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WORK PLACEMENT PROFILES
At Jones Day, we strive to make our work placements a truly representative experience of what it's like to be a trainee at Jones Day and how our training system works. You will receive work from trainees, associates, and partners and you'll be encouraged to introduce yourself to lawyers in the Firm with a view to experiencing particular kinds of work that you think you might enjoy.
In case that sounds a little daunting, on this page you can find the profiles of some of those who have attended our work placements and find out how they found the experience.
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Jamie
Lumsden
Nottingham,
Politics
The main reason that I have chosen to pursue a career as a city lawyer is because of the variety of work that a solicitor encounters throughout his working day – there is always a challenge to overcome.
For me the Jones Day placement scheme was a resounding success as it was a microcosm of the unique training contract and helped to clarify in my mind that I was suited to the non-rotational system. On the first morning of our placement after meeting our trainee contacts we were all placed in our own offices, given a layout of the building and left to our own devices (from my understanding exactly the same as if we were starting our training contracts). We were dropped in the deep end, a very daunting experience for anyone, let alone someone on a nonlaw degree course. However, once you get over the shock of your situation and dive in, it is nowhere near as scary as it first seems. The main reason for this is the firm’s open door policy, whereby everyone is expecting trainees (and in our case placement students) to come in and ask for work. Even on my placement I managed to work in a variety of departments, ranging from litigation to property. Amongst the highlights was a trip with one partner and trainee to a barrister’s chambers for a meeting on a large litigation case, and the numerous activities that were organised for us, including a property negotiation. Whilst on the scheme I also managed to work for a variety of different people, ranging from trainees to partners, all of whom were approachable and helpful and would more than likely be seen in the pub after work.
From my experience on the placement scheme it seems to me that Jones Day is the type of firm that works hard but also plays hard, and that this ethos runs right the way through the firm from the partners down. Compared to the other vacation schemes I did this gave me a far better insight into the law, the training contract and the firm than any of the others. This combined with the uniquely social atmosphere made me think that Jones Day was the right place for me, and after my placement left me with the feeling that I would be incredibly disappointed not to receive an offer – thankfully I did.
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Jessica
Billington
Manchester,
English
At a series of sleek presentations City lawyers regaled me with tales of exciting, rewarding careers. I joined crowds of students at law fairs full of firms promising high profile clients and a global reach. Sifting through a stack of glossy brochures revealed a general consensus that a career in law was dynamic, varied and challenging. Now I wanted to experience the reality of life as a City lawyer for myself. Deciding to take part in a placement scheme was easy; deciding where to apply was proving more difficult.
Jones Day’s presentation provided the answer. Instead of lengthy speeches by partners and PowerPoint montages of international locations, Jones Day took the refreshing approach of answering questions and sharing experience. I was convinced that Jones Day would provide what I wanted; a placement scheme that offered a genuine insight into life as a trainee lawyer.
Rather than the endless lectures, workshops and training exercises that characterise the placement schemes of so many firms, Jones Day encourages students to adopt the role of trainees. This meant finding work by introducing myself to partners and associates. Initially this was daunting, but the open, friendly atmosphere soon put me at ease. The absence of overt rank-distinction at Jones Day meant that often I didn’t even know whether I was talking to a partner or a trainee and everyone I spoke to was equally approachable. Even those who couldn’t give me work were happy to sit and chat and all conveyed an appealing and infectious enthusiasm.
My work included attending client meetings, drafting letters and conducting legal research. I also helped organise bundles to send to clients. Whilst less exciting than the other work I undertook, this gave me an honest and complete picture of the role of a trainee and was much preferable to being given contrived tasks simply to keep me occupied. Being a nonlaw student was no problem; everyone I did work for took time to place what I was doing in context, so I knew how my work would be used and felt I was making a valued contribution to the firm.
My placement scheme included social events ranging from ice skating to organised dinners and concluded with the infamous Jones Day Christmas Pantomime where our acting ‘skills’ were put to the test. As a nonlaw student, the scheme was a great opportunity to meet other students planning a legal career. The placement scheme confirmed my first impression of Jones Day as a firm with an inclusive, honest and dynamic approach. As a future trainee I’ve had a welcome opportunity to enjoy the pantomime from the relatively relaxed perspective of an audience member. Despite knowing that I’ll have to get back on the stage, training at Jones Day is definitely something to look forward to.
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Julia
Hamilton
Manchester,
Law
The prospect of being involved in large and often complex deals in a dynamic and ever-competitive environment meant there was never any doubt that pursuing a career as a City lawyer was the path for me. I have always been attracted to the idea of a career where no two days are the same and the range of work one is able to be involved in is diverse and challenging. The question was, where would I like to follow such a career?
I was initially drawn to Jones Day following their presentation at my university. I was struck by the down-to-earth and friendly nature of the Firm's lawyers and the importance they placed on looking for personable individuals. Also, the unique opportunity offered by Jones Day to experience a non-rotational system was one I was keen to take up. Not knowing what area of law I wish to specialise in, I was attracted to the idea of not having to limit the areas I could experience by being tied to a set number of seats.
In treating the placement students like trainees, the Firm gave me a real feel for what it would be like to work for Jones Day. The expectation that you are to go and find your own work from the practices you are interested in means you quickly gain a sense of personal responsibility. Although the prospect of knocking on doors to find work may sound daunting, there is no doubt that such a process actually made me feel more relaxed. Faces became familiar quickly as the system leads to meeting a lot of people. I chose work from many different practices ranging from corporate to intellectual property, real estate, and pensions. It was important for me to be able to work on top-calibre cases in a large global firm, yet be in a personal working environment. Jones Day certainly offers the best of both worlds in this respect.
