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Jordan Simpson, from Edinburgh – Trainee
I’ve wanted to study and practice law for as long as I can remember, although I’m not entirely sure where the idea came from. Thankfully, my experience at Edinburgh University was everything I had expected. Now I’m thoroughly enjoying the, once daunting, ‘real world’.
My main academic interests at university were in corporate and commercial law and by the end of my third year I was looking for some practical experience. It was with that in mind that I first ventured into DM's Edinburgh office for a summer placement interview. Unlike most such interviews, there were no tricky (or absurd!) HR questions to dodge around and it was clear that this informal process was geared at getting to know me more than anything else. This was pleasantly surprising at the time but, within the first few days of my placement, I noticed the atmosphere around the office and it became clear why character is so important. The mood is relaxed and sociable and everyone is very approachable and willing to help.
Having completed my first seat in the firm’s Banking Department and now in my second seat dealing primarily with private company acquisitions, I can testify that this help comes in handy pretty quickly. And so much for trainees being general dogsbodies – I’d only just recovered from the many welcoming events before being plunged into a number of transactions involving a range of corporate and business clients.
A few months later and, with time to reflect, I've realised just how important it is to be fully involved as an integral part of the team. Not only does it make time in the office enjoyable but, from a personal development perspective, I can only attribute the vast amount I have learned so far to a high quality legal experience with some first-rate lawyers.
If you considered certain university courses slightly irrelevant for your intended career path, you will appreciate the first year training programme at DM. It takes the form of one focused seminar-style session per week which provides a solid foundation in most of the work in which the firm specialises. Add to this, partnership-wide training sessions and the weekly bulletin (an informal discussion of topical legal and commercial articles), and the combination of formal learning and practical exposure begins to make professional advancement look straightforward.
Guaranteed experience in the firm’s London office is the icing on the cake - particularly as both accommodation and a generous living allowance are provided. "City of London" training is not even up for consideration at most Scottish firms, let alone guaranteeing a seat there, and I think the experience should provide me with a very well rounded traineeship.
This is starting to sound like a lot of work and no play and, in the interests of honesty, I ought to set that straight. From black tie dinners, golf days and barbecues to touch rugby, five-a-side football and post-work drinks, the social calendar is pretty comprehensive. As for the urban myths surrounding the hours involved, these really are myths. That's not to say that an occasional late night will never be required. There's a good chance one or two will, but these are generally by exception and it's pretty easy to strike a good work/life balance.
