Like you, most companies need money, whether it is to remain solvent, make a strategic acquisition, complete a significant project or even to on-lend to another company.

Whatever the reason, a company has two main ways in which it may raise money: corporate finance and debt finance (often known simply as finance). Financial lawyers are mostly concerned with the latter.

Debt finance broadly consists of borrowing money up-front and paying it back over a period of time. That money may be raised by borrowing from a syndicate of banks, on the capital markets via a bond issue or through a more complex structured financing or securitisation.

What you can expect

Finance trainees may expect to gain a broad range of experience in a number of different areas in a firm’s finance practice.

You will be involved in every aspect of transactions. The more practical side of things will involve drafting board minutes, chasing conditions precedent and negotiating security documents. You will also be required to undertake detailed and challenging research into the law and underlying complex cross-jurisdictional transaction structures.

Especially following qualification, no two days working in finance will be the same. You may be flying to a meeting, putting the finishing touches to a credit facility to be used to fund a pan-European takeover or managing a team of colleagues to ensure that a listed bond issue occurs smoothly.

Work can be pressured and involve long hours, particularly where a transaction is in the public eye and a ’hard’ deadline has been imposed, but it is always interesting and never less than satisfying.

Skills for financial lawyers

You will need:

• an eye for detail
• common sense, imagination and the ability to think laterally
• awareness of a client’s business and financial requirements
• good communication skills
• to be a team player
• an ability to take responsibility.