Tag: law firm

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Which Law Firms Have the Best Vacation Schemes?

If you do anything this month, make it vacation scheme applications. Most law firms set their spring and summer vacation scheme deadlines for the end of December or end of January, so now’s the time to get your applications in. 

With so many firms now recruiting solely through their vacation schemes, taking part in one really is the best route to getting a training contract.  

What is a vacation scheme? 

A vacation scheme is a one or two-week-long work placement at a law firm. During this time, you’ll usually sit in one or two departments and do trainee tasks, some of which might be assessed.   

You might also attend firm presentations, lunches with other vacation schemers and trainees, as well as social events.   

You’ll be assessed throughout, so be sure to be on your best behaviour, even at evening drinks.  

But you should also let your personality shine through. Ultimately, people want to know if they could share an office with you!

Vacation schemes are usually paid, with some law firms also offering to cover some expenses for the duration of the scheme, 

Why should you do a vacation scheme? 

A vacation scheme is a brilliant way for you to find out if the law firm in question is somewhere you’d like to work. 

There aren’t many other opportunities where you can ‘road test’ the work and office environment before committing to a new job. 

Vacation schemes are also a great way for the firm to see how you work, and whether they think you’d be a good fit. 

Different firms suit different people, and vacation schemes are the best way to find the best law firm for you.

Head to our Winners Table to see which firms have the best vacation schemes.  

Trainee feedback on vacation schemes

Here’s what this year’s survey respondents had to say about their firms’ vacation schemes. 

At Cooley, trainees love the ‘hands-on work from the very start, including on the vacation scheme’, which was dubbed an ‘authentic experience’. 

Trainees chose Marriott Harrison because of ‘the friendliness of the people and how much time they took to get to know me on the vacation scheme’. What’s more, ‘from the vacation scheme itself, I could tell that MH peers push you out of your comfort zone and train you to become an associate and not just a good trainee’ 

Several Sullivan & Cromwell trainees had ‘excellent experience on the vacation scheme’ 

For one Farrer & Co trainee, their decision to join the firm was ‘solidified by the enjoyable culture I experienced during the vacation scheme’ 

The White & Case vacation scheme was also applauded, and participants ‘liked the people [we] met at the firm’ so much that their decision was made early on 

‘After attending a vacation scheme in 2021, I was struck by the warmth and friendliness of everyone I met, and I was certain Forsters was the place I wanted to be’, said one respondent of the boutique London firm. 

At Vinson & Elkins ‘my vacation scheme made me want to work with the people here, and I haven’t been disappointed with the results so far. The combination of this culture and the strengths in the industries I was interested in working in solidified V&E as my first choice’ 

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Which factors should I consider when choosing a law firm?

Despite having the common goal of qualifying as a solicitor, everyone will have slightly different priorities when choosing where to do their training contract.  

Whether your aim is to get as much client contact as possible, work on headline-making deals or earn a sky-high salary, it’s important to find out exactly what each firm has to offer before you apply.  

In this blog we set out some of the most important considerations when choosing a law firm: 

 

Practice area 

One of the first and most important things to consider is whether the firm actually has a department or team practising the area of law you’re most interested in.  

A firm can win countless awards and be making headlines daily, but if it doesn’t have a property department and you want to be a property lawyer, it’s probably not for you.  

Equally, if you’re interested in a niche area of finance or corporate law, you will need to check first that the firm practises that particular type of law. 

Some law students and prospective trainees will know from the outset that they want to be a corporate or finance lawyer and may set their sights on the City, international or US firms. These firms often have plenty of advertising and marketing materials available and are relatively easy to find. 

Other prospective trainees will know that they want to be a family or employment lawyer, or even an art or sports lawyer. A bit more research might be needed to find firms which specialise in these areas.  

Whichever area of law you think you’ll want to qualify into, it’s best to go into your training contract with an open mind.  

Law in practice can be very different to what you study at law school. It’s definitely worth waiting to see which area of law you actually enjoy working in day to day before you make your final decision. 

Consult The Legal 500 to see which firms practice in your preferred areas of law. 

