What do we mean when we talk about "the Jones Day way"?  We mean a set of practices and attitudes about our work, our clients, and ourselves that lets us deliver better service to our clients, eliminate the rivalries and competition that often arise in large law firms, and facilitate the development of our lawyers.  It's a philosophy of legal practice that we believe sets us apart from our peer firms.  And it's the primary reason Jones Day was rated "Number One for Client Service" by the BTI Consulting Group in three of the last five years, was the most-mentioned law firm in Corporate Counsel's 2005 survey of "Who Represents America's Biggest Companies" and in 2009 was the second most admired law firm according to more than 4,000 corporate directors who took part in a FTI Consulting/Corporate Board Member survey.  

Broadly speaking, the Jones Day way means six things:

"One Firm Worldwide."  Jones Day is not a constellation of individual offices and practices, but rather a unified firm working together to deliver coordinated legal services to our clients in the most effective, efficient way possible.  Clients do not "belong" to individual Partners, or even particular offices or practices. Rather, every client is a client of the Firm, and we draw on the legal resources best suited to address the client's problems, wherever they are located in the Firm.  In addition, we operate as a single profit center, meaning that the success of each office in any given year depends on the strength of the Firm as a whole.  Our structure fosters a culture of teamwork and discourages competition among offices and lawyers.

One Managing Partner.  Jones Day was decades ahead of its time in giving overall responsibility for the Firm's direction to a single Managing Partner, rather than having the Partners vote on all matters of Firm strategy and governance.  While the increasing size of modern firms has prompted many of them to follow our lead in adopting a "CEO" structure, Jones Day was already there in 1913.  Since then, seven Managing Partners have led the Firm's transformation to a national and then global firm, providing a steady, coherent strategic vision for our progress.  With 32 offices worldwide, more than $1 billion in annual revenues, and a blue-chip client list, we think the results speak for themselves.

No branch offices.  Because we are completely integrated, we have no "branch" or "satellite" offices and no headquarters.  While we take great pride in our Cleveland roots, the fact is that Jones Day was one of the first firms to expand beyond a single state, opening our Washington Office in 1946.  The two principal governing committees that advise the Managing Partner-the Advisory Committee and the Partnership Committee-consist of lawyers from nearly every Jones Day office, and the lawyers who lead our 22 practices are similarly spread across the Firm.  This Firmwide orientation helps us better serve our clients and focus more strategically and effectively on the development of the Firm.

Compensation and confidentiality.  Many firms still operate under some version of the "eat what you kill" approach, in which partner compensation is tied closely to business development, with complicated formulas based on "client origination". Not Jones Day.  We recognize that Partners and associates alike contribute to the Firm in a variety of ways, and our lawyers are compensated according to their overall contributions.  At the same time, our lawyers honor a culture of discretion about matters related to compensation; unlike other firms, we do not publish each lawyer's billable hours and compensation for the entire Firm to see.  By keeping compensation matters private, we avoid the jealousies and rivalries that can arise from a zero-sum spoils system based on client credit.

A culture of respect.  The Firm characteristics described above attract a particular kind of lawyer to Jones Day.  We seek lawyers who are concerned not with maximizing their individual position in the Firm, but with delivering the best service possible to our clients, with colleagues whom they value and respect.  These lawyers take great pride in their work, they lack pretension, and they show respect and consideration to everyone in the Firm-Partners, associates, and staff alike.

Time to explore.  Jones Day has long recognized that many new lawyers coming out of law school remain uncertain of which particular practice area they want to pursue.  In addition, like all relationships, we believe it takes some time for an individual to find the best personal fit within the Firm.  Moreover, we believe that the variety of exposures a lawyer can encounter during his or her first year at the Firm provides valuable experience and makes that lawyer more well rounded.  Accordingly, in 1981 Jones Day created the New Lawyers Group ("NLG"), which provides our newest lawyers with the opportunity to gain exposure to different practice areas and lawyering styles before making a commitment to a specific practice.  All lawyers joining our domestic offices from law school – and judicial clerks, at their election – become members of the New Lawyers Group for about a year before joining a practice group.  Please select an office location to learn more.

What does all this mean for a new lawyer?  It means that, consistent with our culture of teamwork and mutual support, you will work on teams that span multiple offices and practices, guaranteeing exposure to a variety of lawyers and different styles of practice.  It means that the success of your particular office will depend not on the cycles of the local economy, but on the success of a fully integrated, global law firm with remarkable stability.

