The social side

"There are a lot of organised social events: there’s a Trainee Solicitors Committee that regularly organises social outings. Lots of the groups have drinks, receptions and summer parties and we’ve got our annual ball in the Grosvenor House hotel every November, so there are lots of organised social activities. And then, generally speaking, for example, the trainees will hang around together and will have lunch or maybe go for a few drinks on a Friday, so overall it’s a very social place to work in."

"I am a member of the Slaughter and May cricket team, which means that almost every week we play other law firms round the City. We’re also planning to go on a cricket tour next week to play a few local teams, which I’m really looking forward to. Besides that I’m very fond of singing, and I was very fond of singing while at university. So I joined the Slaughter and May choir just before Christmas and we sang in a lovely service in Lothbury Church, and it was really nice because there were people from different parts of the firm… partners, associates and trainees, or support staff as well."

"Well, I’m a member of the Trainee Solicitors’ Committee and it’s our job to organise events for the trainees. So we get a nice budget from the partners each year to spend as we wish and we organise events solely for trainees, which is a good way for people to get to know other trainees they might not work with. So this year, we’re currently doing our summer party – we’re doing a ‘speakeasy’ theme and we’ve rented a bar and we’ve got a jazz band. Our previous event was a bowling event, so we try to do things that include everyone. People can just come along and chill out and relax, wear their casual clothes, get out of their suits and do something different."