Culture

• "The working environment depends on the team. I have worked long hours in the more transactional seats, although I have never worked late in the office alone. This gives a good sense of camaraderie. Teams are generally very friendly and partners are approachable. The trainees generally get along extremely well. Where there are multiple trainees in one department, I have found that the trainees always work as a team, helping each other out where necessary. Trainees also always make an effort to socialise together – either at lunch or after-work drinks." -- First year trainee, London
• "We have a great trainee support network, and I have found that trainees are always willing to help each other. We often socialise together at the end of the week, but it's understood that everyone has their own life outside work too." -- First year trainee, London
• "It’s mostly a very friendly working environment. People aspire to be able to leave at a reasonable time, even if this isn't the case. Trainees are very good at supporting/socialising – via round robin email mostly! Drinks most Friday's and some weekdays depending on work." -- Second year trainee, London
• "Nabarro's culture has to be one of the best things about the firm. Everyone is friendly and approachable. There are lots of different personalities who all work and socialise well together. The culture is what made my decision to come here so easy. There is generally a really even work-life balance. You're not expected to stay just because somebody else is still around. Some people leave at 5:30, others stay late. It all depends on the work load which varies daily. Even when you are staying late, you are not alone and the atmosphere (in anticipation of closing a deal or otherwise) always makes the night fly past and they're actually quite fun. Each team has various social events and trainees are regularly invited to client drinks. There are occasional firm-wide events which are always really well attended. All trainees socialise together. There are numerous trainee-specific drinks and marketing events and, even outside of work, trainees and other fee earners will frequently go for a quick drink after work, or a department lunch." -- Second year trainee, London
• "Trainees generally socialise quite often and lots of staff from secretaries to partners can be found in one of the local pubs on a Friday night. The working environment is pleasant. It is not open plan, but there is an open door policy and generally partners are very approachable and normal." -- Second year trainee, London
• "My intake of trainees has remained in close contact (except for one or two who do their own thing). Social events are reasonably regular and the firm encourages them. A lot of effort is made to make new starters feel welcome and on the whole I've felt at home in the place since the beginning." -- Second year trainee, London
• "There is some hierarchy, but all the partners are very approachable, and you work closely with a range of associates. I interact with all the trainees, but most closely with my intake; we have dinner once a month and drinks on a weekly basis. Most of our work is for specific individuals, but we do occasionally have large jobs where all the trainees in a department will work together." -- First year trainee, London
• "It is very clichéd, but Nabarro is a very friendly firm. Trainees eat lunch together every day and regularly organise evening activities. There is also a very good support culture. Trainees assist one another rather than try to stab each other in the back." -- Second year trainee, London
• "There is a very active social life in the office. Most Friday nights people from the office will be going out for drinks. There are also firm organised events and external events going on during the week which are heavily attended by people from the firm. The trainees are all heavily involved in the social side of things in the office." -- Second year trainee, Sheffield

Hours

• "I work hard, I am a corporate lawyer, it would be fun to go home at 5pm each day, but then I wouldn't be doing the same amount of work and learning as quickly. Working hours are about what I expected." -- First year trainee, London
• "This depends on the department. Currently I work on average 43 hours per week, but in my previous seats I worked on average 60 hours a week. I am not working any more or less than I expected." -- First year trainee, London
• "The workload was what I expected. I usually work about 10 hours per day on average." -- First year trainee, London
• "If you want to work in a City law firm, expect to work long hours at least some of the time. On average, I come in at 9 and leave around 7. Sometimes earlier, sometimes later. There is flexibility in the work-life pattern, however. There is never a problem with doctor’s appointments, taking a longer lunch break to go to the gym or coming in early and leaving a bit later. As long as you're completing the work and not seen to be shying away from any, you can dictate your own working pattern to an extent." -- Second year trainee, London
• "The hours I am doing at the moment vary. When I am busy, I am very busy and can be in the office for more than 12 hours a day. However, if I get my work done I can leave at 5pm as there is no obligation to stay just to be seen." -- Second year trainee, Sheffield
• "Eleven to twelve hours a day. Have done all nighters and all the next day on a big project. The department recognises work rather than requires a visual presence." -- First year trainee, London
• "An average day can be from 9am to 8 or 9pm. It can be frustrating because you never know when you will be needed until from one day to the next, and sometimes you can be kept waiting in the evening by an associate for a long time to be told you are not needed. The actual hours are to be expected from a City firm, but I feel that often your time is poorly managed for you and time is wasted in the office." -- Second year trainee, London
• "Sitting in real estate, 40+ hours a week." -- Second year trainee, London