Everyone was exceptionally friendly during office hours and social events and there is certainly a mentality of work hard, play hard. The fact the partners joined us on our night out just reinforced the inclusive nonhierarchal culture at Jones Day. I now can’t wait to begin my time as a trainee with Jones Day.
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Lisa
Allenden
London School of Economics,
Law
The decision to become a City lawyer has been my biggest decision to date and one which involved careful planning and consideration. Admittedly, it is the challenging and dynamic nature of commercial law which appeals to me most, but it is not the only reason for choosing a legal career. I enjoy liaising with professional people and building client relationships, and I believe that frequent exposure to cross-border work, excellent global opportunities, and good promotional prospects will significantly enhance the value of my career.
I decided to secure a placement scheme so I could appreciate the differences between theoretical law and "real life" law and ultimately make sure a legal career really was for me. I was attracted to the Jones Day scheme because I knew that I would gain a realistic insight into life at the Firm and be given real, good quality work from lawyers at all levels. Having completed a Magic Circle placement, I was keen to experience the intimacy of a medium-sized law firm in London, but one with a strong global presence. I was impressed by the straightforward application process and surprised to discover that I wasn’t treated as a number when invited for an interview.
The scheme lived up to all expectations and was well-structured providing a good balance of workshops – which ranged from talks about the LPC to a negotiation skills session – individual work time and social time to reward us for our hard work! The social highlight was dinner with fellow students, trainees, and partners. During the scheme, everyone was encouraged to move around the firm and get to know as many people as possible (a great source of advice). You are assigned a trainee member and associate mentor to give help and support with any queries or problems.
I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing the non-rotational training system. I could see that giving early responsibility to trainees not only breeds independent, well-rounded lawyers, but contributes to the confident and friendly atmosphere at Jones Day. The training style is ideal for those who are confident enough to knock on doors to get work and who possess good organisation and time management skills because you control your workload (which is carefully monitored through your "work diary"). I found it rewarding to get repeat work after producing work to a high standard and, unlike any of my other placements, I was actually given constructive feedback on all of my work. The open door policy really made me feel at ease and, in the end, the prospect of working with such friendly, down-to-earth and driven people ensured my immediate acceptance of their training contract offer!
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Mark
Edwards
St Andrews,
International Relations
I was open minded about career opportunities at university but once I applied for a placement scheme with Jones Day to explore legal opportunities, I never looked back!
During the placement scheme, I really enjoyed being entrusted with the responsibility for completing various tasks in a flexible environment where I was able to exercise control over my learning and development. The scheme itself offers an honest appreciation of the non-rotational training system and is, therefore, realistic in terms of the necessity of personal responsibility. I had my own office and had to proactively knock on doors to get work, just like the trainees! Everyone was keen to talk and help, which highlighted the absence of a distinguishable hierarchy. Ultimately, the non-rotational system would be impractical without features such as the open door policy and the collegial culture that typifies Jones Day.
I received a great variety of work including preparatory litigation work for an international fraud case, an intellectual property contractual review, and a property lease review. My most stressful time came on a mad five hour dash around London attempting to finalise signatures for powers of appointments! I also had the opportunity to accompany a trainee to a pro bono evening, which served as an effective contrast to the high flying life in the City!
The social events were memorable in themselves, but they also highlighted the down-to-earth nature of the employees. You certainly get looked after during the social evenings, which provide an excellent opportunity to meet the lawyers - especially the ones who had not received a knock on the door asking for work! I left the scheme with a great impression of Jones Day, and it was such a great feeling when I received the offer of a training contract for 2009. Roll on September 2009!
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Will
Needham
Nottingham,
Law
Choosing where to undertake a placement is daunting to say the least and indeed the alternatives are vast. Determining the particular ambience, ethos, and size of a firm is difficult, and that is where Jones Day stood out. Research highlighted that they were a medium-sized firm with huge growth potential in the UK, as well as having a global presence, a unique training system, and a refreshing work environment.
The much talked about non-rotational training system is mirrored on the placement. There are no pretences, no attempts to artificially win over affection; the Firm's culture, people, and depth of work illustrate that. From the outset you are encouraged to knock on people's doors and send e-mails asking for work.
The type of work undertaken by the Firm is diverse, and you will get a good insight into what goes on in a commercial law firm. My workload varied from looking into the intellectual property rights of a major client to researching the legal meaning of the words 'related to', which is surprisingly more complex than you'd think! The scheme itself is broken up with, among other things, a series of workshops on negotiation skills, recruitment, human rights, and presentation skills. Moreover, there are a number of lunches, dinners, and drinks that give you an insight into the culture of the Firm.
A comforting item on the schedule is a mid-scheme debrief. This gives you an opportunity to express any concerns and give feedback on your experience to date. The scheme is similar to the idea of the training contract, in that although you are given a great deal of independence, there is a support network behind you to point you in the right direction.
The reality of working at the Firm lives up to the strong and unique image it portrays. There is a system of meritocracy, opinions are encouraged, and determined people flourish.
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We are no longer accepting applications for training contracts starting in September 2010 and March 2011.
We will be accepting applications for training contracts starting in September 2011 and March 2012 from November 1st 2008.
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