 

Inclusiveness 

It’s no good if a law firm is a specialist in its field if it isn’t inclusive. You will want to be confident that you can bring your whole self to work, regardless of socioeconomic background, ethnicity, sexuality or just your personality.  

Despite the legal industry having a bit of a fusty reputation, most law firms have made inroads and now have much more diverse and inclusive workforces than in previous decades. 

Many firms also have plenty of diversity initiatives in place – whether it’s a LGBTQ+ networking group or a parent lawyer society.  

If you’re wondering how you’ll fit in at a firm, consult our inclusiveness winners table to see which firms came up trumps in this arena. 

 

Approachability 

The key to a successful training contract is often the supervision. And that supervision needs to come from someone who is approachable.  

Supervisors can be senior associates, partners or any solicitor who is qualified and more senior than you, but a good supervisor should be getting you involved in their work, answering questions and giving you regular feedback so that you can improve.  

Look out for firms that have an ‘open-door policy’, which means that you can freely knock on a senior lawyer’s door to ask a question, no matter how silly it may seem! 

 

Client contact 

Dealing with clients is a huge part of being a solicitor. During your training, you will learn how to manage and communicate with clients. This might be through observing your supervisor or by meeting with clients directly. 

Bear in mind that at larger firms, it’s unlikely you’ll be having high levels of contact with clients in your junior years. This is because big firms tend to have big clients, and the deals they’re involved in can be complex. Client contact at these firms will be largely reserved for partners and senior lawyers. 

At mid-sized and smaller firms you are much more likely to be put in front of a client early on. This could include drafting emails, calling a client or even attending client meetings, with (or sometimes even without) your supervisor. 

Compare how trainees rated their firms for client contact here. 

 

Salary 

There’s no getting away from the fact that how much you get paid might influence where you want to work.  

Some US and City law firms pay eye-wateringly high salaries which are sure to grab your attention as you browse their websites and brochures. It goes without saying that you’ll be required to work very hard in return for these competitive packages. Still, it’s nice to know that your hard graft is valued.  

Always consider the NQ salary when making your decision. NQ salaries are often significantly higher than trainee salaries and if you’re hoping to stay on at the firm post qualification, this is the amount you can expect to be paid longer term. 

Smaller firms will not pay as much as their City counterparts. The trade-off however is probably (though not always!) a much better work/life balance and earlier responsibility. 

Salary is a very important thing to consider when choosing where to apply. No amount of money will make up for you feeling unhappy when you’re working day and night, but feeling like your hard work is not adequately compensated can feel equally frustrating. 

Consult our salary winners table to find out how much you can expect to get paid at each firm. 

 

Work/Life balance 

Yes it’s fulfilling, but law can be an intense career path. Tales of missing out on birthdays, dinners and even holidays because of work deadlines are not uncommon and, although perhaps more frequent at larger firms, lawyers at all types of firms will likely encounter late nights at one point or another. 

Some law firms have a better track record of promoting a healthy work/life balance than others. Year on year we are told by trainees at certain firms that their colleagues respect that they have a life outside of work. If this is high on your agenda, have a look at our work/life balance table. 

Work/life balance is something that is likely to greatly impact your training experience and is not something to take lightly. 

 

Social life 

OK, so social life may not be your top priority when choosing a law firm. But in reality it’s good to know that your colleagues are going to be a sociable bunch who enjoy a drink at the pub or a game of football on a Thursday evening.  

The Future Lawyers Training Contract comparison table is an easy way to narrow down the firms which fit your criteria. 

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Applications, applications, applications

It’s that time again. 

If you’re applying for winter, spring or summer vacation schemes this year, now’s the time to start. Most firms have opened their application windows and are eagerly awaiting your applications. 

Here at Future Lawyers, we definitely recommend applying for vacation schemes; they’re the best way to find out about a law firm, and for them to find out about you. 

You’ll still be under pressure to perform; but you’ll also have the opportunity to prove yourself over the course of one or two weeks, rather than in a stress-inducing hour-long interview. 

Most vacation scheme applications close at the end of January (though deadlines vary so do check). In any case, we recommend starting your research now, especially if you’re planning on doing a few.  

This is where The Legal 500 Future Lawyers vacation scheme deadline table comes in.  

