training contractsa guide to our trainee solicitor recruitment

“Trowers & Hamlins is large enough to support an impressive group of clients and do a wide range of high quality work, without being a monolithic organisation in which one’s contribution is incidental. I felt that in joining the firm, I would be challenged, gain a good depth of experience and, crucially, be given real responsibility early on….”

Darrell ChihebPolitics, Philosophy & Economics

– Manchester

Lydia RoseLaw – Durham

“Undertaking a training contract at Trowers & Hamlins has allowed me to get exposure to high quality work and have a large amount of responsibility in a supportive environment. The firm places great emphasis on organic growth (which is visible across the departments) and you genuinely feel like a valuable part of its future….”

Tonia SeckerPartner

“Once you have decided to pursue a career as a solicitor, the choice of where you train is one of the biggest and most influential career decisions you will make.

No two firms are alike. Even if they operate in the same sector, their cultures, work practices and strategies will be very different, not to mention their diverse and often exotic office locations. Choosing between them can be a real challenge.

It is vital that you analyse what you really want from a firm – not simply because it is where you will spend the two years of your training contract, but also because it is the place where you have the potential to forge a successful long-term career.

When I chose to accept a training contract at Trowers & Hamlins, the things that were important to me were:

a successful and energetic mid-sized firm, which valued individualism and genuinely saw

its trainees as a source of future senior associates and partners;

a friendly, supportive and meritocratic culture that encouraged independent thought;

interesting, high quality work that I could get directly involved in, whilst learning from

colleagues who were expert in their respective fields; and

the opportunity to spend time abroad.

These things remain equally important to me now

both as a Trowers & Hamlins partner and as its

Training Principal. I am delighted to say that a

Trowers & Hamlins training contract still offers all of

the above and more.

“If you are looking for a different kind of international law firm, are an independent thinker and intellectually curious, we would be keen on hearing from you....”

A message from our Training Principal...

Tonia Secker

I made absolutely the right choice in joining

the firm as a trainee. It has lived up to my early

expectations and, along the way, has given me the

opportunity both to develop my career amongst

some fantastic colleagues, and to work on

intellectually challenging projects from both the UK

and the Middle East.

If you are looking for a different kind of international

law firm, are an independent thinker and

intellectually curious, we would be keen on hearing

from you. I guarantee that a training contract with

Trowers & Hamlins will give you real hands-on

experience, will foster and develop your skills, and

will absolutely not require you to spend six months

at a photocopier!”

1

Welcome to the firm’s graduate recruitment brochure. As you read through this, we hope you will find that our culture of being friendly, professional and successful underpins everything that we do, say and offer. These three words are at the heart of Trowers & Hamlins and make us the firm that we are today.

Our head office is in the City of London, with an integrated network of offices both nationally (Birmingham, Exeter and Manchester) and internationally (Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Malaysia (a representative regional office) and Oman).

We are a full-service firm with a unique mixture of practice areas. We are the number one firm in the UK for Housing and Public Sector work, and are consistently ranked as one of the leading

firms in the Middle East. Our main areas of expertise include Banking and Finance, Corporate, Dispute Resolution and Litigation, Employment and Pensions, International (based in London, the Middle East and the Far East), Projects and Construction, Public Sector, Real Estate (including Commercial Property and Housing), Tax and Private Wealth.

We pride ourselves on providing down-to-earth and commercially savvy advice to our clients and, no matter where our clients are, they have access to a connected network of lawyers across disciplines, jurisdictions and sectors.

The combination of what we do, where we do it and the people we work with make us different from other international law firms. We are a growing firm, but we can assure you that you will not be anonymous. Combine all this with the excellent training that we offer, and we believe that we are an outstanding prospect for any future trainee.

We hope that our brochure inspires you to want to join us.

“Trowers & Hamlins offers trainees an ideal environment to embark on their training contract. You are given support and guidance, but at the same time handed a good level of responsibility, with the opportunity to work in a variety of different sectors both nationally and internationally….”

Jordan EllisGeography – UCL

Who are Trowers & Hamlins?

