognized three Mayer Brown pro bono projects as among the most innovative
in the United States. These projects were for the Yale Law School Supreme Court Clinic, leading
global microfinance lender BRAC, and the Corporation for Supportive Housing.
The Washington Post recognized Mayer Brown as one of its 2010 Businesses that Give Back for the
firm’s extensive work on a project with Appleseed and Appleseed México on the screening, protection,
and repatriation of the more than 15,000 unaccompanied Mexican minors who cross the border and
end up in federal custody each year.
Mayer Brown’s London office won the 2010 LawWorks Award for Best Contribution by a Law Firm.
Mayer Brown was the recipient of the 2010 Justice John Paul Stevens Law Firm Pro Bono Award from
the Seventh Circuit Bar Association’s Pro Bono and Public Bar Service Awards Committee.
Mayer Brown was a recipient of Equip for Equality’s 2009 Pro Bono Leaders Award.
Mayer Brown received the 2008 Distinguished Service Award from the Chicago Volunteer Legal
Services Foundation.
Mayer Brown was a recipient of the 2008 National Law Journal Pro Bono Award for our work with
The List Project to Resettle Iraqi Allies, an organization that helps to resettle those Iraqis who have
been targeted by insurgents because of their work for the U.S. Government.
Mayer Brown was honored at the Innocence Project's 2008 Celebration of Freedom & Justice Benefit
in recognition of our extensive partnership with organization.
Mayer Brown was a recipient of the Southern Center for Human Rights' 2007 Frederick Douglass
Human Rights Award and the National Legal Aid & Defender Association's 2007 Beacon of Justice
Award, for our work on the Guantanamo detainee litigation.
Mayer Brown was a recipient of the ABA Death Penalty Representation Project's 2007 Law Firm of
the Year Award for our work on behalf of death row inmates.
Mayer Brown was a recipient of the Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law’s 2007
Pro Bono Award for establishing the federal court limited appointment settlement project.
Why you?
Why I’m suited to a career in Commercial Law
Competencies and how I fulfil them
We are looking for candidates who not only have a consistently strong academic record but also who have
a wide range of interests and achievements outside their academic career.
Additionally, we would like to
see innovative candidates who can demonstrate a drive for results, good verbal and written communication
skills, and an ability to analyse, with good judgement and excellent interpersonal skills.
RPC
What are your main interests, activities and pastimes? (250 words max)
Please provide details of any positions of responsibility you have held recently, including details of your
contributions. (250 words max)*
Please describe an achievement of importance to you. (250 words max)*
What does the role of a commercial lawyer in business mean to you? (250 words max)*
State your reasons for applying to RPC. (250 words max)*
Identify a current commercial issue which has attracted your attention recently. Please explain why you
have identified this issue and why you consider it to be significant to the stakeholders involved. (250 words
max)*
Why them?
Of course clients expect their lawyers to understand the law. But what they really want is advice from smart
people who get the commercial context and can spot the business implications. On this measure, you won't
find better than RPC; in 2013 the UK's leading client satisfaction report placed us in the top spot overall
out of 106 firms benchmarked, and ranked us number one for quality of commercial advice. Not for the
first time.
We have offices in London, Bristol, Hong Kong and Singapore and are a founder member of TerraLex, the
second largest legal network in the world with representation in over 100 countries across the globe
25% of our partners trained and qualified with us. So did our Managing Partner and several of our senior
Partners. And so did 50% of the partners on our board
In June 2014 we were named Law Firm of the Year at The Lawyer Awards, having been nominated four
times before over the previous 18 months
.
Why do I want to be a solicitor?
Why RPC in particular?
That's why we're in an open plan office where it's easy to talk to and learn from others. That's why
you'll find yourself bouncing ideas off the partner you're sitting next to. That's why RPC lawyers
find themselves lead associates while their contemporaries are still playing second fiddle. And
that's why, in the profession's major independent survey, clients top-rated RPC lawyers for quality
of legal advice.
Whether through training, secondments to industry or five minute debriefs on the way back from
meetings, you'll learn business alongside law. No surprise then that clients voted RPC lawyers
amongst the most commercial in the profession.
Areas of Law, why am I interested in them?
So it's litigation front and centre, with a traditional focus on the insurance industry. But the firm has
diversified its reach, too, ramping up its corporate offering and spreading into just about every dispute
resolution nook.
Training Structure
Yes, 30% of our work is international in nature. We have offices in London, Bristol Hong Kong and
Singapore and are founding members of the TerraLex network of law firms which gives us ready access to
lawyers in over 100 jurisdictions.
We offer regular reviews and assessments, clear development priorities and support to help you
to progress at the speed that suits you. We’ve even developed a system that helps you to see
exactly where you stand and exactly what you need to do to get promoted – right up to partnership
level. Aptly enough, we call it ‘CareerBuilder.’ It means that you can mark your progress, instead
of marking time.
om day one you’ll be a part of a strong support structure. You’ll never be left to struggle alone
with complex, case-critical work and we guarantee that you’ll never be asked to perform menial
tasks with a kettle or a photocopy machine.
