Careers in law
The New Dynamic
Contents
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Welcome
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At a glance
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17
27
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Why Hogan Lovells?
Vacation schemes and more
Training contract
Your application
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18
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44
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20
31
46
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22
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A view from the top Around the world Why culture matters A client’s perspective
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A personal path to expertise
Insight events Campus ambassadors Vacation schemes Making the most of your scheme
Law school Your seats Learning law Life in the City
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Practice areas
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Gaining insight
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Pay and benefits
Making your application stand out The application process Dates and deadlines
Welcome
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n preparing this publication, we’ve given careful thought about what it is that makes us distinctive – not only to our clients, but also to the people who work here. That’s where our title, ‘The New Dynamic’, comes from. It’s the phrase that our people feel best sums us up – our personalised approach to development, our global community, and the unique perspective on law and business we will help you gain if you take up a career with us. At Hogan Lovells, we know that in order to make effective decisions and meet the challenges of a dynamic, ever-changing business environment, we need to take on board ideas and opinions from a range of perspectives. That’s why this publication doesn’t just give you our view. Instead, you’ll find a selection of articles and features. You’ll hear from a client, a law professor, partners with different outlooks on the future and people who were once in the midst of making their future career choices, as you are now. We hope you enjoy reading these different features and getting a dynamic new perspective on a career in law.
Tom Astle and Louise Lamb Graduate Recruitment Partners
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Overview of firm
At a glance Facts and figures alone won’t convince you we’re the right firm for you. But they’re a good place to start. This is what you can expect.
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2
25
90
£43k
2500
4
1
days’ holiday a year
spring, summer and winter vacation scheme places
starting salary
lawyers worldwide
six-month seats
of the world’s largest law firms globally by revenue
100
Cycle
60
45+
26
Gym
opportunities for first-year law students
to work scheme
training contracts
global offices
countries
in-house
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Why Hogan Lovells?
Why Hogan Lovells? There is a dynamic to our firm that makes us feel different. Everyone here contributes. Everyone pushes themselves and is pushed in return. Everyone works together to find smarter, bolder ways to solve problems that, in a global market, are increasingly complex.
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his sense of trust runs through the firm. There is a desire to share knowledge and work collaboratively. An emphasis on building deep relationships with clients and with each other. We are an international law firm that feels, to the people who work here, more like a community – one, most importantly, where you can always be yourself.
Clients appreciate the practical advice we offer. We bring emotional as well as legal intelligence to the issues and we apply business know-how that’s on a par with our technical expertise. World-class training and ongoing development give all of our lawyers the confidence to do things differently. Then there’s the exceptional breadth of our practice areas, the in-depth industry knowledge our lawyers develop and the high quality of our people, across a wide geographical reach. It’s a distinctive approach that helps us give clients what they want even before they realise they want it.
“When the pressure’s on, there’s a real sense of everyone pulling together.” 4
Helen Poulson, Trainee
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Why Hogan Lovells?
Why Hogan Lovells?
A view from the top Susan Bright is a self-confessed Hogan Lovells “lifer”. Having trained here in 1989, she qualified into our competition practice, and today, is Regional Managing Partner – UK and Africa.
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s a lawyer, you spend many years learning your craft and becoming a trusted adviser to clients. A management role brings different challenges. You need to learn to take advice rather than give it – and to be the one making decisions. Put simply, my goal is to create the best possible platform for our people to be successful and for our business to thrive. That isn’t straightforward. Technology, globalisation and shifting demographics are causing fundamental changes to how businesses, including law firms, operate. So I – along with a wonderful team of people from across the firm – work hard to look ahead and adapt our business.
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I am passionate about involving our people. They’re the future of our firm, and they should be the ones to shape it.
On my blog page, I welcome bright ideas from everyone and anyone – and I regularly receive a stream of great suggestions about how we can improve what we offer clients and make positive changes to our business. I’ve found that the best, most innovative, thinking usually comes from collaboration between people with different skills and approaches, so I create a variety of opportunities to bring people together across our business. Every day is different. The “to-do” list is never done. But I get to have my finger on the pulse of our business and to celebrate the successes of some extremely talented people. It’s a great privilege and a huge responsibility.
Susan Bright Regional Managing Partner – UK and Africa
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Why Hogan Lovells?
“We make good use of our global offices. For example, when China works with the London office across both jurisdictions, we pick up each others’ work seamlessly at the end of each day.”
Senior Associate, Shanghai
“Our Finance lawyers work with London almost daily. They’re practically part of the London team.”
“We have the global reach. We work in a single team spread across the globe. We all behave and feel like one team.”
Senior Associate, Milan
Partner, South Africa
“People here make themselves available to assist you – that’s the culture across the firm.”
Associate, New York
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Why Hogan Lovells?
Around the world 8
e’re just about everywhere. The United States, Europe, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Australasia. Our 2,500 lawyers work in over 45 offices across 26 countries. Crucially, we’re the only law firm with strength and depth in both the United States and Europe, the two major markets for legal services. Collaboration between these offices is part of our everyday life. We’re able to deliver so consistently and seamlessly across borders because it’s easy to pick up the phone to a colleague in another country. Not only do you get the straightforward advice you need, you get it from someone whose opinion you trust.
