Career directions
After qualifying, you will join one of the practice areas you
worked in as a trainee. This is a big decision because it sets a
course for your career. There has to be a fit between what you want
to do and the business needs of the firm but, when choosing your
speciality, you should choose the kind of law you most enjoy doing,
because that's what you'll be best at. It's easier to do this at
Linklaters than some other law firms because we have such strong
teams in all disciplines.
During the first two or three years of practice as an associate,
you will build your technical and legal skills, but you will also
develop a broader understanding of the context in which clients
operate. Four years after qualification, you become eligible for
promotion to Managing Associate. Throughout your time, you'll enjoy
an environment based on reward, recognition and advancement on
merit, and will become progressively more engaged in running the
firm. You will be routinely involved in the most difficult legal
problems, but you will also begin to develop leadership skills,
from the management of client relationships through to financial
control.
You can be considered for partnership any time from six years
after qualification. Partnership is a big job: as well as being a
top lawyer, you will be an owner of the business, responsible for
the strategic direction and development of the firm as well as your
practice. Few people who make partner see it as an end in itself.
Those who have the necessary drive and talent are also the kind of
people who will keep pushing to learn new things and achieve more
in their subsequent career. But partnership is only one end goal.
Yours may be different or may become different in years to come.
And that's fine too.
Being selected for a training contract or vacation scheme with
Linklaters is a significant achievement. It means that we think you
have the potential to become a great lawyer with the firm. Of
course, not everyone will make it to partner level: you need
exceptional talent and drive to make it to the top. What's more,
there are plenty of people who have that drive and talent, but
choose at some point to do something else with their careers. The
important thing is that training and practising with Linklaters
opens up all kinds of opportunities in the legal and business
world. It can be a terrific stepping-stone on to other walks of
life and careers and is a powerful name to have on your CV – we are
proud to have many ex-colleagues among our clients.