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TAKE THE LAW INTO YOUR OWN HANDS PINSENT MASONS A career with an international law irm Graduate brochure 2017 – 2018 #takethelaw

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TAKE THE LAW INTO YOUR OWN HANDSPINSENT MASONSA career with an international law irmGraduate brochure 2017 –2018 #takethelaw

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pinsentmasons.com/graduate

As a trainee at Pinsent Masons it’s about putting yourself forward, having a say, thinking commercially, seizing opportunities, learning new things and responding to an ever-changing environment.

We are looking for people with ideas and opinions; with conidence and intellectual curiosity. People who can form relationships, build networks and drive the success of the business.

At Pinsent Masons, we have a vision and culture we are both committed to and proud of. Our people are critical to the success of our business. As we continue to grow, develop and innovate we want you to be part of our current and future success.

So start thinking about the decision that lies ahead.

Highlight, annotate and delete the content of this brochure as you wish – make it your own. It’s about identifying the information that is most important to you and using it to help inform your next steps. After all, it’s your career and it starts here.

Go on – take the law into your own hands.

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FOREWORD

Our clients don’t have legal issues, they have commercial needs. What the best lawyers do is respond to those needs with a mix of imagination and pragmatism – with a focus always on delivering a solution to the client. This gives rise to the question ‘who makes a great lawyer’? A great lawyer is interested in business as much as law, a person who is bold enough to challenge the status quo and is prepared to innovate to ind another way.

If that sounds like you, we’d like to hear from you. We think you will really enjoy working with us.

Richard FoleySenior Partner

SECTION 01 THIS IS PINSENT MASONS1.1 Who we are and what we do — 07 1.5 Firm on a journey — 08 1.6 Key Facts — 09 1.14 Levelling the playing ield — 14

SECTION 02 THIS IS YOUR PLACEMENT2.1 The Vacation Placement — 27 2.1.2 What to expect — 27 2.2.2 Route to a Training Contract — 27 2.3 Quotes from previous participants — 28

SECTION 03 THIS IS YOUR TRAINING CONTRACT3.0 Making the Training Contract yours — 35 3.1 Salaries — 35 3.2 Getting to know us — 35 3.12 Hear from our Trainees — 39

SECTION 04 THIS IS YOUR APPLICATION4.1 What we’re looking for — 47 4.3 Selection process — 48 4.4 Minimum requirements — 49 4.4 Application deadlines — 49

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33

43

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CONTENTS

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This is Pinsent Masons, today

The facts about a market leading international law irm. Where we’re based, the Business Sectors we focus on, and our growing international presence. Information on our values and how we ensure we are doing business responsibly whilst supporting our colleagues, and the communities we operate in. This is Pinsent Masons, today.

SECTION — 01

En route to a client meeting, Belfast

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07

This is Pinsent Masons, today

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1. We’re looking to recruit and develop people with the curiosity and conidence needed to thrive in a transforming business landscape, where deeper sector and client knowledge are just as important as specialist legal expertise.

1.1 Who we are and what we do1.1.1 We’re an award-winning, multi-national commercial law irm with 3,000 people across ofices in four continents. We deliver innovative legal solutions and services to a diverse range of clients, primarily in the energy, inancial services, infrastructure, manufacturing & technology, and real estate sectors. We advise on high proile and cutting-edge national and international deals and transactions.

1.2 A bold vision1.2.1 We have a bold vision of being an international market-leader in our global sectors by 2020 and have the strategy in place to deliver it. It’s this kind of ambition and commercial thinking which creates opportunities for our business, our people and our clients. But we cannot get there through ambition alone. We need colleagues who will share our vision and desire to be at the forefront of a changing legal landscape.

1.3 Not all law irms are the same1.3.1 It’s easy to think that commercial law irms are very much alike but to ind out what the key differences are, and why they are important to you, you have to scratch beneath the surface. As you read on, you will discover exactly who Pinsent Masons is and what makes us different. You’ll ind out more about what we do, how we go about it and where you could it in. We offer programmes and opportunities which allow you

to get fully involved, make a signiicant contribution and shape your experience.

1.4 A straightforward question1.4.1 At this stage of your career, it’s worth asking yourself a very straightforward question: ‘is Pinsent Masons, which wants me to think commercially, seize opportunities and get involved, right for me and am I ready for the challenge?’

THIS IS PINSENT MASONS, TODAY

Trainees outside The Hub in the London ofice.

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1.5 FIRM ON A JOURNEY

1.7 ACHIEVEMENTS 1.8 AWARDS

1.6 KEY FACTS

23 ofices, 430+ partners, 1,338 lawyers, 130+ trainee solicitors

£410 MILLION POUNDS

TURNOVER*

7.3% INCREASE IN TURNOVER

TOP 75 GLOBAL LAW FIRM BY TURNOVER

A GLOBAL FIRM

ONLY UK LAW FIRM IN ALL THREE UKJURISTICTIONS

TOP

TOP

7575

'LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR'Legal Business Awards

2016

‘LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR’ British Legal Awards

Awards 2016

'RANKED ONE OF THE FIVE MOST INNOVATIVE LAW

FIRMS IN EUROPE'FT Innovative Lawyers

Awards 2016 *Unaudited accounts

Ranked 1st in the FT INNOVATIVE

LAWYERS ‘Business of Law’ index 2017

More Tier 1 rankings in LEGAL 500 UK than

any other law irm

Ranked 2nd in the ACRITAS ‘Law Firm

Brand Index’

Top ranked law firm in STONEWALL’S

‘Workplace Equality Index’

2004 2007

2013

• ‘Vario’, an innovative service providing

freelance lawyers to clients, is launched.

• Outlaw.com turns 15. • Rated as top law firmemployer in Stonewall

Workplace Equality Index.• The firm opens a second office

in Germany, in Düsseldorf.

• By 2020 we want to be an international market-leader in our Global Sectors defined

by innovation; have strong connections with our clients across our business, and approachable people – that means you!

2020

• On 1 May, 2017, wereached our first target of 25%

women partners a year ahead of schedule and have now committed to reaching our next target of 30%

female partners by 2020.

2018

• Pinsent Masonsopens offices in

Johannesburg,Madrid and Dublin.

2017 2016

• Pinsent Masons extends into Australia, opening offices in

both Sydney and Melbourne.

2015

• Pinsent Masons is formed by the merger

of Pinsents and Masons.

• Pinsent Masons opens offices in Beijing and Singapore adding to a presence in the

Asia-Pacific region dating back to 1982.

2008

• The firm’s legal website, out-law.com (launched in 2000), wins a Webby award.

Becomes the most visited legal site in the world with 3.5 million users per year.

• The firm establishes a foothold in the Middle East with an office in Dubai.

VARI

2011

• Winner of Most Effective Diversity Programme at

Lawyer HR Awards.

2012

• Pinsent Masons merges with McGrigors, becoming the first major law firm to have

offices in all three UK juristictions. • The firm extends its European reach

with office openings in Munich and Paris.

PROJECT SKY 26% of firm’s

partnership now female, surpassing the 2018 target of 25%

FINANCIAL TIMES

FT

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This is Pinsent Masons, today

1.9 AN INTERNATIONAL NETWORK

ABERDEEN

Aberdeen is one of our key hubs in energy, particularly oil & gas. Our lawyers are familiar with working in a wide variety of legal jurisdictions and we have strong international connections with other energy hubs.

BELFAST

Belfast services over a third of Northern Ireland’s Top 100 companies bringing the innovation and strength-in-depth of an international law irm to our regional market.