The strength of our global network attracts the most prestigious clients. So expect to work for some of the world’s biggest organisations on some of the most exciting legal projects around. You’ll do so alongside fellow trainees and colleagues from different continents – all while tapping into, and adding to, our shared knowledge. The contributions you make at every step will be respected and recognised.
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Why Hogan Lovells?
Why Hogan Lovells?
Why culture matters
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nevitably, the people you work with are going to have a big impact on your career. That’s why (in my opinion) Hogan Lovells is the best place to train. Already I have had not one but two supervisors who have both been incredibly supportive. The people here are serious about their work and take a lot of pride in it, without losing their sense of fun. When the pressure is on, there is a real sense of the team pulling together – and that is invaluable.
Helen Poulson Trainee
We all work hard. If you’re not on the same page as the people you work with, it makes working life much more tedious. Hogan Lovells, however, is very collaborative – and full of great people. I can pick up the phone to a colleague in a distant jurisdiction and know I’m going to get the help and advice I need. There is real spirit here. You get a sense of it very quickly, even on a vacation scheme.
Sid Sethi
Associate As a trainee, it’s particularly important that you meet as many people and develop as many working relationships as possible. The ‘open door’ culture here really enables this. You feel you can ask anybody a question. It creates a kind of ‘inclusive excellence’: people at every level feel comfortable and feel they can be themselves.
Umar Azmeh Trainee
“I have liaised with overseas colleagues many times, and they are always responsive, cooperative and actually very similar to us in the London office.” Ariane Messiter, Trainee
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Why Hogan Lovells?
Why Hogan Lovells?
A client’s perspective Wayne Spillett is a Lead Counsel at Vodafone and has worked with Hogan Lovells for a number of years. He offers his views on the client-law firm relationship.
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s a business, we engage a number of different law firms. Each works in their own particular way. So, as a client, what do we look for?
First of all: a real depth of legal expertise. Do we expect the firm we instruct to know as much about our industry as we do? Not immediately – but we want any lawyers working with us to learn, to invest the necessary time quickly and to be enthusiastic about our products and services. Then it’s about how you turn this information into something that engages our business and that it can use. Hogan Lovells lawyers are very good at distilling hugely complex situations and legal issues into clear and practical advice that we are happy to put in front of our senior stakeholders directly. Not every lawyer has that ability to cut through jargon to engage the reader or is comfortable giving a client a firm steer so that a risk can be managed, avoiding caveats and having the courage of their convictions. But it’s vital to us as a client.
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Most of all, it’s about human relationships. One thing that sets Hogan Lovells apart is carefully matching us, as a client, with the right people at their firm, not only in terms of expertise but taking into account personalities and working styles as well. The firm’s ethos on social mobility and diversity and inclusion also sits well with Vodafone and means that there is a strong cultural fit between the two organisations. Hogan Lovells people are quick, intelligent and hardworking – but I think most of all, they have a bit of panache about them. They’re talented in other areas, rather than simply law. They all have a great sense of adventure and fun. They’re the kind of people you want to have around.
Wayne Spillett
Lead Counsel at Vodafone
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Why Hogan Lovells?
Why Hogan Lovells?
A personal path to expertise Studying French and Spanish at Oxford may not seem the obvious launch pad for a legal career. But for Ben Levy, it led to an even steeper learning curve, and an Associate role in our market-leading Intellectual Property group.
It started with a Hogan Lovells vacation scheme. Experiencing life as a City lawyer spurred me to apply for a training contract. Over two years I worked in four distinct areas of law. In my first seat, International Arbitration, I was involved in high-value disputes in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. I even put my language skills to the test. In Business Restructuring and Insolvency, I worked on the proposed rescue, then eventual unavoidable insolvency, of a large IT company. I also completed a seat in Intellectual Property which is where I chose to qualify. A big highlight was my secondment to the Public-Private Partnerships team in our New York office. Helping to draft framework documents for the construction of what will be one of the world’s largest optical telescopes was fascinating.
But in reality, your starting point is more advanced each time you move. Plus working with another set of experts helps you add new skills to the ones you already have and discover you can cope with different situations and types of case. You also get up to speed with the needs of a range of businesses and industries, so there’s no need to pigeon-hole yourself too early. I feel I’m now putting the practical, client-focused approach Hogan Lovells is known for into action. I’m much more confident dealing with clients, counsel and opposing litigators. The formal training’s been great but I’ve learned most on the job, strategising with my team, being the main point of contact for clients and pushing a few boundaries when it comes to solving their problems. Next? Different clients and work I haven’t tackled before. It’ll be up to me how I make that happen.”
Each time you change seat you enter a whole new field, and sometimes it can feel like you’re taking a step back.
“There’s no need to pigeon-hole yourself early.” Ben Levy, Associate, Intellectual Property
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Vacation schemes and more Vacation schemes and more
Before you decide to join an organisation, get to know it. It makes a lot of sense. You’ll spend a big chunk of your life in your new firm. You need to find out if it’s the right one for you.
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he choices you make now will set the pace and direction of your career. So you should feel confident that the people, the work and the culture will bring out the best in you. Every encounter with a potential employer can lead to a fresh insight. Every experience can sharpen the skills you need to get your hands on the kind of future you’re aiming for. So, although we’ve worked hard to pack this brochure full of useful information, we have to admit nothing beats the real thing. That’s why we’ve created so many ways to meet us and do the kind of work we do yourself. It’s hard to make an informed decision about which firms to apply for if you haven’t experienced them first-hand.
