Brussels secondment story

As a trainee in the Competition department, I was very excited to be offered the opportunity of spending three months in our Brussels office. To work in the EU Quarter of Brussels, just a few streets away from the Directorate General for Competition, really made me feel like I was in the thick of what was going on. Our office is quite different to our main office in London as there are only six associates, two partners and three trainees based there at any one time. We also share the building with some of our “Best Friend” firms, with whom we have joint training sessions and social events.

While in Brussels, I had my own apartment which was a 15-minute walk from the office, just around the corner from Berlaymont in the EU Quarter and only a short stroll away from many of the city’s sights. My fellow trainees also lived in the same building so it was great to have some familiar faces close by.

There were plenty of chances to meet people and get involved socially. Brussels has a fantastic range of bars and restaurants and my colleagues were very good at recommending the best places to go. I would often head to Place du Luxembourg on a Thursday night to meet trainees from other firms for a drink and occasionally we would also organise trips to nearby Belgian cities such as Antwerp at the weekends; Brussels is ideally located for visiting other European cities such as Paris and Amsterdam. I was also able to go to the Christmas markets during my stay - the Grand Place was beautifully decorated with lights, and stalls were set up along the streets selling "vin chaud " (mulled wine) and wonderful Christmas goodies.

• Belinda Oddy
• Trainee secondment