At Jones Day, we recruit approximately 15 trainees every year and operate a non-rotational training system that is unique among City firms.

Other City law firms operate a rotational or 'seat' system, in which the two years of the training contract are divided into periods of four or six months where you work exclusively for one partner or one practice at a time before moving on to another.

Training at Jones Day is completely different. Under our system, you do not 'belong' to one partner or practice.  You can take work from any practice at any time and work with any of our lawyers, which means that you get the flexibility to gain experience in a wide range of practices and from a wide range of colleagues.  You also get to discover with whom you work best.

We believe that our system is better because it offers a number of advantages.  For example:

• You can be involved in deals and cases from beginning to end.  With a seat system, you may have to move on to another deal or case before it completes, meaning that you won’t get to see all your hard work come to fruition.
• You get greater client contact because you can work for the same clients throughout your two years and get to know them over a much longer period.
• It removes the lottery of seat allocation.  With a seat system there may be some practices that you never get to work with because you are not assigned to them during your training.  With our system, because you can work with any practice at any time, you are likely to be able to get some work from each practice that you want to experience. 
• You do not have to do six months of intensive training in a practice that you have decided is not for you.
• You can assist with all aspects of a transaction and get a more rounded training.  In a seat system, you will be working on one aspect of a deal from one practice: for example, you might be working on the financing of the purchase of a property.  At Jones Day, you can work on the finance aspects and the purchase aspects of the transaction, so you can see how these two parts of the deal fit together.
• You can pick up different styles and techniques from lots of partners and associates and work out what is best for you.
• We believe that people work better in their own space: since you won't be sharing an office with an experienced lawyer, you can develop your own style of working.
• You benefit from a smoother learning curve with the Jones Day system because you can develop your skills over two years rather than going back to square one every six months when you move on to a new department.
• There is a seamless transition through to qualification because our trainees work in such a similar way to our qualified lawyers.  In the seat system, there is often a major step up on qualification and newly qualified lawyers can find that the job has suddenly gotten much harder.  At Jones Day, your first day as a qualified lawyer feels just like your last day as a trainee.

Support and Development
Whilst our training system places strong emphasis on early responsibility, it also takes very seriously the need for you to have a thorough grounding in the main subject areas and to develop skills.  We are very careful to monitor the progress of all trainees and to ensure that each trainee is given the support and training they individually need.  We do this in a variety of ways.

On-the-job training - Learning by actually doing the work is the best form of training and we expect our trainees to take their development seriously and seek out feedback at the end of each job from all senior associates and partners they have worked with in order to round off the learning experience. 
Mentoring - On joining the Firm, you are allocated a partner mentor and trainee buddy who will provide you with whatever support you need whilst you settle into the office.
Seminars and Courses – You will attend six seminars each month.  These are delivered by senior lawyers from the different practices. You must also complete the Professional Skills Course.
Monitoring - This is done by way of:

• Weekly Workload Reports - You will submit a weekly workload report that tells us exactly which matters you are working on.  We ask each trainee to tell us how much capacity they have to take on new work in the forthcoming week and, ideally, from which practice they would like that new work to come.  In this way, we assist in directing the different types of work to the people who want it.
• Checklists - The checklists prove a useful tool when trying to determine whether a trainee has sufficient experience in any given practice.  You will meet with our Trainee Solicitor Development Manager quarterly to review your checklists.  This review gives you an opportunity to talk about your progress and the type of work you want to try next.  At the end of the training contract, the relevant Practice Training Partner will review and, if you have done sufficient work in that practice, sign off your checklist as part of our admissions procedure.
• Appraisals - We conduct formal appraisals every six months during the training contract.  Our appraisal process is competency-based and focuses on the Training Contract Skills Standards identified by the Solicitors Regulation Authority as well as personal effectiveness.  We have an open appraisal process for trainees, meaning that you are able to self evaluate and see exactly what's been written about you.
• Group Lunches - Once a month, the Partner-in-Charge of Training and the Trainee Solicitor Development Manager host a lunch with each trainee year group.  We use these lunches as an opportunity to catch up with one another, but also to review administrative arrangements, bring in guest speakers, or pass on any information trainees need.
   

