Linklaters

About the firm

What’s the magic word? You might have been told when you were younger that it was ‘please’, but Chambers Student is here to put you right: it’s ‘Linklaters’. Our interviewees agreed that Links has conjured up a winning formula of “complex and high-level work” and a “warm and welcoming” atmosphere, with a healthy dose of international exposure: although the firm’s roots are British, Links boasts 29 offices overseas, from Shanghai to São Paulo.

It won’t come as a surprise, then, that “the international element was huge” in winning over prospective trainees, who pointed out proudly that “not many law firms have as many offices around the world as us.”

“…being somewhere where everything is top-tier was really appealing.”

With the Magic Circle label come high standards, and Links certainly delivers across the board; our interviewees felt that “being somewhere where everything is top-tier was really appealing.” And our colleagues over at Chambers UK can confirm that calibre, awarding the firm more than 50 rankings in practices like capital markets, data protection & information law, energy & natural resources, financial services, corporate finance, corporate M&A, environment & climate change, and restructuring & insolvency (among others!). But striving for excellence doesn’t mean any sacrifices are made when it comes to culture: trainees are quick to highlight that they’ve found everyone at Links to be “super friendly.”  

Why trainees joined the firm

Sterling reputation

Linklaters’ prestige precedes it, and the firm’s “really good reputation” was a big plus for our insiders, who were keen to play their part in “market-leading teams.”

Full-service offering

The fact that the firm is “equally strong across different practice areas” was a major draw for our sources, who noted that “they talk about being a full-service firm and they really are!”

Top marks for training

“Training is really prioritised,” one interviewee gushed, with another agreeing that the firm “puts in a lot of effort to give you detailed training in each seat.”

Trainee satisfaction rankings

Training contract structure

Seat allocation

Trainees are required to rank seat choices in order of preference and provide a short statement explaining why they’ve chosen each seat. The firm then runs choices through an AI system called RUTH, and the results are reviewed by the trainee development team. In general, trainees were fans of RUTH as it meant selection was “not affected by relationships or soft facts.” Sources were also keen to emphasise that the trainee development team try their best to ensure trainees get their top choice at least once. There is also an obligation for trainees to sit within one of the firm’s larger groups.

Client secondments

The firm offers client secondments across a range of different practices including litigation, corporate, banking, and financial regulation. Clients span various industries including finance and investment, oil and gas, social media, and sports. Juniors can apply to be seconded by submitting a form ranking their preferences from 1 to 6 and completing a written statement outlining their reasons for wanting to be seconded.

International secondments

With 29 overseas offices, there’s no shortage of international secondment opportunities on offer. Frankfurt, Madrid, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sydney, and Melbourne are all possible destinations.

Seat Experiences

Trainee life

Culture and environment

Data from our annual trainee survey

“I find everything about the culture at the firm really positive,” led one trainee. Across the board, there was a feeling that everyone at Links is “very welcoming and accommodating”; our interviewees described how “everyone is genuinely friendly,” and felt that “it’s not like everyone is strangers and just cares about work. There’s a sense that people want to be around each other and know each other.” As one trainee put it, “I look forward to coming into work and seeing people in the office!”

The office itself received rave reviews: Linklaters’ brand-new “very snazzy” London HQ, a stone’s throw from Moorgate station (and an M&S!), is a “massive upgrade compared to the old building,” trainees felt, boasting “lots of natural light,” a gym, and a café on the terrace. The mix between open-plan desks and offices means that the space feels “a lot more collaborative and interactive,” with interviewees noting that “a lot of people prefer to sit open-plan, as it’s a bit more social.”

“I look forward to coming into work!”

A theme running through our interviews was seniors taking the time to help out trainees with new concepts and tasks; our sources explained that everyone at the firm is “really open and willing to explain things,” with one insider sharing that “I feel very comfortable walking into a partner’s office and asking them a question.” On the social side, trainees felt that there is “definitely a focus on making new people come together and like each other,” with plenty of department-specific events such as weekly drinks.

