Jones Day
Jones Day is a true US heavyweight, with its sizeable glove taking jabs at most major areas of law. With 2,500 lawyers and 35 offices across five continents, Jones Day is one of the largest law firms in the world and amongst the highest-grossing in the US. The firm’s London lawyers, of whom 98% are UK qualified, boast a globally recognised M&A practice.
Pros
|
Cons
|
Employee Reviews
Life on the Job
Culture
- "Because of the seat structure there is great trainee solidarity and one can always go to a fellow trainee to ask any number of questions or float ideas." -- First year trainee
"Trainees help each other out with finding work if they know someone to be busy, indicating which partners and associates have helped them produce good work and who are consequently good to work for. Trainees socialise as a whole or in smaller groups on an ad hoc basis." -- First year trainee
"It is a very friendly and sociable firm. There is no top-down hierarchy which makes for a comfortable working environment." -- First year trainee
"It is great to be part of a medium-sized firm as it enables you to know people across the different departments. Trainee intake is relatively small (between 8 – 12 typically) which means you get to know each other and make solid friendships." -- Second year trainee
"The culture is extremely informal (in a good way). There is genuinely no social hierarchy, which means partners to secretaries are treated equally and all have banter with one another. There is, of course, a professional hierarchy. Trainees support each other, especially because the non-rotational system gives trainees the ability to concentrate on their preferred areas throughout their contracts. So a trainee with a corporate focus will know who to call if they have a litigation related question, and vice versa." -- Second year trainee
"As no formal supervising structure exists, trainees are especially supportive of one another and are a common first port of call for questions." -- First year trainee
"Very few social events organised by the firm. Lawyers do not really interact outside work with each other unless they went to the same uni or become friends during the course of training. Associates compete heavily for billable hours. I find associates very professional at my firm." -- Senior solicitor
"Jones Day has partners which head up the different departments much like any law firm. I work very closely with my supervising partner in all the work that I do and the other associates are all very supportive. As well as being good work colleagues, a number of the members of the firm are also my friends, and we regularly meet up in the pub for a pint on Friday evenings." -- Newly qualified solicitor
Hours, Pay & Perks
Hours
- "Currently less than expected, but I assume this will increase in the near future. Currently averaging approximately 48 hours per week." -- First year trainee
"At the moment less, because of the nature of the work I am doing. Also, I only just started my training contract. On average, around 40 – 45 hours a week." -- First year trainee
"40 – 45 hours per week. Less than expected." -- First year trainee
"I probably work over 60 hours per week, but then I've voluntarily focused on M&A and other corporate areas that bring these hours with them. I did expect to work hard and long hours, and I'm not overly troubled by it." -- Second year trainee
"I generally get to work around 8 – 9am and leave at 7 – 8pm. The hours are not bad, although some weeks can be harder than others." -- Newly qualified solicitor
"I work a three-day week. I am in the office about 10 hours per day on each of my three days. My monthly billable hours are around 70." -- Senior solicitor
"Very flexible with part-time work. There is the possibility to purchase additional holiday. I work 7 hours a day, but this increases for specific projects." -- Senior solicitor
Pay
- "£70,000" -- Newly qualified solicitor"£100,000" -- Senior solicitor"£150,000" -- Senior solicitor
"The firm does not contribute to trainees’ pensions. Subsidised gym membership is at a local (but quite rubbish) gym." -- First year trainee
"Trainee compensation is quite good, and the six-monthly jumps from £39 – 41 – 45 – 50 thousand certainly make a positive difference." -- Second year trainee
"For a newly qualified it is very good." -- Newly qualified solicitor
"I feel I am well paid for what I do." -- Senior solicitor
"We are very small teams and as such are working to full capacity, but we are not rewarded in accordance." -- Senior solicitor
Interviews
Interviews & Assessments
- "One application including a cover letter and CV followed by two rounds of interviews. I was interviewed by four partners in total. The main topics of discussion were previous vacation schemes I have attended, my degree and extracurricular interests." -- First year trainee
"I did a vacation scheme so I had one interview for my training contract. I was interviewed by two partners. It was a fairly informal Q&A session, and I did not feel under pressure. I was asked questions about my personality, skills, character and work ethic." -- First year trainee
"Two interviews (one before vac scheme, one at the end of vac scheme). First interview with one partner, second interview with two partners. No particular format, no assessment day. Questions ranged from details of degrees and extracurricular activities to questioning my resolve to become a lawyer (I did not do a law degree)." -- Second year trainee
"One interview for the vacation scheme with a partner. A mid-scheme interview with a partner and a final interview with two partners. The vacation scheme is like a mini training contract; go out and find work from any department." -- First year trainee
"I had to do a telephone interview as I was based in America for a vacation scheme. On the scheme itself I then attended a formal interview with two partners. I was asked a lot about my CV." -- Newly qualified solicitor
"I am on the recruitment panel, and for trainees this is two interviews with two people in each, for lateral hires the arrangements vary. We have traditional interviews, we do not have assessment days, etc." -- Senior solicitor
The Inside Buzz View
Training Contracts at Jones Day
Top US firms normally take their pick of the academic elite; however, Jones Day sees past the CV – its primary focus is on finding capable trainees with character and personality, who can also hold their own when faced with clients. Due to the nature of the training contract at Jones Day, trainees need ‘to take initiative and approach lawyers for work’; therefore ‘being personable is the most important attribute’ according to current trainees. That said, a solid academic record is still important – ‘a 2:1 at degree level is the norm, though many have first class degrees’.
