Meet Anton - Trainee Solicitor

I am a Trainee Solicitor at Travers Smith, currently sat in the Competition department. This is my third seat, having joined the firm in March 2024. I have completed rotations in the Tax department and in Private Equity & Financial Sponsors. My fourth and final seat will be in Employment. 

When I was applying for training contracts, Travers Smith stood out to me because of its friendly culture and high-quality work. The firm helps trainees to develop excellent technical knowledge whilst being part of an ambitious group of people driven by a strong sense of collegiality. I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to participate in one of the firm's vacation schemes. After my vacation scheme, I was convinced Travers was where I wanted to start my career. 

The typical workday differs from one department to another. My personal preference is to get a morning workout in before heading to the office, and to start work between 9:00 and 9:30. Finishing times really depend on workload at any given point, but I would say that on average trainees finish between 18:30 and 19:30. Given the nature of our work, longer evenings are sometimes required, but hard work is always recognised and trainees are encouraged to maintain a work-life balance. 

One of the best things about being a trainee is that you get to experience various departments. This gives you numerous opportunities to build solid foundational skills and ramp up your knowledge about several areas of the law. It also means you get to meet many people in a short period of time and cultivate relationships across the firm. As a (future) trainee, it is helpful to be mindful of the inevitable fact that every department has its unique practice area and team culture. In order to get the most out of your training contract, it is therefore crucial to have a flexible mindset and a willingness to get stuck in. Often, the only way to gain an accurate understanding of a department is to spend time working in it, and it is common for trainees to qualify into a department they had not initially considered. So, my advice would be to keep an open mind and enjoy every experience. 

My top tips for graduates interested in applying to Travers is to spend time researching the firm. This will allow you to submit an application that reflects a genuine interest in Travers Smith (both its culture and its work). Applicants should also seek to demonstrate how their experience (regardless of whether it is of a legal nature or not) has sparked their enthusiasm for a career in a City law firm, and how it has equipped them with the skills and drive to succeed. 

As a trainee at Travers Smith, you will be involved in top-level transactional, advisory and contentious work. During my time at the firm, I have had the opportunity to work on cross-border M&A transactions, to help lawyers advise on the most complex regulatory issues, and to contribute to the preparation of an appeal to the Court of Justice of the European Union. The firm's full service offering allows trainees to build a broad skillset and to gain knowledge of a wide variety of practice areas. Its teams are supportive and care about the development of their trainees. And, just as importantly, there is a strong sense of cohesion and friendship among trainees as well. These factors have made my training contract an experience I would recommend to any graduate interested in a career in the City.