Each trainee cohort has a trainee social rep with a budget to plan activities, helping everyone “stay connected and catch up with each other.” Our sources also explained that the firm makes an effort to be inclusive, with non-alcoholic drinks options at events, and no pressure to attend if trainees have other commitments.

Working patterns

Data from our annual trainee survey

The Magic Circle’s top-tier status is inevitably linked with a reputation for long hours, and Linklaters is no exception: “realistically, no-one is going to be leaving at 6pm,” one insider admitted. The quantity of hours varies between teams, with TMTIP being “fairly steady, not crazy busy,” but trainees in corporate and banking reported a number of midnight finishes. Nevertheless, one interviewee commented that “I don’t think it’s been as intense for me as some people make out.”

Helpfully, seniors are quick to check in on newbies when their hours are hitting the high end, and our interviewees assured us that there’s a supportive environment among the trainees too: “when you see someone in the office before you leave, you check in and see if you can offer any help.” Links asks its trainees to be in the office four days a week, with most people working from home on Fridays.

Pay

Data provided by firm and our annual trainee survey

Trainees felt that their salaries were “pretty fair,” with one noting that “we’re heading towards a big jump once we’re qualified, so I don’t think we should complain too much.” Another added that “I look at my peers in different jobs and I’m one of the best-compensated” but acknowledged that “that comes with the long hours!”

Supervision and training

Data from our annual trainee survey

Trainees sit with their supervisors (or ‘principals’, as they’re called at Links). Our interviewees spoke positively about their relationships with their principals, with one sharing that “I never felt like they were constantly assessing me. We were both working together to make sure I was learning as much as I could.”

Our sources shared that the number of check-ins “differs per supervisor,” with some preferring weekly catch-ups and others feeling that “you chat enough day-to-day that you’re already caught up!” Mid-seat reviews are held “about two months in, which is really good because you get that feedback early on,” as well as end-seat reviews for a more formal style of appraisal.

There’s a big emphasis on the ‘training’ aspect of the training contract, which begins with a two-week induction that is “great for understanding what the firm is about and its values,” as well as providing a great environment to get to know fellow trainees. Our insiders felt that the induction was “a nice way to get used to the firm and not feel thrown in the deep end.”

Once trainees are in the swing of things, training sessions tend to vary between teams, with three full days dedicated to trainingin the first week of corporate before a switch to a more on-the-job style, but a “more staggered” approach in banking.

Inclusion

“Everybody is encouraged to get involved” when it comes to diversity and inclusion, our interviewees highlighted. As well as team-level sessions focusing on inclusivity, our insiders noted that “there’s always something going on in the firm from different cultures,” with “constant” events and talks run by Links’s various networks, which are “really informative.” These groups include a family and carers network, a gender equality network, and a social mobility network. Trainees also explained that “if you want to set something up, you’re more than welcome to.”

Pro bono & CSR

There are “plenty of opportunities” to get involved in pro bono at Links, with a mix of long-term and ad hoc options from which trainees can “pick and choose.” Firm-wide emails are often sent around to advertise new openings that are available for anyone to pick up, as well as team-level emails to check if people have capacity for department-specific pro bono work.

Opportunities include:

• Researching and drafting projects advancing rule-of-law initiatives, including support for death penalty cases eligible for resentencing following legal reforms.

• Advancing access to justice through representation of individuals who cannot otherwise access legal advice, including support for individuals making asylum applications.

Qualification

Informal conversations about qualification happen throughout the training contract, which our insiders felt was “quite nice because you know where you stand” even before the process kicks off. During the two-week qualification period, final discussions are had with the partners in each team, and trainees then submit their preferences and are told whether there’s a spot for them. Our interviewees felt that Links aims to make the process “as transparent as possible,” and were pleased that this “gives you a little bit more peace of mind in what can be a stressful process.”

For any (Link)later finishes…

Trainees burning the midnight oil can order themselves a Deliveroo or Uber Eats, as well as a taxi home after 9pm, all courtesy of the firm.