Pay

• "It is comparable with other law firms of the same size." -- First year trainee, London
• "The pay is very competitive when compared with other regional firms." -- Second year trainee, Sheffield
• "I think our salaries match up with other firms of our size and location, I don't have a problem with it." -- Second year trainee, London
• "Compensation is fine, not as much as some industries that we work with." -- First year trainee, London
• "Very good and in line with other rival firms." -- Second year trainee, London

Interviews & Assessments

• "I was lucky to be recruited after an application form and assessment day. At the assessment day I had an interview with a partner and senior associate. There were no trick questions, but the kind of interview questions one would expect." -- First year trainee, London
• "There are vacation schemes and assessment days. I found the firm really approachable on the day and really enjoyed meeting partners, trainees and associates at the lunch to get a feel for the firm. The questions ranged from ones about my life outside studying and previous work to commercial-based questions. My interviewers seemed interested in my life as a whole, not just my knowledge of law." -- First year trainee, London
• "Assessment day, then interview, then summer scheme for three weeks, then another interview. Assessment day involves team building and team work activities, drafting exercises and, most recently, a speed networking exercise. The day changes each year." -- First year trainee, Sheffield
• "Half-day assessment to get on a three-week summer scheme, including a 30-minute interview. Very straightforward." -- Second year trainee, London
• "Over 90% of graduates are hired from vac schemes. Practical questions include: ‘how do you deal with risk?’ ‘What are the best strategies for firms?’ ‘How do firms grow successfully?’ ‘How do firms find and retain clients?’ ‘How do you manage competing requirements?’ ‘What do you do if a deadline is unreasonable?’" -- First year trainee, London
• "The process is as follows: 1) Application form; 2) Assessment day; 3) Interview; 4) Vacation scheme (3 weeks) – trainees are then offered training contracts on the basis of their performance on the vac scheme. It is a fairly intensive process, but it also means that you get to see what the firm is really like before getting a training contract." -- Second year trainee, Sheffield
• "Hiring process is an interview and assessment day for the vacation scheme, followed by a three week vacation scheme, and a formal partner interview at the end of the scheme if you want to be considered for a training contract. The assessment day and vacation scheme are very well organised and you get a very good chance to impress and feel you are doing genuine trainee work. The interviews during the process tended to be quite informal and relaxing, and the interviews and the forms both avoided some of the stupid questions you sometimes see, like if your firm was an animal what would it be." -- Second year trainee, London
• "I wouldn't say it is easy, but I was very fortunate, having only applied to a few firms that really appealed to me. There is the formal application process, followed by an interview day and then either the summer scheme or an offer. The interview was fine for me, it focussed on my application form and there were no horror questions. The partners just want to get to know you and your personality. Just try to relax and be yourself; it's so easy to spot someone who is trying too hard! Some people are asked theoretical or topical questions about a particular set of facts or recent news item. Just think literally and laterally and offer a reasoned opinion. My best advice would be to apply for the summer scheme. It was the best three weeks of my career and the firm routinely wins awards for it. We take almost all our trainees from the summer scheme and so if you get on it, you're almost there." -- Second year trainee, London
• "Interviews are friendly and fairly standard questions are asked. The firm does not support asking random questions designed to trip interviewees up. Assessment day is challenging, as most trainees are recruited from vacation schemes. However, the overall emphasis is positive – the firm wants to see the best of people." -- Second year trainee, London