We think hard about our trainees’ development.

I’m on the graduate interview panel and have been a trainee supervisor for many years, and we spend a lot of time considering which supervisors trainees should sit with, and who will work best together to promote learning and development. We always try to explain the importance of what trainees are doing so they build a holistic understanding of Freshfields’ work. People need to understand the part they play in the deals that make the headlines, otherwise what’s the point?

Everyone has home lives and social lives.

It’s completely common for people to say ‘I’ve got theatre tickets tonight, so can I do it in the morning?’. It’s all about being adaptable and being flexible – everyone has commitments and we go out of the way to try to make sure they are respected, but in turn we are also expected to be there for our team members when they need us to step in. At the end of the day, we’re not a nine-to-five culture and we never will be. Our clients have high expectations when they employ us, and our brand, and we always need to deliver.

I advise everyone thinking about a career in corporate law to pick a firm where
you'll be happy.

It can be daunting making big decisions about your future. When choosing a firm you need to think as much about the culture and work environment as well as the quality of training. For me, Freshfields ticked all those boxes.