BIRMINGHAM

With a strong local presence since 1836, our largest regional ofice recently moved into two new premises, embracing agile and innovative ways of working and state of the art technology to support world class service delivery.

DUBLIN

Dublin will open in late 2017 with a focus on clients in Financial Services and Advanced Manufacturing and Technology sectors.

DÜSSELDORF

Dusseldorf opened in 2016 and primarily provides legal advice to domestic and international clients across the Energy Sector, connecting with other energy hubs across the irm.

MADRID

Opened in 2017 in the heart of Madrid, our Spanish team offers a local service focusing on clients in Financial Services, Infrastructure and Advanced Manufacturing and Technology sectors.

MUNICH

Munich was the Firm’s irst ofice on the European continent. Our team advises international companies and German clients with focus on Advanced Manufacturing and Technology, Life Sciences and Real Estate sectors.

PARIS

Opened in 2012, our French ofice is located in the heart of Paris. Our lawyers advise both national and international companies across all of the irm’s global sectors.

PERTH

Opening in 2018, our Perth ofice conirms the expansion of our business as we build on our reputation among the preeminent infrastructure irms in Australia and expand further into the energy sector.

MELBOURNE

Since 2015 our Australia ofices have been bringing deep sector specialism, local knowledge and international experience to deliver highly pragmatic, commercial advice to clients primarily in the infrastructure and energy sectors.

SINGAPORE

Set up in 2010, we advise on all aspects of both commercial and construction litigation and arbitration work, with a particular strength in the infrastructure and energy global sectors. The team advises on projects, procurement, technology and corporate matters.

SHANGHAI

Since 2007 we have been acting for both international and Chinese companies undertaking transactions or projects both in and out of China. We are recognised for advising across the full spectrum of corporate M&A transactions.

SYDNEY

Like Melbourne, our Sydney ofice delivers highly pragmatic, commercial advice to infrastructure and energy sector clients, using a blend of their local knowledge, sector expertise and international experience.

MANCHESTER

Manchester ofice is established as one of the leading irms in the North-West market with a team of 220+ lawyers advising on issues affecting clients locally, nationally and globally.

JOHANNESBURG

We have been handling transactions and matters in South Africa for 25 years. Opened in 2017, we provide a full range to clients operating in Energy and Infrastructure sectors.

LONDON

Our lagship ofice and global headquarters offers a state of the art home to over 500 lawyers as well as irst class client facilities. Our lawyers provide sector expertise and commercial legal advice to clients across our four global sectors.

Our global network of ofices gives us the necessary reach to support our clients across multiple territories and jurisdictions. It also ensures that our lawyers receive diverse and high-proile matters to work on.

— UK — EUROPE (NON UK) — AFRICA

— MIDDLE EAST — ASIA PACIFIC

DOHA

Our Qatar ofice, situated at the centre of Doha’s inancial district, operates under the laws of the Qatar Financial Centre, servicing clients mainly in the Infrastructure and Energy sectors.

DUBAI

Since 2004 we have been providing international corporations, locally owned companies and government entities on a full range of legal advice, primarily in the Energy and Infrastructure sectors.

HONG KONG

We are the ‘go to’ irm for businesses investing in the region. We provide a full range of legal advice and have one of the largest construction teams in the region, consistently achieving top tier rankings.

FALKLAND ISLANDS

Our team has been advising clients in the Falkland Islands for over 28 years and provides a full range of legal services to the local community, as well as specialist advice to the ishing, maritime and oil & gas sectors.

GLASGOW

The Glasgow ofice is involved in many of Scotland’s largest corporate deals, with the construction team working with some of the industry’s largest blue-chip clients worldwide.

LEEDS

A long established member of the region’s ‘big six’, the Leeds ofice makes a signiicant contribution to the irm’s global sectors while supporting their regional, national and international clients.

EDINBURGH

Edinburgh has industry experts working on high proile transactions with colleagues and clients nationally and internationally. There is a strong emphasis on Financial Services, Real Estate and Renewables.

BEIJING

We have an international reputation for providing irst class legal advice on project & inance and dispute resolution services for complex international projects in the infrastructure and energy sectors.

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1.10 BUSINESS SECTORS

What sets Pinsent Masons apart is a deep knowledge of a variety of sectors, and the ability to develop legal solutions for our clients within them.

A lot of law irms try to cover all areas, but we came to the conclusion that doing so wasn’t the right approach for either our clients or us. We wanted a focused business, which meant deciding in which sectors we could really make an impact.

We have developed a high level of expertise in the ive industry sectors we’ve chosen to focus on globally.

As part of the sector approach, our trainees are encouraged to start developing close relationships with clients right away and keep in touch with those clients throughout their Training Contract.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Between 2010 and 2020, expenditure on new civil and social infrastructure is predicted to be £20 trillion. We have in-depth experience working with the contractors and delivery partners and major owners and operators of infrastructure in the key markets in which the sector operates: social infrastructure, education, transport, energy, municipal waste management, water and sport & leisure. Our understanding and close alignment to the construction sector enables us to offer an ‘entire project lifecycle’ service.

Sector Head: Richard Laudy

Key clients: Balfour Beatty, Galliford Try, Carillion

REAL ESTATE

From advising on highly complex transactions to fast and eficient asset management, our global team handles projects of any size. Our integrated offering focuses on global investors in Real Estate and key players who focus on individual regions. Key focus areas include: Housing, Hotels, Retail, Industrial and Education. We developed an acquisition to sell bespoke Pinsent Masons cutting edge methodology for dealing with Real Estate Assets called ‘SmartDelivery’ which has been received incredibly well by the market.

Sector Head: James Crookes

Key clients: Capco, Lendlease, and The Portman Estate

WHAT THE HEADS SAY

AMT: ‘AMT clients are altering the way we live and work. We help them deliver ambitious change.’

Energy: ‘Global energy supply is transforming. Together with our clients we aim to be at the forefront of delivery.’

Financial Services: ‘We leverage our deep sector knowledge to share industry standards and provide commercial insight.’

Infrastructure: ‘A creative mindset is required to deliver legal solutions and specialist advice to infrastructure clients.’

Real Estate: ‘Cross-border capital flows into the sector providing opportunities to build on our market-leading reputation.’

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING & TECHNOLOGY

After decades of advising clients in the Advanced Manufacturing & Technology sector, we have an extensive understanding of these businesses and the industries in which they operate. Our clients in this sector manufacture specialised products, sell technology related services, or have a high value service delivery proposition. They are rich in intellectual property and solutions and require complex legal advice to facilitate both their strategic and operational needs.

Sector Head: David Isaac

Key clients: Fujitsu, Telefonica

FINANCIAL SERVICES

For us the inancial services sector includes traditional banks and insurers, funds and wealth managers and innovative providers such as online payment platforms and crowdfunders. We help clients across the inancial services sector achieve their strategic and commercial goals while managing legal and regulatory risk. We do this by leveraging deep sector knowledge gained from experience both in private practice and in-house at inancial services institutions and regulators. We are on the major bank and top insurers panels allowing us insight right across the sector.

Sector Head: Alexis Roberts

Key clients: Legal & General, RBS

ENERGY

As industry experts, we have represented clients for many years across the whole spectrum of the energy industry. Our clients include utilities oil service companies, oil exploration and reining companies, independent system operators, power station owners and operators, public and private utility contractors, inancial institutions and governments. Our focus is on offering pragmatic advice that makes a real difference. We help our clients to steer a clear path through the regulatory, legal and procurement mineields.