What’s available? All final-year students and graduates – winter vacation scheme. All students from penultimate-year to graduates – spring vacation scheme – summer vacation schemes. First-year law students – insight event – spring vacation scheme – campus ambassador programme. First-year students of any discipline – insight event.
“A firm can say what it likes on its website. But spending time there will soon reveal the truth.” Megan James, Associate
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Vacation schemes and more
Vacation schemes and more
Insight events Spend time in our office. Gain insights galore. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better return for such a small investment of time.
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ur insight events are for first-year students of all disciplines. We run three of them over the summer at our offices in the City. Each is packed with tailored workshops, presentations and opportunities to find out about life at a global law firm. Come along to one and, even though you’ll be with us for a short space of time, you’ll leave with a better understanding of our culture and the day-to-day work of a trainee solicitor. Plus good advice on how to make your application for a vacation scheme or training contract stand out.
“Get involved. Be as open-minded as possible. And ask questions.” Umar Azmeh, Trainee
The insight event I went on was mainly about finding out who Hogan Lovells are and what they do. We had lots of presentations, a practical workshop, an office tour, and had the chance to talk to trainees and ask questions. It is the perfect stepping stone to getting a place on a vacation scheme. It gives you a snapshot of the firm, and the opportunity to say to the graduate recruitment team, ‘I liked what I saw during the insight event; now I want to find out what it’s really like working at Hogan Lovells.’”
Ollie Phillips, Trainee 18
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Vacation schemes and more
Campus ambassadors
Vacation schemes and more
James Gray Studied Law
Bring us ideas and feedback. Recommend talented candidates. Help find new ways for us to get our message across. If you’re keen to build a career in a commercial law firm like Hogan Lovells, it’s experience that will give you great insights.
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his is a chance to become an extension of our firm. You’ll develop a deep understanding of our graduate offering and help us plan, promote and run our 2017/18 marketing events on your campus. Helping other students find out about our opportunities is a great way to create opportunities for yourself. You’ll build your CV, your network and your understanding of how a global law firm works. You’ll also have every opportunity to impress us with your personality, drive and creativity. So if you decide to apply for a vacation scheme or a training contract, you’ll gain first-hand knowledge to help you. Interviews take place during the spring of your first year so you’re ready to start promoting us in your second year. We’ll give you thorough training. The pay – £600 – is pretty good too.
The highlight of the position for me was the opportunity it gave me to mix with a broad spectrum of students from departments and previous educational specialisms very different to mine. It was great to see that the firm is so actively seeking individuals with varied work and life experiences in their recruitment process, and it really highlighted to me that the firm truly believes in diversity and creating as dynamic and intellectually inquisitive a work environment as it can. Being campus ambassador has given me a unique perspective on the firm’s recruitment process, and I feel lucky to have experienced its ‘one team worldwide’ mentality in action at the earliest stage of the recruitment process.”
University University of York Current role Trainee “I’d researched Hogan Lovells and decided being a campus ambassador would be a great way to get my foot in the door and start building a relationship. At my interview I was upfront about what I wanted to get out of it. I saw it as a chance to impress, to get to know the firm and see if it was a good fit, and to boost my chances of landing a training contract. The role was really varied. I got involved in everything from frequent training and networking events to promoting the firm around campus, helping run competitions and setting up workshops for students who needed help with applications. I learnt a lot. What the firm looks for in its trainees. How the recruitment process works and how to distinguish one law firm from another. Plus, by the time it came around to my vacation scheme, I already knew the graduate recruitment team. That relieved some of my nerves so I could focus on just doing a good job.”
Sabrina Salhi, Trainee
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Vacation schemes and more
Vacation schemes
Our schemes last from a week to three weeks. We carefully tailor them for students at different stages of their career planning. Check out which one is right for you.
Spring Vacation Scheme
For: Scheme 1: First-year law students Scheme 2: All students from penultimate-year onwards and graduates Length: Scheme 1: 1 week Scheme 2: 2 weeks Pay: Scheme 1: £350 for the week Scheme 2: £400 per week What you will gain: – a n insight into commercial law and working in a global legal practice – a better understanding of the work we do in core practice areas like Corporate, Finance and Litigation. What you can expect: – w orkshops – case studies – t he chance to work-shadow some of our trainee solicitors (first-year law students) – e xperience in two practice areas, typically Corporate, Finance or Litigation (penultimate year students).
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Summer Vacation Scheme
Vacation schemes and more
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hese schemes are the perfect launch pad for a legal career. Around half of the trainee solicitors who join us each year have taken part in one. Working alongside partners, associates and trainees, you’ll support major client assignments in key practice areas like Corporate, Finance and Litigation. You’ll draft documents, go to meetings, do legal research and, where possible, attend court. It’s hands-on learning that’s reinforced by tailored workshops, discussions, case studies, work shadowing, social events and more. As experience, it’s invaluable.