In one handy table, you can see all firms’ deadlines in one place, helping you to keep on top of your research, and making sure you never miss a crucial closing date. 

Have a look for yourself.

Happy applying! 

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Pro Bono

In the legal industry, pro bono is the act of giving free legal advice to clients who may not otherwise be able to afford it.  

In the US, it’s long been common practice for law firms to practice pro bono alongside their paid legal work. In recent years pro bono has started to enjoy more prominence in UK law firms too. 

When researching firms, it’s definitely worth looking at a firm’s pro bono offering. Some firms will require all trainees to get involved in pro bono and others will even allow lawyers to include a certain amount of pro bono work within their billable hours. A commitment to pro bono can say a lot about a law firm’s ethos. 

But it’s important to remember that pro bono work will almost always come second to your billable work for fee-paying clients. So, while there’s nothing wrong with mentioning your interest in the firm’s pro bono work on your application form or at an interview, it shouldn’t be your main motivation for applying. Law firms are businesses after all! 

Each year we ask trainee solicitors to share their opinions on their firms’ pro bono offering. Below are some of the top responses this year. Click on a firm name to find out more.

 

‘The only target hours relate to pro bono work and there are regular emails offering opportunities: the whole firm is geared towards taking on pro bono work when things are quiet / you have capacity, without it being a distraction from other work if you are busy on client matters’ – Weil

‘Pro bono is heavily encouraged by the firm and there are so many projects to get involved with, so you can be sure you’ll find something that you’re passionate about. Even if there isn’t anything (unlikely!), the firm encourages all lawyers (as well as trainees) to form their own partnerships with organisations’ – Akin 

‘The firm is absolutely outstanding in terms of the availability of pro bono and CSR opportunities. There is an entire Responsible Business team which assists you to take part in any opportunity you wish to volunteer for. Sarah Farrelly, the Pro Bono Associate, is absolutely brilliant and she does exclusively pro bono work. If you are passionate about being involved in pro bono work during your TC I would strongly encourage CRS to be at the forefront of your mind’ Charles Russell Speechlys  

The pro bono work is amazing and, because we have no chargeable hour targets, its not seen as extra work but is treated as important as client work, which I gather is not the case in other firms. As a junior, you also get a lot of responsibility in running with pro-bono work which is great experience – Travers Smith 

‘Very good, we get involved with the Suffolk Law Centre for pro bono, and always fundraising for such charities as Access to Justice, Norfolk & Waveney Mind, Walking with the Wounded, Benjamin Foundation, etc’ – Birketts 

‘Amazing – the pro bono team in the firm and the advertising and accessibility to these projects is huge (with a dedicated pro bono trainee to assist in these matters)’ – Clifford Chance 

‘Excellent. Trainees are automatically enrolled to do two sessions per year at the Battersea Legal Advice Clinic. Then there are additional opportunities to get involved with pro bono/CSR, and fee earners get trainees involved with any department specific pro bono work’ – K&L Gates 

‘10/10 – I have been involved in some really incredible and interesting pro bono initiatives, often working in small teams directly with partners or senior associates. Pro bono is often some of the most challenging and rewarding work. A big shout-out to the firm’s dedicated pro bono counsel who are incredible’ – Morrison & Foerster 

‘Incredible. This is a subject that BCLP really care about and there is plenty to get involved with if you want’ – Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner 

 

 

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What factors should I consider when choosing a law firm?

Despite having the common goal of qualifying as a solicitor, everyone will have slightly different priorities when choosing where to do their training contract.  

Whether your aim is to get as much client contact as possible, work on headline-making deals or earn a sky-high salary, it’s important to find out exactly what each firm has to offer before you apply.  

In this blog we set out some of the most important considerations when choosing a law firm: 

 

Practice area 

One of the first and most important things to consider is whether the firm actually has a department or team practising the area of law you’re most interested in.  

A firm can win countless awards and be making headlines daily, but if it doesn’t have a property department and you want to be a property lawyer, it’s probably not for you.  

Equally, if you’re interested in a niche area of finance or corporate law, you will need to check first that the firm practises that particular type of law. 

