Chapter 2 – Like clockwork
Transcript
Kathleen Healy, Partner
The type of work that Freshfields is aiming to get from its clients is the real cutting edge innovative legal work. And we pride ourselves on the fact that out clients come to us when they really have exhausted all practical options. And that means that when they get to me, or they get to our team then it's really going to be something that we're going to be able to get our teeth into.
Freddie New, Trainee Solicitor
Because you're going to be dealing very closely with your clients...
... who are, in this firm, going to be very large public limited companies or very large limited companies, that will entail some degree of understanding of the nature of the client's business. These are people who are going to want youto understand not just the legal aspects of the transaction, but also exactly why they are being carried out.
Kwarty Topen, Trainee Solicitor
If you do take on work that's got quite a high responsibility, sometimes you might feel a little out of your depth.
You're dealing with difficult clients... You might get asked to research somethingand you just don't know where to start. You don't even know what the question means really
but you know, that's a test for yourself andI do like being tested. People appreciate your hard work at the end and even if you don't manage to do it well, people will give you constructive feedback ...
and they'll take your efforts seriously so you'll always learn something
you'll always get something out of it.
Freddie New, Trainee Solicitor
I'd say a closing is one of the most exciting things you're likely to do. The deal has become so exciting by that point, that you really don't notice anything else...
Everything really comes together. You see the firm working together like clockwork. Each of the teams dovetails into their separate parts of a transaction ...And the international offices also work together, all working on the same transaction. All at the same time, really getting something out of the door in an unbelievably short time. And thoroughly efficiently at the same moment. In a strange kind of way the most difficult bits, I think as a trainee certainly, are the ones that you'll enjoy most in retrospect. And also which you'll learn the most from.
"There’s a lot of choice. It’s a pity you can’t do it all!"
Andy Scott
Trainee Solicitor