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We welcome applications from both law and non-law graduates, and from those looking for a career change. Having a law degree is by no means essential to being a trainee solicitor with us – we recruit a healthy number of our future trainees every year from non-law backgrounds.

We seek to recruit candidates whom we view as having the potential to forge a long-term career with the firm. Approximately a third of our partners trained with the firm, which demonstrates that organic growth is important to us.

We usually recruit around 20 trainees every year, split between September and March intakes. The majority of our trainees will be recruited for our London office, with a smaller number of trainees taken on in our Birmingham, Exeter and Manchester offices respectively. However, we expect our trainees to be ready to undertake seats in any of our national or international offices.

Excellent academic results are essential. You should have a minimum of 320 UCAS points at A-Level (ABB or above) and a consistently strong predicted or achieved 2.1 degree. However, we also look for other attributes in our potential trainees. You should therefore be able to demonstrate the following as well:

enthusiasm and a drive to succeed;

teamworking skills (both as a leader and a player);

good humour, resilience and strength of character;

initiative and a sense of responsibility;

an innovative approach and versatility;

an analytical and logical mind; and

excellent communication skills and the ability to adapt them to your audience.

What are we looking for?

“Trowers & Hamlins truly is a unique firm that challenges their trainees in an exciting way. If you want to get the best possible variety in your training contract in a supportive and friendly atmosphere, then this is the firm for you….”

Stephanie GeesinkLaw – Kent

3

If you join us and have yet to complete the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) and / or the Legal Practice Course (LPC), we will cover your course fees in full. We will also provide you with a maintenance grant of either £6,000 (if you undertake the course(s) in London) or £5,500 (if you undertake the course(s) outside of London) for each year of study.

All future trainees intending to study the GDL and / or the LPC in London are required to attend Kaplan Law School. For those wishing to study the course(s) outside of London, we are flexible with your choice of institution. In terms of the electives on the LPC, you can choose your own provided that they are relevant to the firm’s core practice areas.

The training contract itself is divided into four six-month seats and you can expect to experience a broad range of departments over the course of the two-year period. There are no compulsory seats, although at least one will be in a real estate-related area. You will be allocated a supervisor (who will be a senior within the firm) and will be appraised every three months. This gives you a great opportunity to receive detailed feedback on your performance and allows us to see that you are developing at an appropriate pace.

We believe in learning by experience. Throughout your training contract, you will be given responsibility and you will be challenged. You will have the opportunity to develop your commercial drafting and negotiation skills, and will be able to enhance your communication skills as a result of real client contact or simply through liaising with partners and other colleagues. Your legal skills will be developed through research and due diligence, and your presentation skills tested through giving talks and writing articles.

You will benefit from a strong network of support in addition to that provided departmentally. Our Graduate Recruitment & Development Manager is always on hand, along with the Training Principal and the Trainee Solicitors’ Committee. The Committee meets regularly to discuss training, selection and trainee events, and includes four trainee solicitor representatives (one from each intake).

You will receive a competitive salary and benefits package for a trainee solicitor, which includes five weeks’ paid annual leave every year.

Tom LeachLaw – Manchester

How will my training be structured?

“Trowers & Hamlins has a completely unique profile within the legal arena, combining an unrivalled set of public sector clients with a superb private sector practice….”

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Banking and Finance Project/commercial property finance Islamic finance Private and public sector clients

Commercial Property Institutional and developer clients Sales, acquisitions and developments Corporate support

Corporate Leading private companies and public

company work M&A joint ventures and AIM transactions Commercial, IT and IP

Dispute Resolution and Litigation Arbitration/mediation Construction and property

management work Commercial disputes Landlord and tenant litigation

Employment Tribunal and dispute resolution work Extensive advisory work TUPE Corporate support

Housing and Regeneration Advising registered providers, funding

and regulatory bodies Urban regeneration and

development projects

“I chose Trowers & Hamlins because I wanted to be part of an international law firm that is outward looking, friendly, committed to growth and development, and where I would have a sense that I am a valued member of the team….”

Philippa RaysonHistory – Edinburgh

You will find set out below a brief summary of the work of our departments, which illustrates the broad training contract experience you can expect with us over the course of the two-year period.

