Meet Thomas a second seat trainee at Clifford Chance

What is your role, when did you join the firm?

My name is Thomas So and I am currently a second-seat trainee, having completed my first rotation in the structured and asset backed real estate team (SABRE). I joined the firm in August 2023, after securing a Training Contract through the SPARK scheme in my undergraduate degree.

What inspired you to apply to Clifford Chance?

Naturally, I applied to Clifford Chance because of its reputation as a leading global law firm that provides me with a new challenge every day and allows me to be a part of a global community that delivers legal advice and client services that are second to none.

However, what set it apart from many City law firms with similar professional offerings was its commitment to providing an inclusive environment for its employees. The culture at the firm is founded on respect and collaboration, and I was struck by just how friendly and welcoming Clifford Chance employees were whenever I engaged with them at career events. This really left a lasting impression on me throughout the application process.

I was also very impressed with the firm's social credentials. The firm offers a wealth of pro bono and community engagement programmes, through which I am now able to contribute to causes I care deeply about.

Finally, the firm has shown it is willing to support all its employees regardless of background and perspectives. In my personal experience, the firm has been extremely accommodating with my accessibility requirements, maintaining an open dialogue about how they can make the workplace suited for my needs.

What does a typical work day look like?

From my experience, it is difficult to define a 'typical' work day, especially given the broad range of practice areas and team dynamics. My previous experience in a transactional seat usually involved a constant stream of stimulating work throughout most of the day, that required me to juggle many responsibilities and deadlines.

At the start of each seat, every team will provide thorough training for your practice area, so it's a constant process of learning and development both through formal training as well as on-the-job experience.

Peppered throughout will also be numerous internal and external events, which are great opportunities for you to go and meet your peers and other colleagues, be it through casual meet-ups or team building activities.

Overall, your experience will never truly stay the same throughout, and staying nimble on your feet is definitely the way to make sure you can make the most of your time in each seat.

What are your working hours like? Link to The Real Contract

The work can definitely get tough at times. This is due to the complex and fast-moving nature of the work, which can change pace at any stage of a deal. It's important that we are flexible and available to respond to changing needs promptly and meet client expectations. Thankfully, the firm's hybrid working policy helps with taking the edge off the longer hours and gives me the flexibility to avoid having to go into the office for an early morning call after a late night, we're really trusted to manage our own time in that regard and get the job done! Additionally, in transactional seats the level of busyness will depend on market conditions, and during calmer seasons you may find yourself with more opportunities to make personal plans during the week, this can be difficult during the busier periods, and that's the reality of being a trainee at an elite global law firm.

What is the single most important thing you have learned so far as a trainee?

I'd say that would be effective communication. Being transparent about your capacity for work and whether you're feeling overloaded is one of the most important things a trainee can do. Trusting your team to support you is the most effective way to get the work done, and this can only be made possible if your supervisor and other team members have a clear picture of everyone's status. Sometimes, it might be too much for one person to do everything, and knowing when extra support is needed is a core part of transaction management. A common encouragement for trainees is to 'speak up', people might not know you already have your hands full and give you more work to do! But in the same breath, it's not meant to be easy and being a trainee at Clifford Chance will challenge you in different ways, every day.

What are your top tips for someone applying to Clifford Chance?

It's important to remember that there is no single template for a 'Clifford Chance lawyer'. Everyone here has something unique they bring to the table, and the firm is a true melting pot of different personalities and working styles. Being yourself in the application process is very important, as genuine passion and interest will make a far better impression than half-memorised pre-prepared lines about things you aren't actually interested in, but think is required as a 'Clifford Chance lawyer'.

Of course, for a job like this, you will be expected to be commercially aware. This boils down to staying up-to-date with what's going on and critically thinking about it, be it through reading the news or listening to podcasts etc. This will allow you to draw connections between what's happening around the world and how this may affect Clifford Chance and its clients. It is also generally useful to look at publications on firms' websites to get a grasp of what they are paying attention to.

Finally, overcoming adversity is a normal part of the process, and you may face setbacks along your journey. In these moments, it is crucial to keep the bigger picture in mind, and not hyperfocus on past mistakes. Instead, maintaining a positive mentality and treating everything as a learning opportunity to better yourself will do wonders for your progression.