City firms account for one third of all training contracts on offer in the UK. Many of these are commercially based with international connections, but there is still a great variety of firms that you can work for. If you want high-profile clients and cutting-edge work, London is the place for you.

The term ’City firms’ is becoming increasingly difficult to apply to law firms as the boundaries between them and international firms blur. City firms are based, as the name suggests, in central London but many also have offices overseas, which means that they do classify themselves and the work they do as international.

While it is said that the vast majority of their work is commercial, often international and highly complex in nature, some firms do have specialists in family law and private-client work, too. And then there are the City niche firms, which take on very sector-specific legal work.

City firm are often the ones to provide the legal nous behind the headline-hitting stories. They appeal to ambitious graduates who want a slice of the corporate action and the opportunity to work on high-profile cases.

Who are the employers?

Despite the generic term, City firms do vary in culture: some are quite relaxed and friendly while others are very driven and competitive. Both offer attractive remuneration packages but you can expect to work for your money: the nature of the work and the focus on developing close relationships with clients mean that long hours are more common than not, sometimes involving ’all-nighters’ and weekends.

The larger City firms take on a staggering number of trainees (80 to over 100) each year, while some of their smaller competitors might only taken on ten or 12. What all City firms have in common is fierce competition for training contracts, with only the most academically able candidates (gaining a minimum of 2.1) selected.

Typical work for trainees

One common accusation levelled at the largest City firms is that trainees, and their work, can go relatively unnoticed, such is the size of their legal teams and graduate intake. However, many trainees from City firms say this is far from the case, citing early responsibility and fantastic support during their training contracts.

Trainees at City firms typically gain a good, rounded view of their firm’s activities, often taking on research and drafting roles during a major deal or transaction.

Opportunities for client contact may be greater in high-street or regional firms but the calibre of most City firms’ clients and the financial value of the work are much higher.

Consider working for a City firm if you want…

• a wide variety of work and excellent training with a talented and diverse peer base
• work with an international focus and opportunities for working abroad – both short term and long term
• to deal with high-profile clients, predominantly in the finance and business sector, who seek commercially focused banking, corporate and business law solutions
• to work as part of an international team, often encompassing lawyers and other professionals from other jurisdictions
• cutting-edge work, involving creative solutions.

Think again if…

• any or all of the above do not appeal!
• you want to work outside a large city
• you are daunted by the very demanding work that a City firm takes on
• the areas of law practised are not of interest to you, eg you may be interested in criminal law or family law or attracted by working for a niche law firm with a particular speciality such as media and entertainment or intellectual property.