Why Slaughter and May?

Primarily, I applied to Slaughter and May as the firm distinguishes itself through its way of working. All lawyers are trained to develop expertise across a broad range of legal disciplines. As a prospective trainee, this structure is particularly appealing, as it provides exposure to a diverse array of work within each department. This in turn would enable me to make a well-informed decision about the area in which I wish to qualify in the future.

Another reason I applied was that a significant proportion of the work undertaken by the firm has an international dimension. This global aspect is not limited to transactional matters but also extends to the firm’s contentious and advisory practices.

My previous interactions with the firm also had been consistently positive and encouraging. I engaged with Slaughter and May through their Virtual Insight Programme on Forage, a first-year open day and a summer work experience scheme. Throughout these experiences, I found the people I encountered to be approachable, professional and genuinely enthusiastic about their work. These interactions left a lasting impression and played a significant role in my decision to apply for a training contract with the firm.

My experience on the summer work experience scheme

I participated in the summer work experience scheme in 2022. Before starting the scheme, I was excited to learn more about the firm and a career in commercial law. At the same time, I was somewhat apprehensive, having had limited experience of working in a professional office environment at that time. Upon beginning the scheme, my worries were quickly alleviated; everyone I met, from my supervisors, the partners, the associates and the trainees, were incredibly welcoming and always willing to take time out of their day to speak to me about their work.

During the scheme, as well as sitting in Disputes and Investigations and getting involved in the work in that department, I attended various talks which provided useful information about the different practice areas at the firm and deeper insights into the role of a commercial lawyer in major transactions and disputes. I also participated in a case study exercise on a hypothetical M&A deal where I was able to put the knowledge I had learned from the practice area talks into practice. Moreover, I attended interview and application workshops in preparation for the training contract interview which took place in the final week of the scheme, which helped to me to feel more confident in my own interview.

My training contract so far

I am in the second year of my training contract. I am currently sat in the Disputes and Investigations department, where I will stay for three months. Before this, I was in the Sustainability team for three months, the Corporate / M&A team for six months, and the Pensions, Employment and Incentives (PEI) team for six months. For the final six months of my training contract, I will join the Competition team, and I will be spending the first three months of this seat at the firm’s Brussels office.

My current day-to-day in Disputes and Investigations usually begins with reviewing my emails and my calendar to prioritise tasks and commitments. That said, no two days are ever the same. The remainder of my day is dedicated to working on various matters as they arise, attending client or internal meetings, and participating in training sessions. I may also participate in recruitment events from time-to-time, such as ‘life as a trainee’ panels and commercial awareness workshops.

My typical working hours vary, although most weekends usually remain free. At particularly busy times, such as the lead-up to a deal signing, it is necessary to work extended hours and at weekends. Associates are very supportive during these times, and there is a strong sense of camaraderie as you are all working towards the signing together.

Highlights so far

Participating in recruitment events is consistently rewarding. For instance, last year I acted as a trainee buddy for the firm’s Spring Forward programme, where I had the opportunity to engage with students interested in pursuing a career in law. I particularly valued this experience, given that I was in a similar position not too long ago, and I enjoyed helping them and answering any questions they had. This year, I was a mentor on the Law Springboard programme, where I ran one-to-one mentoring sessions for a university student on breaking into a career in commercial law.