As far as we’re concerned, you’re an extremely valuable part of a team and you’ll be working
with clients, at the sharp end, from day one. You’ll have a supervising partner to review your
progress and allocate your work, a mentor to show you the ropes, and access to a dedicated trainee
development team.
During your two-year training period you’ll spend six months in each of four practice areas,
within our Commercial and Insurance Groups. You’ll also take part in a formal training
programme throughout your contract that will support, and complement, the practical experience
you’ll gain by ‘learning on the job.’
As a UK trainee you will have the opportunity to be seconded from London to our Bristol office.
There’ll also be opportunities to be seconded to one of our clients as an in-house lawyer, forge
personal relationships with clients and develop a deep understanding of their business, helping
you to become commercially aware as well as legally proficient.
In addition, as a Hong Kong trainee you could get the chance to spend six months of your contract
working out of one of our UK offices.
Wherever you are, you’ll be challenged, supported and stretched. You’ll work hard and make a
real contribution to our business because you’ll soon see yourself as playing an important part in
the future of our firm.
Pro Bono
Why you?
Why I’m suited to a career in Commercial Law
Competencies and how I fulfil them
Well, good academic achievements are essential but there’s far more to it than an impressive list of
qualifications. If you're applying for a training contract in the UK, you’ll need eight high grade GCSEs,
three high grade A-levels and a 2:1 degree awarded or predicted, or the equivalent qualifications. In Hong
Kong, we look for consistently strong academic results.
You'll need to detail your academic achievements
on the application form in order to apply for a training contract.
We’re also looking for some very special qualities. You’ll need courage as well as intelligence (take a look
at our Manifesto again.) You’ll need to be confident, ambitious and dynamic. And we’ll expect you to be a
natural communicator and to demonstrate total commitment, natural leadership skills and an inherent
awareness of the commercial world.
For them the law is fascinating… but the real satisfaction comes from meeting, and helping, people. We
believe learning law goes hand in hand with learning people. We'll give you every help to develop your
networks so you can become a player, not a pawn. Our groundbreaking social networking technology can
help in the office, too. You'll find yourself joining the whole firm, not just the department you happen to be
sitting in.
Why you?
Why I’m suited to a career in Commercial Law
Competencies and how I fulfil them
We are looking for candidates who not only have a consistently strong academic record but also who have
a wide range of interests and achievements outside their academic career.
Additionally, we would like to
see innovative candidates who can demonstrate a drive for results, good verbal and written communication
skills, and an ability to analyse, with good judgement and excellent interpersonal skills.
Why them?
Why do I want to be a solicitor?
Why Macfarlanes in particular?
Areas of Law, why am I interested in them?
Training Structure
Pro Bono
Why you?
Why I’m suited to a career in Commercial Law
Competencies and how I fulfil them
Why you?
Why I’m suited to a career in Commercial Law
Competencies and how I fulfil them
We are looking for candidates who not only have a consistently strong academic record but also who have
a wide range of interests and achievements outside their academic career.
Additionally, we would like to
see innovative candidates who can demonstrate a drive for results, good verbal and written communication
skills, and an ability to analyse, with good judgement and excellent interpersonal skills.
Skadden
Please give details of any prizes, scholarships, positions of responsibility and any other noteworthy
achievements that will support your application.
Please give details of any interests/hobbies you have outside of university/work
Please insert your covering letter in support of your application here. Please include your reasons for
applying to Skadden and why you believe you are suited to the firm.
Why them?
Why do I want to be a solicitor?
Why Skadden in particular?
Areas of Law, why am I interested in them?
Training Structure
Pro Bono
Why you?
Why I’m suited to a career in Commercial Law
Competencies and how I fulfil them
Why them?
Why do I want to be a solicitor?
Why Macfarlanes in particular?
Areas of Law, why am I interested in them?
Training Structure
Pro Bono
Why you?
Why I’m suited to a career in Commercial Law
Competencies and how I fulfil them
Why Macfarlanes in particular?
Areas of Law, why am I interested in them?
Training Structure
Pro Bono
Why you?
Why I’m suited to a career in Commercial Law
Competencies and how I fulfil them
Withers
Skills
Commercial awareness (60 words max
Client focus (60 words max)
Communication (60 words max)
Team work (60 words max)
Tenacity (60 words max)
What has been your most significant non-academic achievement to date (60 words max)
Interests and Activities
Which fictional character from a book you have read do you identify with most and why? (60 words max)
Please give details of your current interests and activities including the nature of your involvement (60 words max)
Careers Aspirations
What qualities do you think you possess to be a successful lawyer at Withers? (60
words max)
Withers is a leading global law firm. How would you summarise what makes us
distinct from other law firms? (60 words max)