Opportunities for law graduates in Belfast

Transcription

1 Opportunities for law graduates in Belfast

2 2 Opportunities for law graduates in Belfast Contents Allen & Overy 04 Introducing the Legal Services Centre 06 LP interviews Matt Roberts 08 Gráinne Drumm 10 Phillip Hill 12 Laura Scanlan 14 Sean Dunlevy 16 Jenny Keenan 18 Laura Smyth 20 What you get in return 22 Giving back 23 So, what next? 24 As a global leader in the legal industry, we will work as one team within our respective functions, collectively building Allen & Overy Belfast as a centre of excellence. David Morley Senior Partner

3 4 Opportunities for law graduates in Belfast Allen & Overy 4,949 2,680 If there is one thing that sums up the way we go about serving our clients, it is our belief that outstanding things happen when the best minds work together. In the 80 years since Allen & Overy was founded, we have created a collaborative culture where talented individuals working together can truly flourish and achieve great things. people lawyers 527 partners Imaginative, independent thinking is not just encouraged, it is expected. We foster diverse viewpoints so that we can draw on a constant stream of new ideas to solve the toughest challenges our business faces around the world. Although we have a long heritage, there is nothing old-fashioned about our thinking. We have the confidence to think creatively, to take carefully calculated risks and to support new approaches in how we look. Our Belfast office has heralded a new way of operating to ensure that we continue to deliver the high-quality service our clients expect. 44 offices 31 countries Allen & Overy s move to Belfast was a significant and exciting step for the organisation. It heralded a new way of operating to ensure we continue to provide the highest-quality service and remain competitive around the world. Belfast is the first office wholly dedicated to provide the very best services to our lawyers and others throughout the business. and you? Imaginative, independent thinking is not just encouraged, it is expected. When considering where to set up our new office, Northern Ireland stood out for providing the highly skilled people we needed to meet the very high standards our clients expect from us. Now that our Belfast office has been operational for three years, few legal market commentators and even fewer rivals have ignored the impact and success of our decision to locate the 37th office in Northern Ireland. The quality, enthusiasm and can-do attitude of our Belfast team has been felt and admired by their global colleagues.

4 6 Opportunities for law graduates in Belfast Introducing the Legal Services Centre We believe the landscape of legal services is changing; clients want the most efficient service they can get so our lawyers, in every practice and every office, need the most efficient legal support. Banking Corporate Allen & Overy service lines Employment & Benefits That is why our Legal Services Centre (LSC) in Belfast is playing an increasingly important role in the way we deliver services to our clients. Throughout 2015, we will continue to recruit for exceptionally talented law graduates to join our team as Legal Professionals (LPs). You will receive excellent training, a first-class reward package and, of course, the opportunity to work with some of the best lawyers in the world on interesting, diverse and complex deals and cases. International Capital Markets Litigation & Dispute Resolution Real Estate & Tax The LSC who we are The LSC heralds a new way of working for Allen & Overy. Under the supervision of experienced solicitors, LPs apply their knowledge of the law and legal procedures to support Allen & Overy teams around the world. You may find yourself engaged in document review tasks as part of an integrated team working on a cross-border M&A transaction, or you may become involved in discovery and disclosure exercises for our Litigation practice. The LSC represents a relatively new approach to delivering legal services and, as you develop your skills and expertise, you can expect the opportunities to develop as the range of services is expanded. Successful applicants will benefit from an extremely comprehensive training programme designed to complement your law degree. In addition to covering the sort of commercial legal skills that are so important at a leading global organisation such as Allen & Overy, LPs will also spend time at the beginning of their employment in our London office meeting colleagues, learning how we work and experiencing our culture at first hand. We have an extensive ongoing training programme covering legal, process and supervisory skills, as well as personal development. This is all part of our commitment to impeccable quality which we, as an organisation, demand and thrive upon. Allen & Overy is one of the world s emerging global elite of law firms, with a clear sense of direction, a challenging but collaborative culture and a desire to ensure our clients needs are at the forefront of all we do. Jane Townsend Partner, Head of LSC Jane is a Corporate/M&A Partner and is responsible for the Belfast LSC. She served on Allen & Overy s global board from 2010 to 2014.

