EMPLOYEE PROFILES
STUDENT RESOURCE
Gatsby Benchmarks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
SO , YOU WANT TO BE ...
A COMMERCIAL LAWYER ?
Brendan Hatch is a trainee solicitor at Pinsent Masons LLP . He recommends commerical law to problem solvers with analytical minds .
What ’ s great about working as a trainee solicitor at your organisation ?
Every day you learn something new . As a trainee at a commercial law firm , you generally spend two years completing a training contract . That time is divided into a number of ‘ seats ’ ( usually four ) where you work within different legal departments . This rotational process maximises your exposure to as many areas of law as possible . This lends itself to an exciting and challenging day-to-day working life where you are constantly learning .
What sort of person would it suit , as a career ?
A career in commercial law is well-suited to problem solvers with a curious and analytical mind , those who have good communication skills ( both oral and written ), and those with a keen attention to detail . Studying and practising law involves absorbing a lot of information and being able to distil it into bite-sized chunks so that you can find solutions to a particular issue or problem .
Although a legal career is considered to be quite an ‘ academic ’ profession , it is important to remember that ‘ people ’ skills , such as being personable and persuasive , are as important as a strong grasp of complex legal concepts .
What subjects would it be useful to study at school and what practical experience is beneficial ?
I found studying languages at GCSE and A level useful as it not only encourages you to consider a variety of topics from different points of view , but also teaches you to support and develop arguments . Additionally , working in a multinational law firm means that you can be involved in cross-jurisdictional work where a knowledge of other cultures and languages can be invaluable .
At law school , you will be required to carry out a lot of reading and essay writing , so any subject that prepares you for this is beneficial . Getting involved with a legal advice clinic , even if just to provide some administrative support , looks great on a CV and helps develop those all-important people skills at an early stage .
“ People skills , such as being personable and persuasive , are as important as a strong grasp of legal concepts ”
Could you outline the routes into entry-level roles in your field at your organisation ?
There are many different routes to becoming a solicitor at Pinsent Masons . In my cohort of trainees , some of us , including me , completed a vacation scheme ( a two-week period of work experience ) over the summer after which we were offered a training contract .
Others worked as paralegals at the firm before securing a training contract through the internal application process and others obtained a contract through a direct application . The firm also offers paralegal and solicitor apprenticeships which combine academic studies with work-based learning in order to gain the requisite professional qualifications .
What personal skills and qualities would you need ?
In addition to the above , an interest in business is also imperative if you aspire to a career in commercial law . Keeping up to date with and understanding the types of problems that commercial clients face is a key part of being a commercial solicitor as legal advice must always be tailored to clients and their particular business objectives .
How could your career develop as a solicitor at your organisation or beyond ?
The traditional career path is to begin as an NQ ( newly qualified solicitor ) after completing your training contract and work your way up through associate and senior associate to partner . However , there are alternatives to partnership such as becoming a practice development lawyer , a senior lawyer responsible for keeping teams updated on changes in law and market practice and organising and delivering training .
Outside of private practice , one can also become an in-house lawyer who has only one client — the company that they work for . Unlike in private practice , in-house lawyers tend to be generalists , doing a bit of everything .
What has been the highlight of your job so far ?
One of the most enjoyable pieces of work I have been involved in was a cross-jurisdictional project which allowed me to combine both my legal and French language skills . As I was the only one who spoke French in that team , it meant that I became the go-to person throughout the transaction , which was fantastic experience for a trainee . Another highlight was the firm ’ s trainee induction process , where the entire intake ( some 70 of us ) spent a week in Scotland attending training sessions and getting to know one another at dinners and other social events .