Jones Day’s training programme sets it apart from the Magic Circle and its US rivals. The firm’s unique, non-rotational seat system allows trainees to gain experience simultaneously in many different practice areas. Trainees are not assigned to one specific partner or department, but instead must seek out assignments on their own. This means that trainees get to choose to ‘take work from as many, or as few, departments as [they] wish’, providing they gain some experience in a minimum of three areas. The flexibility of this approach enables trainees ‘to try every department and hence make an informed decision as to where [they] should qualify’. For those interested, there is the possibility to go on secondment to the firm’s Dubai office.
The firm’s annual intake is made up of 15 trainees – a selling point to many as it allows for plenty of responsibility and the chance to shine. As one trainee states, ‘it is great to be part of a medium-sized firm as it enables you to know people across the different departments... which means you get to know each other and make solid friendships’.
To apply, you will need complete the firm’s online application form and attach your covering letter. If you’re successful you will be invited to interview. There are two rounds, both with two partners, and you need to impress in the first interview to make it to the second. While there’s no assessment day or tests, the interviews tend to be quite lengthy. The partners do not rely on a set of predetermined questions; instead they try to establish a relaxed, in-depth conversation about a topic of mutual interest. ‘The most important advice is to be interested in the firm and convincing about why you want to be a City lawyer’.
Vacation Schemes
Jones Day certainly makes sure that work placement students feel comfortable at the firm – you’ll be given your own email address and will either have your own office or will share one with another student on the scheme. As with the training contract, you get to choose which departments you receive work from and can try as many as you like. Throughout the scheme, two mentors will ensure you get the support you need.
Completing a work placement scheme will significantly boost your chances of getting that coveted training contract; 90% of current Jones Day trainees did so. You’ll have an interview at the end of the scheme for one. Non-law students can apply to spring and winter placements, both of which offer 15 places. With 30 posts to fill, summer schemes are designed for law students in their penultimate or final year.
Jones Day recruits on a rolling basis so places on its schemes and for training contracts may fill before application deadlines close and before individual applications are concluded. So don't wait until the final deadlines to apply: the early bird really does catch the worm!
Jones Day Graduate Recruitment Info
Contact:
Diana Spoudeas
Manager – Trainee Recruitment and Development
Tel: +44 (0)20 7039 5959
Email: recruit.london@jonesday.com
Application Deadlines:
Training Contracts: 31st July 2012
Vacation Schemes:
Easter: Applications open 1st September 2011 – 31st December 2011
Summer: Applications open 1st September 2011 – 31st January 2012
How to apply: www.jonesdaycareers.com
Jones Day Profile & Stats
Jones Day is a true US heavyweight, with its sizeable glove taking jabs at most major areas of law. Armed with 2,500 lawyers and 35 offices across five continents, Jones Day is one of the largest law firms in the world and amongst the highest-grossing in the US.
Founded in 1893, by Judge Edwin Blandin and William Lowe Rice, Jones Day made its name by representing Midwestern manufacturers and transportation companies from its Cleveland base. It was one of the first firms to adopt a corporate management structure, and the 100+ years since have brought steady growth, a slew of domestic and international offices, and acclaim. The firm’s involvement in numerous high-profile political scraps helped cement its reputation, and in one example of its eminence, the firm represented US automaker Chrysler in its massive bankruptcy case.