GDL and LPC
Before you can start your training contract, you'll need to study and pass the Graduate Diploma in Law (if you are a non-law student) and the Legal Practice Course.

• Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)
  The GDL is a one-year course (if studied full-time) that all non-law graduates or overseas graduates are required to complete successfully before starting the vocational stage of training.
  
  Students are required to pass seven subjects plus one other area of legal study.  The foundation subjects are Criminal Law, Equity and Trusts, Law of the European Union, Obligations 1 (Contract), Obligations 2 (Tort), Property/Land Law, and Public Law (Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, and Human Rights Law).  It may be possible for students to claim a full or partial exemption from the GDL if they have passed corresponding subjects within a degree programme. 
  
  Jones Day sponsors its future trainees through the GDL.  We pay all course fees and a maintenance grant of £8,000.
• Legal Practice Course (LPC)
  The LPC is a one-year course (if studied full time) that all future lawyers must complete before they can commence their training contract.  The course is intended to prepare students for practice and focuses on the application of knowledge and skills in the workplace.  The LPC consists of a core element (which consists of the compulsory subjects, the pervasive areas, and skills assessments) and then a separate elective element. 
  
  Core 
  The compulsory subjects are Business Law and Practice, Litigation and Advocacy, and Property Law and Practice.
  The pervasive areas include Professional Conduct, Client Care and Accounts, Financial Services, and Human Rights.  The skills assessments include Practical Legal Research, Writing and Drafting, Interviewing and Advising, and Advocacy.
  
  Electives
  In addition to the core, students must study three elective subjects.  The electives are typically spread over 10 weeks, after the core teaching has been completed, and a minimum 100 hours of study should be devoted to them. 
  
  Jones Day sponsors its future trainees through the LPC.  We pay all course fees and a maintenance grant of £8,000.

Jones Day Requirements
Jones Day has appointed BPP Law School as its preferred provider for both the GDL and LPC and we prefer you to complete the LPC in its entirety before taking up your training contract.  We believe that the consistent input and improved level of training this will offer will enable us to align the LPC to our practice strengths and maximise the efficiency of our internal development programme.  We want to integrate the LPC year with the training contract period so we'll also offer you a series of firm-specific sessions during the LPC to give you the best possible preparation for your training contract.  Jones Day recommends that trainees opt for the following electives:

Private Acquisitions
Debt Finance
Equity Finance

• The future of the LPC
  
  If you'd like to keep up to date with future developments in legal education and development then please visit the SRA website at www.sra.org.uk

Here you can find out about all of our current trainees and discover why they chose Jones Day and how they’ve found our unique system of training since they joined the Firm.  To select a profile, simply click on the thumbnail photographs below.