5 8 Opportunities for law graduates in Belfast LP interview Allen & Overy is one of the Magic Circle law firms; when the opportunity arose to be part of something special with them in Belfast, it was one that I could not miss Having been with the LSC for just over three years, I am in a prime position to truly testify to the variety of professional exposure a graduate is able to gain in such an environment. In the morning I could be working on banking due diligence projects, taking instructions from a London associate; and in the afternoon that could be balanced with completing document reviews for Litigation. This is not to mention the variety of secondments I have been able to do. I found that my LLB was a great foundation on which to commence my career with Allen & Overy. We undertook further training with the University of Law, which equipped us with all the necessary knowledge and skills we needed to work as LPs. Having Jane Townsend, a partner in the firm, at the helm of the LSC is a huge bonus. She is friendly, vastly experienced in the legal industry and a formidable leader for the LSC she is well respected for her achievements and for the level of expertise she brings to the LSC. Allen & Overy can boast a very successful collegial environment, which is why the extent of extra curricular activities it can attest to supporting comes as no surprise. My personal interests lie in five-aside football and I regularly attend a range of events organised by the Social Committee. Life here in the LSC is much more than the work we do: it is the relationships we forge, the opportunities we have and the standards we all pride ourselves on. It is truly an honour to be a part of Allen & Overy.

6 10 Opportunities for law graduates in Belfast LP interview The work at A&O is truly international and from day one I experienced the global nature of the firm. The overwhelming majority of the deals that A&O advise on involve at least one, and more likely, several foreign jurisdictions. I joined Allen & Overy as an LP on the opening of the LSC in I had just qualified as a solicitor from the Institution of Professional Legal Studies and was keen to gain more experience of finance, corporate and commercial work. Initially, I was involved in quite a wide variety of work across several of the firm s practice areas, including Banking, Litigation and Corporate. Over time, however, I developed an interest in banking and finance work and, as the LSC expanded, I was able to focus more on this area. In the last two years, I have also spent time on secondment to several other A&O offices. In 2013, I was seconded to the firm s Frankfurt office, where I assisted the English Banking Team based there, with a multi-million pound loan portfolio sale. This was a great opportunity to experience working in a different jurisdiction and it gave me a real appreciation of the international nature of the firm. I am currently on secondment to the Global Loans and Real Estate Finance Team in London. I have been here for six months and have been involved in a broad range of multi-jurisdictional investment grade and real estate financings. It s been a busy six months but I have really enjoyed my secondment and I am pleased that I will shortly be taking up a role as a Banking Associate in the team. I ve had a huge range of opportunities and experiences at A&O that I just wouldn t have had at any other firm in Northern Ireland;. opportunities not just in terms of secondments and exposure to high profile, cross-border work, but also in terms of training and development. From day one, the firm invests a huge amount of time and resources into training. In January of this year, I attended the firm s University of Banking, which is a two-week legal training course on the main aspects of A&O s Banking practice. This was a great opportunity to step back and fully understand the legal and commercial rationale behind the documents that we work with on a daily basis. It also gave me the chance to meet colleagues from other international offices, some of whom I had previously worked with on transactions.

7 12 Opportunities for law graduates in Belfast LP interview If you are adaptable, resilient and your ambition has unlimited horizons then apply to the LSC. There really is a world of opportunity, right here in Belfast I joined the LSC when it opened in January In those three years the variety of professional experience that I have gained has been astounding. Whether it is working on a patent dispute between two global pharmaceutical giants, undertaking a three-month secondment to a global banking client in Canary Wharf, or playing a key role in a multi-million pound sale of a loan portfolio, each day working for one of the world s most innovative law firms provides new and exciting challenges. What most attracted me to the LSC was the size of the transactions that Allen & Overy advises on and the global nature of the work. Work that only a handful of elite global law firms are equipped to carry out. This unique, market-leading work incorporates the LSC as a fully integrated part of A&O s global network. Recently the LSC has worked on a large corporate restructuring led out of the Tokyo office and on a regulatory investigation that involved multiple jurisdictions from Asia to Europe and America. The one thing that stands out about working for Allen & Overy is the people. From my induction month, spent both in Belfast and London, right through to matters that I am working on at the moment, the desire to be the best and to value each individual s unique contribution has been at the heart of the firm s culture. When I completed my LLB Law with Politics at QUB the idea of working for one of the world s elite law firms seemed a distant dream. However, the opportunity exists, right on our doorstep in Belfast. Working in the LSC has opened many doors for me and I will shortly begin a training contract in the London office.

