Meet Bryan who joined from a non-law background

Tell us a bit about your background: what was your university background, when did you join the firm?

I studied modern history at London University and was a Clifford Chance summer intern in 1991. I completed the Law Conversion Course at Bournemouth University and studied for the Law Society Finals in London. I joined Clifford Chance as a trainee in September 1993.

Why did you choose CC?

In 1990, when I was an intern at a smaller City law firm, one of the partners suggested I look at doing an internship at this new law firm called Clifford Chance. He said he thought my interest in working abroad for part of my career would be more achievable at a firm like Clifford Chance. So I applied and was lucky enough to given a place on their Summer Scheme.

In those days, the summer interns spent a month in the office and had two weeks in two practice areas. Clifford Chance was still a young firm with infectious energy and was quite different from what I was expecting. The CC culture was already very evident. I was keen to be a part of it.

What is the most interesting piece of work you have been involved in to date?

I did manage to work abroad and spent 12 years in Hong Kong and was over there during the Financial Crisis in 2008. The first few weeks after the collapse of Lehman were very busy and we were dealing with a number of clients across Asia who had been dealing with Lehman as a counterparty, as investors in their structured products or had assets with them in custody or as collateral. We were very busy dealing with many different and new problems. It was incredibly absorbing and challenging.

Do you think you are at a disadvantage coming from a non-law background?

When I started, I was very conscious that I had not taken the typical route to becoming a lawyer but very quickly the work experience, the training and the guidance of colleagues settled those concerns and you realise you have access to the expertise to deal with the client matters. Whether you are studying a non-law degree or considering a career change, there's definitely a place for you at Clifford Chance and many of our trainees and fee-earners studied a non-law undergraduate degree.

What are your top 3 tips for someone wanting to go into the law field?

Show a genuine interest in your target firms' existing clients and the factors affecting them. Understanding what matters to the firm will help you align your priorities with theirs. Likewise, law firms do not operate in isolation from what is going on in the world. Pay attention to the political world and the financial markets. This may well help in any interview and will be invaluable throughout your career

Though it is great to show your interest in the law and law firms, we are also a people business. Use your years before joining any law firm to work in areas where you will meet customers, have responsibilities and develop some experience and confidence in dealing with clients.