All abroad

One of the biggest attractions of securing a training contract with a large commercial firm is the opportunity to work abroad. The much sought-after overseas secondment is therefore a fierce battleground for firms seeking to hire the cream of the graduate population. But although foreign seats can be very fun experiences, you should not treat them like a gap year.

The Lawyer 2B Annual Secondment Survey 2007 found that the magic circle firms continue to offer the most overseas seats. Meanwhile, secondments to Brussels, New York, Paris and Southeast Asia have remained the most common.

The number of firms offering seats to Dubai has jumped again thanks to the rising number of deals being handled out of the Middle East. DLA Piper, which until recently offered no foreign seats, has introduced a Dubai secondment as well as ones to Hong Kong, Moscow and Singapore. Lovells has also added a Dubai seat after launching an office in the jurisdiction earlier this year.

According to our survey, the most far-flung overseas seats are offered by Herbert Smith and Slaughter and May, which both offer secondments to New Zealand. Scottish firm McGrigors offers the most unusual secondment, placing trainees in the Falkland Islands.

The popularity of jurisdictions tends to go in cycles. New York and the more exotic destinations such as Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo are among the most popular, while seats in less glamorous locations, such as Germany, can sometimes even be undersubscribed.

Third-seat trainee Sohail Ali is the first trainee to work in Lovells Dubai office. He started his seat last month and says he has settled in very well. Although Ali is the only trainee in the office, he has found it easy to make friends and is wasting no time in making the most of the Dubai social scene, including partying in the same club as Jean-Claude Van Damme, and visiting Burj al Arab, the only seven-star hotel in the world.

According to Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) trainee Rebecca Riss, who is on secondment to her firms Brussels office, the social scene in the home of the European Commission is also fantastic.

All trainees doing a seat in Brussels are put on an email list so that we can get in touch with each other when we first arrive, she explains. As we were all new to Brussels, everyone made an effort to get to know each other, which makes for some fun nights out.

Ali admits that there are downsides to working in Dubai, including the lack of public transport and the punishing summer heat. Riss says she misses Boots and Marks & Spencer, and laments the fact that nothing is open on Sundays.

There are also many other cultural differences for trainees to consider. For instance, in some jurisdictions you will be expected to work weekends. Another obvious downside is that overseas offices are typically smaller, so trainees will have to handle a broader mix of work with potentially less support.

Allen & Overy (A&O) trainee Peter Crossan, who is currently seconded to the magic circle firms Hong Kong office, says the most obvious difference between working in London and Hong Kong is the size of the two offices. The London office, as the headquarters, is inevitably far bigger than Hong Kong. But thats where the difference ends, he explains.

The other disadvantage of spending part of your training contract overseas, or indeed on a client secondment, is that you are potentially out of sight, says BLP graduate recruitment and trainee manager Jennie Moore.

While trainees will come back fairly frequently for training sessions, the day-to-day contact with the key decision-makers may be lost, she adds.

Due to their popularity, foreign secondments are often oversubscribed, meaning only a handful of firms are able to guarantee all their trainees a stint in one of their overseas offices. Most firms will apply strict criteria to which trainees win the seats.
For instance, A&O, which offers 39 overseas secondments, circulates details of the seats available and then gets trainees to submit bid forms. The HR team then speaks to each of their trainers and supervising partners to collect feedback. The firm chooses the most appropriate trainee based on several factors, including performance, qualification options, which practice areas they have sat in and language skills.

A&O HR manager Alys Carlton says trainees can enhance their chances of securing an overseas seat by ensuring they get positive feedback from all their seats. We want to be sure that they [trainees] have qualification options and that they will be a good ambassador for the London office, she says.

When you are applying for your overseas seat you should also think about whether the secondment you are chasing fits into your bigger game plan. Moore says when she is allocating the place for her firms secondment to Brussels she looks at trainees who have shown an interest in EU and competition law.

Some may have studied it as part of their university course, or a trainee may have mentioned being interested at the start of their training contract. Others want to utilise their language skills, although speaking French isnt necessary, she explains. We will only send trainees overseas who have had very good appraisals. Working in a different jurisdiction requires robustness and resilience. Trainees need to have shown themselves to be confident and quick to absorb information as the same level of performance is expected.

Slaughters graduate recruitment partner Graham White warns trainees to be flexible about overseas secondments.

