If you think Amsterdam is only good for stag weekends, red light districts, clogs, and of course, Holland's most famous plant exports - marijuana and tulips - then think again. This city is one of the world's most liveable and loveable. Cars and buses give way to scores of bicycles, and some 100 kms of romantic tree-lined canals weave between distinctive 17th century town houses. Amsterdam offers the exuberance and cultural vibrancy of a big city, with the manageability of a small town. And although the city is known for its liberal, and often experimental, attitudes to drugs and prostitution, it also has a reputation for tolerance and safety.

Work: Several firms offer trainee seats in Amsterdam and CMS Cameron McKenna, for example, also posts them to an allied firm in Utrecht. Being in a smaller office you can expect much more responsibility so don’t be surprised if you find yourself regularly meeting with clients or running a due diligence exercise by yourself. If you speak Dutch, you might even get some court time. The Dutch are famously laid back and have a “fantastic approach to the work/life balance - you need a very good reason to work past 6pm.” Partners are often more approachable than in the UK... but don't be shocked by their more direct style of communication. The Dutch can be blunt to the point of apparent rudeness. As one source put it: “If you're doing something badly, they’ll just say 'That’s appalling!’” Finance, corporate, shipping and transportation are core areas of legal practice.

Rest and play: Should the bars, restaurants and clubs become overwhelming, fear not. A sobering visit to one of the city’s many galleries and museums, housing Van Gogh, Rembrandt and Vermeer, should perk you up. Forget the horrors of the Central Line, trainees are offered firm bicycles upon their arrival. Apartments are surprisingly spacious and centrally located in “trendy” canal districts, like Nieuwmarkt or Keizersgracht. Most trainees can cycle canal-side to work in around five minutes. As one remarked: “It has given me an extra two hours a day!” Another said: “There’s something really great about being able to open your window and look out onto a canal.” Flexible licensing hours allow trainees to go home after work, eat, and then walk to the bars or brown cafes. “There’s no mad dash to the pub at 6pm.” Just remember, if you hope to return to a club, you should tip the bouncers on leaving as they never forget a face. Like everything, eating out is cheaper than in London and you’ll have a ready-made set of friends to dine with as the city is home to a dozen or so UK trainees. In summer, the locals take to the streets, the myriad pavement cafes and Vondelpark. At weekends you can cycle about 15 kms to the north to the pretty Monacon Dam to eat pancakes and drink beer before wobbling your way back. If ever your bike gets stolen you can buy a replacement for as little as €10. There’s no shortage of boat-owners at the major UK firms, so you could find yourself baking on the deck of a barge in summer. In winter, when the canals freeze over, it's all about ice skating and sipping on hot chocolate. Why not take the time to explore other towns like Utrecht (more canals), Rotterdam (having been bombed extensively during WWII it has more modern architecture; good night life and an excellent film festival in January) or Maastricht (a bit like Belgium and known for its pies).