Career History

Kassalina Boto joined Clifford Chance after graduating from Bristol University with a degree in Law in 2003. She studied the Legal Practice Course at BPP Law School in London before starting her training contract in August 2004.

Why Clifford Chance?

My first contact with Clifford Chance was at their presentation at Bristol University during my second year. I remember talking to trainees and was impressed by their confident, relaxed and enthusiastic approach to working at the firm.

My desire to work at Clifford Chance was confirmed by the two-week vacation scheme I attended in April 2002. I was based in the insurance department and my experience was invaluable. I gained a thorough understanding of Clifford Chance through a series of introductory lectures and case studies, and met a wide range of people from trainees to partners.

A diverse range of people

Clifford Chance’s size is one aspect that makes life as a trainee here so enjoyable. The induction course at the start of your training contract is an opportunity to get to know the other sixty people in your intake, which is invaluable from both a work and social perspective. There are also introductory courses prior to your joining a new department. Having only been at the firm for nine months, the number of people I have met and worked with is vast and each six-month seat change brings opportunities to meet more. The firm employs an incredibly diverse range of people and it would be impossible to describe a ‘typical’ Clifford Chance trainee due to the wide variety of backgrounds and cultures that distinguish each individual.

The on-going training at Clifford Chance is exceptional, approximately every two weeks we have a lecture within our department focusing on recent developments and important aspects of the work. There are also training courses covering skills such as advocacy, legal writing and time management.

High profile deals

My first of four six-month training seats was in the general litigation department where I found the work incredibly interesting, varied and intellectually stimulating. The majority of work I was involved in consisted of researching numerous areas of law and procedure, many of which I had been introduced to in either my law degree or on the legal practice course. I also attended court and client meetings and helped in the preparation of meeting notes and witness statements.

I am currently in asset finance and the work I do involves preparing documentation for financing aircraft. The time frame for having everything ready can often be quite tight which can inevitably lead to demanding and unpredictable hours. However, a real team effort goes into meeting deadlines and your effort and enthusiasm is recognised and rewarded through the level of responsibility you are given in interesting and high profile deals. The international element of work in asset finance means each deal has a different dimension and as a trainee you are always liaising with lawyers throughout the world. I hope to spend my third seat in the general banking department and my final seat in our Singapore office before deciding where I want to qualify in August 2006.

I have also been involved in a range of pro bono work with the firm, including running the file for someone on death row in Jamaica, and reading to a nine-year-old girl in a local primary school.

Support network

I could not have hoped for a better experience at Clifford Chance, as my time here has been enjoyable, interesting and challenging. The amount of people at the firm means the level of support is unbeatable, and can come from a senior partner, one of the professional support lawyers or a document production specialist. From a personal point of view, you meet a lot of people who become part of your social network and they can give you advice about the departments they have been in and their individual training contract experience.