Tricky proposals

We also have articles on the difficult question of whether to disclose a disability to a potential employer and what Barclays’ lawyers’ main task will be in any possible future litigation.

Followed by: a survival guide for networking events; a focus on corporate law from Linklaters; a blog post from an attendee on Shearman & Sterling’s summer scheme; a profile of Hogan Lovells graduate recruitment partner Ben Higson, and an Ask Lawyer2B from a mature student without conventional qualifications.

In News, Ashurst and Slaughter and Mayhave revealed NQ retention rates of 83 per cent and 87.5 per cent respectively, while Wragge & Co got a resounding ‘no’ from new trainees when it offered them £5,000 to defer their September 2012 places.

For those of you interested in public international law, The Lawyer recently teamed up with the Open University to deliver a round table event on corporations, individuals and the state - if you are interested, watch it here.

Business as usual

To disclose or not to disclose a disability is a difficult question - Lawyer2B looks at the issues. 

Barclays to be held to account

Evidence against the bank is so strong that its lawyers’ main task will be damage limitation, writes Robert Hickmott, partner, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan

Survival Guide - Networking events

That precious little bit of face-to-face time with a law firm is crucial to getting yourself noticed, and a successful networking event could do more that put a face to your name, but also a personality.

Summer with Shearman

Glen Jeffries, who is on Shearman & Sterling’s European Corporate summer scheme, learns some of the finer skills of the art of negotiation.

Practice Area focus – Corporate

Mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and initial public offerings can make for long hours, but if you dream of getting your name in the Financial Times it may be good to start here.

60-second interview

Hogan Lovells graduate recruitment partner Ben Higson advises students to never underestimate what it takes to become a lawyer and to be honest with themselves as to whether they have what it takes.

Mature student lacking GCSEs and A-levels

I’m a mature student at a former polytechnic university. I don’t have conventional qualifications such as GCSEs and A-levels, but I do have other qualifications to offer. Will this go against me when applying for training contracts? (7 responses)