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Satisfaction with Work

• "The work is very varied but I suspect this is typical of trainee work at any firm. Tasks range from photocopying to in-depth analysis, research, and real advice to clients. At best, the work is excellent but at worst, very dull and administrative. There is generally lots of transactional exposure though, and as much client contact as you can handle." -- Second year trainee
• "The room system at Travers Smith is very good. We sit in a room with a partner and an associate. This means we get exposure to conversations and work that both of those people have, and a lot of the time you learn through osmosis by overhearing telephone conversations, etc. It also means we are involved in all of the work that the partners and the associates do. In my first seat I had a very high level of client contact, talking to them on the phone on my first day. I was then given one client to look after for two months, with help from the partner and associate if I needed to field questions. This was very rewarding. However, the downsides were that some people give you good work to do, but others don't seem to understand how to delegate work. I will of course do my fair share of photocopying, but if it's just ‘Can you scan this and email it to me’, and that's all the work they give you, it becomes very dull. Apart from that, the transactions are always high profile and you are given a lot of responsibility – partners take your answers and arguments and use them on the phone to clients, which means that there is pressure to be right and prepared, and that your contribution is definitely not a token contribution." -- First year trainee
• "In my first seat I was given a lot of responsibility. I had direct contact with clients and worked side by side with a partner on two deals. I worked in a key role on the biggest property transaction in the UK." -- First year trainee
• "The responsibility given to trainees at Travers Smith is massive (almost too much!), but you can always ask for help. You have lots of client contact, which I think differentiates Travers Smith from other City firms." -- Second year trainee
• "I am very satisfied. Since qualifying I have been given progressively more responsibility and an increasing amount of client contact, and I now run several clients on my own. I work in a very specialised area (pensions) and the nature of the work I am given has been well thought out to match my own expanding knowledge of the area." -- Junior solicitor
• "I have a huge variety of work with a lot of responsibility and a huge amount of interaction with clients. However, I do not feel that there is adequate supervision or support from the partners." -- Junior solicitor

• "I have been exposed to a considerable amount of interesting and high profile work – and have always been involved with exciting elements of the transactions/deals, not just the drudgery. This includes a high profile high court action where I ran elements of the litigation, drafted letters, ran meetings, etc. and independently (whilst overseen) managed an asset manager client on its property-related work. Because we sit a partner, an associate, and a trainee to a room, we all have exposure to partners everyday – this means there is an immense opportunity to learn and discuss issues with those who have a high level of experience/skills." -- Second year trainee
• "As a trainee you get more responsibility and are not simply a glorified paralegal. However, there is always someone to ask for any issues, and supervision is still hands-on. It is an exciting balance of getting to do real work for yourself but also not feeling out of one’s depth." -- First year trainee
• "It varies. Largely, you get a lot of responsibility from an early point, which makes for a great training experience. If the department can let you loose on clients then it will, but obviously the more advisory departments preclude regular client contact. You will have constant exposure to partners because you share a room with a partner and an associate. This definitely promotes a non-hierarchical feel to the firm, although it can be quite stressful to constantly be around your partner supervisor. The transactional work we do is fairly high profile and exposure is first class, particularly in contrast to other trainees’ experiences at other firms." -- Second year trainee
• "I am satisfied with the quality of work I am given. Travers Smith encourages early responsibility and my caseload reflects that. Even at a relatively junior level you are encouraged to interact with clients at all levels and lead matters. As a litigator, my work involves providing advice and support on contentious matters to other departments (assisting the corporate team with warranty claims, for example, or running the litigious aspects of an IT dispute with the commercial team). That said, there is also always support available if required, and, irrespective of their seniority or prior involvement, my colleagues are generally happy to spend time discussing the cases I am working on with me." -- Junior solicitor
• "Extremely satisfied working at Travers Smith with great quality of work – working in the commercial team I get a huge variety of work ranging from large joint ventures to outsourcing agreements and commercial contracts." -- Junior solicitor
• "Good quality of work, and suitable supervision on hand if required or requested." -- Junior solicitor

What does your typical day at work involve?