Sector Head: Paul Rice

Key clients: BP, EDF Energy, E-ON, Total

1.11 VISION AND VALUES

1.11 The vision behind the opportunities 1.11.1 We have a bold vision of being an international market-leader in our global sectors by 2020.1.11.2 It’s this kind of ambition that means we’ll continue to create opportunities both within the irm and in our communities. We’ll only get there through a sustained and coherent effort – one that you’ll be part of.

1.12 Our values1.12.1 From your irst encounter with Pinsent Masons, you’ll get a sense of our core values. You will discover that these are so much more than stated beliefs; they’re integral to everything we do, whether that’s irm-wide processes or individual actions. Only by staying true to these values will we achieve our vision. And we encourage our trainees to share the same mindset.1.12.2 Approachable: down to earth, respectful.Trust is vital to everything we do. Decisions are made with integrity, judgements are backed up, and pragmatic resolutions found. We treat everyone as we would want to be treated. 1.12.3 Bold: enterprising, innovative.We go beyond convention to ind innovative solutions. Not only are we willing to rise to the challenge, we strive for excellence in everything we do.1.12.4 Connected: committed, together.Our strength comes from our relationships within the irm, with our clients and with our communities. We work in a diverse business and value the different perspectives that brings.

1.13 Behaving responsibly1.13.1 A Responsible Business | Corporate responsibility, global citizenship, CSR, sustainability, however we phrase it, doing business responsibly is no longer just about writing a cheque or painting a school. It is an integral part of our business and extends to all aspects of our operations; whether it’s through robust supply chain management, our long-term commitment to inspiring young lives in our local communities, transparent, fair and ethical dealings with our clients, or our aspiration

to create an inclusive working environment where all of our people can be themselves. 1.13.2 Our clients | Having strong, lasting relationships with clients is the hallmark of any good irm. But clients choose their law irms for many reasons. We want to be chosen not only because we are excellent lawyers who can help clients achieve their objectives, but because we can be trusted always to temper technical expertise with sound ethical judgement.1.13.3 We practice what we preach: we encourage everyone we work with to uphold the same standards, including championing human rights, outlawing child and forced labour, and encouraging a culture in which people feel conident to speak up when they feel something isn’t right. As a service business, we work closely with our suppliers to enable them to achieve the same standards which we have set for ourselves.1.13.4 Our people | Collectively we are a strong irm that provides good advice to clients because we have a wide range of people with different skills and experience – and because we aim to ensure that every one of those people experiences an enjoyable and rewarding career with us.1.13.5 We have established a number of employee network groups at Pinsent Masons (see pages 16 & 17 for more details). These groups bring people together into communities, helping them to feel respected and connected, but crucially they also help the irm as a whole understand different points of view and bring them into the decisions we make for ourselves and for our clients.1.13.6 Our commitment | We want to be a irm that makes a real contribution, a real difference to people’s lives through education, employability and enterprise. Our community investment programme, ‘Starish’, is driven by the recognition that our on-going commercial success is dependent upon the stability of our local communities. The focus of our programme is ‘Inspiring Young Lives’ and all of our local community investment activities relate in some way to both children and young people.

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This is Pinsent Masons, today

1.13.7 Pinsent Masons is also committed to strengthening our relationships with global communities. In 2016, we launched a new global charity partnership with WE Charity. WE Charity is a unique international development and youth empowerment organisation that inspires communities to lift themselves out of poverty. The organisation partners with communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America to implement a holistic, ive pillar development model which focuses on Education, Clean Water & Sanitation, Health, Income & Livelihood and Agriculture & Food Security. Through this ‘Adopt a Village’ design, the charity aims to achieve sustainable long-term change for its global villages transforming their lives and the lives of future generations (see page 18).1.13.8 The Firm is fully committed to Responsible Business and our people are encouraged to spend up to three days (or 25 hours) each year for volunteering in Responsible Business initiatives. 1.14 Levelling the playing ield 1.14.1 Achieving a better gender balance is important for a number of practical reasons. It also makes a business more productive and successful – there’s lots of evidence that balanced teams make better decisions. And it makes us more representative of our clients (who may themselves be tackling similar challenges). 1.14.2 The igures don’t lie. While women form around 75% of our graduate intake, in 2013 they represented just 20% of our Partners. We knew that had to change.

1.14.3 Pinsent Masons formalised this objective into ‘Project Sky’ – an initiative dedicated to appointing more women into senior roles across the business.1.14.4 Through addressing issues such as career planning and transparency around promotion, agile working, maternity/paternity support and unconscious bias training, ‘Project Sky’ aims to level the playing ield for all staff. 1.14.5 We are committed members of the 30% Club and in 2013 set an initial target of 25% female partners by 2018, but actually reached the target in 2017 at which point we set a new target of 30% by 2020. 69% of those promoted to partner in 2017 were female.1.14.6 Our charitable work and our ‘30%’ commitment are just part of the story. We are dedicated to creating a truly diverse workforce which is relective of the communities in which we operate and the clients we work with.1.14.7 The irm has a Diversity Steering group who look after the strategy of the irm, taking account of the most signiicant interests of the day and working to represent and support the interests of all minority groups. They create, review and develop the irm’s strategy to ensure that we are working within Pinsent Masons and with our external partners to achieve a truly inclusive workforce.

We want to be a firm that makes a tangible contribution, making a real difference to peoples’ lives through education, employability and enterprise.

˝

Megan Herd, Solicitor, Aberdeen ofice

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LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER (LGBT) NETWORK

AIMS OF THE GROUP

The LGBT+ and Allies Network Group is open to anyone regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. We also recognise that colleagues who identify with more than one underrepresented group (LGBT colleagues who identify as BAME or disabled, for example) can face additional issues and our network groups are committed to working in collaboration to support all of our colleagues and to create a more inclusive workplace.

We promote greater understanding of the LGBT+ perspective on many issues including marriage and parenting.

The irm sponsors ‘DiversCity’, a programme for LGBT+ candidates interested in a career in commercial law. We get involved in the annual event and provide mentors for programme participants providing career guidance and advice.

We also hold regular internal events for our LGBT+ group and our Straight Allies. We recently participated in the Glasgow and Manchester Pride march.

We are currently the highest ranked law irm in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index in the UK and number two, overall.

MULTI-CULTURAL NETWORK

AIMS OF THE GROUP

The Multi-Cultural network sees colleagues sharing their experiences and networking to promote equality, break down barriers and represent the views of all our people, regardless of their cultural background.

We are involved in the Black Lawyers Directory Foundation’s (BLD) ‘Legal Launch Pad’ programme and run careers sessions for those on the programme. The mission of the BLD Foundation is to support young people from ethnic and/or socio-economically underprivileged backgrounds towards achieving their fullest potential.

Pinsent Masons are one of BLD Foundation’s partners and we sponsor their lagship ‘Legal Launch Pad’ programme.

Through our partnership with BLD we work with inner-city schools to provide guidance and support for young people from less privileged backgrounds to consider a wide range of opportunities in the legal industry. We talk to the pupils about their future plans and offer practical help with CVs and college applications.

We have our annual ‘Diversity Week’ in October each year and in 2017 will focus on Black History Month and Mental Health.

DISABILITY & WELLBEING

AIMS OF THE GROUP

The Disability & Wellbeing network group aims to support candidates with disabilities being recruited into the irm, as well as ensuring that any employee with a disability has suficient support from colleagues and the wider irm.

The group draw on individual experiences and success stories to break down barriersfor those considering joining the irmand work hard to make things easier foremployees with disabilities.