Housing infrastructure projects Local authority housing Corporate governance and regulatory

advice

International Major infrastructure work Corporate and commercial Construction and project

finance

Projects and Construction Private developer/public sector clients Non-contentious construction advice PPP project management and advice Green infrastructure

Public Sector Commercial Public/private partnerships Public sector commercial contracts

Private Wealth Landed estates and high net- worth

individuals Wills, trusts, tax planning Corporate and property tax

What seats will I be able to experience?

5

“I recently started my training contract with Trowers & Hamlins after attending what I regard as an invaluable summer vacation scheme with the firm a few years ago. I am now three months into my first seat in the Commercial Property department and, looking back to when I first started with the firm, I can already see how much I have developed over the course of this short period of time.

The Commercial Property team has various strengths that range from property investment to planning, and the department acts for a range of clients (including pension funds, public sector bodies, and airports). The work undertaken by the team is therefore very diverse – sub-teams focus on a range of matters including portfolio acquisitions for investment funds, ongoing management work for institutional landlords, and large-scale planning applications.

The department has lived up to its expectation for me of being a fast-paced environment in which you deal with a number of matters simultaneously. I was immediately given my own files when I first joined the department, for which I conduct all aspects of transactions (from file-opening and client care to invoicing for work carried out on completion). I have daily contact with clients and am trusted to put their instructions into action. This has enabled me to gain a deeper understanding of clients’ commercial objectives, and begin to appreciate some of the technicalities and challenges posed when translating those objectives into legal terms.

Typical tasks that I have been involved with include drafting leases, licences to alter and assign, rent review memoranda, and deeds of covenant. I have attended negotiation meetings and converse directly with other parties’ lawyers. A significant part of my role is to assist with the post-completion aspects of transactions by organising for the filing and payment of stamp duty returns, and for the registration of changes of ownership of property.

The environment in the Commercial Property team is friendly, but hardworking. Questions are encouraged and support is readily available,

supplemented by a large bank of precedents, regular departmental training and updates on changes to the law. In terms of soft skills, the responsibility entrusted to trainees provides a fantastic opportunity to practice case-management and improve both time-management/general organisation – skills which I am quickly learning will be invaluable to me as a qualified solicitor.”

“The department has lived up to its expectation for me of being a fast-paced environment in which you deal with a number of matters simultaneously….”

Life as a trainee in...

Commercial Property

Hope MasonLaw with Australian Law –

Nottingham

6

Life as a trainee in...

Corporate

7

“If you appreciate fast-paced, intellectually stimulating work in a supportive and energetic team, you will enjoy a seat in the Corporate department at Trowers & Hamlins. Corporate has been my first seat at the firm, and sometimes it feels like I have learned more in the last few months than I did during my entire law degree. The work is demanding, but the training is to a high standard and I feel equipped for the challenge of my seat.

I sought exposure to a wide range of work in an international setting in my training contract, and I have certainly found these elements in my current seat. The Corporate department has both UK-based and international private/public companies as clients. I have worked on M&A transactions, market listings, and specialised work in the intellectual property, information technology and employment-focused corporate teams. I have been involved with corporate due diligence, disclosure, verification, company secretarial filings, and have drafted board minutes, resolutions, non-disclosure agreements, and a variety of other documents ancillary to transactional work. I have even travelled to the seaside to

have a client sign completion documents whilst he was on holiday!

The high level of responsibility and early client contact is often noted by trainees at Trowers & Hamlins, and I have found this to be true in the Corporate team. There are times when a client will call me directly when the head of our department is unavailable, and partners have asked me to draft documents and send them on to the client directly in their absence. I am delighted to be involved in the growth of the firm’s international presence, and have attended meetings with new clients from South-East Asia who are looking to develop their corporate profile in the UK.

Trowers & Hamlins has always been a firm that is willing to strike out on its own and do things a little differently. The Corporate department is no exception, and I have found that partners/associates value dynamic and independent thinkers with good commercial acumen. If this sounds like you, then do consider applying to the firm – I can assure you that you will not find the Trowers & Hamlins’ experience anywhere else.”