First Year | Second Year

Jessica Billington The University of Manchester, English As a final year Literature student with a vague notion that law might be interesting I wandered along to Jones Day's Question Time at Manchester University. It was relaxed and informative and, most importantly, the Partner, Associate and Trainees there seemed to genuinely enjoy themselves. Since the people I would be working with mattered more to me than the shiny offices other firms had talked about in their presentations I applied for a Winter placement scheme at Jones Day. The scheme works as a mini training contract which means proper work, plenty of socialising and a real chance to decide whether you're suited to the training system. To benefit from the non-rotational system you have to be confident enough to go and ask for work. It can be a bit daunting at first but the atmosphere means that you soon get used to it. Doors really are always open and many associates and partners trained under the scheme themselves and there is an absence of hierarchy that's reflected in the fact that no one has their job title on their door. An impressive list of well known clients and high profile deals are on offer at many City law firms. The difference at Jones Day is that the responsibility given to trainees allows direct access to those clients and meaningful involvement as a member of the team. Inevitably some matters lend themselves to this more than others. There is a degree of administrative and organisational work to be done and you can spend some very long hours on fairly mundane tasks. But this is balanced by plenty of early opportunities to tackle challenging, interesting work. The non-rotational system also means that you can see deals through to the end so if you do the leg work early on you can still be involved when things get interesting. Trainees work on matters from different departments concurrently. It can be tricky to manage your workload but there is plenty of support and advice available and it's worth it for the freedom and variety this affords. Because trainees aren't restricted to one department at a time there's very little competition for work. If you miss out on something there'll always be another opportunity and you'll still be in a position to take it. The fact that Jones Day trainees have a greater degree of choice in the work they take on also means that qualified lawyers give trainees quality work and treat them as a valuable member of the team. If they don't there's a real risk that they'll struggle to find trainees to work for them. The result is a cooperative, egalitarian environment where trainees are able to develop the knowledge and skills they'll need at qualification and beyond. Georgina Druce Durham University, Philosophy After completing a philosophy degree at Durham University, I commenced my training contract search and remember at first being overwhelmed by the volume and variety of firms to choose from. However, when I came across Jones Day, the choice no longer seemed so difficult. For any self-confident, responsible and ambitious prospective lawyer, Jones Day is a natural choice. Where so many other firms treated me like a number, Jones Day made me feel like an individual. This was never more so than when I had been offered my training contract. Since I had not undertaken a placement scheme I expressed concerns about committing two years of my life to a firm I had barely seen (even though on paper I knew it was perfect for me). Without hesitation, Jones Day suggested I come in for a day and sit with two associates to ask any questions I wanted to and get a feel for the firm. The two associates were so completely self-sacrificing and enthusiastic, and the fact that they had put themselves out over and above the call of duty to make a young prospective trainee feel welcome and wanted, secured my knowledge that I was making the right choice accepting. One of the hardest things to decipher when trawling through firm prospectus' is how much of what the firm advertises is really true. Despite my positive first impression at my interview and subsequent "pseudo-open day" even I was sceptical about all the claims of early responsibility, challenging work and client contact. Within 3 hours on my first day I knew everything that people say about Jones Day is true. I was asked to go to the offices of a client and take him through signing various documents and to generally answer any questions he had about those documents. Two months later, I attended my first client meeting unsupervised. The non-rotational seat system is probably the most attractive element of the training contract for prospective trainees. Especially in today's market, where work is harder to come by, being in a position where you can "follow the work" is incredibly stimulating and satisfying. The variety of work a Jones Day trainee handles just cannot be found at any other firm. In only three months I have worked on a large hedge fund fraud litigation, a complex multi-jurisdictional banking transaction, researched legal issues for the anti-trust department and drafted various corporate documents. Having your own office, while daunting at first, is crucial for developing your self-confidence and self-sufficiency as a lawyer. At the same time, there really is a non-hierarchical, open-door policy, so that someone is always there to answer your questions and concerns. Also, having to wander the corridors to find work is a wonderful mechanism for allowing you to meet each and every person and to feel like a genuine part of the firm. Professionally, I cannot think of a better place to train. But the Jones Day training contract is so much more than mere professional training. While it is cliché to say it, there is a definite "work-hard and play-hard" attitude at the firm. There is always a friendly face at the local pub on a Friday night and there are numerous organized social occasions throughout the year, such as the trainee pantomime at Christmas. "Jones Day is different" is one of the many firms slogans. But, the truth is – it really is. Eilian Hughes Cardiff University, Law The challenging and dynamic nature of the legal profession is what initially attracted me to the field and I wanted a training experience that shared these attributes. Jones Day earned rave reviews in the graduate recruitment literature as having a genuinely friendly atmosphere and an impressive portfolio of prestigious international clients. However, what really made it stand out from the crowd was its unique non-rotational training contract. It offered a great variety of work across several practice areas as well as a considerable degree of responsibility from the outset. I realised that such features encouraged a more progressive training experience. Duly impressed, I