Some law students and prospective trainees will know from the outset that they want to be a corporate or finance lawyer and may set their sights on the City, international or US firms. These firms often have plenty of advertising and marketing materials available and are relatively easy to find. 

Other prospective trainees will know that they want to be a family or employment lawyer, or even an art or sports lawyer. A bit more research might be needed to find firms which specialise in these areas.  

Whichever area of law you think you’ll want to qualify into, it’s best to go into your training contract with an open mind.  

Law in practice can be very different to what you study at law school. It’s definitely worth waiting to see which area of law you actually enjoy working in day to day before you make your final decision. 

Consult The Legal 500 to see which firms practice in your preferred areas of law. 

 

Inclusiveness 

It’s no good if a law firm is a specialist in its field if it isn’t inclusive. You will want to be confident that you can bring your whole self to work, regardless of socioeconomic background, ethnicity, sexuality or just your personality.  

Despite the legal industry having a bit of a fusty reputation, most law firms have made inroads and now have much more diverse and inclusive workforces than in previous decades. 

Many firms also have plenty of diversity initiatives in place – whether it’s a LGBTQ+ networking group or a parent lawyer society.  

If you’re wondering how you’ll fit in at a firm, consult our inclusiveness winners table to see which firms came up trumps in this arena. 

 

Approachability 

The key to a successful training contract is often the supervision. And that supervision needs to come from someone who is approachable.  

Supervisors can be senior associates, partners or any solicitor who is qualified and more senior than you, but a good supervisor should be getting you involved in their work, answering questions and giving you regular feedback so that you can improve.  

Look out for firms that have an ‘open-door policy’, which means that you can freely knock on a senior lawyer’s door to ask a question, no matter how silly it may seem! 

 

Client contact 

Dealing with clients is a huge part of being a solicitor. During your training, you will learn how to manage and communicate with clients. This might be through observing your supervisor or by meeting with clients directly. 

Bear in mind that at larger firms, it’s unlikely you’ll be having high levels of contact with clients in your junior years. This is because big firms tend to have big clients, and the deals they’re involved in can be complex. Client contact at these firms will be largely reserved for partners and senior lawyers. 

At mid-sized and smaller firms you are much more likely to be put in front of a client early on. This could include drafting emails, calling a client or even attending client meetings, with (or sometimes even without) your supervisor. 

Compare how trainees rated their firms for client contact here. 

 

Salary 

There’s no getting away from the fact that how much you get paid might influence where you want to work.  

Some US and City law firms pay eye-wateringly high salaries which are sure to grab your attention as you browse their websites and brochures. It goes without saying that you’ll be required to work very hard in return for these competitive packages. Still, it’s nice to know that your hard graft is valued.  

Always consider the NQ salary when making your decision. NQ salaries are often significantly higher than trainee salaries and if you’re hoping to stay on at the firm post qualification, this is the amount you can expect to be paid longer term. 

Smaller firms will not pay as much as their City counterparts. The trade-off however is probably (though not always!) a much better work/life balance and earlier responsibility. 

Salary is a very important thing to consider when choosing where to apply. No amount of money will make up for you feeling unhappy when you’re working day and night, but feeling like your hard work is not adequately compensated can feel equally frustrating. 

Consult our salary winners table to find out how much you can expect to get paid at each firm. 

 

Work/Life balance 

Yes it’s fulfilling, but law can be an intense career path. Tales of missing out on birthdays, dinners and even holidays because of work deadlines are not uncommon and, although perhaps more frequent at larger firms, lawyers at all types of firms will likely encounter late nights at one point or another. 

Some law firms have a better track record of promoting a healthy work/life balance than others. Year on year we are told by trainees at certain firms that their colleagues respect that they have a life outside of work. If this is high on your agenda, have a look at our work/life balance table. 

Work/life balance is something that is likely to greatly impact your training experience and is not something to take lightly. 

 

Social life 

OK, so social life may not be your top priority when choosing a law firm. But in reality it’s good to know that your colleagues are going to be a sociable bunch who enjoy a drink at the pub or a game of football on a Thursday evening.  

The Future Lawyers Training Contract comparison table is an easy way to narrow down the firms which fit your criteria. 

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What is a vacation scheme?

