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Satisfaction with Work

• "Four months into my first seat at A&O and I am very satisfied with how things are progressing. It is by no means an easy job, but I have been very lucky in that I have been given vast amounts of responsibility in a very short space of time. I closed my first deal last month, and effectively managed the whole closing process. This was both a daunting and rewarding task. Whilst face-to-face client contact is minimal, due to the international nature of my current seat in securitisation, I am constantly liaising with the client and other counsels on a regular basis." -- First year trainee
• "The level of responsibility is high which gives trainees an opportunity to be challenged and feel very involved with transactions. Trainees interact with clients on a day-to-day basis and partners are approachable and take a pro-active interest in the work of trainees. Transactions are often of a large scale and involve complex legal issues." -- First year trainee
• "I have had some contact with partners on deals and with clients, but there is room for much more contact. The work I have been given, though, has always been interesting and I've done very little of the mundane trainee tasks like bibling. A lot of the work has been very challenging and technical." -- First year trainee
• "Responsibility is readily available and trainees absolutely have the opportunity to run with what they have. Once you've demonstrated yourself to be competent, there is a huge amount of responsibility available for the taking – e.g. be primary point of contact for clients, run own (small!) transactions, organise and run signings, draft documents, review drafts, all the liaising with local counsel and the counsel for the other side." -- First year trainee
• "I am extremely satisfied by the quality of work I am given. I have been given a wide variety of tasks to do and have worked on approximately 10 different cases in 4 months. I have been to meetings with barristers, clients and witnesses as well as attended court on various occasions. I have daily contact with partners. I am working on high-value, complex commercial disputes." -- First year trainee
• "Good amount of responsibility with support as and when needed. Varied work and interaction with clients on a daily basis." -- Newly qualified solicitor, Employment
• "The level of work and responsibility is usually very good, I feel challenged but also supported." -- Newly qualified solicitor, Capital Markets

• "I am exposed to a wide range of work and have been given a lot of responsibility from the start. However, there is a good support system, so you never feel lost. Work can range from administrative, to drafting, to dealing with client queries." -- First year trainee 
• "Tends to be a steady stream of fairly uninteresting trainee work (running CP processes, company searches, etc.), but enough more challenging work that you can actually learn from (drafting, calls, etc.) thrown in. Little direct contact with partners unless you sit with one – you will usually end up liaising with whichever junior associate is assisting the partner on the deal. Some client contact, but usually only by email. Nature of the deals/transactions exposed to is varied, very high-end and interesting." -- First year trainee
• "Great responsibility, interaction with high-profile clients. On the whole, the partners are understanding and good people managers. Transactions and deals are international, multi-jurisdictional and headline-grabbing." -- Second year trainee
• "The quality of work varies greatly depending on who gives you it. Junior associates are usually much more willing to give large responsibility to trainees, whilst partners will only delegate research and admin tasks that far down (for example, doing company research). In 4 months I have been to one client meeting with a junior associate, but my senior associate trainer appears to have no intention of allowing me any client contact at all. The cases, transactions and deals are huge, so there is no prospect of running these alone." -- First year trainee
• "I am given a huge amount of responsibility compared to my peers. My supervisor is excellent and is always happy to check my work if I am in any way unsure. Being given responsibility is the best way to learn quickly, however, this can make life very stressful. This is my first seat at the firm and I have learnt a tremendous amount in a very short period and my confidence increases every day. I have been involved in a wide variety of deals." -- First year trainee
• "High level of responsibility in a small team. High level of job satisfaction at being a valued part of the team performing exceptionally well in the region. Excellent level of partner contact time." -- Newly qualified solicitor, Banking

What does your typical day at work involve?