• "Checking emails and responding to client queries or requests. On-going work on bibles for different deals – usually involves awaiting documents in the post and amending the bible as necessary and requesting documentation from another party. I also write letters to clients or to lawyers on the other side, and general filing of correspondence and documents. It’s a varied workload that depends on what tasks the associate and/or partner assigns me." -- First year trainee
• "It is varied, but usually I read through emails in the morning (although trainees have now been given BlackBerries) and catch up on any developments in the law and/or any deals or notifications going on. I usually have a to-do list, so after my coffee I usually get going with that – researching, drafting research notes, preparing board minutes, editing agreements – a very varied workload. Throughout the day other work comes in and we have discussions about clients and deals, where your input is treated as valid, and as associate level contributions. I definitely don't feel like as much of a trainee as my peers at larger firms." -- First year trainee
• "I come in at 9am, have an hour for lunch, and leave between 6 – 8pm. Currently I am in litigation so much of my day is spent researching and drafting." -- First year trainee
• "Working on a variety of different matters across different sectors (e.g. media, utilities, etc.) and I’m given responsibility to conduct matters myself with good support when needed." -- Junior solicitor
• "The type of work and workload varies significantly depending on the type of deal, number of deals running concurrently, and stage of each deal." -- Junior solicitor

• "The best thing about the job is that there is no typical day – as you work for multiple people within a room and within a department, you will often work on many matters simultaneously. This provides exposure to a variety of issues on a daily basis and means that you don't ever have time to get bored!" -- Second year trainee
• "Research tasks (various), company and people searches, attendance note taking, and some administrative tasks." -- First year trainee
• "It varies greatly between departments. Generally there will be some longer-term matters on which you will be working and you can structure your time as to how you want to work on those. Throughout the day extra bits of work (some larger, some simply small tasks) will be given and you will have to adjust your workload accordingly. There is generally around one training session a week, geared towards the first few weeks/months of your seat." -- Second year trainee
• "There is no ’typical day at work’. I am involved in all stages of litigation in the High Court, through Alternative Dispute Resolution procedures, and also at the pre-action stage. What I do in a day depends entirely on what my caseload requires. This could mean that I spend an entire month doing disclosure, or alternatively that I could spend a day dealing with incidental correspondence on a range of matters." -- Junior solicitor
• "Advising on pensions aspects of corporate transactions, preparing deed/advice notes for trustees of occupational pension schemes, and reviewing new legislation/regulations/guidance (there is a large amount of such materials in pensions!)." -- Junior solicitor

Culture

• "Trainees socialise together a lot. Both years get along very well and we generally meet in the pub on a Friday night. It's a good atmosphere because we're not forced to socialise with specific ‘trainee events’ but we choose to hang out with each other anyway, which is a very good sign. The general firm atmosphere and environment is very supportive – you can ask questions from anyone, and everyone has their doors open. Stupid questions are answered without any condescending manner. It is fairly open and relaxed, even the partners make tea for me!" -- First year trainee
• "Trainees sit with a partner and associate so the firm is fairly relaxed in terms of hierarchy although it doesn't go down well if you forget who's in charge. The office is pretty fun, although some departments currently seem to be suffering from political problems. Trainees are fairly supportive but it's more about who you're mates with than a big ‘trainee network’ of support. Having said that, if you ask a specific question in an all trainees email usually the responses are incredibly helpful and detailed. Trainees socialise together when they want to, if they want to. There's rarely a three line whip but people often go for drinks on a Friday." -- Second year trainee
• "Everyone at the firm is fairly social. As the firm usually keeps on almost all of its trainees at qualification, there is not really a discernable ‘competitive’ atmosphere (where people compete to do work or are wary of the other trainees; I have heard this can happen at other firms). Always a good turnout at the local pub on a Friday and you will always get advice from fellow trainees who have been in the seat before you if you need to ask questions or for help about a task you have been given. Trainees do socialise, perhaps not as often as we all would like, but there’s usually a good trainee event every few weeks or so." -- First year trainee
• "Generally 3/4 people in a room, of which one will be a partner and one a trainee with one or two associate(s). Trainees are very supportive of each other – it is often much easier to phone/email a trainee to find out the general status of a deal/matter on a more informal basis than approaching the lead partner. Trainees socialise together frequently and also with associates and partners: at the Bishop's Finger, at karaoke and on trainee nights out." -- Second year trainee
• "Everyone appears to just get on with one another, from partner level down to trainees. There is simply no obvious hierarchy; everyone is treated well and equally. Lawyers of all levels can regularly be seen drinking together in the local pub or belting out some tunes in the karaoke bar!" -- Newly qualified solicitor
• "Very flat hierarchy, all partners are extremely accessible and willing to help. Partners share a room with two associates and/or trainees and room doors are always open, literally and metaphorically. The bonus structure is flat, so there’s no incentive to hoard work. Similarly, if an associate is extremely busy efforts will be made for other, less busy associates to share some of the work. On the whole, there’s good camaraderie between associates and between associates and partners. Impromptu socialising in the local pub is fairly common, more formal efforts are also fairly frequent." -- Junior solicitor
• "It’s very friendly. My department is small but close, with everybody willing and available to discuss work matters. On a Friday there will always be a contingent at the local, so you can turn up safe in the knowledge that there will be friendly faces there." -- Junior solicitor

