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Alex Blake, from Blairgowrie – Trainee
During my third year of university at Edinburgh I did a vacation scheme with a 'magic circle' law firm in London. The experience convinced me that I wanted to be a corporate lawyer but I wasn't sure that I wanted to be one of over one hundred trainees in an intake, or spend half of my traineeship in departments in which I had no interest, such as property or litigation.
This was in my mind when I attended the DM drinks reception at the start of my fourth year and was very impressed by the people I met. The reputation of the firm, together with the prospect of spending a minimum of six months in the firm's London office doing real 'City of London' training, convinced me that I wanted to work for DM.
After completing a straightforward application form, I had a relatively informal interview with two partners who were much more concerned with making sure that I would fit in at DM rather than trying to catch me out with tricky HR questions. And I was delighted when I was subsequently offered a traineeship.
A few months before I started work, the firm organised a dinner so that I could meet the rest of the trainees and I was immediately made to feel part of the team. The second-year trainees proved to be incredibly helpful during my first few months and I soon discovered that the assistants and partners were also very approachable.
The firm provides weekly seminars for first year trainees and these have furthered my understanding of corporate transactions and the relevant areas of law. However, the best training I have received has been from my practical experience.
Although it is a corporate traineeship, in my first seat I was involved in a wide variety of work including tax, banking, employment and private company secretarial work. I am now in my second seat and have already worked on a private equity transaction and a public company takeover.
I am looking forward to spending six months in the London office, where I hope to gain that 'City' experience. It is great not having to worry about finding a place to live in London as the firm provides a (free!) flat to live in with the trainees I have got to know so well over the last year.
Of course, the nature of transactional work is such that I do have to work late on occasion, but there is no culture of putting in 'face-time' and my work/life balance is excellent. I regularly play five-a-side football and touch rugby for DM. And there are also lots of other social events, from go-karting to black tie dinners. It is far from all work and no play!
