Why did you choose Ropes & Gray to start your legal career? 

The first time I came across Ropes & Gray was when the firm did a presentation at my university. It impressed me that they started by giving an overview of the London legal market in a very accessible and engaging way and then explained where Ropes & Gray fits into that picture, as well as the global market more generally. They then told us about the firm’s practice areas and its innovative projects and initiatives with examples given by both a partner and a trainee. In short, they didn’t just say it is a fantastic firm––they showed us why this is the case. After that, I was set on applying and was thrilled to make it through the recruitment stages all the way to a training contract offer.

The decisive factor for me was my vacation scheme experience at the firm. Apart from attending great networking events, workshops and training sessions, I was given exposure to a wide variety of interesting work within the practice group I sat in (tax), including ‘live’ client matters. Everyone I interacted and worked with at the scheme was extremely approachable, ensuring that I felt welcome and that I could reach out to any of them anytime. Once I received the offer, therefore, it was not a difficult decision!

How did you find the recruitment and selection process?

The firm’s recruitment team made very clear from the outset what would be required at each stage of the process and all the relevant deadlines to be aware of, which meant that I could prepare for each stage with confidence and knew what to expect. I was struck by the sheer variety of assessments which, combined, tested a wide range of competencies and skills, showing that the firm is searching for a holistic view of each applicant. This should hopefully be reassuring for anyone wishing to apply, in that it does not all come down to how well you do in any one assessment. You will be given many chances to shine and highlight your strengths.

I particularly enjoyed the interviews. The firm runs a ‘CV-blind’ interviewing process, which means that the interviewers do not have any background on the applicant and everyone is asked the same questions. This ensures that interviews are fair and consistent across the board. Another great advantage of this system is that each applicant can choose which aspects they would like to highlight from their own background.

How would you describe the firm’s culture?

During my time as an applicant, Ropes & Gray was repeatedly described to me as an especially friendly firm with an ‘open-door policy’, and I have found this to be absolutely true. I remember how, already at the assessment day, everyone went out of their way to make us feel at ease—they all clearly understood the pressure on applicants in that situation and did all they could to make the day enjoyable and enriching for us. This was a very good indicator of the firm’s famously collaborative and convivial ethos, which continued to shine through during my vacation scheme and now my training contract as well. Whether you are a vacation scheme student or a trainee, people at the firm are there to support your learning and always encourage you to ask questions, no matter how small or basic any question may seem.

Tell us about a memorable matter you’ve worked on.

In my first seat (in asset management), I assisted with a large secondary sale of a private equity portfolio. The team entrusted me with great levels of responsibility, giving me direct exposure to the deal and an opportunity to learn on the job early on. I was actively liaising with buyers and GPs and negotiating multiple transfer agreements, as well as assisting the lead associate with overall transaction management. 

This was also a fantastic example of the intra-office collaboration that occurs within an international firm, as around half of the deal team was based in several of the firm’s US offices. Although intense and fast-paced, the deal was extremely streamlined and well-coordinated, and made me appreciate the value of real teamwork and effective matter management, and how that affects the entire team positively (even across several time zones). Finally getting it across the line was very rewarding and a testament to the firm’s high quality of work and excellent working culture. 

Tell us about a pro bono matter you’ve worked on.

I was recently part of a team tasked with producing a memo on wildlife trafficking law enforcement. As the country we were researching was predominantly French-speaking, I was initially onboarded to use my language skills to read, analyse and translate wildlife trafficking judgments written in French for the team. However, I then also got to draft a significant portion on the memo itself as a result and coordinated with the team to finalize the draft for the client. As the rest of the team was all US-based, this was also a great opportunity to get direct exposure to US colleagues and learn from different perspectives and working practices that develop across different offices and teams.  

What tips would you give a potential applicant?

1. Think about your own unique experiences (whether academic, hobby- or volunteering-related or any others) and how they demonstrate the skills that are relevant to being a good lawyer.
2. Try to develop your commercial awareness consistently over time by engaging with the news or listening to news-related podcasts. Even a few minutes a day can go a long way!
3. Get to know the firm: I always found it best to talk to people from a firm to gain an insight into its work and culture, so make the most out of any opportunities to engage with Ropes & Gray directly. Attend law fairs and check to see when the firm’s next event dates are on the website—there will be many presentations and skills sessions being run both at the office and at universities throughout the recruitment window.