8 14 Opportunities for law graduates in Belfast LP interview Allen & Overy takes an innovative approach to the legal profession and I knew that the standard of work I would have the opportunity to undertake would be high I began working as an LP in Allen & Overy s LSC in September 2014, shortly after graduating with a BCL from University College Dublin. Prior to commencing work on live matters, I and the other new LPs undertook a comprehensive training programme. This included a University of Law course which was excellent in helping me gain an understanding of English Company Law and how to apply the theory in practice. In addition, we spent a week in the London office receiving training on the many tasks we would work on in our roles as LPs. The training helped me to feel more confident in my abilities and provided a valuable insight into the important role of the LSC in supporting the wider Allen & Overy network. The work I undertake varies on a day-to-day basis and can be anything from document review for Litigation, reading contracts and performing due diligence reviews for Corporate, small research tasks or working on a variety of tasks under the instruction of an Associate in London. Working in the LSC provides a great deal of scope for learning and development as we have training sessions throughout the year to assist us with our day-to-day work. The nature of the LSC means that we have exposure to a variety of legal issues and areas, as well as working on tasks from a number of jurisdictions. In an increasingly connected legal and commercial world this provides invaluable opportunities to gain a wide variety of knowledge and experience. Allen & Overy also offers many opportunities to get involved in pro-bono work and CSR activities, and the firm also runs numerous social events, teams and clubs, providing ample opportunity to get to know everyone. Belfast is a vibrant and friendly city to live in, with a wide variety of restaurants, cafes and shops. It s easy to navigate and there is always something to do. Choosing to make the move to Belfast to work in the LSC has been a fantastic experience so far.

9 16 Opportunities for law graduates in Belfast LP interview Allen & Overy takes a personal interest in the development of each LP, which begins with a tailored training programme run by the University of Law to prepare us for our roles Entering the legal world as a fresh-faced graduate can be a daunting prospect but the opportunity arose to work in the LSC, a unique and pioneering department in Allen & Overy s Belfast office. One year on I can testify that it was one of the best life decisions I have ever made. The legal exposure I have received as an LP in such a short period of time has been immense. I have worked on a variety of projects which include contract due diligence, litigation review and arbitration disclosure projects along with some legal research projects. This exposure has expanded my legal knowledge and enhanced my understanding of the mechanics of legal transactions and cases. Working in the LSC has also added to my professional development. We have also received various in-house training sessions on topics which were aimed at preparing and improving our knowledge and skill set as LPs. This instilled confidence and self-belief in each one of us and shows that Allen & Overy values us as employees. The LSC itself is a collegial environment and we have an exceptional support network at our disposal and can call upon any one of our colleagues for counsel and guidance. The collaborative nature of the LSC is another prominent feature of the department. Each day we service and work with a multitude of different jurisdictions and contend with various laws and legal processes. A career as an LP also offers some fantastic extracurricular activities. From tag rugby to five-a-side football to a book club, the list keeps getting bigger and bigger. Everyone in the office is encouraged to participate and to take the opportunity to forge friendships. Another upside of working in the LSC is that you get the opportunity to live in the vibrant and energetic city of Belfast. The great work/life balance which Allen & Overy offers means that you get to exploit everything this friendly and exciting city has to offer.

10 18 Opportunities for law graduates in Belfast LP interview The amount and diversity of opportunities afforded to LPs has increased significantly over time, with both client and internal secondments now an important part of the LP role Having joined the LSC in the initial intake of LPs in 2012, I can honestly say that I have found the past three years to be extremely rewarding and enjoyable. I have been involved in an extensive variety of projects for various departments and offices throughout the Allen & Overy network, often working with colleagues on opposite sides of the world from morning to afternoon. My work in the LSC has focused largely on regulatory Litigation matters and also in the International Capital Markets arena. This is what makes the LSC such a unique place to work while LPs undoubtedly gain exposure to a wide variety of projects and practice groups, the opportunity to gain specialist knowledge in a particular area is available to you if you so wish to receive it. I have specialised in capital markets work over the past two years and am treated very much as a member of the wider Allen & Overy ICM team. Last year I was afforded the opportunity to attend the Global ICM Offsite in Barcelona, meeting my ICM colleagues from around the world. The collegial attitude of the team was very much apparent and A&O s one firm mentality really came to the fore. The LSC has grown tremendously since it opened in 2012, which has allowed me and other senior LPs to take on a mentoring role to less experienced LPs when they join the firm. It has been extremely enjoyable getting to know new members of the team and providing guidance and support to assist in their development. I have no doubt that further such opportunities will come up as the LSC further expands its remit. I am absolutely delighted to have secured a training contract with Allen & Overy and am very proud to say that my professional legal career began in the LSC. I know that I have developed skills and attributes in Belfast that will be extremely beneficial to my future career as an Allen & Overy Associate.

