We asked Keiran to tell us about our 'An Introduction to Clifford Chance' event on 1st July 2015 at their offices in Canary Wharf. He tells us about the day below…
What was the format of the event / what happened on the day?
The event started off with a group case study analysis followed by a client pitch to a trainee solicitor. This was extremely helpful in understanding the work done by commercial lawyers, as well as the actual dynamics of Clifford Chance. The networking lunch was a valuable opportunity for all the students, where current and future trainees spoke about their experiences with the firm and offered advice. Throughout the lunch, the Graduate Recruitment team was on hand to answer any questions about applications or interview processes. After the first session of networking, there was a presentation by David Adams on Financial and Capital Markets. The day ended with afternoon tea, which was another invaluable chance to network with trainees.
What was the highlight of your day?
Whilst the whole day was excellent, the highlight for me was the networking lunch. I spoke to numerous trainees about their journeys into commercial law and why they chose Clifford Chance. The advice they offered was invaluable to me, especially coming from a non-law background. The Graduate Recruitment team provided excellent advice about tailoring CVs and tips on applications and interviews. All of the people at Clifford Chance were approachable and professional in a comfortable and informal environment.
Can you tell us more about David Adam’s speech?
David Adams provided an excellent insight into the Financial and Capital Markets. It was a light-hearted interactive presentation that dissected the different tools used in the practice area such as securitisation, debt issuance and equity. David used various scenarios to contextualise complex methods alongside visual aids that made it significantly easier to grasp. I was introduced to sectors like acquisition and project finance and the processes and documentation involved. Overall, David was a fantastic speaker who gave a highly informative presentation.
What have you learnt about Clifford Chance that you didn’t know before attending the event?
I have learnt that Clifford Chance is full of highly talented and approachable professionals from partners to trainees. This has created a firm culture whereby trainees have great responsibility from the start under a ‘one team’ approach. David Adams increased my exposure to the processes behind Financial and Capital Markets, which will prove invaluable throughout applications and interviews.
Having attended the event – what are your next steps?
My next steps are to continue to gain more experience within the commercial law sector. This will involve attending numerous open days and events. This will provide me with an excellent starting point for vacation scheme applications in the coming year, as well as networking opportunities. After this, I am hopeful that these experiences will help in my pursuit towards a training contract.