Eversheds

Eversheds is one of the world’s largest full-service firms, with more than 4,500 people and 46 offices in major cities across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The firm’s global network comprises a mix of owned and associated offices across the world, offering a wide range of legal provisions across a number of sectors, advising local and international corporations, financial institutions and government organisations.

Eversheds was established in 1988, and over the ensuing years the firm completed several regional mergers, creating one of the largest practices in the UK. The first international merger took place in 1995, and since then several national and international mergers and partnerships have taken place – expanding Eversheds’ network to 29 countries. Today, Eversheds International is continuing to increase its presence in new markets and areas, which has included Hamburg, Madrid, Dubai, Bucharest and Baghdad in recent years.

Work at Eversheds is divided into four main practice areas – company commercial, human resources, litigation and dispute management and real estate – and with the firm working on anything from mega-mergers to day-to-day employment advice, a broader practice would be harder to come by. The firm provides its long list of services to a number of sectors, including aerospace, defence and security, central government, education, energy, finance, healthcare, local government, retail and transport.

In terms of CSR, Eversheds has a strong focus on monitoring and improving its social and environmental impact by: continually developing the workplace; promoting sustainable growth through responsible and innovative business practice; minimising its impact on the environment; and positively engaging with its local communities. In fact, Eversheds is one of the first major City practices to introduce a comprehensive flexible working policy. Eversheds is particularly active in supporting the homeless, as well as children’s charity Barnardo’s. Furthermore, the firm is dedicated to improving its environmental performance by cutting its carbon footprint. Last but certainly not least, lawyers at Eversheds are regularly involved in pro bono work, for instance, volunteering and providing services at legal advice clinics.

Practice numerical tests and verbal tests used by actual employers.

Trainees at Eversheds undertake four seats during their two years, with two or three usually in the core departments of real estate, litigation, corporate and employment. As well as opportunities for client secondments or a seat in another UK office, Eversheds offers its trainees a wide array of seats abroad. According to one, ‘Paris, Shanghai, and Hong Kong are all generally available, as well as bespoke secondments to other offices such as Sweden and Germany’. Candidates with a global outlook, international experience and proven flexibility will therefore stand a good chance at this multinational firm.

Although Eversheds recruits from a range of universities, there are still certain academic criteria that need to be fulfilled – trainees need to have achieved ‘good A-levels and at least a 2.1 degree’. However, the firm is not solely after academic highflyers as this is usually a given. Eversheds is on the lookout for personable candidates who will fit in with the firm’s ‘very relaxed and social culture’. As one trainee puts it, ‘what will set applicants apart is having a strong CV in terms of extra-curricular pursuits and achievements, plus personality – an ability to be engaging and confident without appearing arrogant’. Outgoing, down-to-earth, and confident characters with ‘a can-do attitude, business acumen, and an eagerness to learn’ are thus likely to be successful.

The application process at Eversheds involves filling in an online application, which is said to be quite ‘basic and simple’. This is directly followed by two separate online tests; the first is a situational judgement test, the second is numerical reasoning. These are said to be ‘time-pressured and quite stressful, each taking around 25 minutes to complete’. If you’re successful, the next hurdle will be a 20 minute telephone interview, designed to screen candidates based on their interest, background, motivation and knowledge.

An hour long face-to-face interview in the office you’ve applied to with an HR manager and senior fee-earner is up next. Here the interviewers ‘seek to find out a bit more about the candidate and test business awareness’. There will be plenty of competency-based questions, which will centre on the skills the firm looks for in its trainees, such as leadership, critical thinking and creative abilities. It is important you understand the type of firm that Eversheds is, and make sure that this comes across during the interview. Be ready to explain why you’ve chosen to apply to the firm, and also the particular office.

Lastly, candidates will have to master an assessment centre. Current trainees advise hopefuls to ‘be yourself. We like individuals with rounded personalities and interests outside of law. Be approachable and friendly whilst also being intellectually sharp, quick and focused’. Trainees at Eversheds also testify that the most fruitful approach to getting your foot in the door is to go on the firm’s vacation scheme, with one even stating ‘the majority of people who are recruited have taken part in vacation schemes’.

Eversheds Graduate Recruitment Info

Contact:
Email: gradrec@eversheds.com

Application deadline:
Training Contracts: 31st July 2013

Stats

No. of lawyers firm-wide: 4,500+
No. of lawyers in the UK: 1,200+
Partners: 300+
Associates: 500+
Trainee intake: 55
Trainees retained: 84% (2011)

Salary

London 2012
1st year trainee: £36,000
2nd year trainee: £37,000
Newly qualified: £59,000

Regional offices
1st year trainee: £23,500
2nd year trainee: £25,500
Newly qualified: £36,000

Departments

Antitrust
Asset Management
Banking & Financial
Commercial
Construction
Contracts
Conveyancing for Mortgage Lenders
Corporate
Data
Derivatives
Employment & Labour Law
Engineering
Environment
EU Law
Financial Services & Markets Regulation
Financial Services Litigation
Franchising & Distribution Arrangements
Fraud & Financial Crime
Health & Safety
In-house Counsel Services
Insurance & Reinsurance
Intellectual Property
International Arbitration
Investment Funds &
Law
Licensing
Litigation
Media
Outsourcing & Offshoring
Parliamentary
Pensions
Pensions Scheme Disputes
Personal Injury Claims
Planning
Private Equity
Procurement Strategies
Product Liability &
Product Recall
Project & Infrastructure Finance
Protection
Public International
Public Sector Pensions
Real Estate
Recoveries
Reputation Management
Restructuring
Shipping
Tax Planning & Consultancy
Technology
Telecoms