Introduction to you...
I'm Anjali Janani and I began my Training Contract with Clifford Chance in September 2022. I am currently in my fourth seat, on an international secondment to the firms Milan office, in their Banking and Capital Markets team. I've completed seats in Debt Capital Markets, Derivatives and Structured Products, and Litigation and Dispute Resolution.
Can you tell us why you completed a Global Virtual Internship?
I completed a Clifford Chance Global Virtual Internship when I was applying for Training Contracts in order to gain a better insight into the type of work involved, and the different practice areas, in a global commercial/corporate law firm. I wanted to find out if this was the type of legal work that I'd enjoy and might be interested in! With a particular interest in Clifford Chance, I also wanted to gain an insight into the type of work that a trainee or associate may usually do at the firm.
What did you learn about the role of a lawyer from completing our Global Virtual Internship(s)?
From the Global Virtual Internship I completed, I learned about a lawyer's day-to-day tasks and management of transactional deals as well as the key role that a trainee could play, and the typical issues or matters that clients of the firm might need advice on. Particularly, I understood how vital it is to collaborate with various stakeholders (clients, colleagues and offices) globally, because at a firm like Clifford Chance there is almost always a global angle to the deal or case you might be working on. Seamless collaboration between the firm's offices globally is absolutely essential! The Global Virtual Internship also gave me an insight into the different practice areas that lawyers at Clifford Chance, and other firms, practice in, and which areas are growing at the firm.
What skills did you learn from completing our Global Virtual Internship(s)?
Upon completing the Global Virtual Internship, the key skills that I learned were: research skills, adapting and varying your style of written communication, the importance of developing attention to detail, and digesting and assimilating large volumes of information in a digestible format. All of which I have witnessed first-hand during my Training Contract. Besides this, completing the various tasks on the Global Virtual Internship, and doing this alongside my studies at the time, taught me a key skill of time management and organisation – something that is extremely crucial during your Training Contract when you are spinning multiple plates.
Why would you recommend completing a Global Virtual Internship?
Having now completed most of my Training Contract, I couldn't recommend Clifford Chance's Global Virtual Internships enough! They really do give you a true insight into what the life of a lawyer at the firm might be like and the types of tasks you might get involved in.
I would additionally recommend it for the fact that after completing the tasks, you are able to obtain feedback reports and template examples of how a lawyer at Clifford Chance might complete the tasks. This was particularly useful to check your work against theirs and understand what may be required of you in an ideal scenario, helping you to improve!
Whether you already know commercial law is for you, or you are considering it and simply testing the waters, the Global Virtual Internships are a great way to gain an insight into the firm and also to know more generally whether it is an area of law that you might enjoy.
Finally, it's a free and an easy way to gain an insight into some of the best law firms without having to make any applications, and it is something you can do in your own and at your own pace. In case you can't already tell, I'd recommend them to anyone looking to apply or hoping to find out more about a career in law at Clifford Chance!