applied for training contract. The simple application process of sending a covering letter and a CV was rather refreshing in that there was no need to answer vague questions in onerous application forms. I was delighted when the call came for an interview. From the outset, I was impressed by what I heard and saw. Everyone I met at the swish office was welcoming and eager and I warmed to the down-to-earth and personable nature of the interviewers. The level of support from the firm between acceptance of the training contract and the first day as a trainee was also much appreciated. All future trainees were invited to workshops and social events at regular intervals, providing a good opportunity to get to know future colleagues before the commencement of the training contract. Since I have been at Jones Day, I have found that the training experience here provides an excellent platform to develop and flourish as a trainee solicitor. The non-rotational seat system has lived up to all of my prior expectations. Whilst trainees here are afforded a great deal of autonomy and flexibility as to which practice areas we work in, we also benefit from regular supervision to ensure that we obtain enough experience in the core practice areas. This broad range of exposure to different areas of law helps us to gain a better idea of the different issues that affect our clients so that we can give them better quality advice. To reap the rewards of the training system here, trainees need to be proactive and diligent. Having your own office is a perk, but it is also beneficial in that it encourages you to think through problems for yourself and to offer your own solutions. Even so, I have found that supervisors are always happy to answer any questions and provide constructive feedback on our work. Working for different supervisors also broadens our scope of learning and allows us to get to know most of our colleagues throughout the office. The firm entrusts us with a significant amount of responsibility as well. Less than a year in, I have already undertaken the drafting of various deeds and licenses, participated in a mediation and have been corresponding on a regular basis with clients and foreign counsel. Social life at the firm is very healthy. I play football with my colleagues most weeks and social nights are held regularly. The Washington Academy is also great fun and an excellent opportunity to build friendships with your fellow trainees and colleagues from other offices. In sum, a training contract at Jones Day really is different and, if you are armed with the right attitude and attributes, it provides an excellent environment for you to train to become a well-rounded and highly competent solicitor. Aaron Jones University of Southampton, Law After studying law at Southampton University, I was accustomed to the ‘milk round’ of City firms and found it difficult to differentiate between them. I knew that I did not want to be another number at a magic circle firm and wanted good quality work on high profile deals. Jones Day matched these requirements and its simple recruitment process was refreshing following application forms asking tedious and obscure questions. The system allows you to work with several departments at any one time, which enables you to understand and experience how different practice areas within a law firm are integrated. I have been involved with a number of matters including: drafting and negotiating a lease on an industrial estate; a global restructuring of over 30 companies; and a venture capital investment in a pharmaceuticals company. I have been involved with the drafting of all transactional documents, dealt directly with clients and run transaction completions. Whilst I have enjoyed the system, it is not suited to everyone. You have to seek out and manage your own workload, and if are not proactive you could easily find yourself lost. You need to have confidence in your own ability and at times I have felt out of my depth. However, I have always been offered support when I needed it, and feel that I have learnt so much more when working outside of my comfort zone. I have enjoyed being treated as an adult and being given the chance to build up my own working relationships as opposed to being spoon fed from a supervisor. At a commercial firm in the City I think you would be naïve to assume that the hours will not be long at times, and doing so with obnoxious colleagues would be unpleasant. Fortunately the friendly and non-hierarchical attitude of everyone at the firm, from the partners down to the support staff, is one of the firm’s best attributes. The trainees all get along well, with regular ‘bonding’ trips to our local enhanced by the famous Washington trip! When applying for a training contract, I saw it as a way to find out what area of law interests me and to develop my skills in that area in an enjoyable working environment. I believe that I am at the best firm to do this and I have no regrets about my decision to train at Jones Day. If you think that its system suits you, then I would urge you to give it a try for yourself. Ciara Galbraith University of Bristol, Law and French I first came across Jones Day when the firm sponsored a Bristol University Law Society event that I had helped to organise. I immediately warmed to the friendly, down-to-earth and approachable trainees who attended and made a mental note to apply for a summer placement scheme. When it came to applications, the firm's 'no nonsense' approach made it stand out from the crowd. Having answered the same formulaic questions on application forms for other firms, Jones Day's request for a CV and covering letter was refreshingly straight-forward. The vacation scheme itself was different from my placements at other firms for lots of reasons, not least because I had my own office and felt like I was making a meaningful contribution with the work I had undertaken. On joining the firm, I was keen to see how the firm's non-rotational training system would work in practice. Within six months of starting, I had worked on an ongoing litigation matter, a banking transaction and a number of different M & A deals. Although it can sometimes be difficult to juggle different matters from different departments, the Jones Day system encourages trainees to develop good organisational and people skills at an early stage. There is no doubt that that the non-rotational experience offers the chance to gain access to a wide range of practice areas and, very often, contact with clients and other lawyers and professionals. I recently worked on a corporate matter in which I was often the client's first point of reference and frequently communicated with counsel in other jurisdictions. From speaking with friends outside of Jones Day, I get the sense that this