• "The firm claims to have an open door policy and I have found this to be very much the case. The partners and associates involve the trainees as much as they can and other fee earners are seemingly welcome to ask if a trainee can assist on a deal that is being conducted by another room. The department I sit in has had a number of induction talks and the training has been very structured, so far. Trainees are very supportive of each other, this is especially noticeable when there is a change of seat and the new trainee has a query for his or her predecessor. The local pub, the Bishop's Finger, is popular with the whole firm and especially trainees. Emails on a Thursday and Friday suggesting a drink after work are very common." -- First year trainee
• "Trainees are very supportive of each other – often sending group emails around if they come up against questions/problems they need help on or just to organise social events. Trainees in the same department socialise the most together but the trainees try to organise big social events every couple of weeks. Friday night usually involves a mass exodus from the office to the local pub (where almost the entire firm ends up) and it is always great to be bought a beer by your partner after a long but successful week!" -- Second year trainee
• "Very friendly and supportive firm – a lovely place to work. The social life is good and everyone supports one another. At times when it is necessary to pull long hours, the quality of my colleagues make it seem a lot less gruelling than it could otherwise be." -- Second year trainee
• "Everyone is extremely supportive – from partners to trainees. There are many social events in which you are encouraged to get involved. Departments differ but there is a general work hard play hard ethos. People take their work, but not themselves seriously." -- First year trainee
• "It’s collegiate, conservative and cohesive. The firm is very open – associates and trainees generally share rooms with partners. The room-sharing system works well; it encourages us to work closely in teams and means the firm does not feel particularly hierarchical. The firm is pretty social and you will generally tend to find some of our number in the local..." -- Junior solicitor
• "Good firm culture, especially amongst trainees that trained at the firm and worked up. The firm is not too big so that most people know each other. Great support between solicitors – there are no target hours at Travers Smith and so work is shared evenly, which benefits both us and our clients. Socialising outside work happens regularly and helps to build a good working environment." -- Junior solicitor
• "Associates sit in a room with a partner and (in most cases) a trainee. Associates and trainees work directly with partners and there is very much an open door policy. This means that all junior lawyers have invaluable access to a large pool of knowledge and experience. There are three partners who work within my area in the tax department and one senior counsel. I have worked and will continue to work with all of them on a regular basis. This means that the work/client base is very varied and also it provides the opportunity to experience different ways of working. The firm as a whole is very supportive and works well together. This is especially the case in the tax department. Solicitors also socialise regularly together at events organised by the firm (Christmas party, quiz evening, team nights out, etc.) and on an ad hoc basis." -- Junior solicitor

Seats during the Training Contract

• "There are four seats: a) Corporate (mandatory) b) Banking or Property c) Litigation or Employment d) ‘Wild Card’ choice (e.g. Tax/Competition/Commercial/Pensions, etc.); you express preferences within the above constraints. The firm is generally pretty good at trying to match preferences with business need. One trainee doing their Corporate seat gets the option to go to the Paris office." -- First year trainee
• "Typically a trainee sits in four seats: Corporate, Banking or Property, Employment or Litigation and a ‘wild card’ seat. The choice is fairly limited by the amount of departments we have but if you're interested in the departments on offer, then exposure to work is first class. There is the possibility of doing a Corporate seat in Paris if your French is up to scratch." -- Second year trainee
• "We do four six-month seats. One has to be corporate, one is either property or banking, one is either litigation or employment and the final seat is a ‘wild card’ being one of the remaining departments, for example commercial, tax, pensions, competition, etc. The only overseas seat is in our Paris office and secondments are possible, but very rare." -- First year trainee
• "Four six month seats, Corporate is compulsory then a choice between Employment/Litigation and Property/Banking, and then a free choice of the remaining seats. Generally people get their first choices – I have got all my first choices. There is a Paris seat for one trainee every six months." -- Second year trainee

