Hawys Boobier

Most of us will face adversity in our lives. Whether it is related to work, family, relationships, or health, bumps in the road often arise when we least expect them and can temporarily turn our lives upside down. But what if, instead of dwelling on the negative side of things, we took the opportunity to turn negative situations into positive ones? That’s exactly what two women we spoke to did.

Ask a group of law students what kind of lawyer they want to become and the chances are most will say something along the lines of corporate. But in doing so, they are ignoring a plethora of people-focused practice areas offering an equally enriching career path. Enter the Irwin Mitchell personal legal services training contract.

Practice areas such as medical negligence, family and personal injury have traditionally been bypassed by trainee solicitors for their business-oriented counterparts...

BCultured is Burges Salmon’s Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) network. Established in 2018, the group welcomes anybody within the firm who shares its objectives: to promote diversity, inclusivity and social mobility within the firm.
‘It’s not just for lawyers’, explains Ebony Ezekwesili, first-seat trainee solicitor and active BCultured member. ‘It’s open to people at all levels in the firm, from apprentices to trainees to business services people. You don’t have to be BAME either, any...

An overseas secondment is an indisputable bonus of training at an international law firm. Following a stint abroad, trainees return armed with a newfound confidence and a network of colleagues from around the globe. We spoke with Dechert trainees about the perks of undertaking an international seat.
Dechert’s six-seat training contract ensures that all trainees can expect at least one secondment in one of the firm’s international offices. Recent secondment opportunities have included a financ...

From parent lawyers to female lawyers to first-generation professionals, Latham & Watkins wants its lawyers and professional staff to feel supported and included, regardless of background or personal circumstances. The firm has created eight global affinity groups for lawyers, which, essentially, do what they say on the tin: allow colleagues who share an affinity in terms of a particular life experience (or are in support of those that do) to come together, have a forum to air their voices, a...

Having to decide between a career in technology or law is now a thing of the past. Those with a dual interest in law and technology have hit the jackpot with IGNITE. Clifford Chance’s law tech training contract enables participants to qualify as solicitors whilst simultaneously gaining expertise in technology, related products and their application in the legal industry.

How does it work?

On the whole, IGNITE mirrors the structure of a traditional training contract – four seats, all six month...

‘Forward thinking’, ‘technologically advanced’ and ‘digitally savvy’, but a few of the phrases quoted by trainees at Osborne Clarke to describe the firm in recent Lex 100 surveys. Far from just a marketing campaign, the international firm’s progressive nature is routinely lauded by clients and employees alike and pervades Osborne Clarke from top to bottom.
The fast pace of digital and technological advances means that the law governing this area has never been so important, and work is abunda...

Pro bono, from the Latin ‘pro bono publico’ meaning ‘for the public good’, may not be something which is automatically associated with big law firms. Except Dechert, that is. The US firm has won several awards for its pro bono work, both in the UK and across the pond, and was recently ranked #1 for international pro bono and #7 for US domestic pro bono by The American Lawyer. The Lex 100 speaks to Dechert about the key to making pro bono a success.
The concept of providing free legal advice t...

Did you hear about the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010? What about the 2015 Volkswagen emissions scandal? Poor working conditions at Sports Direct and the collapse of BHS? Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past decade, the chances are these headlines won’t be news to you.

What you might not be aware of, however, is that at the heart of these stories lie some fundamental governance failures. A lack of oversight by senior management or questionable decisions taken by a c...

What if you could put your legal knowledge to good use in a job which boasts variety, responsibility and a competitive salary to boot? The Lex 100 editor Hawys Boobier finds out more about the unique and exciting role of a company secretary and why there aren’t many jobs like it.

If somebody asked you what a company secretary does, would your mind automatically jump to managing diaries and booking meeting rooms? If so, you would be entirely misled. The role of a company secretary is completel...

You spent the weeks and months leading up to 31 July diligently applying for training contracts. When August arrived you frantically checked your inbox for invitations to assessment centres or interviews. Invitations which never arrived. Maybe you attended assessment days only to be unsuccessful. Either way, you might feel disheartened and like you want to give up. Here are The Lex 100’s tips for picking yourself up and getting back on track.
Pick the right firm for you
You might think you wa...

The timesheet: A necessary evil for the seasoned lawyer and a daunting prospect for the future trainee. You may not have realised it yet but once you are a solicitor in private practice, you will most probably have to account for all of your time, in 6-minute units.
Yes, that’s right. That 18-minute phone call to the Land Registry – three units, 24 minutes drafting an email to your client – four units, an hour’s research on the Companies House website – 10 units. For anything in bet in betwee...

Salaries for newly-qualified (NQ) solicitors at Bird & Bird have increased by 15%. The firm is offering associates £71,000 a year, £9,000 more than the previous rate of £62,000.
First year trainees at the international law firm have also received a £2,000 salary bump to £40,000, whilst those in year two will earn £44,000, up from £42,000.
Meanwhile, Clyde & Co confirmed an 8% pay increase for its NQs. Associates at the firm will now receive a salary of £70,000 – an impressive £5,000 increase....

US firm White & Case has announced an 89% autumn retention score.
The London office will be keeping on 16 of its 18 trainees this September, who will qualify into antitrust/competition, capital markets, commercial litigation, international arbitration, mergers & acquisitions, asset finance, banking, project development and finance.
This year’s retention score is higher than the previous rounds of 75%, 84% and 81%.
Partner Inigo Esteve commented, ‘with continuing strong client demand for Engli...