Helen Dingley
“'Trainers are keen to get their trainees involved in all elements of a transaction.”
Position
Senior Associate in
Banking
Key Facts
Read Law at Sheffield
Joined A&O
2000
In the banking department trainees experience a wide range of work and levels of responsibility and trainers are keen to get you involved in all elements of a transaction. You may be responsible for drafting documentation, liaising with clients, negotiating documents with the counsel for our counterparts and working with our international offices and other departments in our London office. You will certainly be able to develop many of the core skills required as a lawyer while working on those transactions. It is part of the trainer's role to ensure that you get exposure to a variety of tasks and use as many skills as possible during your seat.
As a trainee at Allen & Overy, London I certainly found that substantial involvement in banking deals gave me a real insight as to life as an associate. As a trainer I aim to provide that experience to the trainees I work with. The most rewarding seats are those in which you are given the opportunity to understand the deals and the importance of each step and process, however small, involved in bringing them to close. This means gaining an understanding of both the legal structure of the transaction and the commercial motivation of our clients. Participation in all aspects of our deals is therefore necessary in order that you are able to get a real feel for the department.
The trainees in the banking department work for all levels of fee earner and do not work solely for their trainer. Many transactions require a deal team comprised of partner(s), associates, trainees and paralegals. This ensures interaction with and feedback from many of the people in the department and gives an insight into the team structures you would be working in as an associate. It also means that you should be exposed to a variety of work and get a good idea of the transactions the department carries out. Your trainer will therefore be your main contact and is likely to be the provider of the majority of your work but will assist you to ensure you maximise your insight into the department.
While practical day-to-day experience is the backbone of each seat, each department has its own induction programme to give a basic initiation in the work you will be undertaking and the key features of the practice. The banking induction involves analysis of the standard documentation used in our transactions such as facilities agreements and security documentation and specific skills training for life in the banking department. After the induction there is programme of lectures and workshops to enhance your understanding and that continues throughout the seat. You will also receive broader training on the skills required as a lawyer in any department such as drafting, presentation skills and client relations and guidance on using and accessing the wide range of Allen & Overy know how on our internal computer system.