Herbert Smith
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Pre-eminent in dispute resolution and with an outstanding reputation for high value transactional advice, Herbert Smith LLP is a leading international law firm. Its main clients are prominent global and national businesses that it serves from offices in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
Alongside Herbert Smith’s outstanding reputation in dispute resolution and corporate work, the firm has leading practices in finance, real estate, competition and employment, pensions and incentives. It is also acknowledged as a leader in several industry sectors, including the energy and natural resources and financial institutions sectors.
The strength and breadth of the firm’s practice areas, including corporate, dispute resolution and finance, guarantee excellent training and development opportunities for trainees. The training process balances contentious and non-contentious work; early responsibility and support. An emphasis is also placed on professional and personal development. Trainees rotate around four six-month seats, including a seat in a specialist area such as IP or competition. Trainees are also encouraged to go on secondment to a client or to one of the firm’s international offices. Herbert Smith’s global reach makes this a possibility for many.
Trainee Profile
Catrin Carter
I left Kings in 2001, graduating with a BSc in Biomedical Sciences. I then went to Cambridge University to do a PhD in the immunology and genetics of type 1 diabetes. I started looking into law as a possible career during the 2nd year of my PhD. I went to several presentations by law firms, as well as law fairs where I found out about the process of converting to law. However, I didn’t go straight into law after completing my PhD. I have 3 children, now aged 3, 4 and 6, and so I spent 3 years being a full time mum.
When my youngest child was 3 months old I started the GDL part time at BPP in Waterloo. BPP offers lots of part time options and the one that I chose was to do the GDL over 2 years combining learning from home with a full day of tutorials every other Saturday. The material covered on the GDL is fascinating and it was well taught by excellent tutors and lecturers. I also made some really good friends, all converting to law for different reasons, and at different stages in their lives.
At the end of my 1st year of the GDL I did a vacation scheme at Herbert Smith and was offered a training contract.
After completing the GDL the pace really picked up when I started the accelerated LPC at BPP in Holborn. Initially it was difficult to adjust to the work load but the course was well structured and it was possible to cover a huge amount of material in subjects which were completely new to me (company law) in just 6 months. I had about a week after LPC exams to catch my breath before starting my training contract in February 2011.
As a trainee I use the material covered in the GDL and LPC every day but to my surprise I also use the skills I learnt as a scientist such as data interpretation and analysis, research, communicating complex information to lay people and formulating a hypothesis and backing it up with evidence. So for me it was a long route into the law, and changing career with a young family to look after is, to be completely honest, exhausting. But I thoroughly enjoyed the conversion process, and I am now fortunate enough to work in an intellectually stimulating environment where I can look forward to a career of lifelong learning, working with dedicated, clever people for high profile clients on challenging cases which push boundaries and set precedents. So all in all I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it
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