Survey Results - Trainee feedback on Latham & Watkins
Survey Results - Trainee feedback on
The lowdown - Trainees (in their own words) on Latham & Watkins
Why did you choose this firm over any others? ‘The diversity, fast-paced growth, ambition, entrepreneurial culture and the inspiring women that I met prior to joining’, ‘the firm is full service, unlike other US firms, and is particularly strong in my areas of interest’, ‘I found that people were very approachable and invested time in me during my vacation scheme – this speaks to the non-hierarchical culture at the firm’, ‘its expertise and reputation across multiple practice areas’, ‘it excels in both contentious and transactional work’, ‘its rankings, opportunities for training and the overall inclusion of the firm’
Best thing about the firm? ‘The quality of work, the people, the many opportunities to get involved in firm-wide initiatives, even in your first seat’, ‘generous mentoring budgets and an abundance of free organic snacks’, ‘the remuneration’, ‘the firm’s reputation across multiple practice areas, such that I would not feel shortchanged qualifying into any department here’, ‘the focus on inclusion through ‘affinity groups’, ‘its commitment to pro bono and the truly ‘One Firm’ feel of Latham’, ‘the quality of work’, ‘the culture and mentorship opportunities’, ‘great exposure to high-quality work and clients’
Worst thing about the firm? ‘The work/life balance, the lower amount of annual leave compared to other UK firms, and that there is no culture of giving days-in-lieu after working on holidays’, ‘sometimes long hours, and the unpredictability involved with transactional work’, ‘the trainee pay is not competitive’, ‘sometimes detrimental work/life balance’, ‘the seat allocation process is not transparent and can be stressful’, ‘the hours’, ‘the lack of transparency sometimes’, ‘we only get 20/21 days holiday a year!’
Best moment? ‘Being involved in smaller matters where I got more exposure to clients and was able to work on important documents’, ‘receiving excellent feedback from a senior partner at the firm, and seeing a gruelling deal over the finishing line’, ‘helping to prepare a structure chart for a slide deck, the pitch being successful and then working on that deal’, ‘signing/closing a deal which I was running’, ‘my secondment to Hong Kong’, ‘getting great feedback from a partner on a report on a niche area of law that I had to put together last minute on no sleep just before a deal closed’, ‘attending the banking department’s annual retreat to Barcelona’
Worst moment? ‘Long hours and the continuous stress for a private equity bid’, ‘when I had to pull all-nighters on deals, with the most intense one being an overnight in the office’, ‘at times, very short deadlines which involve long hours and a lot of chasing’, ‘working on a fast-paced deal when unwell’, ‘an 80+ hour week’, ‘unexpected weekend work which ruins the entire weekend’, ‘I had a few months where work was intense. However, in retrospect, I learnt the most during these periods’, ‘working on holiday’, ‘working until 4am on a Saturday’
The Legal 500 Future Lawyers verdict on Latham & Watkins
Latham & Watkins ‘has a formidable reputation across a huge variety of practice areas’, with particular specialisms in private equity, project finance, fintech, and even litigation. Unusually for a US firm, Latham is full-service, which suits those who ‘don’t want to train at a firm where trainees are competing for the ‘crown jewel’ department’, as well as those who ‘aren’t sure yet where to qualify’. ‘Truly international’, Latham’s ‘global presence is unrivalled’, and the firm’s diversity in terms of lawyer backgrounds and nationalities was applauded by respondents. Trainees get ‘more ownership over workstreams’, are ‘often calling and emailing clients directly’, and are ‘pushed to try new tasks throughout the training contract’. The more formal training is great too: recruits benefit from ‘sessions at the beginning and midway through each seat’ and are ‘encouraged to attend broader training sessions in our practice areas too’. Long hours are the undoubted drawback of working at Latham. Respondents begrudge having a poor work/life balance which can ‘sometimes be detrimental’. Whilst late nights come with the territory of City, and particularly US, law firms this does mean that ‘evenings and weekends can be ruined at very short notice’. Thankfully, this is usually ‘something you knowingly sign up for as a trainee’ and goes hand in hand with exposure to high-level work and clients. ‘Working directly with a partner on a deal in my first seat’ and ‘running processes myself on deals and seeing how far I’ve developed professionally’ are such examples. To train at a firm which is consistently rated ‘top tier across practice areas’ where the stakes are high but the work rewarding and the colleagues ‘friendly and knowledgeable’, consider Latham & Watkins.
Q&A with...
Emma Bunting, Trainee
What first attracted you to Latham?
I was initially attracted to the firm’s strong sense of community, which I experienced first-hand when I attended a graduate open day. Everyone was warm and welcoming, and I learned that Latham’s many affinity groups provide support and help to foster a culture of inclusivity. This sense of community, combined with the firm’s deep expertise across my areas of interest, solidified that Latham would offer the perfect environment for personal and professional growth.
What have you enjoyed most about your training contract?
I have particularly enjoyed the international nature of all the work I have done at Latham, and the fact that I get to work in diverse teams and take on great responsibility. For example, I helped to co-ordinate teams in several European jurisdictions as part of a large cross-border private equity transaction, and more recently, I was part of the team that prepared for an international arbitration hearing at the International Dispute Resolution Centre. I find the work both challenging and highly rewarding.
I have also enjoyed all the moments shared with my cohort, from casual chats and snack breaks in the office, to karaoke nights and birthday parties. I really value that we’re such a close group.
What has surprised you most about your training contract?
I have been surprised by the range of impactful pro bono projects that I have had the opportunity to work on. For example, I am assisting an individual in applying to the government’s compensation scheme, as part of the firm’s participation in a coalition of UK law firms helping Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit to support people impacted by the Windrush Scandal. Latham lawyers value giving back, so there are a number of opportunities to become involved in meaningful initiatives. I am thrilled to use my legal skills in the service of people in need in our community.