• "There is no typical day in the life of a trainee. Your work is very much dependent on business needs and therefore may be drafting an ancillary document, attending a client meeting or reviewing comments. There are times when you are doing company searches, photocopying, scanning and general administration, but that is to be expected." -- First year trainee
• "A typical day involves drafting documents using standard form precedents, reviewing documents from opposing legal counsel, research tasks, training on key legal issues in your department and general correspondence with clients and counsel." -- First year trainee
• "Checking e-mails, proof-reading, drafting documents, conference calls, eating chocolate!" -- First year trainee
• "In my current seat, I might assist on a due diligence matter, comment on a services contract and do some ad hoc legal research." -- First year trainee
• "There is no typical day. I have been asked to write research notes and have drafted letters to opposing counsel, clients, barristers, mediators. I have drafted petitions to court and applications to arbitral tribunals. I have contributed to a vast document review exercise and created bundles of documents, amongst other things." -- First year trainee
• "Drafting or commenting on documents, reviewing comments from the other side, perhaps some research into specific points that have come up on a deal." -- Newly qualified solicitor, Capital Markets 
• "It is difficult to say what a usual day involves as the work in my departments is either full on or fairly quiet. I start off the day replying to emails that have come in during the night, usually from local counsel in other jurisdictions, briefing with trainer as to what is required of me today and objectives as to how I can help move the deal forwards. Calls and emails will come in during the day from the team and this could involve anything from legal research, admin tasks (which I generally give to my PA if it is before 5.30pm), drafting emails, updating documents such as CP list throughout the day and drafting schedules to put into facility agreements." -- First year trainee 
  

• "I am generally asked to liaise with clients, send out (or chase!) documents, make sure I am managing the file and keeping everything up to date and I will usually also be drafting or amending a document." -- First year trainee
• "A few stray winding-up and company searches; checking and amending CP docs such as board minutes and company certificates; drafting fee letters, accessions, notices, etc.; correspondence/calls with local counsel and clients to keep the transaction moving/resolve any issues; internal briefings and discussions with associates." -- First year trainee 
  
• "I am in leveraged finance at the moment running a couple of my own accessions and amendments. I am drafting the security documents, accession agreements and legal opinions, reviewing and commenting on what comes in from the other side, liaising with locals and the other side as well as the client and running the entire CP process. I generally do a bit of graduate recruitment work or pro bono every fortnight as well – negotiation exercises, legal advice centre, tours of the office etc." -- First year trainee
• "As a first seater in banking, the work mostly involves document checking and management. Given that this is also one of the busiest departments in the firm, it can sometimes be quite daunting given the work load to actually find time to sit down and figure out what is happening and then try and find someone to explain it to you. To counteract this, the department organises lectures and seminars on key topics to help give an overall understanding of the work of the firm and the deals that you are working on." -- First year trainee
• "Travelling to meetings (local and abroad), client events in the evening, marketing, transactional work such as drafting documents, managing conditions precedent and transaction timetable, first drafts of credit agreements and intercreditors, reviewing comments on the same, etc." -- Newly qualified solicitor, Banking 
• "Bit of a cliché, but no two days are the same – it depends on the status of the matters you are involved in (which is a mix of contentious and non-contentious work) and what else comes in that day." -- Newly qualified solicitor, Employment

Culture

• "There are lots of social events organised. Team events are good and senior colleagues will do all they can to make sure you can attend even if you have work commitments. Participation in all extra-curricular activities is encouraged (grad recruitment/pro bono/sports etc.), but I often find myself having to back out at the last minute due to urgent work as my days are very busy." -- First year trainee
• "The firm has an open-minded and innovative culture. Colleagues are willing to support each other in every respect and the staff, on the whole, are extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Most trainees are supportive, but some are just looking to get ahead, dump their un-interesting work on someone else and take the better tasks. Trainees do socialise together, but largely in cliques rather than all at once (it's a big intake!). The trainee intake (and workforce generally) is not very diverse or sensitive to diversity – this can make things uncomfortable for those few of a different class/race/sexual orientation or gender identity, but (unfortunately) I do not believe that this is worse here than at any other City firm, and is most probably slightly better." -- First year trainee
• "Most people around the firm are very friendly and helpful. Trainees support one another and do tend to socialise a lot together, as we all do the LPC together we all know each other well before we start. There isn't any competitiveness or fighting for the best work between trainees that I've heard horror stories about from other firms." -- First year trainee
• "Great working environment, fantastic atmosphere fostered by partners, great people, simply incredible support staff, stunning offices and facilities, and departments are on the whole very sociable." -- Second year trainee 
• "Trainees support each other and there is a firm ethos of socialising outside of the office – although when you are particularly busy this can be hard to achieve!" -- First year trainee
• "Solicitors socialise very well across the department and firm as a whole. At my level, much of the socialising is still intake-based and we have a strong and cohesive unit. Excellent culture and really supportive. I never feel unable to ask questions of people more senior. Trainees and other NQs are also willing to help out as requested. Support staff are very friendly and helpful and make your day a lot easier by marking up documents, booking travel, etc." -- Newly qualified solicitor, Banking
• "Good support peer-to-peer, open door policy so can easily ask questions, some opportunities to socialise (though could be better...)." -- Junior solicitor, Litigation