• "We do four seats. Corporate is compulsory and there is a choice between Banking and Real Estate and a choice between Employment and Litigation. A number of departments (e.g. Commercial, Corporate Recovery, Financial Services, Competition, Pensions, and Tax) are available for the fourth ‘wild card’ seat, with trainees having to rank their top three choices. For those who can speak French, five months of their six month seat in Corporate can be spent in the Paris office where there is space for one trainee at a time." -- First year trainee
• "We do four seats at the firm. We all have to do a Corporate seat (which you will either do in Private Equity or Corporate Finance). Then we must choose between either Real Estate/Banking and between Litigation/Employment – or we can do the two week litigation course and have an extra ‘wild card’ choice. We then have a wild card choice between all the remaining departments (Pension, Tax, FSMG, Competition, etc.) but we cannot do a seat we didn't choose in the either/or above. The only seat abroad is in the Paris office, where they will generally only take you if you speak French." -- First year trainee
• "Trainees have four seats, with a choice between Employment or Litigation, Property or Banking, and an excitingly named ‘wild card’ seat (covering the other departments: Tax, Pensions, Competition, FSMG, and Commercial). There is a compulsory Corporate seat. There is a fair range of choice, although there is no guarantee you will get what you want. There is one seat in Paris available for second or third seat trainees." -- Second year trainee

Partner / Solicitor Relations

• "On a day-to-day basis partners interact well with associates/trainees and everyone feels as though they are getting involved. However, when it comes to decisions about the firm, rather than work, there is a certain lack of transparency (but I do understand why this is)." -- Newly qualified solicitor
• "Firm strategy is very much decided at the partnership level. As far as decisions and strategy in connection with ongoing instructions are concerned, junior associates are encouraged to involve themselves in those decisions and your views are taken into account." -- Junior solicitor
• "On an individual level partners mix very closely with associates. Firm-wide decisions are well communicated but there is little visibility on the decision-making processes." -- Newly qualified solicitor

• "There is good interaction with partners and knowledge of the direction the firm is moving in, especially at a group level in the commercial team in which I work." -- Junior solicitor
• "Communication between partners and solicitors is good, but the partnerships’ decision process is far from transparent. The new managing partner, Andrew Lilley, is working to improve things in this regard. There are various forums for solicitors to discuss their views with the partners. Presumably these views are considered at wider partner meetings, but there is no way of telling for sure as these meetings are held behind closed doors. Having said that, my view is that the business belongs to the partners, so they should be free to make decisions relating to it as they see fit without necessarily having to consult with solicitors. To the extent they make a bad decision, they will soon learn this. We will vote with our feet." -- Junior solicitor

Formal Training

• "The induction talks are formal and are conducted by a number of different fee earners. Departmental induction/training seems to vary from department to department but is equally well structured. Both are taken seriously and trainees are told in advance when such sessions are due to take place. Legal training: CPs, know your client, company searches, due diligence. Non-legal training: organisational skills, and IT." -- First year trainee
• "Training is mainly on an informal basis, as you always sit with a partner and an associate who will comment on any work you produce for them. There are also formal training sessions (the sandwiches provided have a deserved reputation for being abysmal). They are taken seriously by those who give them, and are focussed on giving you practical hints and tips on your seat, as well as providing legal know-how." -- First year trainee
• "Each department runs their own training schedules so each department varies. The training often comes too late in that you've already had to do the task before you are trained on how to do it!" -- Second year trainee
• "We have fortnightly departmental meetings along with more in-depth monthly sessions. We also have a programme of lunchtime sessions with other departments that we often work closely with (e.g. employment, banking) and these are very useful, not just for adding to the general legal knowledge but for getting to know colleagues in other departments." -- Junior solicitor
• "There are fortnightly departmental meetings which cover major legal developments and any work-related points of interest which have arisen. Associates have weekly lunchtime training on a specific area of law. Additionally, external speakers attend regularly and we periodically get sent on training courses (e.g. accounts, management skills, etc.)." -- Junior solicitor