is not necessarily 'the norm' at other City firms. As a trainee, there are plenty of opportunities to escape from the office. There are frequent sports events with clients during the summer, and the winter months are dominated by the Christmas Panto, which the trainees write and perform at the annual firm-wide Christmas Party. The week-long trip to the New Lawyers Conference in Washington D.C. is also a huge highlight for any trainee. I would encourage anyone who is keen to learn more about Jones Day to apply for a placement scheme – this really is the best indication of what lies ahead as a trainee! Denis Olarou Oriel College, Oxford – Economics It took me just a few days on the Jones Day placement scheme to become convinced that it was the law firm for me. Now, looking back on my first year as a trainee I know I made the right choice. You may have read in the firm's recruitment materials about being given real responsibility, opportunity to pick your own assignments, case continuity and client contact. You may have treated these claims with some scepticism, visions of the photocopier haunting your thoughts! Yet, for me this has been one of those rare times when reality lives up to the marketing. From day one I got involved in investigating a half-a-billion dollar fraud perpetrated against a client, and while the photocopier inevitably did make an appearance it has never been more than a footnote. I began by assisting with evidence review and went on to help identify additional fraudulent transactions and contribute a chapter to the investigation report. Soon I was working on the litigation side of the matter, helping to draft a settlement with one defendant and prepare our case against the others, all the while working with and learning from everyone involved on the case starting with my fellow trainees through to the head of litigation. Because I was not “in a seat” in the litigation department, I remained free to explore other practice areas. This allowed me to pursue my interest in departments including corporate, competition and pensions. I helped draft documents and conduct due diligence necessary to effect changes on a board of directors, make merger submissions to the Competition Commission, and review the rules of a pension scheme. At the same time, not being required to drop everything and move on to a new seat at the six months mark means that I am able to continue developing my experience in litigation, which recently involved coordinating overseas enforcement of judgments and document disclosure to the FSA. I feel that having the freedom to structure my own training contract this way gives me a better understanding of how the different practice areas fit together and a better chance of identifying the right one for me. Naturally, the freedom and the responsibility you enjoy during the Jones Day training contract require considerable commitment, organisational skills, and readiness to learn on your part. However, I have always found friendly advice and support just a few footsteps or a phone call away, which means you get the benefit of starting at the deep end without the risk of drowning before you learnt to swim. As you may have guessed, I have no hesitation recommending the Jones Day training contract – not only will it make you a better lawyer but you will genuinely enjoy walking into the office in the morning. Claire Kelly University of Bristol, History I chose Jones Day because of my placement scheme experience. I have to admit that I was swayed by the event packed two week build up to the Jones Day pantomime and the seemingly endless supply of biscuits! However, what I really remember about those two weeks is that they let me, a non-lawyer, do some actual work. On my first day I attended a client meeting and discussed a right of way with the local council. It was a challenging and worthwhile experience and one which gave me a real insight into what working in the firm would be like. During the last year Jones Day's unique training system has given me a great deal of responsibility and independence. This is evidenced in the practical things, such as having your own office, as well as the day-to-day ability to focus on the work that interests you. Inevitably you cannot always avoid the typical trainee jobs and at times you will have to work long hours, but I have always found the work I have done interesting and demanding. You also have the great advantages of being able to manage your own workload and to really get involved in a transaction from start to finish. Although it has been slightly nerve wrecking at times, there have always been people willing to answer any questions. Indeed perhaps the most indicative thing about the firm is that I have enjoyed working in all the teams that I have found myself in. Rob Kinder University of Edinburgh, History If you like the idea of having your training contract nicely mapped-out, knowing exactly what you will be doing from week to week, and having someone in your office telling you what to do everyday, then you should probably look at another law firm. On the other hand if you want flexibility, the responsibility to organise the direction of your training contract and to be trusted with your own office from your first day, then Jones Day is probably more your cup of tea. The non-rotational system is what attracted to me to apply for a placement scheme at Jones Day and two weeks here was enough to convince me that this is how I wanted to train. Not all parts of law are for everyone and being stuck in a seat that you do not particularly enjoy seems like a bad way to spend a quarter of your training contract. At Jones Day you have the opportunity to hunt out those areas of work that you are interested in and those associates and partners that you think you might get on well with. You are encouraged to make good relationships throughout the firm and because of the relatively small size of the office and how friendly everyone is, this is easy to achieve. I have had a very enjoyable first year. By not having to move seat after 6 months I have been able to see a litigation case right through from start to finish, while at the same time being involved with work in different departments. There have of course been a few late nights but from what I have seen there is not a culture of working all hours of the day just for the sake of it. Here people work hard and hold down social lives at the same time. There are also lots of social and sports events to get involved with. A personal highlight was probably playing in a midweek cricket tournament hosted by the firm- the only time I will ever be paid to play sport. I have also been involved with some great pro bono work and the opportunities for this are readily available and well supported by many lawyers at the firm.