They also focus on health and wellbeing for all colleagues. The focus of this is an annual wellbeing week which focuses on a variety of subjects from mindfulness to mental health and physical wellbeing.

To support wellbeing, our colleagues also beneit from our partnership with Unum LifeWorks which is designed to work for all our colleagues – whether they’re trying to ind child care, manage personal inances, cope with family or personal issues, or just deal with the ups and downs of everyday life. Unum LifeWorks provides support and guidance on health, family, money, work as well as on personal wellbeing.

1.15 OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY th

FAMILY SUPPORT

AIMS OF THE GROUP

The Family Support network group promotes the interests of those with caring responsibilities, while being mindful and inclusive of modern family structures.We ensure that the irm’s policies meet the needs of working parents or carers, e.g. maternity, paternity or family leave.

We work with external partners such as ‘Working Families’ who help organisations develop an agile and lexible approach to work that maximizes engagement, well-being and ongoing high performance.

We also work with ‘CityMothers’ & ‘CityFathers’. These groups provide inclusive networks for City professionals who have a shared interest in balancing family life and a progressive career.

We have hosted a couple of ‘Bring Your Child to Work Day’ with Employees Matter. We hosted the children in our London ofice in 2016 and, more recently, Glasgow in February 2017. These events are always well received by the children (between the ages of seven and 13) who enjoy a fun-illed day learning about the world of work at Pinsent Masons.The group was recognised at the Apollo Project Awards for our ‘Supporting Modern Families’ initiative.

FEMALE FUTURES

AIMS OF THE GROUP

The aim of the Female Futures network group is to create a law irm which, as well as being a market-leader, is a place where women really can develop successful careers and have an enjoyable working life.

We focus on topics such as career progression and job satisfaction, and have already made progress through reciprocal mentoring arrangements, training on unconscious bias and inclusive leadership.

To celebrate International Women’s Day 2017, we hosted an ‘Inspiring Girls’ conference at our London ofice for 65 girls from our partner schools across the UK. We also hosted a webinar which saw world leading teen expert, Sarah Newton, speak on how to connect, engage and motivate young people. The webinar dealt with subjects such as ‘how to empower your daughter to be bright, brilliant and brave.’

We sponsored the ‘Be a Game Changer’ awards in May 2017 which recognises achievement in Women’s Sport. This was an opportunity to show the irm’s commitment to diversity groups such as Female Futures and to invite clients to show them our commitment to improving the inclusion and promotion of women in all areas of life.

MULTI-FAITH

AIMS OF THE GROUP

The aim of the Multi-Faith network group is to raise awareness of the different faiths being represented across the irm, promoting mutual appreciation and understanding.

We want colleagues to get involved to ensure we can represent our colleagues and their different views and perspectives.

We hosted a Diwali event which saw two speakers, Shaunaka Rishi Das, Director of Hindu Studies at Oxford University and Slinder Kaur, from our Birmingham ofice, sharing information on Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Light.

At our Easter event Andrew Brydon, from our London ofice, gave a talk about Easter and his role within the General Synod of the Church of England.

Libby Lane, (above), the Church of England’s irst female bishop, recently visited our Manchester ofice to deliver an inspirational speech about her faith and her role as Bishop.

This is Pinsent Masons, today pinsentmasons.com/graduate

thOUR COMMITMENT

We’ve been working with our charity partner, WE, to support a clean water project at a school in Verdara, Northern India.

In April 2017, several Pinsent Masons colleagues had the chance to visit the project and lend a helping hand.

Thankfully, things are changing for the better in Verdara. These projects only work by empowering the local community and its people.

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Richard Feller, Associate, Beijing ofice

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1.16 YOUR PATH TO QUALIFICATION

These are the experiences that will prepare you for a career in law. But don’t worry if you don’t have any legal experience yet, that’s what vacation placements are for…

Use this section to create a to-do list where there are

gaps in your experience. Here are some suggestions

to get you started…

NON-LEGALWORK EXPERIENCE

POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY HOBBIES/

INTERESTS

LEGAL WORKEXPERIENCE

ATTEND ALAW FAIR

Go online to see whatexperiences you have thatmatch the Pinsent Masons

Eight key capabilities (p.47)

1

PRE-UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY

1st YEARGAINCOMMERCIALAWARENESS

ATTENDAN INSIGHT EVENING

AIM FORTOP GRADES

LEARNABOUTFIRMS &WHAT THEY LOOK FOR

JOIN THELAW SOCIETY

PENULTIMATE/FINAL

GET ELECTEDTO ACOMMITTEE

APPLY FORA VACATION PLACEMENTOR TRAINING CONTRACT

VOTE

CONSIDERPOTENTIAL TRAINING CONTRACTLOCATIONS

SHORTLISTFIRMS FORAPPLICATION& ATTEND A PRESENTATION EVENING

2

ON BEING INVOLVED AT UNIVERSITY

Being president of my University Taekwondo Club provided me with a great opportunity to develop my leadership, communication and management skills.

ON DEVELOPING SKILLS OUTSIDE LAW

Some of the most useful skills I developed prior to my Training Contract were gained through experiences outside of the legal environment. For example, working in a bar taught me how to engage with a range of people, prioritise tasks and work as part of a team.

ON THE TRAINEE CONFERENCE

Honestly one of the best weeks of the Training Contract! It’s a great opportunity to get to know the rest of your trainee intake from the UK and the Middle East alongside the Professional Skills Course training and lots of fun activities tasks (and food).

ON LEGAL WORK EXPERIENCE

I worked at a couple of high street firms. Even though the work I was exposed to was very different to what Pinsent Masons do, it was still helpful as I became familiar with some of the terminology (which as a non-law graduate I had not been exposed to before) and I was able to evidence that I was sure corporate law was for me, therefore demonstrating my commitment.

ON CLIENT SECONDMENTS

Client secondments are an invaluable way of really applying your technical knowledge to deepen your understanding not only of the law but how to translate that into a meaningful solution for the client. I highly recommend going on a client secondment as a trainee if the opportunity arises.

ON JOINING THE LAW SOCIETY

Being a member of the law society helped me get to know people at many different stages of their career. Students in the years above could provide advice on applications, and the law society are also a key contact for introducing students to a variety of firms and vice versa.

ON ATTENDING LAW FAIRS

You can tell how much the trainees enjoy their work when you attend a law fair – it really gives you a taste of what your life as a trainee might be like. I actually dismissed a few firms based on the soulless gaze of their trainee reps at law fairs!

ON THE NQ PROCESS

I found the NQ process to be transparent and very well structured. I particularly liked the NQ Career Coaching Programme which really helped me in making decisions about my future career and prepared me for the NQ interview process. The interview process itself was well organised as was the communication of decisions thereafter. The NQ process is a very tense time for all involved but I felt supported throughout.

ON NON-LEGAL WORK EXPERIENCE

Non-legal work experience is just as important as legal work experience when it comes to making applications for vacation placements and training contracts in my view. Part-time jobs give you an insight into how a business works and can provide you with examples/scenarios to discuss in application forms and interviews.

ON BUILDING PERSONAL NETWORKS

At a firm like Pinsent Masons there are always opportunities to build your personal network, both within the firm and elsewhere. There are social events where you can get to know members of other departments, team away days and even the opportunity to run your own networking event!