“If you appreciate fast-paced, intellectually stimulating work in a supportive and energetic team, you will enjoy a seat in the Corporate department at Trowers & Hamlins….”

Jessica ArczynskiLaw – KCL

7

The confidence that you are given as a trainee also means you can develop in many other ways, not just in terms of your legal knowledge. I have spoken at client seminars, prepared articles for various publications, and helped deliver advice at client meetings – all of which contribute to some of the best all-round training in the City.

In summary, if you enjoy the excitement of contentious work, and are confident enough to throw yourself into the midst of often long-running and complex disputes, this is the department for you.”

Life as a trainee in...

Dispute Resolution and Litigation

“I am currently in the Dispute Resolution and Litigation department (which is my third seat with the firm), and am based in the construction industry-specific team. The team provides advice and services to clients (whether employers or contractors) through all the stages of litigation, arbitration and adjudication proceedings, as well as on other forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution (mediation, negotiation, etc). There is a particular focus on the resolution of disputes by means other than litigation. Trainees are taught from the outset to take a commercial and ‘realistic’ view of issues, and are encouraged to put themselves in the position of the client in order to provide the most appropriate advice to them.

My role as a trainee is to contribute effectively wherever I can. This might involve filing documents at court, attending hearings, drafting documents (e.g. witness statements, applications, Orders, etc), or liaising directly with clients. I have been pleasantly surprised at the level of responsibility given at times. For example, I have recently been heavily involved in Court of Appeal proceedings, and have been encouraged throughout to give my opinion on the merits of the case. Whilst high levels of responsibility can initially be daunting, the firm provides a strong support network around you and I have never felt out of my depth.

The disputes that you will often be working on have been running for months, if not years. This reflects the complex and commercial nature of the matters you deal with in this team. As long as you are able to read up on a dispute and have the confidence to get stuck-in right from the outset, you will find involvement in this work extremely interesting and rewarding. Each case has its own unique narrative and set of characters, and the contentious nature of the work means it can be fascinating to watch proceedings unfold.

One of the most interesting aspects of the department’s work is that it is often of an international nature. Before you know it, you may find yourself involved in a dispute over a huge infrastructure project located half-way around the world. The international aspect, combined with the high values often involved, can be a real motivating factor in your day-to-day work.

James McCormackLaw – UEA

“Trainees are taught from the outset to take a commercial and ‘realistic’ view of issues, and are encouraged to put themselves in the position of the client in order to provide the most appropriate advice to them….”

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“Housing and Regeneration is a practice area in which Trowers & Hamlins is the market leader. As it is a unique area of the law, friends often ask me what my work actually involves. Most of the work is real-estate based – this involves the sale, purchase, development and management of property for providers of social housing. The department is similar to a ‘regular’ real-estate team, but the work has an added tier of complexity that comes from the laws governing the provision of social housing. The department also has a team who deal with group structuring, governance and regulatory matters for social housing providers, local authorities and the broader non-profit sector. For those with an interest in current affairs, Housing and Regeneration is great because the work is topical and sometimes politically sensitive.

It is clear that the firm takes training very seriously, and Housing and Regeneration is a great place to develop as a lawyer. Trainees are expected to handle smaller matters, such as the purchase of development sites, with minimal supervision. This facilitates the development of client and file-management skills, which stand you in great stead on qualification. It is sometimes daunting to be a client’s main contact, but everyone is very approachable and willing to answer questions. This ethos is complemented by thorough and well-delivered departmental training.

The firm’s culture is very eclectic – my intake itself is diverse and it is certainly true that there is not a ‘Trowers’ type. I have also been impressed by the variety of activities trainees can get involved in – I play football in Shoreditch every Thursday and am getting involved in our corporate social responsibility offerings.

There is a lot more that I would like to do and experience at Trowers & Hamlins, and I am really looking forward to the rest of my training contract and being given the opportunity to do so.”

Life as a trainee in...

Housing and Regeneration

James IgnotusHistory – Southampton

“For those with an interest in current affairs, Housing and Regeneration is great because the work is topical and sometimes politically sensitive….”

