Emily Rutter (Trainee Solicitor through the Solicitor Apprenticeship Route)
Tell us a bit about your background: what was your university background, when did you join Ashurst Perkins Coie?
I am in my final year of my LLB in Law with the University of Law as part of the Solicitor Apprentice route to qualification. I joined APC in September 2022 as a Solicitor Apprentice in Global Markets sitting primarily within the DCM sub-group of the practice.
Why did you choose Ashurst Perkins Coie?
I choose APC because they have been a leading firm for the Solicitor Apprenticeship for several years. At the time, apprenticeships were still fairly new to the legal industry so, I was looking for a firm that had a degree of experience with the programme and knew how to balance the demands of working in a top 20 global law firm with study and qualification as a Solicitor.
What is the most interesting piece of work you have been involved to date? (Maybe only mention the tasks you did rather than the actual matter)
I have worked on a variety of DCM matters, the most interesting of which I would say is the update of a U.S. Commercial Paper program. A U.S. commercial paper is a type of security issued by large corporations to obtain funds to meet short-term debt obligations. In this case, the securities were being offered to U.S. investors. The reason I found this project particularly interesting is because I was given crucial responsibility to manage and progress the transaction from instruction right the way through to signing. This involved co-ordinating with the client, the Agent, and legal teams in other jurisdictions (including New York, France and Belgium) to effectively manage the update and bring the transaction to a smooth close.
What are your top 3 tips for someone wanting to go into commercial law?
Be inquisitive – never be afraid to ask questions (even if they may seem silly). Lawyers are often extremely busy and occasionally overlook the importance of providing background and context to a transaction. For me personally, this is an essential part of my learning and development, and I will always ask why I am being instructed to complete a task, as this enables me to gain a better overall understanding of the work I am completing. This also applies to any interviews – asking questions shows an interest in the company and a desire to learn!
Challenge yourself – one skill I am continuing to develop is the ability to place myself in challenging situations and adapt my work style to overcome those challenges. Frequently placing yourself in challenging situations will provide you with a crucial set of skills to be able to face any situation you may encounter in your professional career head-on.
Be friendly – working in commercial law will involve teamwork across a variety of different levels. From my own experience and observation, I have found the trainees who make the best impression and perform the best in a team are those who are extremely friendly and super approachable to colleagues across all levels, whether that be fellow trainees, apprentices, assistants, floor managers, etc.
What does a typical workday look like?
My workday varies daily but typically consists of a lot of emails, drafting and legal research tasks and a variety of discrete tasks as part of wider transactions.
What is the single most important thing you have learned so far as a trainee?
Utilise everyone – being a trainee can be extremely overwhelming particularly if you end up in a transactional seat like Global Markets, where the deadlines are extremely tight and transactions are super fast-paced. Do not be afraid to rely on anyone and everyone to help you through the tricky times, especially your trainee cohort.
.webp)
