When you join Linklaters as an associate, you will be based in a practice area in which you wish to specialize. Of course, what you want to do must fit with the business needs of the Firm and the office in which you are based when you start, but most new associates get their first choice of practice area. When choosing your specialty, it's advisable to opt for the kind of law you most enjoy, because that's what you'll be best at.
During the first two or three years of practice as an associate, you will build your technical and legal skills, and you will develop a broader understanding of the context in which clients operate. Linklaters offers formal training programs at all stages of an associate's career, though we think that the hands-on experience you gain is the best teacher. As you become more experienced, around the fourth and fifth years, you will be given more opportunities to learn management skills and show your leadership abilities. As a senior associate, you will routinely be involved in the most difficult legal problems, but you will also have additional responsibilities from the management of client relationships to financial control.
While Linklaters does not “rotate” U.S. practice associates, associates in good standing can and do transfer from one practice area to another if they find that their initial placement is not the best place for them, subject of course to the needs of the Firm. In addition, U.S. associates are sometimes asked to “firefight”, i.e. to rotate into another office or practice group for a period of weeks or months to assist a busy department or to help out on a large deal, which is an additional way to broaden one's experience of the Firm and its practice.
Partnership track varies on an individual basis, but associates in the U.S. practice are generally eligible to become a partner about 8 years after starting as a first-year associate. Partnership is a great responsibility: as well as being a respected lawyer, you will be an owner of the business, involved in the strategic direction and development of the Firm. However, we do not see “making partner” as the gold ring after which your development as a lawyer ends. Our partners are expected to, and do, continue learning to be better lawyers, leaders, managers, and contributors to the Firm and their communities.
Joining Linklaters is itself a significant achievement. It means we believe that you have the potential to become a partner with the Firm. But we also recognize that there are plenty of people who have the qualities required, but who choose to take a different path in their careers. Training and practicing with Linklaters opens up all kinds of opportunities in the legal profession. We are proud to have many alumni among our clients, as we are to have others achieving great success in other fields of law.