1.17 ADVICE FOR THE JOURNEY

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1.16 YOUR PATH TO QUALIFICATION

These are the experiences that will prepare you for a career in law. But don’t worry if you don’t have any legal experience yet, that’s what vacation placements are for…

Use this section to create a to-do list where there are

gaps in your experience. Here are some suggestions

to get you started…

NON-LEGALWORK EXPERIENCE

POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY HOBBIES/

INTERESTS

LEGAL WORKEXPERIENCE

ATTEND ALAW FAIR

Go online to see whatexperiences you have thatmatch the Pinsent Masons

Eight key capabilities (p.47)

1

PRE-UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY

1st YEARGAINCOMMERCIALAWARENESS

ATTENDAN INSIGHT EVENING

AIM FORTOP GRADES

LEARNABOUTFIRMS &WHAT THEY LOOK FOR

JOIN THELAW SOCIETY

PENULTIMATE/FINAL

GET ELECTEDTO ACOMMITTEE

APPLY FORA VACATION PLACEMENTOR TRAINING CONTRACT

VOTE

CONSIDERPOTENTIAL TRAINING CONTRACTLOCATIONS

SHORTLISTFIRMS FORAPPLICATION& ATTEND A PRESENTATION EVENING

2

Although you need to remain flexible and react to business

needs, it doesn’t do any harm to start thinking about your

training contract goals.

4

START TO BUILD A NETWORK WITH OTHER FUTURE PINSENTMASONS TRAINEES

SHORTLIST WHERE TO STUDY & IDENTIFY SUITABLEMODULE CHOICES

LAW SCHOOL

3

TRAININGCONTRACT

USE THE VACATIONPERIOD TO IMPROVEYOUR SKILLSFURTHER

CONSIDER SECONDMENT OPPORTUNITIES

QUALIFY AND EXPERIENCE EVEN MORE OPPORTUNTITIES TO TAKE THE LAW INTO YOUR OWN HANDS

CONSIDER SECONDMENT OPPORTUNITIES & PREPARE FOR QUALIFICATION

SEATONE

SEATTWO

SEATTHREE

SEATFOUR

If qualifying in England, convertyour non-law degree via the

Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL).

Non-law graduates converting tolaw in Scotland can undertake the

accelerated Scots degree.

Other things to think about:

What Practice Group and sector might be my

preference once qualified?

Involving yourselfin Corporate

Responsibilityand sports

Becoming aRelationship

Trainee

There are a variety of things you can get involved in while you train, including:

Being a socialrepresentative

How will I stand out from the

crowd?

POST-TRAININGCONTRACT

SOLICITOR

Following completion of a training contract, newly qualified SOLICITORS choose an area of law in which to specialise (NQ process). During this time, they build a strong technical knowledge of that area of law, while assisting senior colleagues in transactions and starting to develop their own network of client contacts.

ASSOCIATES start to develop a particular specialism within their chosen area of law, being able to confidently advise clients and colleagues alike. There is also a focus on contributing to the wider firm initiatives, managing their own matters and establishing themselves within both internal and external networks.

SENIOR ASSOCIATES have developed sufficient practical and technical ability to allow them to be the key client contact on commercial transactions. They will also be involved in attracting new work to the firm, while also playing an active role in the coaching and development of other lawyers within the team.

The Legal Director role is available to individuals forwhom partnership is not currently available. It allows individuals to focus on specific areas but without having to take responsibility for them in the way in which a partner does. Partnership route remains available to Legal Directors.

Practice Development Lawyers actas trainers and educators of their colleagues as well as clients. It’s a core role that requires high-level legal knowledge and skills. The input of Practice Development Lawyers is integral to the running of a productive and successfulPractice Group and business.

Partners are ultimately the owners of the business and have individual and collective responsibility for stewardship of the firm: implementing strategy, promoting values, supervision of teams and management of individual transactions or cases. As well as remaining ‘on the tools’ for fee-earning work, partners have primary responsibility for bringing new business into the firm andfor developing existing client relationships.

5

ASSOCIATE

LEGALDIRECTOR

PARTNER

PRACTICE DEVELOPMENT

LAWYER

SENIOR ASSOCIATE

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SECTION 01 SUMMARY

1.3.1 It’s easy to think that commercial law irms are very much alike but to ind out what the key differences are, and why they are important to you, you have to scratch beneath the surface.

1.6 Pinsent Masons’ turnover is more than £410m, up 7.3% on the previous year.

1.7 The irms’ commitment to diversity clearly illustrated by being voted top ranked law irm in Stonewall’s ‘Workplace Equality Index’.

The Vacation Placement is a great way for you to experience life at the firm first hand. You will be welcomed into the business, and get a real taste of what it’s like to be a trainee at Pinsent Masons. We are looking for exceptional individuals who are driven, confident and commercially aware. It’s the best way for us to get to know each other.This is your Vacation Placement.

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Birmingham Vacation Placement students on a social evening

This is your Vacation Placement

THIS IS YOUR VACATION PLACEMENT

2. Our Vacation Placement is an exciting opportunity for you to ind out more about life at Pinsent Masons. Our placements happen during the summer months, and offer you a valuable insight into the culture of the irm and the work that we do.

2.1 The Placement2.1.1 Over the course of a number of weeks, you will be fully immersed in all aspects of working life. The placement offers you a structured programme of work-based learning, skills training and presentations, working alongside trainees and solicitors on live client matters.2.1.2 You’ll experience irst-hand what it’s like to be part of a team, and get the chance to make a great irst impression. To support you during your time at the irm, you’ll be paired with a trainee buddy who will be on hand to answer any questions you may have, before and during the placement. You will also be assigned to an experienced supervisor who will work closely with you throughout your placement, to ensure that you are participating in a wide range of matters.2.1.3 There will be lots of additional activities for you to take advantage of including a social event or two. These present a great opportunity for you to really understand the culture at Pinsent Masons, make friends and start building a network of contacts!

2.2 The route to a Training Contract 2.2.1 The facts speak for themselves. A good 70% of our trainees regularly join us after experiencing the working environment irst-hand over a Vacation Placement. It’s by far the best way for you to get to know us, and for us get to know you. 2.2.2 During your placement, you will undertake a series of assessments to be considered for a Training Contract. We take account of the results from these assessments, together with the departmental feedback we gather on your performance throughout the placement. This means that, if you are offered, we are conident that you are likely to be a successful commercial lawyer at our irm.

VACATION PLACEMENT SALARY

LONDON£350 per week

ENGLISH REGIONS£300 per week

SCOTLAND£300 per week

BELFAST£255 per week

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2.3 We could spend all day telling you how great our Vacation Placement is. However, we thought you would prefer to hear it directly from those who have spent some time with us...

I have seen first-hand that Pinsent Masons’ core value of being approachable isn’t just a word in a graduate recruitment brochure or on a website, but rather is a true representation of everyone in the team including the receptionists, graduate recruitment, paralegals and the partners.Alice, Birmingham

The people at Pinsent Masons are probably my favourite thing about the firm. It is no exaggeration to say that everybody I met was so friendly, welcoming, and keen to help me settle in as best they could.David, Edinburgh

The non-hierarchical structure within the firm made it easy to approach partners. Jamie-Jean, Aberdeen

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Anyone who spends time with Pinsent Masons, through a vacation scheme or otherwise, is in for an absolute treat. Matthew, London

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˝ ˝

All in all the application process has been an enjoyable experience, albeit challenging at times, and I would strongly recommend the firm to any aspiring lawyer!Fiona, Manchester

˝The Vacation Placement at Pinsent Masons was a great way to get a real feel for the firm and the types of tasks I could be expected to undertake if successful in obtaining a Training Contract. It has confirmed my aspiration to become a solicitor in a commercial firm, and I would certainly recommend the experience.Luke, London

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There is a real sense of camaraderie at the firm, as demonstrated by many after-work social events.Meghan, Edinburgh

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I was immediately given tasks by a variety of people in my department, ranging from my trainee buddy all the way up to partner. Alex, London

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Pinsent Masons is the perfect place to do a vacation scheme because you are supported throughout and surrounded by people who are more than happy to speak to you and answer any question you have.Caroline, Manchester

I loved every minute of it!Zoë, Edinburgh

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My team always took the time to explain what they were involved in so that I really felt like part of the team.Emma, Glasgow

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I very much enjoyed my time at Pinsent Masons and, if I take anything away from my experience, it will be that Approachable, Bold and Connected are pretty good values to live(and work)by.Mohammed, London

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Enjoying some lunchtime ping-pong

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I was pleased to discover, very soon after arriving for the scheme, that I was going to get real, interesting work to do.’