• "Training is taken seriously at the firm. Each department has dedicated PSL(s) who develop and run the training programmes for trainees and other fee earners. Training is highly prioritised and is always well tailored to meet the demands of the department. Training sessions usually run throughout your seat. They provide a great opportunity to learn about the legal issues of the relevant area but also the practical issues of how to utilise know-how best, drafting techniques, and general information on the department and how it works." -- Second year trainee
• "Training is taken seriously but is a very open forum in which questions can be asked and views aired. There is always time to attend and you would only not attend if there was a very pressing matter where your colleagues absolutely could not do without you. Training programmes are organised by the department PSLs and generally take place in the first few weeks/months of each seat. You pick up a range of skills, e.g. drafting, but also an overview of the process for the matters each department generally deals with, and an understanding of how the firm operates." -- Second year trainee
• "Training is taken very seriously and organised well. This has been one of the big plus points of my training contract." -- Second year trainee
• "There is no formal training programme in place once you qualify. Ad hoc departmental lunch training sessions are held to provide updates on recent legal developments." -- Junior solicitor
• "The firm does not have a particularly formal training programme. You very much learn on the job. Sitting with extremely capable senior lawyers who are highly experienced and watching how they manage their caseload (as well as asking for their advice on how you should manage yours) means that you learn very quickly." -- Junior solicitor

Informal Training & Mentoring

• "Partners are more like friends/mentors. They are very approachable and most are interested in you as a person and make a real effort to get to know you." -- Second year trainee
• "New trainees are assigned a mentor (a fellow trainee) and are given a departmental mentor (an associate). I have met both but am yet to arrange a meeting or ask any questions of either. The other fee earners in my room are both very open to questions I might have with regard to the deal(s) we are working on and are happy to answer them as and when they come up." -- First year trainee
• "It is very easy to receive informal training. Due to the fact that you sit with an associate and partner, you are always picking up advice on your work, and seeing how partners manage their case load and interact with their clients. I have learned a lot about house style, presentation of formal notes of advice, how to interact with clients, and so forth." -- First year trainee
• "Before starting a piece of work you are always fully briefed on the background and the issues. On the whole, partners and associates are extremely good at this. There is also the freedom to ask questions while carrying out the work. Travers Smith pride themselves on their ‘on the job training’." -- First year trainee
• "Informal training is readily accessible, as are the partners. If I have a problem I am happy to pick up the phone, or to go and see the partner who I think will be best placed to answer my query or help with the issue I am having." -- Junior solicitor
• "I am fortunate and sit with a fantastic six year qualified solicitor who provides invaluable support. Some of the partners are better than others at informal training, but none of them are great." -- Junior solicitor

• "Partners and associates are very accessible; the level of informal mentoring and coaching obviously depends on the individuals concerned, but my experience so far has been excellent." -- First year trainee
• "As partners, associates, and trainees sit together, informal training happens on a daily basis simply by discussing issues with people. Partners and associates (time permitting) are always willing to give advice/feedback on work. This is by far the most effective and hands on way of learning and, for me at least, provides a way to hone skills in a practical manner (not just an academic one)." -- Second year trainee
• "Informal training is extremely strong. Most associates and partners are happy to take time to explain individual points, but also whole documents at a much higher level to show how what we are doing fits into the factual matrix of what we are trying to achieve." -- Second year trainee
• "Most people share a room with a partner or, at the very least, a senior associate. Informal training is therefore, in my view, very good. Partners are very accessible and, on the whole, they make good mentors (some better than others, obviously). Associates also rotate around the department every 12 – 18 months, so are exposed to, and work closely with, a good number of partners. Associates are therefore in a position to adapt and develop their own style accordingly." -- Junior solicitor
• "Partners are generally approachable and keen to offer assistance. Very much an ’open door’ policy, and the relative size of the firm ensures that partners know most people on a personal level. The professional support lawyers are also a willing source of informal know-how and training." -- Junior solicitor