9

“Trowers & Hamlins is well-established as a leading property firm, and I knew right from the outset that I wanted to gain as much exposure as possible to the firm’s real-estate practice during my training contract. The graduate recruitment team has the unenviable task of keeping around 40 trainees happy and on track for a well-rounded training contract, and that is certainly what I have received. I could not be happier with my last two seats (previously Commercial Property and now Projects and Construction). Our real-estate offering is particularly ‘joined-up’ and departments work very closely together – in fact, in the last year, I have worked on many of the same deals from both a projects and construction perspective and a commercial property perspective.

Each department within the firm has its own distinct culture, style and working practices. As a trainee, you need to quickly get up to speed with each department’s processes and ways of doing things, and it can be a steep learning curve at times. The most satisfying part of my experience as a trainee has not only been getting to grips with the daily realities of practising law, but also becoming a real part of the firm.

The culture in the team is dynamic. As a top-rated firm in this area, we have built a fantastic reputation for being leaders in our field. The former head of the department literally wrote the book on collaborative contracts, and this kind of pedigree still shines through.

Much of the work I have been involved with has been for a FTSE 100 developer whose projects are developing throughout London. I find it really rewarding to see what I have been working on feature in the London skyline, although you will quickly learn to stop pointing these things out to your friends!

I have also been involved with a number of European law matters, something which has really taken me back to my time on the GDL. It is a particularly academic area of the law and goes to demonstrate just how broad the practice area of this team is. Luckily, trainees are well-supported, not only by their qualified colleagues and partners, but also by an invaluable resource in the shape of our Information and Knowledge Management team (who are always on hand to help with research and resources).

My seat in Projects and Construction has really rounded off my training contract experience, and I am looking forward to using the skills and attributes that I have developed and enhanced upon my qualification.”

Life as a trainee in...

Projects and Construction

“The culture in the team is dynamic. As a top-rated firm in this area, we have built a fantastic reputation for being leaders in our field….”

Tom BartonMedia & Political Communication

– Southampton

10

“During the training contract application process, Trowers & Hamlins stood out to me as a firm able to combine its reputation as a successful City firm with an open-door meritocratic culture. I worked in journalism and finance for a few years before starting law, and wanted to train somewhere that would foster my future legal career, whilst stretching my capabilities and giving me the chance to work in the Middle East (which I had visited before). In these respects, Trowers & Hamlins felt like an ideal match.

My first seat in Public Sector Commercial was hugely varied and enjoyable, especially given the growth and economic relevance of outsourcing in recent years. Being an area that is not specifically taught on the LPC, I was not sure of exactly what to expect beyond the administrative law of GDL level. In my first weeks, I was given a complex research project to undertake that simultaneously taught me the key principles of EU procurement and local government law, and the interplay with the commercial needs of public sector clients. It also pays to keep on top of what is happening in the world of politics, as decisions made are regularly geared towards the role of local government.

I was brought in on tasks ranging from contractual work on a major outsourcing and financial close of a PFI-funded waste project, to the set-up of a Local Asset Backed Vehicle. I also attended the Court of Appeal with a team from the firm on behalf of one of our main clients, and undertook extensive research at the London Metropolitan Archives. The department regularly submits tenders to carry out legal work for local authorities across the country, so as a trainee it is interesting to see how we generate this work and become a part of that process.

As the only trainee in the team, the projects I worked on were high-quality and challenging, yet by virtue of this, rewarding. The support of fee-earners who provide guidance whilst fostering a sense of independence was invaluable.

Since I started, no two days have been the same, and I can honestly say my first seat at the firm lived up to my expectations on all fronts.”

Life as a trainee in...

Public Sector Commercial

“I was brought in on tasks ranging from contractual work on a major outsourcing and financial close of a PFI-funded waste project, to the set-up of a Local Asset Backed Vehicle….”

Helena Innes-WatsonEnglish – Durham

11

“Trowers & Hamlins has been active in the Bahrain legal market for more than 40 years and we enjoy a top-tier reputation across a number of sectors. As a result, we regularly work on cutting-edge, high-profile transactions, and act for some of the largest private and public entities in Bahrain. The recent move from an office-based to a sector-based approach in the International department means that we work even more closely with colleagues throughout the Gulf region, the Far East and in London, sharing our comprehensive pool of knowledge and resources.

