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5 minutes with future trainee, Chris Collins Adams

Q. What University did you attend?

I previously attended the University of Warwick, and have just finished a year with the University of Law in London.

Q. What subject are you studying?

Having previously studied Law at undergraduate level, I have just completed my LPC MSc.

Q. When do you join as a trainee?

I start this September (2017)

Q. How did you hear about Shearman & Sterling?

I first came across Shearman and Sterling during my undergraduate degree. The firm was hard to miss – not only did they often have a presence at university events such as the Warwick law fair, but the firm was also prominently featured on various graduate job websites.

Q. What made you apply?

I decided to apply to Shearman for several reasons. For me, one of the most important considerations was finding a firm that would recognise the needs of its staff. Because the legal profession can be a highly demanding career, I believe it is essential that a firm does what it can to ensure that its staff are fully supported and have opportunities to unwind and recharge. Regularly topping the lists for work-life balance put together by sites like RollOnFriday, it was clear that Shearman made a concerted effort to provide this sort of support to its employees.

Further, Shearman offered opportunity – the firm had regularly been involved in some of the most high-profile work happening at the time of my application, with a particularly accomplished Project Development and Finance practice that I found enticing. Combined with significant secondment opportunities, it was clear that the firm could offer me experiences rivalling even its most prominent competitors.

Q. How did you approach the initial application form?

I actually went through several rounds of applications during university (don’t give up!) and in that time my approach to applications shifted significantly. It’s particularly tempting when you first begin the daunting process of seeking a training contract to play the numbers game, using the same generic answers to apply to dozens of firms and changing only the firm’s name each time.

What I quickly learned is that, with such applications, the devil is in the detail and that applications must be approached with quality above quantity. By bearing this in mind you can greatly increase the chances that your application will stand out among thousands of others. In this vein, I made sure to tailor every answer to the achievements and values of the firm, and made use of every last word by drawing on recent awards and high value deals to explain why I believed Shearman could be the firm for me.

Q. What made Shearman & Sterling different to other firms?

During university, I found myself trying to find a ‘happy medium’ between the high profile work of the magic circle and the culture and work-life balance of a mid-sized firm. As a global US based firm, Shearman is involved in some of the most exciting work from around the world, providing the professional opportunities I was looking for.

At the same time, because the firm is not headquartered in the UK, its London office was slightly smaller than firms of a similar prestige, and so offered a more intimate and supportive office culture. This also means that intakes are smaller than at some London firms and, as a result, trainees receive greater responsibility and exposure to clients than they might otherwise have had within larger intakes.

Q. Did you do a Vacation Scheme and if so, what did you learn/enjoy?

I originally applied directly to the training contract intake for 2018, but was lucky enough to be offered a place on that summer’s vacation scheme. This was positive in itself, as the assessments were then spread across the two week period instead of taking place on a single assessment day.

It was also a fantastic opportunity to meet people at the firm and get a feel for the atmosphere of the London office. I particularly enjoyed the social events organised throughout the two week scheme. These were not only fun in themselves but, because trainees and associates would often join us, were also excellent opportunities to find out what they really thought about life at Shearman.

Most of all, the vacation scheme felt inclusive. We were invited to firm wide briefings on recent developments (particularly insightful when beginning your vacation scheme three days after the EU referendum result) and even got an invite to the firm’s summer party. I felt like I was truly getting a taste of what life at the firm would be like, rather than merely sitting on the side-lines looking on.

Q. What made you accept?

I accepted my place at Shearman and Sterling because it offered everything I was looking for from a firm. I had found that I had greatly enjoyed my time at Shearman, gotten on well with everyone there, and felt in tune with the firm’s general culture. In addition, the firm was able to offer me early intake, starting my LPC two months later, which suited me perfectly. Perhaps most importantly of all, however, it was hard to resist the draw of those notorious Shearman and Sterling cookies (trust me, they’re amazing).

Q. What advice would you give to others who are interested in Shearman & Sterling?

Do your research! Naturally, I think Shearman and Sterling is a fantastic firm, but what suits me won’t suit everyone. Knowing why you want to apply to Shearman and Sterling is essential to writing a good application. That you’re here reading this blog is a good sign, but don’t stop there! Look through the firm’s news feed, social media and publications. Look at where it places alongside other firms for the issues and practice areas you most care about. And most importantly, once you know that Shearman and Sterling is for you, apply all that information to your application and interview! Conveying that interest in the firm is how you can make yourself stand out from the crowd.

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