Stacey Jeffreys Second-year trainee

Why did you choose Shearman & Sterling?

I was initially attracted to Shearman & Sterling as the firm can offer trainees exposure to the same type of work as the large international UK firms, but with a more hands-on experience as the teams are relatively small here.

The summer scheme I attended at Shearman & Sterling was a really great way to learn more about the firm, the work and the role of a trainee in the London office, and it really helped decide that Shearman & Sterling would be a good fit for me. I also really liked the people I met during my placement, and you cannot underestimate how important that is, given the amount of time you may sometimes have to spend together in the office!

What do you think about the culture of the Firm?

Although, everyone is very hard-working, the culture of the firm is pretty laid back in comparison to other City firms I have spent time in. The people here are friendly and outgoing, and there really is an open-door policy, which makes you feel welcome from the moment you arrive at the firm.

What was your first week with the firm like?

As with any new job, the first week was pretty daunting. We were given a thorough induction which included talks on the various practice groups and what was expected of us as trainees. However, there was an impetus on getting us to meet as many people across the London office as possible, and this was really helpful in terms of settling in.

What are you most looking forward to in your future with Shearman & Sterling?

At the moment, I am looking forward to reaching the next hurdle and qualifying as a solicitor! There is always room for improvement and another challenge waiting around the corner in this job, so I am eager to see what the future brings for me here.

What has been the highlight of your training contract so far?

One of the highlights of my training contract so far has been securing a settlement payment in an employment tribunal dispute for an individual who we were representing on a pro-bono basis. I was working on the case for several months before we finally managed to settle, and it was extremely rewarding to achieve an outcome our client was very happy with.

What advice would you give to someone looking for a training contract?

Do your research. I attended several law fairs, did a mini-pupillage and secured work placements in regional as well as other City firms in order to gather as much information as possible about what type of law firm I wanted to train in. It can not be underestimated how helpful it is to experience a variety of work placements to decide what is best for you. Summer schemes and open days are a fantastic way of testing out a firm and the career of a solicitor. Getting experience early on will ensure you make the right decision about where to train and hopefully qualify!