Given that the Bahrain office is not large, the opportunities for a trainee to get involved in high-quality work across various areas are tremendous. Of course, this requires a great deal of flexibility and means a lot of responsibility, but everyone recognises how challenging it can be, so help and guidance are always readily available. The trust colleagues at all levels are willing to place in trainees is testament to the fact that we are truly viewed as integral members of the firm from the outset. My experience from my first seat has continued here in Bahrain – there is fantastic work to undertake and a great network of support for anyone willing to step up to the plate.

With economies and financial markets beginning to recover, and commercial activity picking up, this is a particularly exciting time to be in Bahrain. I have been involved in three IPOs (each relating to a different sector industry), prepared guidance for a major financial institution in relation to disclosure requirements for the marketing of a specific product, carried out due diligence in relation to an investment in a development project via an offshore fund structure, produced a number of proposals for new mandates, as well as conducted research on topics such as financial product marketing restrictions in five different Middle East jurisdictions.

The insight we stand to gain as trainees into clients’ businesses, their key commercial drivers and other aspects (such as regulatory and policy impacts on transactions) is extensive, has been hugely rewarding, and will form an invaluable part of my knowledge and experience base. Since foreign firms in Bahrain are not permitted to formally opine on local law, there are also plenty of opportunities to gain experience in sourcing and managing local law firm input.

Bahrainis are very hospitable, friendly people which, combined with the significant expat community, makes Bahrain an easy and fun place to live. It is also a convenient hub for travelling around the rest of the Gulf and the wider Middle East region.”

Life as a trainee in...

Bahrain

Barbara AndersonBusiness Administration –

California National

“The insight we stand to gain as trainees into clients’ businesses, their key commercial drivers and other aspects (such as regulatory and policy impacts on transactions) is extensive, has been hugely rewarding, and will form an invaluable part of my knowledge and experience base….”

12

“I chose to start my career in law in Manchester as it is a vibrant, growing and dynamic city. I was eager to find a law firm that would give me a challenging and diverse training experience, but in a friendly and collegiate environment.

Trowers & Hamlins satisfied all of the above criteria with the firm’s idiosyncratic mixture of private and public sector clients in tandem with a meritocratic philosophy that ensures that trainees are viewed as an integral part of the future growth of the firm. The Manchester office, which traditionally specialised in housing and regeneration (but now has a burgeoning array of practices areas), embodies this friendly and approachable culture.

My first seat at the firm was within the property side of the Housing and Regeneration department, where I assisted with the post-completion stages of large-scale voluntary transfers and large developments, but was also entrusted to work on smaller matters independently. However, despite the early responsibility, there was always someone there to consult with for help and guidance if needed.

My second seat was also within Housing and Regeneration, but this time on the corporate governance side of the department. There was an eclectic selection of work in this team, some of which was cutting-edge and at the very forefront of the social housing sector. A sample of the work I assisted with included reviewing and amending constitutional documents, preparing board resolutions, incorporating new companies, producing board reports, and reviewing intra-group agreements.

I am currently undertaking my third seat in our Banking and Finance department, where I have

assisted with the re-statement of existing loan facilities, private placements, and advising registered provider clients in relation to sector-leading bond issues.

The decision to integrate national teams throughout the firm has meant trainees work on matters which span offices. This firm-wide integration is underpinned by the initial induction period that all trainees undertake in the London office. This means that all of us are familiar with the rest of our cohort and it lays solid foundations for building relationships within the firm. This is bolstered by regular video-conference training sessions with the firm’s other national offices. Furthermore, the firm organises mid-seat dinners for all UK-based trainees and a steady stream of social events for future trainees that ensures you feel part of a unified and equal cohort irrespective of your office location.

