Getting the best start.

Neill Hanlon joined Linklaters in 1998. When he decided to move to pastures new, he was a senior managing associate. He's currently working in the in-house legal department at Morgan Stanley as a vice president.

What to think about.

I think it's important to bear in mind that your career is likely to be anything up to 30 or 40 years long and the first steps you take really will stay with you all of that time. Getting the right start is vital. Quality training at a firm whose name is respected throughout the legal market and the City will keep doors open. And that's just one of the many reasons I chose Linklaters.

All the right experience.

I was looking for a firm that could offer me the most opportunities to be involved in the 'big ticket' deals and Linklaters offered both Finance and Corporate in strength. I knew that if I was to ever get a senior role at another global organisation, I'd need experience of the most challenging and complex transactions – and Linklaters certainly gave me that. I can think of very few firms that could have equalled it.

Looking to the future.

In my opinion, unless you know exactly where you want to work for the rest of your legal career, you would be better having the recognised training of a law firm than an in-house legal training. Even if you end up in a non-legal role, your legal training will always be valuable. I'm certain that my training at Linklaters only ever enhanced my prospects. When I began my career, I was always told that law was a great training ground for a career in the City. Today, I couldn't agree more.