• "As a trainee, you sit with a trainer; normally a senior associate or a partner. They are your first point of call for work, and you will often be heavily involved in whichever deals they are involved in. However, if your work schedule is quiet you will go and ask other associates for work, which often provides good exposure to different deals. Trainees are very supportive of one another, and we will often send emails to the trainee intake requesting support or capacity on certain matters. We often use the linguistic skills of the trainee intake to help out with foreign documents. We all socialise together, which is a major bonus. Having an on-site bar makes it very easy for us to all get together at the end of the day. There are also lots of sporting outlets to get trainees involved – the A&O Rugby Club Dinner is infamous." -- First year trainee 
• "Trainees have an active social life. We tend to congregate in the bar after work on a Friday and there are plenty of socials. On a more daily level, we catch up for coffee and there is always a large group of trainees to sit with at lunch time. We also support each other by sharing know-how and helping out with each other's work loads when appropriate. There is also a liaison committee where views can be aired with HR and the training supervisor." -- First year trainee 
• "Trainees are incredibly supportive of one another at this firm. Good natured, great fun, down to earth and tolerant of everyone's differences, strengths and weaknesses. I socialise outside of work with some of the trainees and have made a few incredibly close friends out of my trainee intake who I see on a regular basis at weekends. Both departments I have sat in have been lovely. I have had some of the nicest, most entertaining trainers imaginable. I am really impressed by how pleasant people here are." -- First year trainee
• "A&O is a genuinely friendly firm. The working environment can get pressurised, but everyone supports each other and there is always a positive atmosphere and room for a sense of humour. Trainees definitely support each other, eat lunch together and socialise after work, as well as on weekends." -- First year trainee
• "Trainees get to know each other on the firm-specific LPC and after that it seems natural to socialise together and be supportive of one another." -- First year trainee
• "There is a clear hierarchy which helps because you always know that there is someone more senior that you can ask for help. I feel extremely supported by other members of the department including junior associates, senior associates and partners." -- Newly qualified solicitor, Capital Markets

Seats during the Training Contract

• "Typically, trainees do four seats. There is a wide variety of departments to sit in such corporate, banking, international capital markets, tax, litigation, employment and pensions and real estate. You have a great deal of choice, but need to sit two 'core' areas which are corporate, banking and ICM. There is an option to complete your fourth seat abroad." -- First year trainee 
• "Aside from the priority seat, it can be difficult to get a seat in a "niche" area. Very wide range of overseas seats, though some are very popular and therefore difficult to get." -- First year trainee
• "Corporate, banking and ICM (international capital markets) are the core seats. Trainees must sit in at least two of these three. Then any two out of litigation, employment, real estate and tax, in addition to a huge range of client secondments and secondments in overseas offices. There is a seat planning meeting two months into the start of your training contract at which you make your choices for the entirety of your training contract. These choices are, of course, subject to change as you progress through your training, but it is very helpful to establish a working basis for your training contract from the outset. Each trainee is given a 'priority' seat which is guaranteed by the firm. Again, this sets A&O apart from other firms. A seat abroad is possible in almost any of A&O's 38 overseas offices (overseas secondments now include Sydney, for example)." -- Second year trainee
• "Typically four seats although there is the potential to do two three-month seats (which would take total number of seats up to six). However, it is harder to qualify into three-month seats. You have to sit in two core departments, which can be frustrating when it comes to seat planning, but it does supposedly increase your chances of qualification. You have very little choice for your first seat (you can specify the generic group e.g. banking), however, HR has in some instances given first seaters slightly more discretion on this. HR does try and accommodate people's interests, but it is very frustrating to have to do two seats in two different core departments if these are areas you are not particularly keen on. There seems to be a lot of scope to do a seat abroad or alternatively a client secondment." -- First year trainee

