Our People

Can you tell us about your journey to Clifford Chance and how you secured a Training Contract with the firm?

I attended a vacation scheme in the firm's Dubai office during my second year of university. During the week-long scheme, I gained invaluable experience and insights into life as a lawyer and the type of people I will work with. I turned confident that Clifford Chance would be a supportive place to work and grow. Seven years later, I still feel that way! Following my vacation scheme, I successfully applied for a Training Contract and joined the firm in March 2020.

What were the highlights of your Training Contract and which aspects did you enjoy the most?

As soon as I joined the firm for my Training Contract as a first-seat trainee, the world went into lockdown. Despite this, I really enjoyed getting to know the different teams and my trainee cohort, even if it was over Microsoft Teams for the first half! During the second half of my Training Contract, I worked in the Dubai office, where I was able to see the full breadth of how the firm operates outside of London.

How did your responsibilities evolve during your Training Contract?

During my first year of my Training Contract, my roles were more process-based, which included maintaining checklists, updating documents and liaising with different teams. During my second year, I was able to take on more responsibility and be more proactive in my approach. While still doing the first-year tasks, I was also managing smaller workstreams and pushing them forward with support from an Associate.

Can you share an example of a challenging task you handled during your Training Contract?

During my first seat in Private Equity, I was assisting on a transaction where the numbers that flowed through hundreds of documents changed at the last minute. I worked with an associate to bring in our support teams to update the numbers and developed a cross-checking process to make the process as painless as possible and we were able to get all documents updated by the deadline.

How did your Training Contract prepare you for the transition to becoming a newly qualified lawyer?

You gain more experience as you progress through your Training Contract. So, by your third and fourth seats, you take on more active roles in transactions. It was important for me to take on these additional opportunities to make the transition to a newly qualified lawyer seamless. The teams are incredibly supportive when you make the transition, and people are always willing to answer questions at any point.

What is your current role at Clifford Chance, and what type of work do you focus on?

I am an Associate in the Private Equity team, supporting our private equity clients with M&A and management of their portfolio companies.

What advice would you give to junior lawyers about specialisation and gaining experience in different areas?

Keep an open mind! I was convinced that I wanted to be a litigator and ended up loving Private Equity which was the first seat of my Training Contract. Your Training Contract is a great opportunity to try four different areas and develop as a lawyer. Therefore, keeping an open mind is key when joining a new team and getting the most out of each seat.

What is one of the most fulfilling aspects of your work at Clifford Chance?

The people. During busy periods, you spend a lot of time with your colleagues, and it is great to work together to achieve a common goal and learn from each other.