11 20 Opportunities for law graduates in Belfast LP interview In the LSC, the scale of the work and the number of jurisdictions we work with would not normally be something available to graduates in Belfast Having graduated from Queen s University in 2012 with an LLB in Law, the opportunity arose for me to be part of one of the most innovative and forward-thinking law firms in the world; right here in Belfast. After a period of secondment I am now part of the ICM team, which works directly with London on a range of tasks and projects. This has proved to be an opportunity from which I have not looked back. The LSC supports the wider Allen & Overy network and is a team comprised of approximately 55 LPs with nine Associates and Jane Townsend as its head. For me, what is so great and indeed so different about the LSC is that you gain a very broad range of technical experience and always feel that you have the support network around you of more experienced LPs who are willing to offer counsel and guidance. I have learnt how to apply the theoretical aspects of my LLB and to build upon that knowledge in a commercially viable way. The University of Law course was excellent and provided me with a very detailed introduction to the type of work we would be doing and the necessary skills to complete such tasks. From the very beginning I have been challenged to better myself, even throughout the application process. I had to reflect on my own personal learning (both academic and extracurricular) to show that I had what it took to be an LP for Allen & Overy s LSC. Now that I am here, I am proud to say that I work for Allen & Overy s LSC. The office environment is very friendly, very collegial. Allen & Overy recognises the benefit of encouraging departments to socialise together, which, in turn, is a key factor in developing new relationships.

12 22 Opportunities for law graduates in Belfast What you get in return With our people at the centre of every thought process, our benefits package has been developed to reward the high standards that we expect. Giving back Allen & Overy recognises that, as a professional institution, we have a duty to help those in need. Rewards Competitive base salary and overtime 23 annual leave days 10 public holidays Gym membership (corporate discount) Our offices around the world have a long-standing commitment to supporting their local communities and, as such, Belfast is actively involved with local organisations. We share our time, energy and talents with organisations that seek to protect and empower the most vulnerable within society. Corporate responsibility is one of the cornerstones of our office culture; we have a charity partnership with the Macmillian Cancer Support, a charity who are a source of support, helping with all the things that people affected by cancer want and need. We also work in partnership with two local schools to broaden access to the range of professional careers offered within the Belfast office. We run an active programme of pro bono and community projects as a whole and our people are genuinely enthusiastic about getting involved. Last year our lawyers spent approximately 27,685 hours on pro bono and community-related projects, and this does not include the considerable amount of time also contributed by our professional support staff. Diversity and inclusion are also extremely important to us. We believe in recruiting staff from a variety of backgrounds to make sure we find people with the greatest potential. Flexible benefits Employersponsored contractbased pension scheme Private medical insurance Life assurance Permanent health insurance Childcare vouchers Employee sudden death insurance Personal accident insurance Holiday trading Health assessments Approximately 27,685 hours on pro bono and community-related projects For any organisation to be truly world class it must decide what is most important to its future success what makes it distinctive and focus relentlessly on that

13 24 Opportunities for law graduates in Belfast So, what next? Naturally, we are looking for individuals who can demonstrate strong academic performance you should already have graduated with or be on course to graduate with a 2:1 (or equivalent) in a law degree and have 340 UCAS points (AAB) at A-Level (or equivalent). Beyond this, we want to see evidence of commercial awareness, critical thinking, organisation, tenacity and interpersonal skills. The strongest applicants will then undergo a two-stage selection process. At the first stage, you will attend an assessment centre run by our in-house recruitment team, at which point you will have an interview and undertake a case study-based task designed to test your ability to work under pressure whilst also assessing your commercial and critical acumen. Shortlisted candidates will then undergo a further interview with senior Allen & Overy staff to assess your skills, knowledge and motivation to join us. Please visit our website for more details on how to apply: Recruitment timeline May June July August September Start date It is our belief that outstanding things happen when the best minds work together. Application process Application closing date Assessment Centres Final interviews and selection Start date

14 For more information, please contact: Belfast Allen & Overy (SSF) Ltd 68 Donegall Quay Belfast BT1 3NL United Kingdom Tel GLOBAL PRESENCE Allen & Overy is an international legal practice with approximately 5,000 people, including some 525 partners, working in 46 offices worldwide. Allen & Overy LLP or an affiliated undertaking has an office in each of: Abu Dhabi Casablanca London Rome Amsterdam Doha Luxembourg São Paulo Antwerp Dubai Madrid Shanghai Athens (representative office) Bangkok Düsseldorf Frankfurt Mannheim Milan Singapore Sydney Barcelona Hamburg Moscow Tokyo Beijing Hanoi Munich Toronto Belfast Ho Chi Minh City New York Warsaw Bratislava Hong Kong Paris Washington, D.C. Brussels Istanbul Perth Yangon Bucharest (associated office) Budapest Jakarta (associated office) Johannesburg Prague Riyadh (associated office) Allen & Overy means Allen & Overy LLP and/or its affiliated undertakings. The term partner is used to refer to a member of Allen & Overy LLP or an employee or consultant with equivalent standing and qualifications or an individual with equivalent status in one of Allen & Overy LLP s affiliated undertakings. CS1408_CDD-39854_ADD pages