Law degree: University of Surrey
LPC: College of Law, London
Things I wish I’d known: I was actually quite wealthy at the time
Best advice given: To study law with a language
Worst advice given: Not to spend my summer working for Eversheds in Moscow – thankfully I never took it
Best thing about the firm: Most people are friendly, approachable and sociable
One thing I’d change about my firm: Have an in-house laundry service
Best moment: Feeling part of a team
Worst moment: First day at work, attending my first meeting and pouring out tea and coffee for clients which I later realised was freezing cold
This year’s holiday: Gdansk, Poland
Greatest extravagance: Buying my tiny flat in West Kensington
Nazir Dewji, Berwin Leighton, corporate, construction, tax, construction litigation
Law degree: Queen Mary & Westfield College/LLM King’s College
LPC: College of Law, London
Things I wish I’d known: Just how much free time you lose when you start work
Best advice given: Be yourself. Not only will it get you where you want to be, but it will also ensure that where you end up is the best place for you
Worst advice given: Be yourself!
Best thing about the firm: The friendly and relaxed atmosphere in all departments
One thing I’d change about my firm: Most have already taken place: new canteen, dress-down Fridays, weekly drinks. Now I’m just waiting for Mondays off…
Best moment: Informing a client’s son-in-law to pack an overnight bag for his father-in-law in case he did not get a suspended sentence
Worst moment: The five minutes during the court’s judgment when I thought our client may well end up needing that bag. Fortunately, he didn’t
This year’s holiday: Los Angeles and Las Vegas, or the Far East and Dubai
Greatest extravagance: Flying out at the last minute to watch the European Cup Final in Barcelona (thanks to the partner who let me go at two hour’s notice).
Samantha Gower, Simmons & Simmons, corporate tax
Non-law degree: Leeds University
CPE/LPC: College of Law, London
Things I wish I’d known: That I was wholly right when I thought my training would be fun
Best advice given: Don’t do a law degree, take the CPE
Worst advice given: Don’t have a gap year
Best thing about the firm: The quality of supervision
One thing I’d change about my firm: When people moan for no reason at all
Best moment: Working hard on a project and joining the client at their rather extravagant Christmas lunch
Worst moment: The installation of our new IT system last year and the subsequent start-up gremlins – many late nights
This year’s holiday: South-west France
Greatest extravagance: Getting married!
Helen Emmerson, Wragge & Co, insurance litigation
Law degree: Birmingham University
LPC: Nottingham Law School
Things I wish I’d known: That however hard you may be trying to persuade a law firm to give you a training contract, they are trying just as hard to attract you
Best advice given: Dress the part, be relaxed and always look confident
Worst advice given: That your second year exam results don’t matter too much, as you can always do well in the third year
Best thing about the firm: It values its trainees extremely highly and devotes a lot of resources to their training and development
One thing I’d change about my firm: The terrible coffee from the vending machines
Best moment: Completion of a purchase I had been responsible for while in my property seat
Worst moment: None so far – although I have not had to stay all night on a corporate deal yet
This year’s holiday: Munich
Greatest extravagance: None
