london law firms

lallychops

looking for some names...reputable law firms to apply for work experience? the internet only gives so much. cant beat first hand knowledge advice on how to go about this would also be helpful.

hada

Work experience, as in summer vacation schemes? You're too late for the majority of them. The application deadlines were January/Feb for most of them.

In answering your questions, look to the Magic Circle law firms, amongst many many many others - Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, Slaughters, etc.

Try www.legal500.com

lallychops

thank you very much.

skyhighflyer

As hada says, you're too late for most of this year's schemes, but if you haven't graduated there's always next year.

Here's a good list of the larger London firms. These firms will pretty much all have summer work experience schemes.

Target Jobs is also a great grad resource and you'll be surprised by how many non-legal jobs might catch your interest. I think there's a hard copy Target jobs handbook every year too (or maybe they don't print that any more), try and get your hands on a copy, most uni careers offices have them.

You can use Legal 500 or Chambers to find out which firms are strong in the practice areas you're interested in.

Also, if you're looking at working in a City firm in London I can recommend the following books to bring you up to speed on commercial awareness (which City firms are huge on):

All you need to know about the City; and
All you need to know about commercial awareness

(both by Christopher Stoakes)

and once you've read those, read:

The Financial Times Guide to the Financial Markets; and
The Financial Times Guide to the City of London.

People often say to read the FT and the Economist but the FT in particular makes no sense without a frame of reference which the above books give you. You need to know what bonds, derivatives, debt and equity finance, syndicated loans, M&A and forex markets are.

And then all you have to do is work on having great academics, a sparkling personality, volunteer work helping Darfur war orphans and probably an Olympic medal or two on the extra-curricular side

hada

skyhighflyer wrote: »

As hada says, you're too late for most of this year's schemes, but if you haven't graduated there's always next year.

Here's a good list of the larger London firms. These firms will pretty much all have summer work experience schemes.

Target Jobs is also a great grad resource and you'll be surprised by how many non-legal jobs might catch your interest. I think there's a hard copy Target jobs handbook every year too (or maybe they don't print that any more), try and get your hands on a copy, most uni careers offices have them.

You can use Legal 500 or Chambers to find out which firms are strong in the practice areas you're interested in.

Also, if you're looking at working in a City firm in London I can recommend the following books to bring you up to speed on commercial awareness (which City firms are huge on):

All you need to know about the City; and
All you need to know about commercial awareness

(both by Christopher Stoakes)

and once you've read those, read:

The Financial Times Guide to the Financial Markets; and
The Financial Times Guide to the City of London.

People often say to read the FT and the Economist but the FT in particular makes no sense without a frame of reference which the above books give you. You need to know what bonds, derivatives, debt and equity finance, syndicated loans, M&A and forex markets are.

And then all you have to do is work on having great academics, a sparkling personality, volunteer work helping Darfur war orphans and probably an Olympic medal or two on the extra-curricular side

My bible, that helped me get my London Training Contract was this, as the above notes: http://www.amazon.co.uk/All-Need-Know-About-City/dp/0954637224

Best of luck.

FreudianSlippers

I've been thinking about moving to London myself actually. I'm sure it's just as competitive (if not more) to practice as a barrister in London but I think I like the idea of chambers.
Does anyone know if junior barristers in chambers are often given work that they get paid for, or are the first 5 or so years just as hard in London as Dublin?

It's not necessarily about the money here although I would like to make more, I'm just concerned that London is more expensive than Dublin - so I'd have to be sure that I would make more.

lallychops

thanks alot. very very much appreciate it.

skyhighflyer

FreudianSlippers wrote: »

I've been thinking about moving to London myself actually. I'm sure it's just as competitive (if not more) to practice as a barrister in London but I think I like the idea of chambers.
Does anyone know if junior barristers in chambers are often given work that they get paid for, or are the first 5 or so years just as hard in London as Dublin?

It's not necessarily about the money here although I would like to make more, I'm just concerned that London is more expensive than Dublin - so I'd have to be sure that I would make more.

Based on my limited knowledge, it's harder to get in but easier once you're there.

Most junior barristers in chambers get paid. I've heard anything from £60,000 for pupils in the elite commercial sets, to sub £10k for family/ criminal work.

FreudianSlippers

skyhighflyer wrote: »

Based on my limited knowledge, it's harder to get in but easier once you're there.

Most junior barristers in chambers get paid. I've heard anything from £60,000 for pupils in the elite commercial sets, to sub £10k for family/ criminal work.

I might have to look into this further. Thanks.