Steve Quinn, a Partner at Sidley gives exclusive insight into why he joined the firm and what advice he'd give to aspiring Bright Network members
What attracted you to join Sidley, and what has kept you here throughout your career?
I was attracted by the opportunity to work at a U.S. firm with an established history in London and lawyers who collaborate across a broad array of practices, providing “full” service, including in specialist areas. Based on these attributes, I expected Sidley would be able to attract an extensive range of novel, complex, high-value work from U.S. and European clients. The size of the office was also — and continues to be — important. It is not too big that I don’t get the chance to meet and catch up with a large number of my colleagues or feel like I am lost in a sea of lawyers. Fortunately, Sidley has been what I hoped it would be before joining, and I have really enjoyed the friendly culture, working with my team, and the fact that no two days are ever the same.
What do you look for in candidates during vacation scheme/ training contract interviews?
There is no perfect candidate I am looking for during interviews; Sidley relies on its people having a broad spectrum of skills and interests in order to best help our clients and make the office a fun place to work. I would say, however, that common themes of successful candidates are taking the time to consider whether a career in city law is right for you, rather than it being what your friends are doing or what you feel you should do; starting to develop an interest in finance and private equity; enjoying working in team environments; and developing skills that will help manage and service clients, such as through weekend jobs, societies, sports, and other interests.
What advice would you give to students considering a career in law?
Take the time to attend career fairs and law firm events. It can be hard to distinguish firms on paper (or on a screen!) but it is much easier to gain insight into the culture through meeting a firm’s staff and hearing what they are doing. Many students fall down when trying to explain why they are interested in one firm or area over another; this is not easy to bluff and requires research and time to prepare a good answer. Not all legal work experience needs to be in a city law firm; you will gain a valuable understanding of the legal world and what is right for you by trying high-street commercial and/or criminal practices. Finally, getting a foot in the door requires a lot of luck, and students should not be disheartened if it takes time to get a training contract or paralegal role. Resilience and understanding will be very helpful once you start your career.