London

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  • Working in London Working in London
  • Pro Bono Pro Bono
  • Active Roles Active Roles
  • Graduate Recruitment Graduate Recruitment
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Working in London

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Debevoise has been in London for over 30 years. Today, we have over a hundred lawyers in the city, working with some of the world’s most high profile and interesting clients. The office is home to strong and growing teams focusing on everything from high stakes international arbitration to major cross-border M&A. The office also has a distinctly international feel to it. The firm’s London based team is drawn from around the world, and it leads on much of the firm’s global work, regularly collaborating with colleagues in Europe, Asia and the U.S.

It’s a rewarding place to work. Lawyers at all levels have the opportunity to work on challenging, stimulating matters from day one. We believe that’s how you build an exceptional team; by posing tough questions, and giving the support and guidance needed to come up with the right answers. In recruiting, we look for people who will thrive in such an environment. That means high academic achievers, but also leaders, creative thinkers and effective communicators.

Training & Development

Debevoise is committed to high quality training and development for its lawyers. It has a strong associate training programme that provides people with the skills they need to reach their full potential and contribute to the overall success of the firm.

The firm offers a comprehensive and on-going programme of CPD and CLE, together with in-house training and skills sessions throughout your career.

The comprehensive training programme is further supported by the Associate Mentor Programme which plays a significant role in an associate’s development. Each associate is matched with a mentor who takes the time to guide, advise, listen and understand the associate’s experience, aspirations and concerns.

Diversity

Debevoise places a strong emphasis on equality and diversity, and is dedicated to attracting, retaining and promoting lawyers and administrative staff from diverse backgrounds. To ensure a continued focus on this commitment, the firm has an active Diversity Committee. Diversity data relating to the London office is available from the firm’s London HR Department.

Pro Bono

The firm’s commitment to pro bono work is global, spanning all offices and all levels. The London office invests considerable resources in understanding the needs of the community in which it operates, employing a qualified lawyer as a pro bono manager to lead the development of suitable pro bono activities. Although pro bono work is not compulsory, Debevoise strongly encourages lawyers joining the firm to assist those who are unable to afford access to high quality legal advice.

Your exposure to pro bono work begins as soon as you join the London office, when you receive guidance and encouragement from the head of the London Pro Bono Committee and Pro Bono Manager to help identify opportunities suitable for your skills and level. The firm provides on-going support when you take on pro bono matters, treating each matter as equivalent to billable work.

Trainee solicitors are exposed to a range of pro bono work during their training contract. In addition to working on your supervisor’s own pro bono caseload, trainees attend the UnLtd social enterprise and Hackney consumer advice clinics with lawyers from across the firm. Pro bono work allows trainees to develop hard and soft skills throughout their training contract. Pro bono work also provides additional opportunities for you to develop work relationships with associates, counsel and partners outside the department you are assigned to, assisting your integration into the firm at an early stage.

Associates work with the Pro Bono Manager to identify suitable opportunities for their skills and capacity. Some pro bono matters may see you join a team, gaining expertise under the guidance of a senior lawyer, or sharing your own expertise with colleagues. Others may be individual, allowing you to develop and maintain client relationships over an extended period of time with some of Debevoise’s most longstanding pro bono clients.

Transactional partners and counsel attend both the UnLtd and Hackney clinics, take on a range of pro bono matters and supervise the casework of others. Litigation partners and counsel are equally active, both supervising associates and acting as advocates at domestic and international level.

If you’d like to learn more about the pro bono programme in Debevoise’s London office, please contact the firm’s pro bono manager on msomero@debevoise.com.

"One of the deciding factors in my decision to join Debevoise was its commitment to pro bono and its pro bono practice. Pro bono has been part of my legal practice ever since I was a junior barrister and I wanted to work in a firm that would ensure this continued."

—Lord Goldsmith QC, London Co-Managing Partner

Active Roles

To see a list of all our current vacancies please visit: www.allhires.com/debevoise

IDRG Internship

The application process for our International Disputes Resolution Group (IDRG) Internship is now closed. The application process for the next recruitment cycle will reopen later in the year for our 2022 intake. To view our job description please click here.

International Disputes Support Lawyer (IDSL)

The application process for our International Disputes Support Lawyer position is now open.  Please apply through our portal: http://www.allhires.com/debevoise to view our job description click here.

Graduate Recruitment

  • The Process
  • The Scheme
  • Quotes From Current Employees

The Process

The firm’s application process is now closed. Our next application cycle will be open from 1 October 2021 until 3 January 2022

As the firm recruits all of its trainees from the pool of candidates who attend the vacation scheme, you are encouraged to apply for a place on the scheme through participation on our open days.