Winter Vacation Scheme
For: All students from penultimate-year onwards and graduates
For: All final-year students and graduates
Length: 3 weeks
Length: 2 weeks
Pay: £400 per week
Pay: £400 per week
What you will gain:
What you will gain:
– experience in three practice areas, typically Corporate, Finance and Litigation
– experience in two practice areas, typically Corporate, Finance or Litigation
– know-how from workshops and training sessions on topics such as advocacy, corporate law and finance law
– an experience similar in scope to the summer vacation schemes, including a range of workshops and social events
– training in presentation skills and the chance to complete a presentation project with other vacation scheme students.
– training in presentation skills and the chance to complete a presentation project with other vacation scheme students.
What you can expect:
What you can expect:
– w orkshops
– w orkshops
– focused training sessions
– focused training sessions
– exposure to real work
– exposure to real work
– n etworking opportunities and social events.
– n etworking opportunities and social events.
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Vacation schemes and more
Making the most of your scheme Vacation schemes and more
“Think of other vacation scheme students as colleagues, not competition. You’re on the vacation scheme, so the firm knows you’re bright. This is your chance to show you’re also a team player.”
“Be confident, curious and interested – enthusiasm goes a long way. Most importantly, be yourself. Your individuality is valued here. It’s part of what you offer as a future lawyer.”
“Ask questions, listen to those with experience and make notes. Oh, and remember names.”
Let’s say the first morning of your scheme has arrived. You’re about to meet the people you could be working with long-term. Maybe get your hands on high-profile work for some big-name clients. So how are you going to make every minute count? We asked some of our trainees for tips. Throw yourself in at the deep end” was a popular suggestion. Trainees thought taking on tasks “even if they terrify you” was the best way to show what you’re made of and how fast you can pick things up. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions, even if you think they might be silly” was also up there. Everyone appreciates you’re there to learn, and asking lots of questions shows you’re curious and engaged. Just be sure to listen and take on board the answers that come back.
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“Don’t be scared to get in over your head. Yes it’s nerve-racking but everyone will go out of their way to help. And it’s a great way to stand out.”
Insight events and vacation schemes are also your chance to talk to as many people at the firm as you can. That means going to any social events we put on for you. These are great places to chat informally to partners, associates and trainees and to get to know other vacation scheme students who could well be your colleagues a few years down the line. Yes, these schemes can be daunting. But as one of our trainees put it, “The firm thinks you’re good enough to be here. You’ve done the preparation. Now enjoy yourself.”
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Training contract Our lawyers are known for being practical, commercial and building strong relationships with clients. Our two-year training contract will help you develop the same set of skills.
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nternational law evolves constantly. So do we. So will you. You’ll amass world-class technical skills and learn to master the areas that fascinate you. But there’s more to our lawyers than legal expertise. You’ll develop a deep understanding of business and industry too. Even more importantly, you’ll discover how to forge deep connections with clients. After all, tomorrow’s economy won’t have much use for lawyers who are only good at law.
It’s not over when you qualify. Far from it, your professional and personal growth will be top of the agenda throughout your career. At every stage you’ll be in the driving seat, steering your own progress and tapping into the training you need. Your goal? To develop the capability, mindset and networks to solve the new, often never seen before challenges our clients face.
Training contract
It starts with stretching work. We’ll give you as much as you can handle – in our experience it’s the best way to learn. Of course we’ll balance that responsibility with help and
encouragement from all corners. As well as a comprehensive legal skills training programme, you’ll have regular reviews and no end of advice and guidance from the trainee development team, mentors, colleagues and more. Our trainees consistently say we’re supportive. It’s easy to see why.
“Your ‘To Do’ list can change at a moment’s notice. It makes the day interesting and helps you learn very quickly.” Chris Morris, Trainee
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Training contract
Law school A good degree might help you land a training contract with us. But you’ll still need one or, if you’re a non-law graduate, two more qualifications under your belt before you start.
Kanchana Harendran Studied English Language and Literature
Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)
University University of Leeds
f you’re a non-law graduate, your training starts with the GDL. This one-year, full-time conversion course puts you on an equal footing with law graduates and lays an important foundation for your training contract. You’ll be a student of BPP University which has locations in Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Leeds, Liverpool, London and Manchester.
Joined February 2016
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Legal Practice Course (LPC)
You’ll study in London which will help you get ready for working life in the City. It also means you’ll benefit from the presentations and social events we run at our offices. These complement the knowledge you gain on your LPC and smooth the move from student to legal professional.
“I was a bit apprehensive about taking the GDL and LPC after studying English. But I met a lot of other students from non-law backgrounds on the courses. Getting to know future trainees at Hogan Lovells and other law firms is a big plus. Before you even start your training contract you have a strong support network in place at the firm, as well as a budding network of lawyers across the City. The GDL trains you to think like a lawyer, while the LPC focuses on developing your drafting, negotiation and legal writing skills. A seat in Acquisition Finance in Banking can be quite technical. But the things I learned on the LPC – thanks to modules like Business Law and Practice, and Debt Finance – helped me hit the ground running.”
Training contract
All our trainee solicitors take the accelerated LPC at BPP University, either after their law degree or when they complete the Graduate Diploma in Law. Designed with the help of City law firms and approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, the course runs for six and a half months. It has two intakes – one in August and one in February – plus a period of self-study that you complete before you begin. Much of the teaching is in small group sessions and there’s individual guidance on hand throughout.
