Walk us through a specific day on the scheme – what were you working on, who with and what did you contribute?

During my first week in Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP’s finance department, I was assigned a task by a partner to compare a letter of intent against a sale and purchase agreement, ensuring the agreed commercial terms had been accurately reflected. I later met with the partner to talk through my work, which gave me the opportunity to ask for feedback.

I was also asked to assist another partner by reviewing contractual provisions relating to equity rights and preference shares. Alongside this, I attended practice area talks and a client meeting, meaning priorities changed throughout the day. Busy days like that reinforced the importance of staying organised and making the most of my Microsoft Teams calendar!

How did the office environment shape your experience of the scheme?

There was a real open culture at Morgan Lewis and I found that if a trainee, associate or partner had their door open, they were always happy to have a chat or answer any questions. You'd often go in with a law-related question and leave talking about the World Cup, holiday plans or something completely different! I had coffee chats with lawyers from different teams, who all took a genuine interest in my experience and were always happy to offer advice.

The social events also helped everyone get to know each other outside of work. It’s a hard-working environment, yet it still feels friendly and down-to-earth, which made the scheme thoroughly enjoyable.

Did your attendance on the scheme support your application for a training contract?

Absolutely. Reading about a firm online and actually being there are two completely different things. Being immersed in the high-value work while also being part of such a friendly and lively office, reaffirmed that Morgan Lewis was somewhere I could genuinely see myself training.

The vacation scheme also really helped me during my training contract interview as I could talk about my experiences and had a much better understanding of how different practice areas work together. I was fortunate enough to receive a training contract offer at the end of the scheme and seeing the level of responsibility trainees were given made accepting it a very easy decision.

How did the scheme help you to understand how the firm operates as a business?

I saw how closely different practice areas work together, rather than operating in isolation. For example, the trainee in the finance department also floated across to structured finance to help support that team, which showed me how interconnected the practice areas are. I also saw crossover between aviation finance and aviation litigation, highlighting how different teams collaborate to deliver the best outcome for clients.

I hadn't realised how closely Morgan Lewis' international offices work together either, with many teams regularly collaborating with colleagues in offices such as Kazakhstan and France. Another thing that stood out during the practice area talks was how often lawyers spoke about work being referred between teams. It helped me understand what being a full-service firm really means, with clients able to access expertise across different practice areas in one place as their needs evolve.

What approach to networking worked best for you during the scheme?

Prior to the scheme, I read a lot of advice about cold emailing people in the firm to meet for coffee chats. I approached networking slightly differently. When I met people in passing or was introduced to someone by my trainee buddy, I’d follow up on those brief interactions with an email. As you’ve already met that person, it feels more natural to ask to get to know them and their work better. From there, I’d go for chats in the office and grab coffees.

In addition, I was advised by trainees and partners alike to simply walk around the corridors, knock on doors and say hello. That way, I managed to meet a lot of people from different areas of Morgan Lewis.