We don't use a standard application form because we're not looking for standard applicants.

To apply for a training contract:

1. Register on our Jones Day Programme web page.
Please log in and register your details.

2. CV
Attach your CV in either Word or PDF format.
Remember to include a full breakdown of your University grades.

3. Covering Letter
Attach a covering letter.  This should be addressed to Trainee Solicitor Recruitment Manager.

Alternatively, if you are unable to access the internet, please send your CV and covering letter to: Trainee Solicitor Recruitment Manager,  21 Tudor Street, London EC4Y 0DJ.

Please note that as we recruit on a rolling basis for training contracts, we may complete our recruitment before the application deadline.

When to apply for training contracts
Our recruitment process
FAQs related to applying for a training contract 

When to apply for training contracts

We have now closed for training contract applications for September 2012 and March 2013.  For training contracts commencing in September 2013 or March 2014, we will be accepting applications from the 1st November 2010.

Law Students
We ask that law students apply between their penultimate and final year of study, once they have received their second year exam results.  You can also apply in your final year of a law degree if you are planning to continue your studies for a year or plan a gap year.

Nonlaw Students
We accept applications for training contracts from nonlaw students in their final year of study.  You can also apply as a graduate of a nonlaw degree.

Closing Date
The final deadline for applications for training contracts commencing in September 2013 or March 2014 is 31 July 2011.  However, to ensure an early interview date, we would encourage you to apply as soon as possible (or, in the case of law undergraduates in their second year of University, as soon as possible after receiving your 2nd year results).

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Our recruitment process

Stage 1 - Pre-screen questions
Before you start your application, we will ask you some questions to ensure that you are eligible to apply for our training contract.

Stage 2 - Submit your application
After the pre-screen stage, we will ask you to register your personal details and attach your CV and cover letter.

Stage 3 - Application reviewed
Once you submit your application, we will acknowledge its receipt immediately by e-mail. Your application will then be screened and a decision will be made about whether to invite you to interview.  We may sometimes request an academic reference to help us to make this decision.

Stage 4 - Interview
If you are invited to interview, the interview will take place in our Tudor Street office in London.  We reimburse all reasonable UK travel expenses.  Training contract applicants will be invited to a first round interview and, if successful, will then be invited for a second round interview before a decision is made as to whether to make an offer of a training contract.  We do not give assessment exercises or written tests to any of our candidates.

Stage 5 - Offer
If we make you an offer, we will do all we can to help you to decide whether Jones Day is the firm for you.

Stage 6 - Staying in contact
We maintain close contact with our future trainees during their time at university and law school.  You will be invited workshops and social events at the office so that you get to know your future colleagues before you start work.

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FAQs related to training contract applications

Q. What format does the training contract interview take?
A. The first round interview will be with two partners and will last approximately 45 minutes.  The interviewers will be assessing candidates against the competencies that are essential to be a successful trainee solicitor at Jones Day.  After the interview, all candidates get the chance to meet a trainee who will show them the offices and answer any questions that the candidate may have about life at Jones Day.  If successful at first round, trainee candidates are invited for a second round interview with two different partners, which will take a similar format to the first round interview.  Candidates will usually meet a newly-qualified associate after this interview who will be able to give them further information about the training system and the qualification process.

Q. If I haven't done a work placement scheme at Jones Day will it count against me?
A. No. We still interview candidates who have not done a work placement scheme with us.  Obviously, we will want to ensure that these candidates have a good understanding of the life of a trainee solicitor in the City and at Jones Day in particular before they commit to a training contract.  Therefore, it is an advantage if you have some legal work experience, ideally in another corporate/commercial law firm, before applying for a training contract.

Q. Is there a different application deadline for people who do not have a law degree?
A. No, although most nonlaw undergraduates do apply to us by Easter in their final year.  After that time, we do not usually conduct any further interviews until the summer when law undergraduates start to apply.