Current role Trainee, Banking, Acquisition Finance
Financial assistance We will pay your course fees and a maintenance grant to help with living costs while you study. However, we don’t offer retrospective funding if you started or completed either the LPC or GDL before accepting an offer from us. Our maintenance grants are: – £7,000 for LPC students – £8,000 for GDL students in London – £7,000 for GDL students outside London.
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Training contract
Your seats Megan James Studied Law LLB University University of Bristol Joined February 2011 Current role Associate, Corporate Trust and Agency team, International Debt Capital Markets department “I didn’t have a clear idea of what each department did when I joined. I was open-minded in my first seat and ended up qualifying there. Doing a Finance, a Corporate and a Litigation seat gives you well-rounded training and the best chance of finding somewhere you want to qualify.
The area I work in has a lot of crossover with our New York and Singapore offices. As well as giving me the chance to travel (I did a seat in Singapore as part of my training contract), the crossborder work has opened my eyes to the challenges our clients face in other parts of the world. It all helps me understand their businesses better.”
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Preparing for take-off
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e’ll prepare you for your first seat with a two-week induction. This includes a thorough grounding in one of the most critical parts of your role – legal research. You’ll learn how to analyse a case, then find, understand and apply the law that relates to it.
We’ll also introduce you to HL BaSE. This innovative training programme teaches you about the fundamentals of business and what drives clients’ decisions. You’ll learn how to be more entrepreneurial so you can win more work. Above all, you’ll discover how important positive social impact (things like integrity and good client experience) is to profit and growth.
Planning ahead Your training contract is structured around four six-month ‘seats’. In our opinion, that gives you the best balance of experience so you can get a good idea of the area of law that inspires you most.
Training contract
So far I’ve done two client secondments. One at a property investment fund as part of my Real Estate Disputes seat; and the other at an international bank 18 months after I qualified. This was really valuable. I now understand how a transaction moves through all the stages of negotiation and decision-making in the client’s business.
Four seats. Four different practice areas. Essentially a new area of law, new experiences and new colleagues every six months. That’s what your training contract offers.
Our practice areas are particularly broad. So you’ll never be short of high-quality options to explore. Tell us where you’d like to work and we’ll create a seat plan that takes your preferences into account. Two of your seats will be in our Corporate and Finance groups, and another in one of our Litigation teams. These are where we have most of our vacancies upon qualification.
Secondments In your third seat you could spend six months in one of our international offices. Or you could sharpen up your commercial edge in a client’s in-house legal team. Either will give you a fascinating view of law from yet another vantage point.
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Training contract
Learning law Top commercial law firms have a huge amount of amazingly detailed information to draw on. Databases. Banks of precedents. Sophisticated know-how systems. But really, what good is all this information if you don’t know how to use it?
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Understanding legal principles is vital for at least three good reasons. First of all, no one can possibly know all the law. That’s simply not going to happen. But if you have a firm grasp of the principles, the outline of any transaction should be clear.
And clear too should be the points of detail you don’t know and need to research: the unknowns should at least be known unknowns! That brings me to my second point. In gaining a good knowledge of the principles, you will also develop good research skills – which will help you fill the gaps in your knowledge and deliver sound, confident advice. If you have those skills, you won’t be daunted by what you don’t – yet – know.
Training contract
ou need a conceptual framework to hang it on – and that’s what your legal studies give you. Through them, you gain a clear understanding of the great structures of English law – like contract law, trust law, agency law and corporate law – that underpin every transaction in the business world. It’s essential to understand the principles that emerge from cases (and commercial cases, after all, are simply the story of what people have tried to do many times, and the consequences of those efforts). It’s also worth remembering that commercial cases mostly stem from related documents – contracts, trust deeds and so on. So actually understanding documents and what they tell you about the law (and about innovation within the law) will help you and your practice enormously.
Finally, understanding the principles equips you to be an innovative lawyer, which is vital. You’ll be able to move away from the existing precedents and create novel, tailored responses to your clients’ needs: responses that meet those needs far better than any off-the-peg solution. That will set you and your firm apart from the average. Good luck! Richard Nolan Professor of Law, York Law School
“Understanding the principles that emerge from commercial cases will help you and your practice enormously.” Richard Nolan, Professor of Law
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“Our office is perfectly positioned between the West End and the City.”
Matt Coleman, Trainee
“Farringdon’s a great area. Especially if you’re a history geek like me.”
“We have some regular trainee spots for going out, like Smiths of Smithfield.”
Ariane Messiter, Trainee
Anna McIntyre, Trainee
Training contract
“There are lots of pop-up restaurants and events – it’s easy to have an unusual night out.”
Megan James, Associate
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Training contract
Life in the city 34
hat’s it like to work in London? In the words of our trainees, it’s ‘vibrant’, ‘exciting’, ‘diverse’ and ‘hectic’. They also tell us that working in the legal sector in London allows them to be ‘really close’, literally and metaphorically, to the cutting-edge of law and business. None of that will be a surprise. London is full of buzz and, as arguably the cultural as well as the economic capital of Europe, it’s packed with options for every interest and taste. Our trainees recommend all sorts of ways to get the most out of it. Exploring the parks and food festivals around the city on the weekend, or sampling the quirky neighbourhood
restaurants. Taking in a walk around old London or boarding a canal boat at Camden Lock and sailing to the middle of London Zoo. Relaxing in St John’s Lodge Gardens, Regent’s Park, taking in a play or a gallery, or just hitting the huge choice of bars and pubs. Our office is well located too. It’s on the edge of the City, yet the shopping and nightlife of Covent Garden and the West End are within easy reach. Step outside our front door, and you’ll find no end of places to eat and drink. Try the food stalls on Leather Lane and Exmouth Market. Or, for drinks after work, head to Smithfield or Long Lane.
