Akin - True Picture

Firm profile

Akin’s London office is the hub of the firm’s international offices, partnering with clients from established industries and cutting-edge markets to deliver creative solutions to business-critical issues, helping them seize opportunities and anticipate challenges. Driven by the firm’s forward-thinking leadership, Akin has built a strong culture of innovation and collaboration as well as a talented and diverse workforce committed to the success of its clients and each other.

Main areas of work

Market-leading practices include financial restructuring, corporate transactions (including mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures), private equity, finance (including debt finance and project finance), energy including renewables, debt and equity capital markets, financial services regulatory, disputes, international arbitration, investment funds (including hedge and private equity funds and secondaries transactions), international trade – including in relation to the new National Security & Investment law – as well as EU/UK competition, share incentives and tax.

An important part of Akin’s culture is its commitment to pro bono. Trainees are encouraged to take part and are represented on local and firm-wide pro bono committees, including a unique scholarship programme. The firm has an inclusive working culture and actively supports a broad diversity strategy for its continued success.

Training opportunities

By focusing on a smaller intake we maintain flexibility and seek to grow through our junior lawyer retention. Over the course of our two-year training programme, you will rotate across four different practice areas, spending six months in each. You’ll experience on-the-job experiential learning which will allow you to develop a keen commercial awareness and to take on responsibility and ownership of tasks for each practice area you work in. Examples of tasks you may be involved in during your training include, but are not restricted to, legal research, preparing client communications, attending client meetings, organising deal closing checklists and preparing trial bundles. You’ll receive supportive supervision from England and Wales-qualified practitioners with valuable ongoing feedback and two substantive evaluations during each seat.

Vacation scheme

Akin’s two-week spring vacation scheme provides an excellent opportunity to experience what life is really like as an Akin trainee. Through a comprehensive programme of interactive training sessions, workshops, mentoring and social activities, you will get to know our firm. Through working side by side with partners, associates and trainees on live deals, you will get to know our practices and clients.

We welcome applications from law students in their penultimate year of study, non-law students in their final year and graduates of any subject looking to commence a training path in two years’ time. At the end of the scheme, participants will be offered the chance to interview for our two-year training programme.

Other benefits

Season ticket loan, health insurance, critical illness insurance, life insurance, travel insurance, dental insurance, pension, annual eye exam, employee assistance programme, onsite mental health services, Lexxic support, cycle scheme, discounted ClassPass, Peloton and gym rates, fitness reimbursement programme, virtual clinic service.