In the UK, Jones Day burst onto the London legal scene in 1986, courtesy of a merger with Surrey & Morse. In 2003, the firm dramatically expanded its London presence through a merger with mid-tier City firm Gouldens. The firm’s London lawyers, of whom 98% are UK qualified, boast a globally recognised M&A practice. The firm also specialises in capital markets, private equity, banking and finance, business restructuring, investment funds, litigation, intellectual property, tax and real estate.
In real estate, where the old Gouldens was always a leader, the firm still acts for what was once that firm’s largest client, Pillar Properties (now part of British Land). The firm's private equity practice has won work from a number of major players, including Morgan Stanley, WL Ross & Co – one of the most profitable restructuring focussed PE houses in the US – and Riverside, the most active private equity house in the US.
Jones Day’s European network includes more than 400 lawyers working in Brussels, Frankfurt, Madrid, Milan, Moscow, Munich and Paris. The firm opened an office in Dubai in March 2009, serving clients on energy, finance, arbitration and M&A matters. Most recently, Jones Day established associate offices in Riyadh, Jeddah and Alkhobar in 2011 in association with Alsulaim Alawaji & Partners Law Firm, a Saudi practice established in 1990. Additionally, the firm opened a brand new Boston office in January 2011.
With China’s economy growing at a record pace, many global law firms are vying for a multiple presence in China – and Jones Day is no exception. The firm possesses one of the largest Asian practices of any full-service international firm, with more than 200 lawyers and offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei and Tokyo.
Jones Day has a bigger commitment to pro bono than most of its English counterparts. All Jones Day lawyers worldwide are encouraged to get involved and live up to the exemplary work of the US practice, and time spent on pro bono matters counts towards billable hours. In London, the firm acts for the Royal Academy of the Arts and has provided support to the Waterloo Legal Advice Centre for decades. Jones Day solicitors also work with the community by providing advice to small local charities and individuals who can’t afford legal representation.
The Company’s Take
Jobs
Training Contract: We look for candidates with either a law or non-law degree, who have strong intellectual and analytical ability and good communication skills and who can demonstrate resourcefulness, drive, dedication and the ability to be a team player. Candidates should have obtained or be predicted at least a 2.1 degree in any discipline. The firm operates a unique, non-rotational system of training which is designed to provide freedom, flexibility and responsibility from the start. Our trainees work across different practice areas concurrently and are encouraged to assume their own workload. This allows for early responsibility, faster development of potential and the opportunity to compare and contrast different disciplines alongside one another.
When to Apply: The final deadline for applications for training contracts commencing in September 2014 is 31 July 2012. However, to ensure an early interview date, we would encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as we recruit on a rolling basis.
Salary: Our current starting salary for trainee solicitors is £39,000. Salaries rise at six monthly intervals throughout the training contract. 6-12 months: £41,000; 12-18 months: £45,000; 18-24 months: £50,000; NQ: £70,000 (London 2011-2012)
Vacancies: We recruit approximately 15 trainees every year.
Apply Now
Work Placement: Our work placement scheme will show you what it's like to be a trainee with us and will give you valuable insight into our unique, non-rotational Training System. You either will have your own office or share with another person on the scheme. You will have your own email address and phone number. You can take work from any department at any time and from any lawyer, which means that you gain the flexibility to see a wide range of practices and to meet lots of people within the Firm. We want you to get involved in real work. We don't just give people on the work placement scheme a series of workshops and seminars (although you will have the opportunity to participate in a negotiation skills workshop and a presentation skills workshop during the scheme). In terms of the work you will carry out, you can expect to be involved with research, drafting, preparing documents, client meetings, and visits to court. You also will have plenty of opportunity to get to know people in the Firm on a social level as we organise lunches, dinner, drinks, and sporting events. If you have a place on our December placement scheme, you will have the chance to participate in our regular, Jones Day Christmas event.
Dates: We run placements for non-law students and graduates and post graduates of any discipline in Winter and Spring and for law students over the summer. Please refer to the website for further information.
When to Apply: For our Summer scheme please apply by 31st January 2012.
Salary: You will be paid £400 per week.
Vacancies: We offer up to 60 places over the year.
Apply Now
