Choosing the right law firm to start your
career with is definitely one of the most
important decisions you'll make; and it's no
walk in the park either. When I started making
applications, I thought that if I attended all
the campus events, read all the statistics,
and researched firms thoroughly, the right
choice for me would become apparent. But
in reality, there's so much more to it than that.
It's not just about the stats and the publicity
a firm can get - lots of places can offer you
that. It was only when I looked past all that -
particularly the intangible quality of how the
firm felt - that I realised Mayer Brown was
the right choice.
First of all, Mayer Brown is really going
from strength to strength. The firm has an
infectious feeling of ambition about it at the
moment and I feel lucky to have joined at this
time so that I too can be a part of that. Having
recently merged with Hong Kong-based
Johnson Stokes & Master, the firm has added
seven offices to its repertoire across China
and Southeast Asia. Further bases around the
globe see the firm with a significant presence
in South America, Europe, and the States,
taking the lawyer count to 1,800. This is
very much part of the feel of the firm at the
moment and was a big attraction for me when
applying.
To support this, the firm provides an everincreasing
range of international seat choices
for trainees. I'm still torn between sampling the
exotic life and applying for a seat at the Hong
Kong office, or jumping into the commercial
world by joining the in-house legal team at
one of the firm's many blue-chip clients. The
selection of client secondments is particularly
broad and also highly recommended by
trainees as a great experience.
The fact that Mayer Brown offer this, shows
that they want to nurture the best new lawyers,
and I think it's testament to how openly the
firm align the everyday to the overall strategic
vision. The firm's ambition is reinforced by the
supportive learning atmosphere - they invest
in their trainees through language classes,
quarterly appraisals and social events to get
trainees networking within the business.
Something which also made Mayer Brown
stand out for me is how much the firm prides
itself on its diversity. This is no buzzword for
the firm - my peers, supervisors and colleagues
truly come from all walks of life and it is
refreshing to see a firm embracing that. Even
in their recruitment Mayer Brown is one of
the few top law firms that really unearths the
best talent in non-traditional places; such as
non-Russell Group universities and in those
embarking on a second career. It makes for
an environment which is not only all-inclusive
and intellectually stimulating, but also downto-
earth and friendly. This was something
which came across during my interviews and
the Vacation Scheme and it was a big factor in
my decision to join.
Mayer Brown spearheaded an LPC course at a
new college, Nottingham Law at Kaplan Law
School, with brand-new facilities in London
Bridge. The location right next to Borough
Market is fantastic and the smaller class
sizes really contribute towards more tailored
learning. The college provides funding for
sports activities and other societies and it also
has strong links with the firm's well supported
Pro Bono unit.
Mayer Brown has been in the press recently
for its upcoming move to a new location on
201 Bishopsgate. The move is set to happen
in early 2009, and I think it marks a significant
time for the firm. With its ambitious plans for
expansion, its forward-thinking approach to
its people and its atmosphere of continuous
development, I think Mayer Brown has
stepped up and taken its place as a forerunner
within the City's top employers - and I'm
very pleased to be a part of that.
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