Q. How many people do you recruit each year?
A. We aim to recruit approximately 15 people to start our training contract every year.

Q. How many of your annual intake do not have a law degree?
A. Usually, approximately half of our trainee intake do not have a law degree.

Q. What if I want to defer the start of my training contract (to take some time off between my studies and the start of my training contract)?
A. We can usually accommodate requests to defer entry for six months or a year.  You should still apply as soon as possible, but if you are an undergraduate, not until you have your second-year exam results.  Please mention in your covering letter about your interest in deferring entry and this will then be discussed further during the interview process.

Q. What if I was unsuccessful in applying to Jones Day for a work placement scheme?
A. Although we do not discourage candidates whose work placement scheme applications were unsuccessful from applying to us for a training contract, we do make candidates aware that we have many more work placement scheme places available compared to training contract places and therefore competition for the training contract is higher than for the work placement schemes.  However, if you feel that your profile has improved considerably since you applied for a work placement scheme, you should reapply for a training contract and highlight why your profile has changed in your covering letter.

Q. What if I was unsuccessful in applying to Jones Day for a training contract for a previous year?
A. As our criteria for selecting trainees remains the same year-on-year, if you were unsuccessful one year it would be unlikely that you would be successful the following year.  However, if you feel that your profile has improved considerably since you last applied, you should reapply and highlight why your profile has changed in your covering letter.

Q. How long will I have to make a decision if I get a training contract offer from Jones Day?
A. We normally require offerees to make a decision within four weeks.  However, we are happy to discuss the extension of this period in certain circumstances.

Q. Which GDL and LPC providers does Jones Day recommend?
A. Jones Day has appointed BPP Law School as its preferred provider for the GDL and the LPC.  We believe that the consistent input and improved level of training this will offer will enable us to align the LPC to our practice strengths and maximise the efficiency of our internal development programme.  We want to integrate the LPC year with the training contract period so we'll also offer you a series of firm-specific sessions during the LPC to give you the best possible preparation for your training contract. Jones Day recommends that trainees opt for the following electives:

Private Acquisitions
Debt Finance
Equity Finance.

Q. How many training contract applications do you get per year?
A. Between 1800 and 2000 (including applications for work placement schemes – people who come on our work placement schemes get an automatic training contract interview at the end of the scheme).

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Rewards
The rewards as a trainee at Jones Day reflect the importance attached to the role of trainees in contributing to the business.

Starting salary:                        £39,000

Salaries rise at six monthly intervals throughout the training contract.

6-12 months:                               £41,000
12-18 months:                             £45,000
18-24 months:                             £50,000
Newly Qualified:                           £70,000

Benefits
Five weeks holiday a year, private healthcare, subsidised gym membership, a loan to buy a London Transport season ticket, access to a stakeholder pension scheme, salary sacrifice schemes and life assurance.

Sponsorship
All our future trainees are sponsored through the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) and the Legal Practice Course (LPC).  Jones Day will pay all your fees for the GDL and LPC plus a maintenance grant of £8,000 per year.

Career Progression
Following your two-year training contract, there are a number of stages that you may go through during your career as a lawyer.

Qualification
As a result of our non-rotational training contract, the transition from trainee solicitor to qualified solicitor is seamless. As you progress through your training, you will gradually come to concentrate on those practices that interest you most.  Eighteen months into your training, you will be asked to nominate the practice into which you wish to qualify.  Assuming that the practice agrees, you will then do more and more work in that practice.  By the end of your training you will be working almost exclusively for your chosen practice.

Associate
On qualification, you become an associate.  You will work in one practice, although it is possible for some associates to split their time between related practices if there is a business reason to justify this.  Associates are still able to work with any partner within their chosen practice and are not divided into strict teams.  At the moment, as associates approach eight years qualified, they will then be considered for promotion to of counsel or partnership.

Of Counsel
Of counsel are senior associates often running legal matters independently of partners with their own team of more junior associates.  Some of counsel will be considered for promotion to partner after one or two years of being of counsel.  Some of counsel choose not to apply for partnership, and the extra responsibility that partnership brings with it, and to remain of counsel.

Partner
The partners together own the business of Jones Day and run all aspects of the Firm.  Partners at Jones Day remain heavily involved in fee-earning work but also take particular responsibility for marketing, recruitment, training, and the internal administration of the Firm.