Career Progression

• "Good work is noticed, reviews are detailed and helpful, and anyone who becomes a partner is a pretty great lawyer." -- Junior solicitor
• "At present, associates progress up a lock-step based on PQE. We are subject to annual reviews, but these are obviously confidential and have no bearing on pay. It is therefore difficult to assess progress against peers. You just have to hope that good reviews mean you are on the right track, but only time will tell." -- Junior solicitor

• "Travers Smith is smaller than its competitors. To succeed here you need to be able to cover all bases – you need to be a strong technical lawyer, but also good with clients. The longer you work here the more apparent it is whether you have the requisite skills and your promotion, and the ease with which you move up the ranks, depends on those skills." -- Junior solicitor

Pro Bono

• "The firm places considerable importance on pro bono work. I have represented a charity in a six figure dispute with a supplier on a pro bono basis, and also regularly attend law centres to provide pro bono advice. Pro bono does not count toward billable hours but we have no billable targets, so it's academic." -- Junior solicitor
• "I attend a pro bono clinic every couple of months which then involves a fair bit of follow up work." -- Newly qualified solicitor
• "I volunteer for a pro bono law centre that the firm supports. There is no minimum quota but attendance is encouraged." -- Junior solicitor

• "There are lots of opportunities for pro bono. We record pro bono work but it is not billable. Not that that matters, we do not have billable hours targets and there is no minimum quota. Pro bono projects include: Paddington Law Centre, City Law School Pro Bono Scheme, Reading Partners Scheme, and Private Equity Foundation." -- Junior solicitor
• "I attend a local pro bono clinic, whilst the firm also takes part in community reading schemes. There is no quota for pro bono work." -- Junior solicitor

Diversity (women, minorities & LGBT)

• "I think there is a 50-50 split in the number of male and female trainees. Child care vouchers are available and I understand the maternity leave to be good." -- First year trainee
• "Men and women are recruited more or less equally. There are fewer female partners but this seems to be a consequence of choice rather than discrimination." -- First year trainee
• "The firm is committed to recruiting and retaining the best candidates, whatever their background. It does not discriminate, positively or otherwise. Part time working, flexible hours and maternity leave are all available in due course." -- Junior solicitor
• "Could be much more committed. Some departments appear more committed than others (for example in relation to developing women). The number of women in senior roles across the firm is generally very poor (although this could be said of much of the rest of the City)." -- Junior solicitor

• "Could be more proactive in this area but definitely not negatively biased." -- Second year trainee
• "Good policies probably in place but still a limited number of ethnic minorities and female partners." -- First year trainee
• "Travers Smith strikes me as a pure meritocracy – my impression is that it recruits based on ability and is blind to everything else. Unfortunately, perhaps due to failings upstream in the system (i.e. university and school), that mean a high proportion of recruits are from middle class backgrounds. There are more female fee-earners than male (but fewer female partners which, in my view, is largely down to lifestyle choices of female fee-earners – women who want to make partner are on an equal footing to men). The ethnic mix and number of LGBT fee-earners is, I would suggest, proportional to their representation in society generally." -- Junior solicitor

Offices & Dress Code

• "Dress code is fairly standard. Can be more relaxed depending on which seat you are in (Litigation for example, is quite formal, whereas Corporate is notoriously laid back and no one bothers to wear a tie unless going to meet a client)." -- First year trainee
• "Good office space and room system (partner, associate, and trainee together) works very well. The Corporate department is in a separate building next to the main building, though there are plans afoot to join the two buildings. The facilities are fine though nothing special. The dress code is generally very relaxed and dress down Friday is very popular." -- Second year trainee
• "Office space is fairly pleasant. I love the location near St Paul's, Smithfield, Farringdon – stacks of quirky bars, restaurants and shops and an easy commute from everywhere (Farringdon, St Paul's, Chancery Lane, City Thameslink, Cannon Street, Blackfriars, etc. are all an easy walk). Dress code is fairly standard – suits Monday to Thursday (no need to wear a tie unless with clients). Dress down Friday (smart casual, no jeans)." -- Junior solicitor
• "Offices are functional and smart rather than deluxe. Dress code is relatively formal – ties for internal or external meetings." -- Junior solicitor
• "Our offices are quite old fashioned. The dress code is fairly standard with ‘dress down’ Fridays." -- Junior solicitor

