“When you join Linklaters, you become part of a top class global law firm. We have a strong ambition to be the best, so we only take on people we believe have the potential to be amongst the top lawyers in the world - and then we invest in them to help them develop.
“Associates can expect to be exposed from the beginning to a mixture of practical experience, informal coaching, specialized training and support from more senior lawyers. Just as we believe in giving people early responsibility for client work, we expect them to take an active part in their own development, and so you will find that you make many judgments about what you learn and when for yourself, depending on your own fields of interest and your strengths and goals.
“By virtue of its size, and the importance we place on global teamwork, Linklaters offers an enormous diversity of career choices. There will be as much guidance and advice available to you as you need, and you will be encouraged to set yourself goals, but no one will try to make your decisions for you.
“Becoming a great lawyer involves a lot more than becoming an expert in your chosen field of law. To achieve success you must develop a wide range of skills, such as communication, leadership, and developing client relationships. It's also valuable to become a little entrepreneurial. This will prove vital later, when you come to play your part in running and growing the business.
“There is no minimum billable hours requirement, although targets are set throughout the firm. Targets vary by practice area, however, we expect all our associates to work hard and to satisfy the demands of their client work all the time. We judge performance on more than billable hours, looking at contributions in areas such as marketing, training, recruitment, community investment and pro bono.
“Above all, life as an associate at Linklaters is about developing all the knowledge and skills you need to be the best you can be, and doing so in an environment that will challenge and support you in all your endeavors. However, it is not all about work. It is also about enjoying yourself and getting the most out of your career and your life.”
Joshua Berick
Recruitment Partner, New York