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David, Vacation Placement student, Edinburgh ofice

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Vacation students enjoying a bowling evening

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SECTION 02 SUMMARY

2.0 Our placements offer you a valuable insight into the work and culture of the irm.

2.1.1 You will be fully immersed in all aspects of working life at Pinsent Masons.

2.1.2 You will be supported by a trainee buddy and experienced supervisor.

2.2.2 You will be assessed for a Training Contract with the irm during your placement.

SECTION — 03

It’s your Training Contract – no one else’s. And we work with you to shape it. Your two year training consists of four separate seats. If there’s any particular sector or practice area you want to experience, you can have a say in making it happen. This is where you can build up your network of contacts, put yourself forward, and show us what you’re capable of. This is your Training Contract.

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THIS IS YOUR TRAINING CONTRACT

TRAINEE SALARIES

LONDONYear 1: £40,000Year 2: £43,000

ENGLISH REGIONSYear 1: £26,500Year 2: £29,750

SCOTLANDYear 1: £22,000Year 2: £24,500

BELFASTYear 1: £15,500 Year 2: £16,500

MIDDLE EASTYear 1: 213,994 AED Year 2: 230,054 AED

QUALIFIED SALARIES

LONDON£68,000

ENGLISH REGIONS£42,000

SCOTLAND£39,000

BELFAST£28,000

MIDDLE EAST385,000 AED

3. Your Training Contract will be an experience unique to you. We will work with you to put your stamp on it, incorporating your individual interests, ambitions and development needs. From the moment you accept our offer, we’ll stay connected and make sure you are as prepared as you can be for your irst two years of practice with us. If you join us with an open mind and are keen to get stuck in, who knows where you will be in a few years time.

3.1 Setting your direction3.1.1 Here’s the crucial point – not all training contracts are the same. The level of responsibility, client exposure, and personalised career guidance you receive is unique to Pinsent Masons. Our guiding principle is to treat you as a valued professional with an important contribution to make from day one.

3.2 Getting to know us3.2.1 Your training begins the moment you accept our offer. As there may be something of a gap between your acceptance and reaching your desk, we make sure the future’s never far from your thoughts through a series of events and supporting communications designed to keep us connected. If there’s anything you want to discuss, we’re always available and approachable. 3.2.2 For all trainees, the Training Contract itself begins with an induction at our London headquarters. It’s also the perfect chance for you to start getting to know the others in your intake. This is the beginning of building the business-wide network of contacts that will be fundamental to your career.3.2.3 When you irst meet your future colleagues, you might be surprised at the variety of people you are sharing the Training Contract with. As a irm with global reach, we believe that there’s strength in diversity. Whatever your background, if we believe you have the necessary talent, personality and ambition, that’s all that matters.

3.3 Setting you up for success3.3.1 After your ofice-based induction, your training continues with an off-site Trainee Conference, bringing together all of our new trainees. Involving a mix of skills, regulatory and ethical training courses, this ive-day residential course introduces you to the kind of intensive legal training that will feature throughout your career. The combination of daytime seminars and evening events provides a perfect environment for trainees to prepare for life in commercial law, while getting to know each other socially.Greg Dingwall, Associate, Glasgow ofice

This is your Training Contract

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This is your Training Contract

3.4 Your departmental seats3.4.1 At the beginning of each new seat, you will receive technical legal training relevant to the practice area. This is designed to introduce you to the law in practice in each new area from the off-set.3.4.2 Straight away you’ll be right at the centre of things – learning by watching, listening and doing, and being fully involved in any current matters. Along the way, there will be plenty of chances to take on interesting challenges and additional responsibility, allowing you to show what you’re made of.3.4.3 A bit of personal lexibility can make a big impact on how you are perceived by both colleagues and clients. We believe in giving you input into your four seats – but our client and business needs are also crucial factors in determining where seats can be offered. For example, a seat in your preferred practice area may not be available in your irst choice of location, and vice versa. That said, we always work with our trainees and the business to accommodate seat preferences where possible.

3.5 Secondments – now and in the future3.5.1 In your second year, you could spend time on secondment to one of our clients. Time in a client team – such as, BP, E-On or Heathrow Airport – immerses you in a different business environment, and equips you with irst-hand commercial insight into what clients want.

3.6 Complementary training3.6.1 From the moment you receive our offer right through to qualiication, our Graduate Recruitment & Development teams will support and guide you. This extends from arranging keeping in touch events, to providing regular one-to-one sessions during your Training Contract.3.6.2 As well as technical legal training, you’ll receive regular core skills and regulatory training designed to complement your day-to-day learning and prepare you fully for life after qualiication. Once you qualify, you’ll beneit from courses run by the Pinsent Masons Academy. These focus on developing your commercial, management and leadership skills, in areas such as business pitching, project and matter management, and enhancing commercial awareness. You will gain a breadth and depth of legal and commercial understanding that will equip you to take on a signiicant level of responsibility.3.6.3 It all adds up to a training environment that encourages you to seek out opportunities, ‘put your hand up’ and set both the course and pace of your own development. We’re looking for people who are self-assured, agile and welcome a challenge or two. We’ll give you the chance to build the career that you want – it’s up to you to take it. Trainees starting to build their networks at the residential Trainee Conference

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We believe in giving you a say in deciding your four seats. Just another way we enable you to take the law into your own hands during your Training Contract.

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The Trainee Conference brings everyone together and gives you an immediate feel for the firm’s values. None of my friends elsewhere had anything like it.

Katy DochertyTrainee Solicitor, Glasgow office

3.7 After you qualify3.7.1 Offering you a Training Contract shows we believe in you enough to invest in your career and personal development. Naturally, we want to retain as many trainees as possible. In recent qualiication rounds, we offered newly qualiied opportunities to over 74% of our trainees, and we’ve every conidence, given the quality of our graduates and our training, in aiming even higher.3.7.2 Every trainee we retain can look forward to quickly gaining experience of challenging, high-quality work, and many aspire to partnership with us. 3.7.3 Once you qualify, your horizons expand further. Undertaking a qualiied international secondment can open your eyes to different cultures and business perspectives. However, you don’t need to go overseas to experience international working, given that so much of our international work is project managed from the UK.3.7.4 So, where do you see yourself in ten years’ time? The best thing you can do is open yourself up to grasping the opportunities that come your way. That’s true from the moment you join us, and holds true throughout your career here.

3.8 Alternative career routes 3.8.1 Whatever the other attractions, no one goes into commercial law in search of an easy life. Complex and challenging client work and demanding deadlines – it’s all in a day’s work for your average lawyer, and a necessary step towards partnership. Partners are the managers and stakeholders in a law irm, and partnership was traditionally the aspiration of every lawyer as they set out on their career journey. We recognise that not everyone wants to make the kind of sacriices needed to become a Partner. These days, Pinsent Masons can offer you alternative routes that allow you to progress and pursue a rewarding and challenging career. For more information see the Path to Qualiication on pags 20-21.