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Training contract
Practice areas
Corporate
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e operate across a particularly wide range of practice areas and industry sectors. This depth and breadth of expertise means we can offer clients unusually informed advice across all their activities – and give you exposure to a huge variety of high-end assignments. You’ll work with experts in many fields and discover the areas you want to master.
Globally, there are more than 1,000 lawyers in our Corporate team. Our worldwide presence means we’re trusted to tackle both cross-border and domestic transactions, across a broad spectrum of industries, many of which are highly regulated. Our teams include:
– – – – – – –
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Commercial Corporate Governance Debt Capital Markets Employment Equity Capital Markets Executive Compensation, Employee Benefits and Share Incentives Financial Institutions Group Mergers and Acquisitions Pensions Private Equity/Venture Capital Real Estate REITs Tax.
Our Finance practice is consistently rated as a market leader by respected legal directories and trade publications. Our team of more than 300 lawyers has extensive experience in advising clients on all types of financing transactions, covering: – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Asset Finance Banking Business Restructuring and Insolvency Debt Capital Markets Derivatives Direct Funding – Funds and Institutions Infrastructure, Energy, Resources and Projects Islamic Finance Leveraged and Acquisition Finance Public Finance Real Estate Finance Structured Finance Trade and Export Finance.
Government Regulatory Our team works where business and government meet – and brings with it a wealth of experience. Many of our lawyers around the world have held important positions in public service, and worked as lobbyists before, or counsel for, virtually every major regulatory body. This has helped us build expertise in: – Antitrust, Competition and Economic Regulation – Aviation – Climate Change – Education – Energy – Environment – Food, Drug, Medical Device and Agriculture – Global Policy Advocacy – Government Contracts – Health – Immigration – International Trade and Investment – Legislation and Political Law Compliance – Privacy and Data Protection – Technology, Media and Telecoms – UK and EU Public Law and Policy.
Litigation, Arbitration and Employment
Intellectual Property We’re the only Intellectual Property practice to be ranked tier 1 on a global, European and Asian level by Chambers guide, 2015. We advise companies of all sizes and in virtually all industries – including over 50% of the world’s top 100 brands – across the full IP life cycle from development to market launch, including: – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Copyrights Designs Domain Names False Advertising and Unfair Competition Internet and E-Commerce IP in Commercial Transactions IP Litigation, Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution Licensing and Technology Transfer Media Litigation and Counseling Outsourcing Patents Privacy and Data Protection Strategic Counseling and Portfolio Development Technology Contracts Trade Secrets and Confidential Know-How Trademarks and Brands.
This practice has a long record of achievement in complex, high stakes, international disputes. With more than 700 lawyers based in 45 offices worldwide, we offer exceptional industry knowledge and leading-edge advice across: – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Administrative and Public Law Alternative Dispute Resolution Appellate Bribery, Corruption and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Investigations Class Actions Commercial Litigation Congressional Oversight and Investigations Electronic Discovery and Information Risk Management Employment Environmental Litigation Financial Services Litigation Insurance Litigation International Arbitration Investigations, White Collar and Fraud IP Litigation, Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution Life Sciences Enforcement Media Litigation and Counseling Pensions Litigation Privacy Litigation Product Liability Professional Liability Projects, Engineering and Construction Real Estate Litigation Securities Litigation and Enforcement.
Training contract
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Finance
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Training contract
Gaining insight A secondment to SOFTBANK CORP. in Tokyo caught the imagination of Richard Diffenthal when he was still a trainee. Now, he’s a Partner and an expert in the tech and media industry.
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ccording to the World Economic Forum, the Fourth Industrial Revolution is now well underway – we are living in a hyper connected, digital world. Technological developments are transforming industries from healthcare to banking; changing the way we work, the way we live and how we play. In this changing world, clients want lawyers who understand their businesses and the products and services they are building. Does this mean that lawyers advising tech companies need to come from an engineering or computer science background? Or that all life sciences experts need to have a PhD in biochemistry? In a word – no.
My focus on the technology sector really began to take shape shortly after qualifying, when I was seconded to SOFTBANK CORP. in Tokyo. Over the course of my secondment I was exposed to a range of new ideas and, when I returned to London, I knew that this was an area I wanted to focus my career on. Together with my
I can see how future trainees, trainees and perhaps even junior associates, may find the range of industry sectors here slightly bewildering. I’ll tell you a secret – no one expects you to come into the firm on your first day as the world expert in a particular field (there may of course be the odd one or two exceptions). What we need to build our business are bright, ambitious people who are self-motivated and want to learn. My advice: be inquisitive – and never stop learning. In the words of Malcolm Gladwell: “If you work hard enough and assert yourself, and use your mind and imagination, you can shape the world to your desires”.