• "Farringdon is a great part of the City to work in – it’s on the edge and has unique cafes and bars all offering different foods, drinks and good times. Its location right by the City Thameslink Station and St Pauls and Farringdon tubes is easy to get to and from. The dress code is formal Monday to Thursday with a dress down policy on Friday." -- Second year trainee
• "Good size offices. Trainees tend to sit with an associate and a partner, and we all have the same size desks, etc. – you always feel like an equal. The location near Smithfield Market is a nice, not too busy part of the city. There is a small gym (which is good for personal training sessions) and the canteen is reasonable (we get £5 subsidy per week)." -- First year trainee
• "Dress code is formal Monday to Thursday (jackets but no ties), smart casual on Fridays. Our offices are well located and, while they may not be as flash as those of some of our competitors, they provide a better working environment (our individual offices are pretty large)." -- Junior solicitor
• "Offices have recently undergone a face lift, perfectly acceptable working environment. There's a no ties culture on the office floors, and standard City dress down Friday policy (i.e. chinos not jeans)." -- Junior solicitor

Green Initiatives

• "Several recycling bins on each floor and the computer database is where documents are stored (i.e. going paperless)." -- First year trainee
• "We recycle a lot, but we still use a lot of paper. All law firms are trying to go ‘paperless’, but the reality is that all law firms will also use a vast amount of paper, as most communications are sent in both hard copy and electronically (this is standard practice everywhere)." -- First year trainee
• "We are encouraged to recycle all paper. The property department have completely paperless filing." -- First year trainee
• "Usual stuff... paper recycling, motion sensor lights, timed air conditioning, monitors and PCs switched off every evening, etc. They have initiated Leapfrog (a network of professionals who advise on green initiatives)." -- Junior solicitor
• "Token efforts are made." -- Junior solicitor

• "The firm has a dedicated environmental partner from the real estate team to oversee the firm’s carbon footprint (including the best way to reduce it). We try at every stage of our work to minimise our waste – including timed light switches and air con, recycling facilities in all areas, responsible energy sourcing, etc." -- Second year trainee
• "Firm has recycling bins in the canteen and lights turn on (movement sensitive) and then turn off automatically. There is still a lot of paper used." -- First year trainee
• "I am unaware of any specific push to become greener, although we are attempting to become paperless (although this is rather difficult in our field!)." -- Junior solicitor
• "Recycling is carried out and we are moving towards paperless offices." -- Junior solicitor

Where do you see yourself over the course of the next 5-10 years?

• "Here. I do a very interesting job and have no desire to move." -- Junior solicitor
• "I am enjoying my career at the moment, so can easily see myself aiming for partnership in five years and being a partner before 10. That said, the legal profession (and the economy in general) is in a state of flux, so who knows what the next two years hold, let alone 10. I am not adverse to a move out of law if the right opportunity presents itself (although, at present, I have no inclination to go looking). A career in law opens lots of doors as the skills acquired in obtaining the professional qualification are highly sought after. That said, a career in accountancy probably opens more doors outside of a professional capacity. Also, commercial and management experience in private practice can be fairly limited. Had I gone straight into industry/business after university (it's been eight years since I graduated), depending on the size and type of organisation I joined, I would expect to be managing people and taking strategic business decisions by now (neither of which I am currently doing). But I would probably be earning less money. It's swings and roundabouts." -- Junior solicitor

• "Developing further skills in the law at the firm; good legal training at a respected firm is respected by many employers." -- Junior solicitor
• "Staying within law, but may move away from London. A career in law has given me a fantastic and well respected base of skills in which to apply in any context." -- Junior solicitor

How prepared do you feel to practise law upon qualification?

• "Very, and I’m extremely looking forward to it." -- Second year trainee
• "I think by the time I have finished my training contract, I will feel quite confident in my abilities (or at least, that's the hope)." -- First year trainee
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• "I think when I complete my training contract I will have been fully prepared by the firm to continue practising law after qualification." -- First year trainee
• "Very prepared." -- Second year trainee
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