16 OLD BAILEY, LONDON, EC4M 7EG
- Tel:
- Work 020 7597 6000
- Fax:
- Fax 020 7597 6543
- DX:
- 160 LONDON CHANCERY LANE
- Web:
- www.withersworldwide.com
- Email:
Each year The Lex 100 surveys thousands of trainees in the major UK law firms. This is an extract from their independent findings:
The lowdown (in their own words...)
Why did you choose this firm over any others? 'Because I wanted to work with and for individuals'; 'opportunity to do family and private client work at the highest level but also gain high-level commercial and corporate experience'; 'variety of practice areas meant I would have a more rounded training, and the atmosphere is really friendly'
How does your training compare with peers' at other firms? 'On average, my working day seems to be slightly longer (7pm instead of 6pm), however I have yet to work past 10pm'; 'Withers is extremely pro-training and I've learnt a great deal'; 'the level of client contact is second to none – from day one you meet clients and take over the day-to-day running of files'
Best thing about the firm? 'How approachable everyone is and the level of responsibility given to trainees – it allows for swift development'; 'the variety of different types of work – might even make it recession-proof'; 'often find myself working on matters that I later read about in newspapers'; 'the people you work with and the quality of the work you do'
Worst thing about the firm? 'Head of corporate recently introduced fortnightly 8am training sessions which means I have to sit in a meeting room eating croissants when normally I would only just get up!'; 'pay isn't astronomical but still very good'; 'under-staffing in certain departments so trainees are overworked'; 'not the best for trainee socialising'
Best moment? 'Handling a case, more or less on my own, from start to finish and attending court with the client and Counsel without supervision'; 'getting a call from a High Court judge thanking me personally for 'assistance to the Court' during a long and complex financial fraud case'; 'managing and completing deals by myself'
Worst moment? 'Having to deal with hysterical client in meeting in the absence of anyone more senior'; 'staying until 1.30am at night bundling'; 'getting to Counsel's chambers before realising I didn't know the combination lock to the pilot's bag I'd brought'; 'inevitably, as a trainee, you face a steep learning curve and make mistakes'