Training contract
For a lawyer, genuine industry expertise is something that develops over time. I’m now a corporate partner focussing on disruptive technologies. However, when I joined Hogan Lovells as a trainee I had no idea that my career would turn out as it has.
mentor partners, I began to look for opportunities to work on deals with a tech and media focus. The more I worked in the sector, the more I wanted to learn about it to gain a deeper understanding of the world that my clients operated in. And the more I demonstrated enthusiasm for learning further about the industry, the more I was involved in work in this space – and spent more time attending training on issues that were relevant to clients in this industry. It became a virtuous circle.
Richard Diffenthal Partner
“I’ll tell you a secret – no one expects you to come into the firm on your first day as the world expert in a particular field.” 38
Richard Diffenthal , Partner
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Training contract
Pay and benefits Ollie Phillips Studied French and Spanish University University of Edinburgh
Varied, high-calibre work across many sectors. Respect and recognition for a job well done. The chance to build your reputation as an expert. An environment that celebrates and encourages your personal brand of individuality. These are some of the biggest rewards we offer. But of course competitive pay and benefits are vital too. So we’ve made sure ours are among the best around.
Joined February 2016 Current role Trainee, Asset Finance “Most top commercial law firms do similar work. What really differentiates them is their culture and people. I thought it was crucial to learn from the brightest minds in the business. But just as important was liking the people I worked with. Hogan Lovells people are talented and approachable in equal measure. For me, that’s what sets the firm apart.
Core benefits
Lifestyle benefits
Our trainee solicitor salaries are currently: – Year One: £43,000 – Year Two: £48,000. We review our salaries in May each year.
– 25 days’ annual holiday, with the option to buy or sell up to five days – Private medical insurance – Life assurance – Group income protection – Pension scheme.
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Dental insurance Cycle to Work scheme Free in-house gym Staff restaurant Private GP service Locally negotiated discounts Dry cleaning service Concierge service On-site therapy services including physiotherapy, beauty therapy, massage and chiropody – Interest-free season ticket loan.
Training contract
My colleagues in Asset Finance have taught me a lot in a few months. The department gives trainees exposure to as many deals or as much responsibility as they can handle. I’ve drafted key documents, acted as the main client contact and led a closing call. I’ve also learned about the aviation industry (aircraft being the kind of big-ticket item we arrange financing for). Some of my technical knowledge was hard-won through lengthy negotiations with an airline operator and its engineers. But probably the most important thing this seat has taught me is how to foster good client relationships. Banks are among a law firm’s largest and most demanding clients. But they’re still run by people.”
Pay
We also offer • The option to take £1,000 of your salary at the start of your training contract and at the start of your second year.
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Your application Some of the world’s biggest and toughest legal assignments regularly land on our desks. When they do, what does it take to handle them?
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quick, enquiring mind is a given. We look for a strong academic record that features excellent results from GCSE (or equivalent) onwards, and includes a good 2:1 or above (or equivalent). Commercial nous is vital too. You’ll need to get to grips not only with the world of law, but with the business worlds our clients operate in. Then there’s the ability to think around corners and see beyond the obvious. We like to challenge conventional approaches here – pooling our expertise to do things differently from others and from what we’ve done in the past. Team spirit is another essential. We’ll want you to pitch in,
collaborate with colleagues from different sectors and countries, and help us deliver seamlessly for clients across borders. Since globalisation is a fact of life, and we’re one of the world’s largest global legal practices, we also look for an international outlook. You’ll be someone who adapts naturally to new surroundings, responds to cultural nuances and tackles the unpredictable with confidence. Last, but not least, you’ll be resilient. Rigorous attention to detail won’t faze you. Nor will the pressure of complex work, deadlines or putting in the extra hours to deliver the most professional job possible.
Kanchana Harendran, Trainee
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Application process
“Hogan Lovells is a firm where your personality is valued, and it forms part of what you can offer as a future lawyer.”
Your application
Making your application stand out Competition for places at our firm is tough. So making a good first impression is vital. Luckily there are plenty of ways to make sure your online application does you justice.
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“Make a note of the dates and deadlines for applications. Give yourself enough time to do yourself justice.”
“Use legal placements, law fairs, legal open days and information from universities (career advisers, law students, student law society events) to demonstrate your research into, and understanding of, the law and a legal career.”
3 “Don’t feed back quotes from our own publicity, however great they are. It’s you we are interested in, and your reasons for choosing law and Hogan Lovells.”
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“The best preparation is to ask yourself difficult questions. Why do you want to pursue this career, at this firm? What will make you stand out from the other 3,500 applicants?”
“Print off a copy and draft answers before finally completing and submitting the form.”
“Don’t under sell yourself. Try to connect your experiences with what you know the recruiter is looking for, and give examples of when you have used those skills, for example business knowledge.”
“Keep a copy of your completed form. If you are invited to an assessment day you will need to refresh your memory about what you said.”
“The person reading your form will be assessing many applications, so convey your personality and make the form engaging, interesting and individual to you.”
“Pay attention to your spelling and grammar. You are applying for a job as a lawyer – written and oral communication needs to be of a high standard.”
“Use any work placements (legal or non-legal) to demonstrate you understand business, time management, communicating with people and meeting deadlines.”
