A recent newly qualified associate, tells us how to get through the interview process and what to expect when you get here have the potential to be a great trainee solicitor at Eversheds Sutherland.
What is your name?
Matt Cosgrove
What is your role at Eversheds Sutherland?
Associate
Which department and office of you work in?
Banking and Finance – Manchester Office
What made you decide to pursue a career in law?
I’ve always had a keen interest in business and I continue to be particularly fascinated by the integral role that the law plays in assisting businesses to achieve their strategic goals and overcome difficulties. Not only did a career in law promise to challenge me intellectually, but it also promised to constantly stimulate my interest in business by allowing me to become a key advisor to businesses of all shapes and sizes, and across numerous sectors.
What was your route into Eversheds Sutherland?
I originally joined the firm as a paralegal within the Manchester Real Estate team before securing a training contract with the firm as an internal candidate. Competition for place on our training contracts is fierce. What tips would you give applicants to held them stand out.
Top three tips:
1. Research – take time to really understand the firm by attending an open evening and applying for a vacation scheme. Reach out to people at the firm for a chat. It is always impressive when a candidate makes an effort to genuinely understand what makes the firm tick and the skills that it looks for in a candidate but, equally as important, that the firm is the right fit for them.
2. Don’t compare yourself to others – there is no doubt that competition is tough and it can be easy to get overwhelmed - focus on yourself and don’t compare yourself to others. The candidates that stand out are those that can clearly articulate their own strengths and demonstrate how they exhibit the qualities that the firm look for.
3. Self-awareness is key – the firm are not looking for perfect trainees and instead of looking for candidates who will take advantage of development opportunities and implement feedback that they receive. Impressive candidates can critically reflect on their past experiences and demonstrate measures implemented to learn from past mistakes or to improve performances – you can demonstrate this in your application form.
What seats did you complete during your training contract?
I completed seats with the Insurance, Banking and Restructuring and Corporate teams.
Did you complete a secondment during your training contracts? If so, tell us about it.
Whilst I didn’t undertake a secondment during my training contract, there are numerous secondment opportunities (both client and international) that are available to trainees - but the opportunities don’t end there! Secondment opportunities are available, and actively encouraged, at all stages of your career at Eversheds Sutherland. They offer the chance to work closely with clients, to truly understand their businesses and to develop an appreciation of the client perspective, all of which ultimately improve your client service delivery skills.
What sort of interaction do you have with Eversheds Sutherland partners?
I have daily contact with a wide range of partners at the firm be that in respect of a particular transaction, in the context of training or just for a general catch up. Interactions can take the form of face-to-face meetings, phone calls or video chats. There is no hierarchical culture at Eversheds Sutherland – partners are approachable and generous with their time and are not locked away in offices instead choosing to sit amongst junior lawyers to increase the opportunities for interaction and development.
What about clients? How do you interact with them?
Helping our clients to thrive forms part of Eversheds Sutherland’s purpose as a business as so continuous client interaction is encouraged. Not a day goes by when I don’t interact with clients via email or telephone and video calls. I’m trusted to communicate with clients directly but exchanges are always adequately supervised and I can always ask for additional help to improve my confidence in interacting with clients.
Do you get the opportunity to do any pro bono work?
Another key element of Eversheds Sutherland’s purpose as a business is to help our communities to thrive - pro bono work is therefore central to the firm’s identity and all staff are encouraged to dedicate a percentage of their time to assisting with available initiatives. There are numerous opportunities to get involved in pro bono work varying from helping local charities to national immigration initiatives.
What is the level of support/supervision like during your training contract?
The firm acknowledges the importance of feedback in improving confidence and developing skills and operates a culture of continuous feedback. There is a great deal of support available in multiple formats and from various sources from formal daily supervision and quarterly feedback meetings, to more informal mentoring schemes. There is a clear acknowledgement that one size does not fit all and so the firm encourages individuals to find a model that works best for them. Feedback is also a two way street and there are plenty of opportunities to offer feedback to senior team members.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Completing a transaction, particularly in tight timescales and difficult circumstances, is always very satisfying but the most rewarding part of the job is building client relationships along the way. Earning the trust of clients and colleagues alike, receiving repeat instructions and helping client businesses develop over time gives me a real buzz.
What do you enjoy about working at Eversheds Sutherland?
The people – we are a top 10 global practice that acts on market leading transactions, which is enjoyable in itself, but it never fails to impress me how collaborative and friendly the entire global workforce is in spite of the pressures that we sometimes face. The firm has worked hard to establish a unique culture and it works to attract likeminded people.
In what ways have you found it to be a friendly and inclusive place to work?
Diversity and inclusion forms a core part of the firm’s strategy - the firm has numerous networks to support staff of different genders, religions, sexual orientation and physical abilities to name but a few from which we receive regular communications and invitations to attend local and national events. There is a genuine sense that the firm wants its staff to be comfortable to be their true selves so that they can thrive. Most importantly, the firm acknowledges that it still has more to do, does not rest on its laurels and continues to drive positive change.
Have you found there to be much of a social scene at Eversheds Sutherland?
I’m writing these answers just before heading out for a team social so I can vouch that there is definitely a healthy social scene. The firm has numerous local and national networks that run regular activities and we are all actively encouraged to network and socialise with colleagues, clients and contacts in both local and national markets.
What has most surprised you about your time with us?
How collaborative my colleagues are – there is a genuine desire to deliver the best client service. This leads to colleagues working together to deliver innovative systems and approaches to work. When the need arises to work late everybody chips in from paralegals to partners.
What have you learned about what a career as a lawyer is like?
I’m still at the early stages of my career with a lot to learn but so far I can tell that a career as a lawyer will be challenging yet stimulating and rewarding. With new routes to qualification opening up its now clearer than ever before that there is no standard format for a legal career – you can make of it what you want.
How did you find the process of applying for an NQ role?
Straightforward and well organised - following the release of a jobs list, it requires candidates to submit a CV, cover letter and training records.
What are your ambitions for the rest of your career?
To make the most of the opportunities available to me and to develop longstanding client and professional relationships, passing on knowledge to the next generation along the way.
Keen to find out more? View their profile here.