Scope for business development opportunities exist and are accessible to trainees, including assisting at in-house training sessions, operating the firm’s stand at the annual housing conference, or attending the firm’s monthly networking drinks. Outside of work, there is also a weekly six-a-side football team to partake in, amongst other sports and activities on offer. The office is very sociable and, rest assured, there is always someone to grab a drink with on a Friday night. The firm offers involvement, challenge and responsibility, and I am more than happy with my decision to train (and hopefully qualify) with the firm.”

Life as a trainee in...

Manchester

Rob CaleEnglish Literature – York

“Trowers & Hamlins satisfied all of [my] criteria with the firm’s idiosyncratic mixture of private and public sector clients in tandem with a meritocratic philosophy….”

13

“When applying for training contracts, I was looking to go back to my roots in the South-West to start my legal career, but did not want to compromise on the quality of work that I felt I could obtain if I were based in London. I got my first taste of Trowers & Hamlins through their summer vacation scheme, where both the collegiate environment and the array of work I was given set the firm apart from its peers. I wanted to work in a truly national law firm, and Trowers & Hamlins allows all its lawyers to be involved in cutting-edge work from whichever office you are based in. This is because departments are run on a national basis, meaning that all regional trainees have the opportunity to assist on big projects that the firm is advising on. Furthermore, I knew that the firm had an excellent trainee retention record as it believes in investing time and resources not just into the trainees of today, but the potential partners of tomorrow.

Working in a regional office has not hindered my training experience, as not only do I attend the firm’s regular training sessions via video-conference, but I am also given greater responsibility by handling some transactions independently (although support and guidance is always available from my supervisor or other lawyers in the office if need be). The Exeter office now takes on two trainees per year, reflecting the growth that is underway throughout

the firm – so, as well as the other trainees both nationally and internationally, there is always someone in the same boat as you just a few feet away.

When you start your training contract with Trowers & Hamlins, there is a three-week induction period in London that allows you to get to know the other trainees in your intake and gain a sense of what the firm is like as a whole. There are mid-seat meals for current trainees and regular social events for future trainees, which is a great way for all of us to keep in touch.

My first seat was within the Housing and Regeneration department where, as well as running my own conveyancing matters, I was involved in development projects and property aspects of large debt finance transactions. I am currently in my second seat, which is in the Commercial Property department, and this has led to me working on site acquisitions, leases and licences, as well as assisting on large-scale transactions for institutional investors covering numerous high value properties. The most rewarding aspect of my training contract to date has been the extensive amount of client contact that I have gained, which has led not only to the building of business relationships, but also the further development of my skills as a transactional lawyer. The first half of my training contract has flown by, and I cannot wait to find out what challenges lie ahead.”

Life as a trainee in...

Exeter

“The most rewarding aspect of my training contract to date has been the extensive amount of client contact that I have gained, which has led not only to the building of business relationships, but also the further development of my skills as a transactional lawyer….”

Anthony ClarkeEnglish – Southampton

14

“I first gained an insight into the firm when the graduate recruitment team visited Kaplan during the autumn term of my GDL. It was evident that Trowers & Hamlins places a strong emphasis on diversity and individuality – in a nutshell, there is no ‘Trowers’ type. It was this, coupled with the firm’s leading public sector practice and its international presence, which resonated with my desire to train with an ambitious firm that stands out from the crowd.

I was subsequently delighted to secure a place on one of the firm’s summer vacation schemes in 2013. I spent a week with the Employment team and another week with the Housing and Regeneration team. I was privileged to gain exposure to a wide range of innovative and varied legal work, from note-taking at a tribunal concerning an unfair dismissal claim, to amending a contract between a provider of social housing and a local authority. Whilst the level of responsibility was high, I never felt out of my depth and this was largely due to the strong support network that surrounded me, including both a trainee mentor and supervising partner in my respective departments. However, you would be mistaken in thinking the vacation scheme was all work and no play – the numerous socials included

an incredibly enjoyable 60-minute ‘live escape’ game and a delicious five-course meal in a Brick Lane curry house!

Another advantage of securing a place on the vacation scheme is automatic participation on the firm’s summer training contract assessment centre, which provides an excellent platform from which to demonstrate your commercial acumen and skills. Candidates who impress on the vacation scheme and assessment centre are called back for a partner-led training contract interview, and training contracts are offered to successful candidates shortly thereafter. This thorough and demanding process is reflective of the diligence that Trowers & Hamlins exercises in its recruitment of their trainees.