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Application process
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Your application
The application process Training contract Our training contract assessment day includes:
Online application form
Online critical thinking test
Successful
Telephone interview
Successful
Assessment day
Training contract
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an introduction to the firm from a partner a paper-based critical thinking test – a different version of the online test informal buffet lunch and guided tour of Atlantic House with trainee solicitors commercial business exercise, undertaken with fellow candidates. This is designed to see how you work in a team, analyse commercial data and form arguments – all of which are key abilities for our lawyers – an interview with two partners or a partner and a senior member of the graduate recruitment team to assess your motivations, understanding of and interest in commercial law and the business world.
Offer
Vacation schemes Our spring, summer and winter vacation scheme assessment days include: – an introduction to the firm from a partner – a paper-based critical thinking test – a different version of the online test – informal buffet lunch and guided tour of Atlantic House with trainee solicitors – an interview with two partners or a partner and a senior member of the graduate recruitment team – a situational interview with a senior associate and a member of the graduate recruitment team to assess your ability to respond to common situations that trainee solicitors deal with.
Vacation schemes
Opportunities for first year students
Opportunities for first year students
Insight event applicants will not be required to attend an assessment day as part of the application process.
For dates and deadlines, see page 48.
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Please include all of your academic grades to date, including your GCSEs and A-levels (or equivalent) and all completed module grades for your undergraduate degree in percentage format.
As part of this process, you will also be asked to take a critical thinking test, which will assess how you analyse data – a key skill for our lawyers.
The 30 minute telephone interview will consist of a series of motivational, competency and commercial questions, designed to find out more about you and your interest in a career in commercial law and your potential to join Hogan Lovells.
Our assessment days have been designed as a two-way process: you will be able to find out more about what we can offer you, and we can find out whether you have the qualities we need from our lawyers.
You will normally be notified within five working days if you have been successful.
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Application process
Applications for all opportunities are submitted online through our graduate recruitment website. The process varies slightly, depending on which opportunity you are applying for.
Campus Ambassadors and First Year Spring Scheme Our assessment days for campus ambassadors and first year spring scheme students, will take place between February and June 2017. On the day you can expect a critical thinking test and an interview. Campus Ambassadors will also have a presentation skills exercise enabling you to demonstrate your understanding of Hogan Lovells and initiatives appropriate for your university. Reasonable travel expenses to attend the assessment day will be reimbursed.
Your application
Dates and deadlines Below are some of the key dates in our calendar. We don’t wait until the application deadlines to start screening and interviewing candidates, so get your application in early.
Training contracts Vacation schemes
First year insight events Campus ambassadors Applications open: – 1 October 2016. Applications close: – 24 February 2017.
Dates: – 15-16 June 2017 (non Law) – 27 June 2017 (Law) – 5 July 2017 (Law). Applications open: – 1 October 2016.
Dates: – Winter scheme: 5 - 16 December 2016 – First year spring scheme: 10 April - 13 April 2017 – Penultimate year spring scheme: 27 March - 7 April 2017 –
Summer 1: 19 June - 7 July 2017
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Summer 2: 17 July - 4 August 2017.
Applications open: – 1 October 2016.
Applications close: – 24 February 2017.
Applications close: –
Winter scheme: 30 October 2016
– Spring and summer scheme: 6 January 2017 – First year spring scheme: 24 February 2017.
Law students (penultimate-year) Applications open: – 1 October 2016. Interviews held: – Throughout the year from October 2016 - September 2017 (to join the firm as a trainee solicitor in February or August 2019). Applications close: – 30 June 2017. Non-law students and graduates Applications open: – 1 October 2016. Interviews held: – January to April 2017 (to join the firm as a trainee solicitor in February or August 2019). Applications close: – 31 January 2017 (please note: we recruit on a rolling basis and will make offers to candidates from January onwards).
Scott Gibson, Associate
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Application process
“Ultimately, where you train has a big impact on your career so it is important to make sure that you are right for the firm and that it is right for you.”
Hogan Lovells International LLP Atlantic House Holborn Viaduct London EC1A 2FG
www.hoganlovells.com/graduates Hogan Lovells has offices in: Alicante Amsterdam Baltimore Beijing Brussels Budapest* Caracas Colorado Springs Denver Dubai Dusseldorf Frankfurt Hamburg Hanoi Ho Chi Minh City Hong Kong Houston
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Philadelphia Rio de Janeiro Riyadh* Rome San Francisco São Paulo Shanghai Silicon Valley Singapore Sydney Tokyo Ulaanbaatar Warsaw Washington, D.C. Zagreb*
“Hogan Lovells” or the “firm” is an international legal practice that includes Hogan Lovells International LLP, Hogan Lovells U.S. LLP and their affiliated businesses. The word “partner” is used to describe a partner or member of Hogan Lovells International LLP, Hogan Lovells U.S. LLP or any of their affiliated entities or any employee or consultant with equivalent standing. Certain individuals, who are designated as partners, but who are not members of Hogan Lovells International LLP, do not hold qualifications equivalent to members. For more information about Hogan Lovells, the partners and their qualifications, see www.hoganlovells.com. Where case studies are included, results achieved do not guarantee similar outcomes for other clients. Attorney advertising. Images of people may feature current or former lawyers and employees at Hogan Lovells or models not connected with the firm. © Hogan Lovells 2016. All rights reserved. 11186_GR_0816 * Associated offices