Unseemly jostling or agitating for places tends to count against trainees rather than in their favour, he says. We try to send trainees who we think will benefit from the experience and be responsible ambassadors for the firm.
Assuming you are one of the lucky few who is selected for an overseas seat, you will then need to think about the practicalities of relocating. Thankfully, most firms will offer assistance and will typically provide accommodation, which, in many cases, will be far more luxurious than what you will be used to at home. Lovells, for instance, has provided Ali with a two-bedroom apartment and a substantial monthly allowance to cover car rental and other expenditure. It also organised all his travel arrangements, including a visa. Many firms will also pay for you to return home halfway through your seat.

You will also need to think about the impact an overseas secondment will have on your life in the UK. For instance, how will your partner react and will you need to rent your flat out for the time you are away? That said, moving overseas can be potentially lucrative, as you are likely to get an uplift on your salary and you could make even more money by renting out your UK flat.

An alternative to spending six months of your training contract overseas is to do a client secondment. According to our survey, client secondments also continue to be equally popular and span all manner of organisations, including AstraZeneca, BAA, Barclays Bank, Diageo, Egg, the Football Association, Ford, Harrods, ICI, ITV, John Lewis, Liberty, MTV, Shell and the Tate. That said, for many firms, client secondments are not set in stone and will often be driven by the client demand. For instance, some clients ask for trainees in return for giving a firm a place on their legal panel.

Although they may not sound as glamorous as working in an exotic destination, client secondments are arguably more helpful for enhancing the skills that are necessary for becoming a successful commercial lawyer. Trainees are also typically given more responsibility than they would get in private practice. That said, Slaughters does not pack any of its trainees off to its clients as the firm believes that it can provide better supervision and training.

Although at the start of a training contract two years may seem like a life sentence, it tends to pass very quickly, says White. We think the two years are best used to give trainees the opportunity to see as wide a range as possible of the practice areas in the firm. Weve concluded that our lawyers are more valuable to clients on secondments after they have qualified and have had a bit more experience in their particular practice area.

Spending part of your training contract overseas or with a client has obvious advantages and, as A&Os Crossan puts it, is an opportunity not to be missed. The key is to choose a secondment that best complements the department you want to qualify into. And remember, as with any seat change, try to be flexible because being too demanding will not win you any favours.

The latest Lawyer 2B Secondment Survey can be found in the October 2007 issue.

Trainee profiles

Name: Peter Crossan
Firm: Allen & Overy
Seat: International capital markets
Office: Hong Kong

Why did you want to do an overseas seat in Hong Kong?

The Hong Kong office appealed to me for a number of reasons. The expansion and opening up of the Chinese financial market means that it is an interesting time to be working in Hong Kong international capital markets and, as one of the key financial centres in Asia, Hong Kong provides innovative and dynamic work for a trainee to get involved in. The location of Hong Kong provides great opportunities to travel and visit many parts of Asia.

How were you selected for the position?

I submitted a written application to the HR team in which I explained why Hong Kong was of particular interest to me and why I should be considered for the position. Once this form had been submitted internal discussions began between HR, previous trainers and partners from the practice areas in which I had already sat. My performance throughout my training contract, recorded in my appraisals, was also taken into account.

What are the biggest differences between A&O's London and Hong Kong offices?

The most immediate difference is the size of the office. The London office, as the headquarters, is inevitably far bigger than the Hong Kong office. But in many respects this is where the difference ends.

How have you settled into the Hong Kong office?

Ive settled into the Hong Kong office very quickly. Right from the start I have been fully involved in new and existing work and all my colleagues have made me feel very welcome.

What are the biggest challenges of working/living in Hong Kong?

The biggest challenge of working in Hong Kong is adapting to differences in working practices. However, the experience and training that I have received in the London office has prepared me well.

How would you describe the trainee scene in Hong Kong?

The trainee scene in Hong Kong is great. There are a large number of firms that send trainees to Hong Kong so the potential social circle is quite large. Before all the trainees leave London, trainees from different firms get in contact and establish an email distribution list so there is never a shortage of people to grab a drink with.

What do you miss the most about working and living in London?

So far I havent missed living and working in London at all. Hong Kong has proved a great place to live and work.

How much practical/financial support did A&O give you to help you relocate?

Very comfortable serviced apartments are provided for the trainees and HR are more than helpful in putting this all in place. There is really no stress involved in the relocation, all the trainee has to do is arrive, the rest is done for us.

What is the single most important advice you would give to a trainee who wants to do an overseas seat?