3.9 Where to next?3.9.1 So, will there ever come a time when challenging work and pressure to deliver aren’t inextricably bound with the legal culture? In a nutshell, no – because to a large extent, that’s what makes the law such a dynamic and rewarding career choice. But with some empathy and a lot of clear-sighted business planning, we can continue to nurture a working culture that employs the very best people and allows them to fulil their potential.

3.10 We regularly hear from our trainees that they are genuinely delighted, not only by the collegiate working environment at Pinsent Masons, but by the level of responsibility they enjoy and the quality of the work they get involved with.

Pinsent Masons offers a supportive environment where supervisors take time to coach you and encourage you to challenge yourself.

I’ve had the opportunity to take responsibility for coordinating due diligence exercises, leading client conference calls and have worked on site within a client organisation. The firm offers excellent client exposure to junior lawyers.Tom, London office

I have been given a great deal of responsibility from day one of my first seat. I’m encouraged to have a high level of involvement in client projects, and have become a main point of contact for certain clients.

I am expected to provide input and be able to build relationships with high profile clients.

I have also been involved in various interesting and complex projects, and have been greatly supported by more senior members of the team, whilst being given a level of autonomy which has allowed me to develop the practical skills required of a qualified solicitor.Nicola, Glasgow office

I have been involved in three very large international deals during my two transactional seats where I have been given responsibility for managing the overseas counsel and overseas transaction documents for the deal. This has been a really interesting insight into transactional law in several jurisdictions (eleven in total so far and three different states in the US) and, even as a trainee, I have had senior members of the team suggest me to colleagues as a point of contact for queries about the process in these countries.Bella, Edinburgh office

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The transactions I have worked on in my seat have been huge – a £400m investment grade transaction among them – but the team still rely on you to maintain contact with the clients, over email and telephone, and to make sure that the transaction documents are running smoothly.Amjit, Birmingham office

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In both transactional seats I have completed, I have had a high level of responsibility, and sometimes sole responsibility (with supervision) for the negotiation of some of the key documents to the deal – you are trusted to maintain the list of documents going back and forth between the parties and to update the client directly on progress.Edward, Leeds office

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I am currently working on a £multi-billion (not a typo!) project which involves me attending client meetings regularly in the Manchester and London offices and at the client’s office. I liaise directly with the client regarding pieces of work I’m doing and am encouraged to have an input into meetings and discussions. It’s daunting but it’s made me much more confident of my own ability.Andrea, Manchester office

˝For me, Pinsent Masons stands out from other firms owing to the exciting levels of responsibility a trainee can expect to have. During my time in corporate, I was frequently carrying out the work typically done by a 2-3 PQE solicitor, and was regularly exposed to clients by way of telephone conferences and face-to-face meetings. Not only did I feel like a key member of the team, I was also trusted to give advice and draft key documents, which was really rewarding for a trainee.Thomas, Birmingham office

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After the claimant had contacted the matter partner, a team was quickly assembled. Time is very much of the essence in civil fraud work. The longer it takes to obtain the order, the more time the defendant has to potentially dissipate stolen assets, so the pressure was on from the word go.

There were several interesting elements to the case: offshore lawyers and private investigators were involved, with a criminal investigation running alongside our civil work. As well as my role in the document review team, I had sole responsibility for liaising with the private investigator. After several conversations, I drafted a witness statement in his name,

documenting the steps taken to try and locate the defendant and the assets. It was a great feeling to see my work being used as evidence in support of the application.

Despite the intense time pressures, I was fully supported by my supervisor and senior members of the team. I hadn’t drafted a witness statement in its entirety before, so they took the time to explain to me what was required, helped decide on the questions I needed to ask the investigator, and gave advice on the format of the statement and the important points to emphasise in support of our application.

After all our hard work, it was immensely satisfying to

successfully obtain the freezing order. The team ethic that developed under the pressure of that week was great, a real motivator, and I felt, as did all members of the team, that my work and input was really valued.

The time pressures of civil fraud work mean trainees will often be given tasks that are perhaps above their level of experience. But challenging yourself is a great way to learn. Through my involvement in this case, and the support and advice I was given, I felt totally conident in making the transition from trainee to qualiied solicitor.

BILL GEIRINGERSOLICITOR, LONDON

I realised early on in my Training Contract that dispute resolution was the area of law I wanted to specialise in. It was fast-paced, strategic, tactical; all the things that made me want to be a solicitor in the irst place. So, when I was taking my seat in the Litigation and Regulatory department, I jumped at the opportunity to assist the civil fraud team in an application for a worldwide asset freezing order.

Bill Geiringer, Solicitor, London ofice

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SECTION 03 SUMMARY

3.3.1 Your training begins with a ive-day residential Trainee Conference, followed by technical legal training from your Practice Group.

3.5.1 Secondments are an excellent learning opportunity. 15% of our second-year trainees undertake one.

3.7.1 Upwards of 74% of our trainees are retained, and your training continues beyond qualiication through the Pinsent Masons Academy.

An at-a-glance guide to making your application, whether towards a Vacation Placement or a Training Contract, and for both law and non-law students. It includes essential information on what we’re looking for, our timescales and processes. This is your application.

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SECTION — 04

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Belfast Vacation Placement student preparing for assessment centre

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THIS IS YOUR APPLICATION

4. This is where it really starts. The possibility of taking the law into your own hands begins with your application. As you have seen, there is no single route. What you do next depends on your undergraduate degree discipline, the jurisdiction you want to train in and when you expect to qualify.

4.1 This is what happens next4.1.1 Recruitment and selection is about an exchange of information; we want to learn more about you and you want to learn more about us. And, that’s what our processes are designed to do. We want to provide you with the opportunity to tell us all about who you are and what has shaped you into the person you are today. We provide detailed information about our selection tools ahead of any assessment centres to remove any barriers to your success. That way, we know you’ll give the best account of yourself and maximise your chances of success. 4.1.2 Over the next few pages you’ll discover exactly what we are looking for in our future colleagues, what your options are and how you go about making your application.

4.2 This is how to ind out more4.2.1 The next few pages tell you pretty much everything you need to know about making an application for a Vacation Placement or Training Contract but if you want to ind out more visit pinsentmasons.com/graduate. This will guide you stage-by-stage through the recruitment and assessment process for Vacation Placements and Training Contracts. Here, you can also ind details of our ofice locations and our people, campus events and answers to frequently-asked questions, or, alternatively, you can connect to us through social media.

We want to provide you with the opportunity to tell us all about who you are and what has shaped you into the person you are today.

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4.3 THIS IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We believe in being as transparent as possible when it comes to our recruitment. Set out below are the key skills and abilities we are looking for in our Vacation Placement students and Trainee Solicitors; our eight core capabilities. These relect the qualities that our clients demand from our lawyers, so you can be conident that, if you are successful in securing a training contract with us, you possess the qualities needed to progress at the irm.

Detail-conscious Takes care of details

• Is able to tolerate and absorb large amounts of written detail

• Can stick to it when reading reference material

• Writes error-free English

• Enjoys spotting when things are wrong

Commercially InterestedInterested in how ‘commerce’ works

• Takes an interest on how business works

• Has an everyday understanding of how the law can help commercial clients

• Demonstrates enthusiasm for thinking about business issues

Sociable Gets on well with a wide range of people

• Is personable and friendly

• Is comfortable meeting new people

• Seeks to engage people in conversation

• Communicates clearly and positively

• Mixes with people from any age, race, gender, occupation, level of seniority, etc.

