Trainee Solicitor, Litigation and Dispute Resolution at Clifford Chance LLP

The following is a Graduate Review for Clifford Chance LLP.

Clifford Chance LLP scores 3.2/5 based on 60 reviews.

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What is the annual salary for this role?

Starting salary: £39,000 - £41,000

Current salary: £39,000 - £41,000

What hours do you actually work, on average?

Start: 9:45

Finish: 20:00

What advice would you give to someone applying to this role?

Aspiring solicitors need to understand two things. First, that they will be working in a service industry, delivering results that help clients realise their goals. In other words, lawyers make few strategic decisions themselves, but they must have an understanding of the world of business. Second, that the work of a trainee solicitor, though often interesting in the subject matter it relates to, will often be more laborious than intellectually stimulating.

I was told by an associate in my department that the most impressive candidates are those who understand what it takes to be a trainee solicitor and still honestly intend to become one. To convince your recruiters that this is the case, you need to understand the nature of the work. For this, of course, there is no substitute for work experience.

Do you have any interview tips?

The Clifford Chance interview was remarkably fair. There did not seem to be anything that I could have prepared for, at least not in the days or weeks immediately preceding the interview.

I think it is important to realise that interview preparation is a marathon, not a race. Reading The Economist every day for a year and reflecting on its content will give you some understanding in the issues that face international businesses; reading the firm's website in the run-up to the interview will not.

At Clifford Chance, you will be tested on your "commercial awareness" - that is, your ability to understand and articulate the risk that a client faces in a given market context. Equally, you will be asked about your own interests and motivations. The key is to come prepared to have a discussion.