As Training Partner, I'm often asked ‘what's different about Withers as a place to train?’ My response is that varied career opportunities, interesting clients, truly international work and an ethos of team work, together create a great training environment. I urge you to read the accounts of the Firm by our trainees.
Whilst we're well known for our private client and family work you may be surprised to realise the range of career opportunities available. We are as keen on attracting prospective lawyers into our commercial teams as we are on tax. Furthermore, some say that our private client angle often attracts a different, maybe more interesting client across all sectors of our business. For example, our corporate team deal with a higher percentage of owner managers than corporate lawyers in a city firm might expect.
With respect to the international nature of our work, whilst we have our fair share of overseas offices (and secondment programmes) it's really the complexity of the needs of our clients which can make our work truly international. Michael Wells-Greco talks about his experience both on secondment in Italy and working within our International wealth planning group in London.
I recently asked our trainees how their training is different to their friends in other firms. The level of responsibility and autonomy they are given was the most cited response. We have a strong team ethos and trainees are seen as an integral part of the teams in which they work. Often working closely with a Partner and an assistant, trainees develop by working closely with and being supervised by our technical experts. The trainees were also quick to point out that I should mention that we have a reprographics department here who deal with bulk photocopying!
Daniel Isaac