Case study

Anton Vercruyssen — Trainee solicitor

Employer
Travers Smith

Anton completed a degree in philosophy, politics and economics at the University of Warwick and is now working as a trainee solicitor at Travers Smith

What is your current role?

I'm in my third seat, based in the Competition department. I have already done rotations in Tax and Private Equity, and Financial Sponsors. My fourth and final seat will be in Employment.

What inspired you to apply to this law firm?

When applying for training contracts, Travers Smith stood out to me because of its friendly culture and high-quality work. The firm helps trainees to develop excellent technical knowledge while being part of an ambitious group of people driven by a strong sense of collegiality. I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to participate in one of the firm's vacation schemes. After this, I was convinced Travers was where I wanted to start my career.

What does a typical workday look like?

The typical workday differs from one department to another. My personal preference is to get a morning workout in before heading to the office, and to start work between 9am and 9.30am. Finishing times really depend on workload at any given point, but I would say that on average, trainees finish between 6.30pm and 7.30pm. Given the nature of our work, longer evenings are sometimes required, but hard work is always recognised and trainees are encouraged to maintain a work/life balance.

What do you enjoy about being a solicitor?

One of the best things about being a trainee is that you get to experience various departments. This gives you numerous opportunities to build solid foundational skills and ramp up your knowledge about several areas of law. It also means you get to meet many people in a short period of time and cultivate relationships across the firm. As a (future) trainee, it is helpful to be mindful of the inevitable fact that every department has its unique practice area and team culture.

Therefore, to get the most out of your training contract, it is crucial to have a flexible mindset and a willingness to get stuck in. Often, the only way to gain an accurate understanding of a department is to spend time working in it, and it is common for trainees to qualify into a department they had not initially considered. So, my advice would be to keep an open mind and enjoy every experience.

What are your top tips for someone applying to this law firm?

My top tip for graduates interested in applying to Travers is to spend time researching the firm. This will allow you to submit an application that reflects a genuine interest in Travers Smith (both its culture and its work). Applicants should also seek to demonstrate how their experience (regardless of whether it is of a legal nature or not) has sparked their enthusiasm for a career in a City law firm, and how it has equipped them with the skills and drive to succeed.

What's the best piece of work you've been involved in?

As a trainee, you will be involved in top-level transactional, advisory and contentious work. During my time at the firm, I have had the opportunity to work on cross-border M&A transactions, to help lawyers advise on the most complex regulatory issues, and to contribute to the preparation of an appeal to the Court of Justice of the European Union (EU).

What makes this law firm a great place to work?

The firm's full-service offering allows trainees to build a broad skillset and gain knowledge of a wide variety of practice areas. Its teams are supportive and care about their trainees' development.

Just as importantly, there is a strong sense of cohesion and friendship among trainees.

These factors have made my training contract an experience I would recommend to any graduate interested in a career in the City.

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