• "4 x 6-month seats. You have to spend 12 months in the core departments, namely: international capital markets, banking and corporate. Subject to the above requirement you can sit anywhere you want. You have one 'priority' seat where you are guaranteed to sit in at some point in your training contract. In your 4th seat you have the option of going to a foreign office or on a client secondment." -- First year trainee
• "At least 4 seats of 6 months each, one of which can be spent on client secondment or international secondment with an overseas A&O office (huge choice e.g. NY, Sydney, Budapest, Paris, Dubai, etc). Also possible to do 3-month seats in some departments though generally people are less keen on this as it’s difficult to get up to speed and impress colleagues in such a short period of time, so people worry about qualification prospects. Have to spend 12 months in the 'core practice areas' – which makes sense given that's what the firm specialises in. When you also factor in secondment (which is generally though not always in a seat you have already sat in) and the SRA requirement to gain experience in three distinct practice areas, there doesn't seem to be much leeway. HR is very accommodating though and seat planning info is readily available from an early stage." -- First year trainee
• "Trainees usually do four seats. There are three broad departments; banking, ICM and corporate as well as litigation, tax, real estate and employment. There is a fair amount of choice within the three broad sectors but not much flexibility in terms of changing your seat plan once it is set early in your career as a trainee..." -- First year trainee
• "Typically, trainees will do 4-5 seats during the training contract, one of which is likely to be a secondment (which can be across a number of overseas offices). We have to spend at least 12 months (6 months each) in at least two out of the three core seats. Generally, HR is pretty flexible about specific sub-groups that you prefer and all other seat choices." -- First year trainee

Partner / Solicitor Relations

• "Solicitors are informed on a departmental level – either by email updates (e.g. recent awards, rankings, annual performance) and a global level – intranet articles, etc. There are also annual calls in respect of strategy, annual results, etc. where you can ask senior partners questions on any issue you want (questions and attendees are arranged by ballot). Important decisions involving the firm are also transmitted personally – e.g. meetings concerning the redundancy process from a couple of years ago were held for each level of staff in the firm." -- Newly qualified solicitor, Banking

Formal Training

• "Training is taken seriously by trainees and the sessions are carefully thought out and delivered. Trainers are of an excellent calibre and are always able to give practical examples of how useful the skills that they are teaching can prove in the office. Trainees are given time to attend training, but sessions can be rescheduled if business need dictates. Training ranges from non-legal sessions on networking skills, presentation skills and personal work management to legal workshops on advocacy, client interviewing and English grammar usage in a legal context. Departmental training is rigorous and special sessions on new issues are particularly valuable. Overall, the training is absolutely fantastic and I have no doubt that it is the best offered among UK law firms." -- First year trainee
• "Training sessions are very organised and structured. They are run in-house and all the materials and teachers are excellent. The firm is serious about us attending and in terms of the skills that I have acquired, these vary from code of conduct rules, accountancy issues, how to present yourself to clients, to information on the financial industry. We also have group training sessions which normally involve updates to the relevant area of law that the particular department practices in." -- Second year trainee
• "Training, on the whole, is very good though our bespoke LPC in particular did well to prepare us for working life. Compulsory PSC training is not always as relevant. The firm gets excellent people in to take the sessions so we get as much out of it as possible. Lots of update meetings, huge amounts of know-how circulating and professional support lawyers on hand to help. Library on the ball with keeping you updated with the relevant news updates." -- First year trainee
• "I can understand why A&O's training is regarded as the best in the City." -- Second year trainee
• "Time is always an issue, as sometimes work dictates that you can't just up and leave. To that end, most of the lectures are recorded and available for watching at a more suitable time in order to ensure that nobody suffers as a result of not being able to attend." -- First year trainee
• "Training is taken seriously by the firm and is compulsory. Client work obviously takes priority, but this is catered for by putting on numerous sessions on different dates. The non-legal training is effective and I have improved my presentation skills." -- First year trainee
• "Business skills, communication skills, legal training, management skills, team building." -- Junior solicitor, Litigation