The firm holds open days to recruit for the vacation schemes, normally in February and/or March. Up to 100 candidates will be invited to attend. On arrival, you will meet the graduate recruitment team and will spend time with a mentor who will show you around the office and answer any questions you may have. There will also be a short interview. There is an informal networking lunch during which time you will have the opportunity to meet current trainees and lawyers. The lunch is intended as much for you to get to know the firm as the other way around.

After the open days, candidates are notified if they will be offered a place on the spring or summer vacation schemes. The scheme is open to law undergraduates in their penultimate year of study or non-law graduates in their final year. Graduates and post-graduates are also welcome to apply.  Applicants should be expecting to achieve at least a 2(i) in any degree discipline and have a minimum of 144 UCAS points at A-Level (or equivalent). Successful vacation scheme candidates will be notified around the end of March. There are about 40-45 places available each year.

The Scheme

You will share an office and be assigned a mentor in one of the firm’s practice groups: litigation, arbitration, corporate (which includes M&A, private equity, insurance, finance and funds) or tax. You will have the opportunity to work closely with several lawyers and also gain experience in other practice areas.

At the start of the two weeks you will be assigned a team project. You will also take part in a team mooting competition at the end of your two weeks. In addition, you will be invited to attend lawyer practice group meetings which are held throughout the week and often link in with other offices.

There will be several planned social events during your summer scheme as well as impromptu get-togethers with lawyers and trainees. During your time in the office, you are encouraged to speak to as many lawyers, trainees and staff as possible.

At the end of the scheme, you will have gained an insight into what life really is like as a Debevoise lawyer!

If you would like further information about the summer vacation scheme please contact us.

Quotes From Current Employees

"I was instantly seduced by the atmosphere of the firm, where people always had the time to greet us and have a chat… I was fascinated by the high profile cases lawyers around me were working on."

—Charlotte Lelong, Class of 2018 Associate and former Trainee

“I applied to Debevoise not only because of its market leading reputation but also because the firm stood out to me as one filled with intelligent, enthusiastic and interesting people. This was re-enforced during my experience of the application process and the vacation scheme.”

—Katie Power, Class of 2019 Associate and former Trainee 

“Right from my initial interactions with the firm it was clear that Debevoise did things differently. The Open Day felt like an opportunity to get to know the people at the firm, not just a grading exercise and since joining, those with whom I have worked have been both fiercely intellectual and remarkably amiable. Across my training contract I have had the opportunity to work with partners and associates on a range of matters – everything from complex emerging market M&A transactions to a pro bono case in the Supreme Court of Belize. Through these matters, I have always felt emphasis on my professional development. This sets Debevoise apart and has made it truly a unique place to train.”

—Zachary Sosah, Class of 2020 Associate and former Trainee

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The Scheme

Debevoise’s London office is growing fast. Currently, the firm expects to hire nine Trainees each year.

The period of recognised training comprises four six-month seats with a mandatory seat in litigation / arbitration. Trainees may also have the opportunity to spend time in the Moscow and Hong Kong offices. Second year Trainees complete a three-week business and finance education program (mini-MBA) at Columbia Business School, New York.

Training contracts are designed around you. This is done by giving you freedom and responsibility from the beginning. The training programme is not rigidly structured, so trainees have the opportunity to take charge of their own learning.

The firm places an emphasis on providing trainees with a supportive environment, with trainee supervisors always available and willing to answer questions. Trainees are also involved in the seat rotation process, with preferred practice groups accommodated wherever possible.

Trainees are very much part of the team and make meaningful contributions from day one. As a trainee at Debevoise, you can expect to have extensive contact with partners, counsel and other lawyers within the firm.

The Process

The firm’s application process is now closed. Our next application cycle will be open from 1 October 2021 until 3 January 2022

Benefits & Rewards

Debevoise is a lockstep firm, which means all lawyers receive the same remuneration according to their class year. This helps foster a culture of teamwork and collegiality. Instead of creating competition amongst lawyers, they are able to work together as a team and prioritise client interests.

First-year trainees receive a salary of £50,000 per annum, rising to £55,000 in their second year.

We partner with The University of Law for the GDL and LPC. Full tuition fees are paid for both the GDL and LPC, together with a maintenance grant of £9,000 per year.

Other benefits include:

  • Private health care (medical, dental, and private GP)
  • Life and Income Protection Insurance
  • Employee Assistance Programme
  • Group personal pension plan
  • 22 days’ vacation
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • On-site subsidised café
  • Interest free season ticket loan
  • Discretionary qualification leave on completion of your training contract
  • 3-week training in New York in your second year as a Trainee

If you have any questions about training contracts at Debevoise please contact us.