Organised Manages tasks effectively

• Thinks about and plans how to use the time they have available

• Prioritises conlicting demands

• Monitors their own progress against objectives

• Is conscientious about meeting deadlines

Conident Makes a positive impact

• Appears self-conident

• Is prepared to express an independent view

• Takes charge; assumes positions of responsibility

• Is unconcerned about asking for help if they need it

• Can defend themselves in an argument

• Can sell ideas and concepts

Intellectually Capable Thinks a lot about what they do

• Appears to think quickly on their feet

• Has good analytical and research skills

• Tries out different ideas when solving problems

• Thinks about the implications of what they are doing

• Looks for opportunities to learn new things

• Wants to know how other people think

Driven Wants to do as well as they can

• Diligent; works hard to achieve goals

• Prepared to go the extra mile to get things done

• Shows energy and enthusiasm

• Reviews what they learn from experience

• Wants to improve the standard of what they do

Self-directed Takes responsibility for themselves

• Has thought about what they want from a career

• Takes on responsibility when they can

• Accepts responsibility when things go wrong

• Makes others feel conident in their competence

• Knows their limitations as well as their strengths

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Outside Crown Place, London ofice

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This is your application

4.4 SELECTION PROCESS

SUMMER VACATION PLACEMENT

TRAINING CONTRACT

PSYCHOMETRICTEST & INTERVIEW

ASSESSMENT CENTRE

INTERVIEW

TRAININGCONTRACT OFFER

PSYCHOMETRIC TEST

PRESENTATION

WRITTEN EXERCISE

PRACTICE GROUP FEEDBACK

WRITTEN EXERCISE, PRESENTATION& FURTHER INTERVIEW

ONLINEAPPLICATION

Training Contracts From September 2017 we will be accepting applications for Training Contracts commencing in 2020 in England and Scotland and 2018 in our Belfast ofice.

• Deadline for applications: England and Scotland 27 July 2018. Assessment centres typically take place in August for England and September for Scotland.

• Deadline for applications: Belfast ofice 16 November 2017. Assessment centres typically take place in December/January.

Vacation PlacementsFrom September 2017 we will be accepting applications online for summer Vacation Placements in 2018. These

are designed for candidates looking to commence a Training Contract in September 2020 (or September 2019 in Belfast). Please see the Pinsent Masons website for closing dates in different jurisdictions.

For further information, please visit our careers website: pinsentmasons.com/graduate

Insight events You can learn much more about Pinsent Masons, our opportunities and our culture by attending one of our campus events or insight events. See the graduate website for details of an event near you.

4.5 DETAILS

Our minimum requirements*• 300+ UCAS points at A-level or equivalent

(excluding Critical Thinking and General Studies)• A strong 2:1 degree.• Achievement of the relevant qualiications in

the jurisdiction you wish to qualify into, namely:

EnglandYou do not need to have studied an undergraduate Law degree to practice law in England. However, non-law graduates will need to complete the one-year Graduate Diploma in Law before undertaking the Legal Practice Course. You must achieve a Commendation or above in both these courses.

ScotlandScottish applicants must have a qualifying Scots Law degree in order to apply for a traineeship, and have completed the Diploma in Legal Practice (PEAT1) before commencing their Training Contract.

Northern IrelandCandidates applying in Northern Ireland must have secured a place at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies before commencing their Training Contract.

Alternatively, the Belfast ofice is also registered to accept students who have completed the one-year Legal Practice Course and will accept applications for a Training Contract from candidates following this route.

SponsorshipIf you are successful in securing a Training Contract at the irm, but still need to complete either the GDL and/or LPC; PEAT1 in Scotland; or the IPLS in Northern Ireland, we will cover the cost of your tuition and provide a competitive maintenance award to help with living expenses.

We do not pay fees retrospectively.

* If you fail to meet our minimum requirements butstill feel you can demonstrate all eight of our corecapabilities, then please contact us to discuss this, prior to making an application. Additionally, if you require any adjustments during the application or interview process, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected]

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This is your application

On the contrary, I was given great opportunities to develop, and they worked with me to ensure that all of my four seats would be in Glasgow, to tie in with childcare commitments. I also appreciated the effort that the irm made to incorporate lexible and agile working practices, e.g. working from home when required. This is a working practice which still features heavily in my working week almost ten years down the line.

Although equality is far from being a settled issue in the industry, it helps that there are excellent role models and policies within this irm, making inroads and setting examples of how to achieve a balance. In my experience, Pinsent Masons is notably forward-thinking in the way it looks for solutions and lexible working practices. I qualiied into the Projects group in Glasgow in 2010. I’m based in the Construction and Engineering team, with a focus on commercial development work,

acting for developers, contractors and funders. The work I carry out on a day to day basis has proven to be both varied and challenging. It’s always a particular challenge to maintain a work/life balance, however the irm does lend its assistance wherever possible to achieve this. Ultimately, I’m grateful for the faith the irm has shown in me – unfortunately, I doubt there are many places where I’d have been given the same opportunities at that time.

JENNIFER OLIVERASSOCIATE, GLASGOW

I started my traineeship with the irm in 2008, when my eldest son was almost two years old. Balancing motherhood with the demands of a traineeship was dificult (in fact, very dificult at times...), but I never got a sense that Graduate Development, (or even the irm as a whole), viewed my young family as an obstacle.

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Jennifer Oliver, Associate, Glasgow ofice

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4.1.1 Our application process gives you the opportunity to tell us about who you are and what has shaped you into the person you are today.

4.3 We are transparent when it comes to what we are looking for. We have eight core capabilities that we look for in our Vacation Placement students and Trainee Solicitors.

4.4 Visit pinsentmasons.com/graduate to access our online application form.

SECTION 04 SUMMARY

As we said right at the start of this brochure – page 7: 1.4.1 – the question you should be asking yourself at this stage of your career is a very straightforward one:

‘is Pinsent Masons, which wants me to think commercially, seize opportunities and get involved, the right firm for me and am I ready for the challenge?’

Having read through this brochure you’ll have seen that there are a few things to take into consideration when answering that question, namely:

• do Pinsent Masons’ values align with my own?

• can I see myself contributing to a fast-growing and ambitious international commercial law irm?

• do the opportunities on offer appeal to me?

• do I possess the skills and competences Pinsent Masons is looking for?

The bottom line is – we are a market-leading irm who are on a journey of continued growth, development and success and we want you to be part of that current and future success.

So, if you like what you’ve seen so far, we’d like to hear from you.

Go on, take the law into your own hands.

OVER TO YOU

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If you would like to take the law into your own hands with a career at Pinsent Masons, then here are the ways you can get in touch with us.

Phone: +44 (0)207 418 7000Email: [email protected]

facebook.com/PMgrad @PMgrads@pm_grads

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CONTACTS

Pinsent Masons LLP is a limited liability partnership, registered in England and Wales (registered number: OC333653) authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the appropriate jurisdictions in which it operates. The word ‘partner’, used in relation to the LLP, refers to a member or an employee or consultant of the LLP, or any irm or equivalent standing. A list of the members of the LLP, and of those non-members who are designated as partners, is available for inspection at our registered ofice: 30 Crown Place, London, EC2A 4ES, United Kingdom.

© Pinsent Masons 2017

For a full list of the jurisdictions where we operate, see www.pinsentmasons.com.

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