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?
Thomas Holt
What is your role at Eversheds Sutherland?
Associate
Which department and office of you work in?
Commercial – Birmingham Office
What made you decide to pursue a career in law?
After taking up a chance of doing work experience at a law firm, I found I really enjoyed the fast moving nature of the work, how tangible the outcomes could be, and breadth of areas that law touches upon (that particular experience including such niches as maritime law). Having had an interest in transport from an early age, and finding I could combine this interest with a job that makes use of my strengths, I proceeded to study a Law degree. After continuing to gain further experience at other firms, it seemed a natural fit over time to pursue a legal career.
What was your route into Eversheds Sutherland?
I had a background in rail before starting my training contract at the firm, having secured my training contract by way of the vacation scheme as an external candidate.
Competition for place on our training contracts is fierce. What tips would you give applicants to held them stand out?
Top three tips:
- Firstly, be yourself. If you have a particular interest or passion that underpins why you want to be a lawyer, then do not hide it. I made no hiding of the fact that I have always had an interest in transport, and wanted to combine that interest with any future legal practice. It can make you stand out, and makes you an individual.
- Secondly, be accurate and concise. People who take the time to refine their application, ensure it is error free and succinctly explain their responses will be noticed. As a lawyer attention to detail, conciseness and accuracy is key, so demonstrating those same virtues in any application you do is key – so don’t rush your application and give yourself plenty of time check before you hit submit
- Thirdly, show reflection and collaboration. As in any profession, you constantly need to learn and reflect, as ultimately it is the only way for yourself any business to develop and grow. No-one is perfect, so in your application and interviews, you need to demonstrate you are someone who has a willingness to learn from past mistakes and use them as lessons. Similarly, someone who is keen, open-minded and enjoys operating in a team, will stand out, as collaboration and being alert to others’ thoughts and actions is fundamental.
What seats did you complete during your training contract?
I completed seats with the Pensions, Real Estate (Occupiers), Commercial, and Commercial Dispute Resolution teams during my training contract.
Did you complete a secondment during your training contracts?
If so, tell us about it. I did not undertake a secondment whilst on my training contract, however there are plentiful opportunities for secondment as a trainee, particularly with some of our high profile clients, covering various sector groups and practices. Even once you are qualified, there remains opportunities to go on secondment, as it is an excellent way for us to add value for our clients and understand their operations and priorities better. This ultimately feeds back to improving our service delivery and client relationships.
What sort of interaction do you have with Eversheds Sutherland partners?
I have almost daily interaction with a mix of Partners, be it on calls, through emails or in-person chats. The Partners are very down to earth here - they listen to juniors, will give you exposure to a range of work, whilst also taking a real interest in your learning and development. They want to ensure you enjoy your training contract, and gain the most from your time at the firm, so working hard, asking questions and showing enthusiasm goes a long way to developing a great rapport with them.
What about clients? How do you interact with them?
Client interaction can be on video calls, through email, or even in-person. I deal with clients frequently as a junior, acting as a point of contact for queries or joining calls to take notes or take away actions as part of project work. Client interaction is one of the best parts of the job, as you get to understand their business, see the results of your work, and understand the bigger picture of your role on a matter.
Do you get the opportunity to do any pro bono work?
There are lots of opportunities to get involved in pro bono work. I have managed to work on a pro bono matter for a charity as an NQ, and there are plenty of chances for Trainees to help out with pro bono schemes. The firm very much encourages people to play a part in pro bono, which is great, as it offers a chance to use our skills to help people.
What is the level of support/supervision like during your training contract?
The level of support and supervision was excellent and continues to be as an NQ. You worry before stepping into the office on day one as a trainee that you may be expected to know everything, but reassuringly you are not! People want you to succeed and do well, and are more than happy to take the time to give and explain feedback. The Partners here give plenty of support directly to the trainees, and whilst you are given responsibility and are expected to handle that, your work is always checked and you never feel afraid to ask questions.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part has to be helping clients reach their goal, and seeing how your role on a matter has enabled that. Where there has been a team effort to progress and complete advice on a project, there is a real sense of pulling together to reach the end goal. Playing a part in that, and ultimately seeing tangible outcomes, is very rewarding. Seeing matters you have worked on in the news is a particularly great highlight of the job!
What do you enjoy about working at Eversheds Sutherland?
There are a lot of things that make working here enjoyable, but particular reasons that make it so are the people, variety of work, and opportunities. The people I work with are friendly, listen and want you to succeed, which makes coming into work a positive place to be. The work variety is fantastic, given the range of clients we work for and types of work we do – no week is the same which makes it a dynamic place to be. Finally, there are always opportunities around to take advantage of – this makes it an exciting firm to be at and one where you can invest time in what you want to do. People give you opportunities you never thought would happen as a junior – going on an in-person international trip with a Partner on one project a mere few weeks into my NQ role is particularly memorable for me.
In what ways have you found it to be a friendly and inclusive place to work?
There is a culture of people accepting you for who you are here. We have coaching and mentoring schemes to support people’s growth and help with any worries, colleagues are understanding and go the extra mile if there are personal circumstances in your life that present a challenge (which I have personal experience of both from my vacation scheme and training contract), and there are diversity and inclusion networks covering a range of backgrounds and characteristics which you can join.
Have you found there to be much of a social scene at Eversheds Sutherland?
Yes, certainly! People at the firm are very personable and so socials are common, at all levels, be it local team, office, or sector group. These really help to bond teams and act as a networking opportunity. At a local level, we have done darts, indoor cricket, and most recently, a team walk in the Worcestershire countryside for an afternoon!
What has most surprised you about your time with us?
The one thing that has surprised me the most is how invested people are in your development. The size and scale of an international firm such as this is incredible, and you may think you are just another trainee or junior. However that could not be further from the truth. Partners and senior colleagues, even at an early stage of your career, will be keen to get you involved in high profile and ground-breaking work, and the role you have in this can be more impactful than you think. They really do listen to you, and will give up time to help you, and the connections you build around the firm make it seem a far more close-knit community than you may have expected.
What have you learned about what a career as a lawyer is like?
I have learnt that whilst it is one that carries a high level of responsibility, and at times, pressure, it is a very varied and enjoyable career. The range of clients I have got to work with at such a junior level has been really exciting and rewarding. Being a lawyer relies far more on teamwork and strategic thinking than I first necessarily thought, so that has been an intriguing but positive experience.
How did you find the process of applying for an NQ role?
The application process for an NQ role is done efficiently and swiftly – a list containing the jobs available is released, and then a cover letter, CV and a training record need to be provided. It may be that an interview and further tests then need to be completed as part of the process. Whilst a nervous time, the training contract provides a great opportunity to showcase what you can do, so never forget that your day-to-day performance and skills will help you greatly in any assessments. The firm invests a lot in you during your training contract so if you work hard and to your potential, it will work out.
What are your ambitions for the rest of your career?
At this early stage of my career I want to focus on growing my technical skills as a lawyer and developing my commercial acumen – as a lawyer there are lots of opportunities so it is a moving picture, but given my transport interest, enhancing my specialist skills there is an ambition currently.