• "We have an excellent training programme, with internal and external trainers providing us with the most up to date law. It is taken seriously and it is understood that training is important and that work shouldn't necessarily take priority in all situations. We have a Professional Skills Course that runs throughout our training contract that teaches us skills of business and financial awareness, along with client interviewing skills and presentation skills." -- First year trainee
• "The training programme is extensive and most of it is useful, but sometimes it could be organised to be more efficient as a lot of the courses seem to drag on. I haven't missed a training session yet, everyone has been good at allowing me the time to attend training." -- First year trainee
• "All my trainers so far have taken my training very seriously. So far, I have only had trouble finding time to attend one course. Training is extensive and can be quite hard work. I have learnt a lot about presentation and communication and financial economics. The only problem with training is it often runs from 9am until 5pm and you end up starting a full day’s work at 5pm! This can be exhausting and make training sessions hard to take in as often you are so tired you cannot give it a 100%." -- First year trainee
• "A comprehensive training scheme operates on joining the firm and at the start of each seat, with intermittent training scheduled throughout the training contract on a variety of topics, areas and skills. Research skills, communication (both client and firm-based), organisations, financial skills are all highly developed, as is team work and the ability to work independently. Attention to detail is a crucial skill." -- First year trainee
• "You are expected, as far as possible, to make time for training. The training is always thoughtful and relevant, with an effort made to pitch it to the right level." -- First year trainee 
  
• "Formal training cannot be bettered. As a trainee it is excellent and varied. This continues at associate level and you can attend some really helpful sessions – drafting, associate development, departmental university, etc. These are taken seriously and can only be missed if you’re intensely busy and if requested by a partner. There is also informal training that you can sign up to, e.g. lunchtime sessions on Microsoft office products and how to use the customised A&O products more efficiently. Regular email tips on common IT issues and how to work more efficiently are also circulated." -- Newly qualified solicitor, Banking

Informal Training & Mentoring

• "Partners and associates are almost invariably approachable and empathetic. On occasion, partners can be slightly preoccupied (in some of the smaller groups at the firm this is more exacerbated than at other groups), but I find the firm to foster a supportive and understanding environment. Senior lawyers always express gratitude for hard work, which goes a long way!" -- Second year trainee
• "Very easy to receive informal training and the open door policy means everyone is approachable, and always willing to take the time to discuss matters with you – whether that is deal related or just general advice about seat planning, qualification, etc." -- Second year trainee
• "Solicitors and partners are very accessible and will answer all of your questions but sometimes more explanation to begin with would be useful and time-saving and it is not always forthcoming. They generally do make good mentors though once you move department." -- First year trainee
• "Senior lawyers are generally accessible; they can be intimidating and perhaps it requires a bit of nerve to approach them, but they are, in my experience, always very forthcoming. Don't really have a mentoring system though; providing your relationship with your supervisor is good, then it is common to maintain contact and discuss with them aspects of your training contract. Learning a lot. Fast!" -- First year trainee
• "There are many informal training sessions given, and these are well organised. Usually, they involve lunch. The rigid formality makes it almost impossible for trainees to feel comfortable asking certain questions or asking for help." -- First year trainee
• "Very dependent on individual trainers. Some do not take much effort to help you learn either by giving you more challenging work or by explaining the background to deals, whilst others are very supportive – constantly challenging trainees and giving full backgrounds/explanations of deals." -- First year trainee
• "This depends on who you work for and how you work. I have aligned myself with some excellent junior and mid-level associates who have provided guidance when required and taken an interest in my development. The partner that I work for is approachable and I often discuss things/drafts/principles, etc. with him." -- Newly qualified solicitor, Banking

• "Informal training is easy to receive. For example, you can ring and have someone give you one-on-one training at your desk for IT or document production training. There are also numerous lunch time sessions for both departmental training and personal training (for example on the systems we use)." -- First year trainee
• "Everyone I have encountered in the firm so far has been extremely approachable and willing to offer advice and training where needed. The mentoring system here is excellent with my trainer taking a very active role in my development." -- First year trainee
• "Some trainers great, others less so! Hit and miss." -- First year trainee
• "I have been incredibly lucky in that I have had two trainers who both take their training responsibilities incredibly seriously. They give me detailed feedback, provide me with advice regularly and have made clear at the start of my seats that if I have any questions or concerns, they are happy to discuss them through with me. I have also had a few amazing mentors at junior/mid associate level who have taken time to give me advice and even held off giving me work so that I could increase my exposure to the department. Another thing that has really impressed me about certain associates is that when I have done good work for them that they have been asked to do by a partner, they have informed the partner that it is my work and passed on the credit..." -- First year trainee
• "The department that I am currently sitting in has a developed mentor system that assigns relatively young associates with trainees so that they have a direct point of contact that they can go to with any questions that they may have about the department generally or about any tasks that they have been given to do. On the whole, the trainees in my group have found that it works very well as a system." -- First year trainee
• "My trainer is fantastic and will answer any questions I have, as well as give me regular informal feedback. Partners genuinely have an open door policy and are very accessible. The main lesson I have learnt is the importance of attention to detail." -- First year trainee
• "My trainer and the partner are always conscious of the need to provide a constructive and broad training contract." -- First year trainee 
  