What advice would you give to students applying to Latham’s vacation scheme?
I would encourage students to attend Latham’s in-person graduate events, which are always really engaging and informative. For instance, last year the firm hosted a student event in collaboration with PureGym. Events like these provide great insight into the firm and the life of a trainee. They’re also a great way to connect with Latham lawyers in person, which could potentially lead to natural mentoring relationships further down the line.
I would also recommend taking some time to reflect on your true motivations for becoming a lawyer. When you have clarity on the reasons you want to enter the profession, and learn how to communicate those reasons in a concise way, it becomes easier to feel confident throughout the application process and allow your authentic self to shine through. Training with Latham & Watkins opens up a world of opportunity. Follow London trainee Emma Bunting on her training contract journey.
About the firm
The firm: A career at Latham & Watkins will give you the opportunity to do some of the best work of your life. With more than 3,500 lawyers across our offices in Europe, the US, the Middle East and Asia, the opportunities are boundless. Over 70% of the firm’s transactions involve five or more offices; our diversity fuels our understanding and innovation.
Latham provides the perfect balance of entrepreneurial spirit and career development support. The firm offers world-class training, where graduates and trainees can follow their intellectual curiosity to explore the firm’s market-leading practices before choosing a department, practice or industry focus.
It is our unique collegiate and non-hierarchical culture that sets us apart. Our associates committee – boasting equal numbers of associates and partners – manages associate reviews, bonuses, and promotion to partnership and counsel, which leads to a remarkably transparent environment.
We are proud to be a world-leading pro bono law firm. The firm gives billable hour credit for pro bono work, and doesn’t cap the number of pro bono hours that can be applied towards the billable hour target. Here, you are encouraged to bring your own unique perspective, and supported to take on pro bono matters of personal interest.
A career at Latham is an investment in your development and your future. It begins with you.
Senior partner: Richard Trobman
Managing partner: Edward Barnett
Other offices: Austin, Beijing, Boston, Brussels, Century City, Chicago, Dubai, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hong Kong, Houston, Los Angeles, Madrid, Milan, Munich, New York, Orange County, Paris, Riyadh, San Diego, San Francisco, Seoul, Silicon Valley, Singapore, Tokyo, Washington DC.
Who we are: Latham & Watkins has more than 3,500 lawyers globally. Its non-hierarchical, collegiate management style and ‘one firm’ culture make Latham a unique place to work. Over 70% of the firm’s transactions involve five or more Latham offices and the collaborative atmosphere is strengthened by the firm’s diversity.
What we do: Our award-winning London office is home to nearly 500 lawyers and is known for its work advising some of the world’s leading corporates, financial institutions and private equity firms on market-shaping transactions, disputes and regulatory matters.
Our leading finance practice has earned an exceptional reputation in the market, regularly advising on all types of leveraged, acquisition and project finance work. We have market-leading experience in M&A, debt and equity financing, high yield, restructurings, recapitalisations, divestitures, data privacy and cyber security, and outsourcing. We also offer comprehensive tax and environmental advice for complex multi-jurisdictional transactions and disputes. With nearly 900 litigators located in 25 major business centres globally, we are one of the few firms capable of providing clients with immediate, high-quality legal expertise anywhere in the world, whether our clients’ needs are local or international.
We are committed to giving back to the communities where we live and work, with a longstanding pro bono programme as well as many community service initiatives.
Over the last two decades, our lawyers have provided more than 4m pro bono hours in free legal services to underserved individuals and families and the nonprofit sector.
What we’re looking for: Latham & Watkins recruits students with incredible legal minds who are also incredible people; the firm values transparency, respect, innovation, collaboration and diversity. As a meritocracy, Latham seeks out candidates who have demonstrated they can contribute to the firm’s culture through their initiative, communication skills, complex thinking, willingness to assume responsibility, resilience and judgement.
What you’ll do: A Latham training contract combines real responsibility on global matters with supervision from world-class lawyers who foster professional development. In addition to a sophisticated training programme, our trainees also benefit from a core three-week trainee foundation designed to bridge the gap between law schools and practice, as well as training in each seat. After induction, trainees complete four six-month seats – two of which will be in corporate and finance. Trainees have the opportunity to apply for a secondment on either their third or fourth seat.
Perks: Life assurance, private health and dental insurance, pension scheme, season ticket loan for transport, cycle to work scheme, restaurant on site, discounted gym membership.
Sponsorship
PGDL and SQE fees and a maintenance grant of £20,0000 per year. For future trainees who have already completed the PGDL and/or LPC/SQE, the firm will reimburse those fees in full.
Seat options
Corporate – corporate (ECM/M&A/PE/VC/EC/ PE Real Estate), data and technology transactions, debt capital markets, UK derivatives; entertainment, sport and media; environment, land and resources; emerging companies and growth, FinTech; financial regulatory; investment funds; real estate.
Finance – banking; infrastructure finance; project development and finance; real estate finance; restructuring and special situations; structured finance.
Litigation – competition, litigation and trial.
Tax – executive compensation, employment and benefits, transactional tax.
Tips from the recruiter
- Structure and formatting: Keep your application form clear and concise. A well-structured application helps us understand your qualifications and experiences at a glance.
- Attention to detail: Proofread your application multiple times to avoid errors. Attention to detail is a fundamental skill for all lawyers, so it is very important that your application is free from mistakes.
- Take a personal approach: When crafting your application, it’s essential to personalise your content to stand out from the crowd. It’s easy to tell when an applicant has made an effort to tailor their application – it will be more detailed and will tell their own story.