Apart from the obvious attractions, such as a great client base, international reach and broad practice areas, I was also attracted by the smaller intake of trainees which allows you to gain more exposure to the work in your current seat. The firm was also in the midst of expansion when I applied and its practice areas are still expanding, as demonstrated with the recent addition of partners to the Corporate, Dispute Resolution, Regulatory and Insolvency groups This was a firm that was still growing and was already renowned.

2. What areas have you worked in?

As part of my training contract, I worked in International Finance, Corporate, Real Estate and Competition. However, I qualified into Insurance and Litigation, which demonstrates that there is scope to qualify into departments without having previously had a seat there.

3. What type of work have you done in each of these areas?

In my first seat, International Finance, I was involved in a hotel finance transaction in which developers were provided with a bank loan to finance the building and initial running costs of a hotel in the Middle East. This required liaising with local lawyers and having a broad understanding of property law in the country concerned in order to protect our client, the bank, in the event of a default. In Corporate, I worked on diverse transactions, including the sale and purchase of insurance companies and the formation of a limited liability partnership. The Real Estate seat entailed, amongst other projects, reviewing leases and licences for a range of clients, such as broadcasting companies and pub chains. For my final seat in Competition I was seconded to Brussels. As well as dealing with competition issues which spanned Asia, the U.S. and Europe, I was also involved in EU regulatory work and in litigation before the European Court.

4. What clients have you done work for?

Given the nature of the firm, it is typical to work for a diverse client base. During my training contract clients have included: retail and investment banks; hedge funds; sovereign wealth funds; insurance companies; international manufacturing and commodity producers; pharmaceutical companies as well as a sports organisation.

5. Have you had much client contact?

As my training contract progressed, the level of client contact I had increased commensurately. As a valued team member, you generally attend client meetings and correspond with clients at an early stage.

6. Have you been given much responsibility?

As with the level of client contact you have, the amount of responsibility you are given coincides with your progression and understanding of the project you are dealing with. I’ve been given responsibility for creating initial draft contracts, running my own file (with supervision) and providing reports to clients. There is a good balance in this firm of being given responsibility for various tasks in a project and at the same time being well-supervised and encouraged to ask for help whenever needed. Trainees are also encouraged to research and present topics of interest during departmental update meetings.

7. What type of training have you undertaken at the firm?

Almost every month there are training sessions for trainees which generally provide an overview of a particular department, highlighting the main features of the work involved as well as discussing the practicalities of the role and outlining procedures which are firm-specific. Trainees also attend firm-wide training sessions which provide legal updates on a specific topic or area. Externally, there are courses provided by BPP Law School for trainees to attend over the course of their training contract.

8. What hours do you generally work? What is expected?

Hours vary considerably depending on the department you are working in and the nature of the transaction you are working on. Some weeks I leave the office by 6 or 7 pm but there are always the inevitable late nighters. Your current supervisor will let you know what his/her expectations are with regard to hours.

9. How have you received feedback about your performance?

There are relatively informal appraisals which take place midway through your seat, which give you and your supervisor an opportunity to identify areas for progression and improvement and for the trainee to raise any concerns they may have or to identify different areas of work they would like to become involved in. After each seat you also have a formal appraisal, where you get feedback on your performance and your development needs are noted. During the end of seat appraisal you will again have an opportunity to raise any matters with your supervisor, which you feel are necessary. Although, it is generally the case that as you work, your supervisor will be guiding you and giving you feedback throughout the six-month period, so you will have a fair idea of where you need to improve and how well you are doing.

10. How would you describe the culture and working environment within the firm?

The London office is a very friendly and collegiate firm. The relatively small size of the firm compared to a larger Magic Circle firm is actually conducive to a better working environment because you quickly get to know people in all departments and you’re not just another faceless trainee. There is also definitely an open door policy among associates and partners contributing to an efficient and dynamic working environment.

As well as the obvious work ethic, there is a definite emphasis on social events. The firm arranges a Christmas and Summer party annually and the lawyers themselves organise impromptu drinks, bowling and other events, such as softball and football.

11. What do you like most about working for the firm?

The range of work is varied and there are always opportunities to gain exposure to challenging elements of a transaction. Also, the lawyers and partners provide a good support network and are ready to answer questions whenever they arise, so you never feel out of your depth. I also enjoy the social aspect, as events organised by either the firm or the lawyers are always well-attended and great fun.

12. What tips would you give to someone applying to your firm?

1. Research the firm well and be clear on why you would like to work at Sidley Austin.
2. Be ready to answer competency based interview questions.
3. Make sure you keep up-to-date with news events, as a knowledge of current affairs is invaluable.

13. Any other comments?

The firm is committed to diversity and the London office is no exception. Two recent initiatives are:

Firstly, an elected 'Diversity Steering Group' comprising partners, other lawyers, trainees and support staff which reports to a global committee.

Secondly, the London firm has established a Women’s Committee open to female lawyers (including trainees) at all levels. The initiative is aimed at developing the professional skills of female lawyers at internal events and promoting client contact through networking at external events. Although only recently implemented, it has already proved very successful and popular.