Go for it! It is an opportunity not to be missed. Consider the practice area that you want to work in and think of the location as somewhere that you will be living and not as a holiday destination.

Name: Sohail Ali
Firm: Lovells
SeatIslamic Finance
Office: Dubai

Why did you want to do an overseas seat in Dubai?

I have a genuine interest in Islamic Finance and could think of no better place in which to gain experience than in the heart of the Middle East. I was excited at the prospect of being the first trainee in the Dubai office, which only opened in May 2007.

How were you selected for the position?

I was selected on the basis of an application form that set out my reasons for applying and on the back of appraisals from supervisors from my previous two seats.

What are the biggest differences between Lovells London and Dubai offices?

The office occupies just one floor as opposed to a whole building in London. There is therefore no gym or canteen, but the amenities nearby make up for this.

How have you settled into the Dubai office?

Ive settled in extremely well. The people are very friendly and the work fantastic. Drinks were arranged upon my arrival and I was even treated to a surprise birthday cake on my birthday.

What are the biggest challenges of working and living in Dubai?
For a brief period in the summer the temperature in Dubai becomes extremely hot and humid. The lack of public transport can sometimes be a challenge.

How would you describe the trainee scene in Dubai?

Social events are organised through email distribution. As the ex-pat community is very large, it is easy to make friends. You never feel youre too far from home.

What do you miss the most about working and living in London?

My friends.

How much practical/financial support did Lovells give you to help you relocate?

Lovells provided a two-bedroom apartment and a substantial monthly allowance to cover car rental and other expenditure. The Dubai office manager organised visa/travel arrangements.

What is the single most important advice you would give to a trainee who wants to do an overseas seat?

It is not a holiday: consider the area of law that you wish to sit in as well as the location.

What has been the highlight of your Dubai seat?

An overnight desert safari, partying in the same club as Jean Claude Van Damme, skiing indoors on real snow, visiting the Burj al Arab, the only seven star hotel in the world, are just a few examples.

Name: Rebecca Riss
Firm: Berwin Leighton Paisner
Seat: EU & Competition
Office: Brussels

Why did you want to do an overseas seat in Brussels?

I wanted to have the opportunity to experience life in a different city and to see how an overseas office works. I also thought that it was an ideal place to do a seat in EU & Competition as Brussels is home to most of the EU institutions.

How were you selected for the position?
I didnt have a formal interview for the Brussels seat; I applied through the usual seat change process which involves putting down your top 3 choices of seat.

What are the biggest differences between BLP's London and Brussels offices?

I think the main immediately noticeable difference is the size of the office you get to know everyone very quickly. Apart from that, it is quite similar: the quality of work is the same and the office looks like the office in London in terms of design, so you feel at home right away.

How have you settled into the Brussels office?

Although it is a big change from London, I found it quite easy to settle in as everyone makes you feel very welcome and people are conscious that you are new to the city so they all make an effort to make sure youre meeting people and that you know where everything is. I was made to feel part of the team from day one. It is also emphasised that you are part of a larger team, rather than London and Brussels being two completely distinct offices.

What are the biggest challenges of working/living in Brussels?

The biggest challenge for me of living in Brussels (once Id found my way around) was probably the fact that nothing is open on Sunday, which I took for granted in London. Brussels is an extremely accessible city as it is quite small, so it is easy to live in and get used to quickly. In terms of working in Brussels, I found that it was just like changing seats between any department you have to take a bit of time to get used to different working methods, a new area of law and new people, but there was nothing that made working in Brussels more challenging than working in London.

How would you describe the trainee scene in Brussels?

The trainee scene in Brussels is fantastic, its a very sociable place to be. All trainees doing a seat in Brussels are put on an email list so that we can get in touch with each other when we first arrive. As we were all new to Brussels, everyone made an effort to get to know each other, which makes for some fun nights out.

How much practical/financial support did BLP give you to help you relocate?

BLP provides its Brussels trainees with a lovely house in a great part of Brussels, so you dont have the hassle of trying to sort out your own accommodation. Your trip out there and back are paid for, as is a trip home in the middle of the seat. Practically, I received a guide to Brussels that had been put together over the years by various people who spent time in Brussels and also a fact sheet about the trainee house and the area I would be living in.

What is the single most important advice you would give to a trainee who wants to do an overseas seat?

I think it would be to throw yourself into the lifestyle and make the most of your time abroad as it really is an amazing experience and a great opportunity to try something different.