A vacation scheme is a period of one or two weeks spent at a law firm as part of the training contract application process.  

A vacation scheme is essentially work experience, the difference being that you will be assessed throughout for your suitability to get a training contract at that firm. It’s also likely that you’ll have an interview at the end of the scheme. 

During the scheme you’ll be given real work to do, and you should tackle these tasks as if you were a trainee. Don’t worry if you don’t have any legal knowledge yet; the firm will not expect you to be an expert on the law! Instead, they will be looking to see what your thought process was and, most important of all, that you approached the task with enthusiasm. 

It is essential that you are on your best behaviour throughout the vacation scheme. This applies just as much to your time at your desk as during a social event with your fellow vac schemers. Your prospective future colleagues and supervisors will be watching you! 

Having said that, you need to be yourself too. Of course the firm wants to see if you’ll be a good lawyer, but they also want to see that you’re someone that other people will want to share an office with. If you come across as arrogant, laid back or even too intense, you might give off the wrong impression. Be friendly and engaging, ask questions and take an interest in what’s going on around you. 

Remember that doing a vacation scheme is a two-way process. It’s as much a chance for you to find out if you like the firm as it is for them to work out if you’ll be a good fit. 

Vacation schemes are an integral part of the training contract application process and are very important. Many firms now recruit solely from their vacation scheme so this could be your one and only chance to show them what you can do. 

If you’re lucky enough to nab a spot on a vacation scheme, work hard and take every opportunity to find out as much as you can about the firm. 

Our vacation scheme deadline table has all the dates you need. Start researching now! 

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How do I research a law firm and when should I start?

The training contract application process can be quite long winded. Before you commit yourself to it, you will need to be confident that this is a career path you want to pursue. So when should you start your research and how can you  find out which law firm might be the best fit for you?

Early doors

It’s never too early to start researching.

Many firms run open days or insight schemes for prospective trainees. Often there are targeted events for first-year students, regardless of degree subject, so you really can start to learn about a firm as early as you want.

If you’re thinking about a career in law or want to show your dedication to becoming a lawyer, sign up for an open day. It’s the perfect opportunity to learn about the firm and the legal industry more widely. It also shows the firm in question that you’re keen!

Read up

A law firm’s website is a good place to start your research. You can also consult guides such as Future Lawyers and The Legal 500 to find out what a firm’s specialisms, strengths (and weaknesses!) are.

Law/careers fairs

Most universities will have a law or careers fair, usually in the autumn term. Attending one of these fairs is a good way to start your research as there will be many firms exhibiting in the same place at the same time.

Law firms will usually send a variety of people to represent them at the fair. This could be a mix of trainee solicitors, graduate recruitment managers and sometimes NQs.

Have a look at the attendees ahead of time and start narrowing down which firms you might like to speak to. Once you have made a list of which firms you want to approach, jot down a few questions you might like to ask them.

When it comes to filling out an application form, you could mention that you met representatives from the firm at the law fair, so be sure to get their names!

Vacation schemes

If you’re a second-year law student or a final year student in another subject, you can start applying for vacation schemes. A vacation scheme is normally one to two weeks long and is essentially a period of work experience but where you are assessed throughout. There will probably be an interview at the end of the scheme too.

Although this may seem daunting, spending a week or two at a law firm is a great way to get to know the business. It’s also a chance for you to experience life as a solicitor and to decide whether you can see yourself doing it long term.

Some law firms run autumn or winter vacation schemes. The applications for these will usually close in September or October.

Most firms run summer vacation schemes and you will normally need to apply for these by the end of January.

Check our vacation scheme deadline table for exact dates.

Talk Talk

Find out as much as you can from other people. Do you know anyone who works in the legal industry? If so, ask them to meet up for a coffee or a chat.

Of course, not everyone has contacts in the legal industry so you might have to think outside the box.

A friend of a friend, a classmate’s sibling, or one of your neighbours could all be of help. You could also ask your university’s careers service.

Slowly does it

You need to leave enough time to do your research before you start filling out application forms.

And if you don’t get a vacation scheme in your first year of trying, don’t give up! You can continue applying in subsequent years and once you have graduated.

Just remember that every application form or interview is good practice.