Career Progression

• "If you are able you will progress well – the opportunities are limitless – if you can take responsibility and show initiative." -- Newly qualified solicitor, Banking

Pro Bono

• "25 hours pro bono per year count towards billable; lots of opportunities to get involved in legal and community pro bono work. Personally, I have been involved in the Whitechapel breakfast mission, Smart Start programme, mentoring and giving practice job interviews at local schools." -- Junior solicitor, Litigation

• "World bank research tasks, legal advice clinics, soup kitchens, Red Cross disaster relief research and report task, attending CV workshop for graduates without a job." -- Newly qualified solicitor, Banking

Diversity (women, minorities & LGBT)

• "Women dominate at trainee level, but disappear further up the career structure. LGB persons are present (albeit in small numbers!). Transgender members of staff (of which there are some!) are not, for example, recognised on the equality and diversity monitoring forms etc. Workforce is overwhelmingly white. But isn't this just true generally in the City?" -- First year trainee
• "It runs programmes such as Smart Start to get children from backgrounds with no history of law in the family to come into the office for a week and experience what working in an environment such as ours is like. There are diversity schemes with universities such as *****, not traditionally one of the strongest in London, but yet through this scheme a number of ***** graduates are now amongst my fellow trainees. As for LGBT, the firm has an LGBT group which provides a useful jumping off point for the many events that go on in the City each week even if the group itself doesn't necessarily organise any. All in all, diversity seems to be pretty well catered for." -- First year trainee
• "There have been massive efforts made to ensure that women are treated equally, including allowing flexible working patterns for women and ensuring that maternity leave is updated. There are also good networks for LGBTUA members of staff. However, there is still a significant bias towards public schooling, Oxbridge educations and wealthy backgrounds." -- First year trainee
• "I think it's improving and you can see the effort being made at the lower end. They seem flexible on maternity issues. Still not many female partners." -- First year trainee
• "I'm an ethnic minority trainee and my best friend falls within the LGBT classification. The firm is not perfect with respect to this, but is very good in comparison to most others." -- First year trainee

• "Huge LGBT network. Impressive maternity policy and recently introduced part-time partnership for those with children. Ethnic minorities well represented. Grad recruitment focused at broad selection of universities and take lots of local work experience kids at college level to encourage uptake from other backgrounds. Female retention poor in the long run. I think it's a shame and I think the firm regrets losing its females (almost 60% of my intake was girls so it's a massive drain on the talent pool), but we work in a service sector where the expectation of availability is 24/7 which just doesn’t fit with part-time work. Until that attitude changes, I can't see what law firms are going to do to get around it." -- First year trainee
• "The maternity policy is bad. It was awful and slight improvements have been made. The firm is keen to emphasise in the press its commitment to keeping its best lawyers regardless of gender, but in reality I have seen very little to encourage this. A huge number of female associates seem to leave after having children and it appears to be incredibly difficult to get the partnership to agree to part time working at any level." -- First year trainee
• "Very strong racial diversity. The firm has a very strong mix of different ethnic backgrounds. However, socially they are not very diverse with relatively few people from non-affluent backgrounds." -- First year trainee
• "There are more females than males in my intake and this is a common trend. I have a state comprehensive school background and did not attend Oxbridge universities. As far as I am aware, the firm looks to recruit the best candidates possible regardless of any other factors." -- First year trainee
• "Excellent recruitment policy. Flexible in respect of childcare." -- Newly qualified solicitor, Banking