Trowers & Hamlins provides the ideal environment for both personal and professional growth. I am particularly excited by the prospect of spending a seat in one of the firm’s renowned offices in the Middle East and by getting involved with its prominent corporate social responsibility strategy. By virtue of the first-hand experience I have had of the firm’s collaborative and meritocratic culture, I am eagerly awaiting the beginning of what I hope will be a flourishing, dynamic career with the firm.”

A view from...

A future trainee

Anna StreeterEnglish & Philosophy – Southampton

“By virtue of the first-hand experience I have had of the firm’s collaborative and meritocratic culture, I am eagerly awaiting the beginning of what I hope will be a flourishing, dynamic career with the firm....”

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“I hope that you have gained a genuine insight into Trowers & Hamlins from what you have read so far, and that you are starting to feel that we are a firm of real interest to you.

I take a great deal of pride in my role at the firm, as I know that the success of the firm’s long-term organic growth depends on getting the recruitment of our future trainee solicitors right in the short and medium-term. Accordingly, we have a structured recruitment process in place, the first stage of which is to complete our comprehensive online application form

If you are enthused by what you have read and keen on joining a firm that is truly different in many ways, I would love to hear from you. As I am sure you can appreciate, competition is intense for our

training contract vacancies every year and we receive an overwhelming number of applications. However, if you meet our candidate criteria and are confident that you can stand out from the crowd, please submit a completed application form to me, which can be accessed via our dedicated graduate recruitment webpages:

http://www.trowers.com/careers/students/ The deadline for submitting an application to us for a place on our summer vacation scheme is the first of March every year. We offer around 30 places during the summer months, and our schemes can be undertaken either in our London, Birmingham, Exeter or Manchester office. Each summer vacation scheme lasts for two weeks and, during this time, you will get to experience two different departments and will automatically get a chance to participate in our summer training contract assessment centre.

The deadline for submitting an application to us for a place on our autumn training contract assessment centre is the first of August every year. We also operate a winter open day in January every year, and further details on this can be found on our website in due course.

Finally, if you have any further questions that you wish to have answered, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me either via telephone on 020 7423 8312 or via e-mail avithlani@trowers.com. Good luck!”

A message from the Graduate Recruitment & Development Manager...

Anup Vithlani

“If you are enthused by what you have read and keen on joining a firm that is truly different in many ways, I would love to hear from you....”

Are you interested?Want to apply?

Anup VithlaniGraduate Recruitment & Development Manager

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Tom BalfourPhilosophy, Politics & Economics – York

Kerry ParryEnglish & French Literature – York

“When I started researching firms to apply to for a training contract, I quickly decided that I wanted to join a mid-sized firm that offers top quality work, but with a friendly, collegiate atmosphere surrounding it….this is certainly true of Trowers & Hamlins, where it is clear that people genuinely care about your development and you are given real responsibility….”

“Trowers & Hamlins is a major player in the City because of its breadth of expertise. As a trainee, this means there is an exciting scope of seats to choose from that allows you to have exposure to the private sector, the public sector and the international arena over the course of your training contract….”

Follow us on Twitter - @Trowers_GradRec

www.trowers.com/careers/students/

© Trowers & Hamlins LLP 2014

Trowers & Hamlins LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC337852 whose registered office is at 3 Bunhill Row, London, EC1Y 8YZ. Trowers & Hamlins LLP is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. The word “partner” is used to refer to a member of Trowers & Hamlins LLP or an employee or consultant with equivalent standing and qualifications or an individual with equivalent status in one of Trowers & Hamlins LLP’s affiliated undertakings. A list of the members of Trowers & Hamlins LLP together with those non-members who are designated as partners is open to inspection at the registered office.

Unless stated elsewhere, stock images were sourced from istockphoto.com.

Front: Anna Streeter, Gavin Coutts, Stephanie GeesinkBack: Jonathan Grosvenor, Ed Tyler, Penny Pruksakit, Nezar Zein