Tell us about your background and role as a trainee?
I grew up in Singapore and came to London for university. I attended the Linklaters Summer Vacation Scheme and loved what the firm stood for and the opportunities on offer. In my first seat in Corporate (Private Equity), I was surprised by how much I dealt with clients directly, from sitting in on calls, to emailing them and consolidating their feedback. In terms of live deals, I've been involved in the due diligence process, document review, and have assisted on a few signings.
How would you describe the culture of the firm?
From day one, I've felt comfortable to talk to those around me both professionally and personally. It's a very social place and the best part of being a trainee is having a large cohort of people that are in the same position as you. It's a very high-achieving and driven place to work, but you always have people to rely on and that absolutely makes the difference.
"It's a very high-achieving and driven place to work, but you always have people to rely on and that absolutely makes the difference."
What career and development opportunities have you had so far?
The firm has a really good system in place, not only do you have a mentor and principal within your group, the Trainee Development team also organises for you to have a senior mentor outside of your practice area. They're a great person to bounce ideas off, hear about their career journey, and learn from.