Offices & Dress Code

• "The office is brilliant. It has everything you could need and being right on the doorstep of Spitalfields Markets means there are a whole host of restaurants, bars and shops available. Commuting is pretty easy too, with Shoreditch High Street Overground and Liverpool Street Station a couple of minutes away. The dress code varies from department to department. In some departments you will be expected to wear a suit, whilst in others chinos will suffice." -- First year trainee
• "Office space, location and facilities all couldn't be better. If you're going to be stuck somewhere for hideously long hours, this is a great building to be in. Dress code varies massively between departments, but is overall fairly standard business casual." -- First year trainee
• "Offices are brilliant, very new, comfortable and functional. Dress code is smart casual and I keep a suit in the office for meetings. Much better than wearing suits all the time!" -- First year trainee
• "A&O has a fantastic office with modern equipment which makes working much easier. The dress code is business casual – I never wear ties in the office." -- First year trainee

• "The office is incredible. The artwork adds colour and vibrancy and we often have exhibitions in the foyer. The office is an inspiring environment to be part of and it's great to be in such a fantastic location in Spitalfields. The gym, restaurant, outdoor terraces, on-site GP, dentist, physiotherapist and dry cleaner make our office unbeatable! I use all facilities regularly and am extremely grateful to be able to have access to them. The roof terraces are particularly impressive with rare views across London and immaculately preened plants. The dress code is business casual and people tend to be smart, yet comfortable." -- First year trainee
• "Office is stunning. The roof gardens are stunning. The facilities are first class. The gym and sports hall are brilliantly equipped. Location by Spitalfields market is fantastic. Firm deserves great credit for its offices. No ties in the office unless meeting clients." -- Second year trainee
• "The bar is amazing. The office in general is pretty breathtaking. The canteen is quite good and the gym is impressive. The dress code is smart/casual, but this varies from department to department." -- First year trainee

Green Initiatives

• "All cups are now compostable and you can bring your own cup to get discounted coffee at our wonderful Italian coffee shop. There are recycling facilities and posters about energy saving everywhere. Lights turn off automatically. We are a very green firm and a huge effort has been put in to reduce our carbon footprints." -- First year trainee
• "Recently introduced a scheme where you get cheaper coffee if you bring your own mug." -- First year trainee
• "Frequent green initiatives and designated partner responsible for coordinating huge firm-wide efforts to reduce carbon footprint. It’s a very big issue here." -- Second year trainee
• "Desk side recycling, phasing out plastic cups, very supportive of cyclists (on-site parking and lockers/changing rooms), corporate Oyster Card to reduce taxi use." -- First year trainee
• "The firm is obsessed with it – seems to be doing everything they can. We have our own water purifying plant so we fill our own glass bottles, everything is recycled." -- First year trainee 
  

• "We have lights with sensors, so if there is no movement in a room, they turn themselves off. There are also recycling bins everywhere and we are encouraged to print everything double-sided to save on paper." -- First year trainee 
• "There are a lot of environmental signs around the office, but paper waste is as high as at any other firm! Biodegradable cups and environmental taps. A new campaign to make everyone bring in their own mug. Good facilities for cyclists to park." -- First year trainee
• "There are lots of recycling efforts and people are encouraged to cycle and walk to work, but at the end of the day a firm of this size will use up a lot of paper and with it being open 24 hours a lot of lights are left on all the time." -- First year trainee
• "There are recycling bins everywhere, cycling is encouraged and season ticket loans for public transport are available. All our files are kept digitally." -- First year trainee

How prepared do you feel to practise law upon qualification?

• "I feel that I will be in a good position if I qualify here. Whilst I will not know everything about the practice area, the support system and know-how network available will hopefully mean that I don't struggle." -- First year trainee
• "Definitely want to give it a go!" -- First year trainee
• "Better prepared each day, but definitely with LOADS still to learn..." -- First year trainee
• "Graduate recruitment has just been cut by around 15 places, and there are a large number of trainees in their final seat who have either not been offered a qualification post or who have been asked to qualify abroad. So not very." -- First year trainee
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• "Extremely." -- First year trainee
• "I think it will be an enormous jump. There are always people to help you out though." -- First year trainee
• "I feel that I need a broader range of experience, but I think I am on track to being well prepared. It will be a step up, but hopefully an enjoyable one." -- First year trainee
• "As prepared as anyone feels before they jump off a cliff! It’s all part of the career experience." -- First year trainee
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