White & Case LLP - True Picture - Chambers Student Guide

White & Case LLP

5 Old Broad Street,
London,
EC2N 1DW
Website http://www.whitecase.com/

Firm profile

White & Case is a global law firm of more than 2,500 lawyers worldwide. We’ve built an unrivalled network of 44 offices in 30 countries. That investment is the foundation for our client work in over 200 countries today. Complex client projects, nuanced local market knowledge and global capabilities define who we are. Many White & Case clients are multinational organisations with complex needs that require the involvement of multiple offices. As part of our training contract, we offer every trainee a guaranteed six-month overseas seat.

The work

As a White & Case lawyer, you’ll work on fast-paced cutting-edge cross-border projects from the outset of your career. In London, our key areas of work include: debt finance (including regulatory compliance); financial restructuring and insolvency; capital markets (high yield and securitisation); dispute resolution (including antitrust, commercial litigation, intellectual property, international arbitration, trade, white collar and construction and engineering); energy, infrastructure, project and asset finance (EIPAF); corporate (including M&A, private equity, employment, compensation and benefits, investment funds, real estate and tax).

The training programme

White & Case is looking to recruit ambitious trainees who have a desire to gain hands-on practical experience from day one and a willingness to take charge of their own career. We value globally-minded citizens of the world who are eager to work across borders and cultures, and who are intrigued by solving problems within multiple legal systems. They should have an understanding of international commercial issues and an interest in working on big-ticket, cross-border work. We recruit both law and non-law students and owing to the nature of our work, language skills are of interest. Applicants will be welcomed for their individuality, their ability to contribute to the cutting-edge work we do and the energy with which they approach the job at hand. They should have achieved, or be on track to achieve, a solid 2:1, have a positive and friendly attitude, be enthusiastic and work well in teams.

The training contract consists of four six-month seats, one of which is guaranteed to be spent in one of our overseas offices, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hong Kong, Helsinki, Houston, Madrid, Paris, Prague, Singapore, Stockholm and Tokyo. The remaining three seats can be spent in any one of the Firm’s practice groups in London. Receiving a high level of partner and associate contact from day one, our trainees can be confident that they will receive high-quality, stimulating and rewarding work. Trainees work in small, focused teams, so their colleagues trust them to perform tasks accurately and efficiently. White & Case is a “high-stretch, high-support” workplace that celebrates individual excellence and team success. We actively encourage our trainees to take early responsibility, and there is a strong emphasis on practical training, with plenty of support and feedback. Alongside the training contract, our trainees are encouraged to get involved in all aspects of our globally-renowned pro bono programme, often working directly with clients and even managing small matters. White & Case recruits and develops trainee solicitors with the aim of retaining them on qualification.

Discover White & Case through the eyes of our people. Read more (https://inside.whitecase.com/) about our work, our people and our offer.

The deadline for applications is 13 July 2025.

Vacation schemes

So you want to be a City lawyer? Taking part in one of our three annual vacation schemes is the best possible way to experience what our lawyers do every day. Try out real client work and see if our Firm is the right fit for you.

We recruit the majority of our London trainees (on average 80 percent) from our vacation schemes, with 25 participants in each intake. There’s no limit on how many training contracts we offer per scheme, so you won’t be in competition with your peers.

Wherever your career takes you, we guarantee that you’ll build skills and experience that will last:

• Do real client work: draft memorandums; write client alerts; research areas of the law; attend meetings or court hearings, for example
• Learn about different practice areas and deepen your knowledge of the law
• ‘Ask Me Anything’ Q&A session with partners and associates
• Attend social events, including supervisor and buddy lunches, and fun activities such as sushi making
• Build your networks, both professionally and personally
• Receive feedback and advice on your work and performance
• As part of your training contract interview, you’ll have the opportunity to prepare a presentation on a commercial topic

Our vacation schemes run on the following dates:

Winter (for finalists and graduates)
Our Winter scheme runs from Monday 2 December to Friday 13 December 2024 and the deadline to apply is 13 October 2024.

Spring (for penultimate-year students, finalists and graduates)
Our Spring scheme runs from Monday 31 March to Friday 11 April 2025 and the deadline to apply is 12 January 2025.

Summer (for penultimate-year students, finalists and graduates)
Our Summer scheme runs from Monday 23 June to Friday 4 July 2025 and the deadline to apply is 12 January 2025.

Open days

If you’re curious about working as a City lawyer, our London office open days are a great place to find out more. You’ll learn more about White & Case, and meet our current trainees, associates and partners.

• Learn about City law
• Network with the White & Case team over lunch
• Get practical tips on how to do well in your applications and interviews
• Put your decision-making skills to the test in an interactive business game
• Speak to trainees, associates and partners about their work and our Firm

Our open days run on 14 and 21 November 2024 and the deadline to apply is 27 October 2024.

First-year two-day insight scheme

Attend one of our two-day insight schemes to understand more about what City law firms do and about different areas of the law. Discover what lawyers really do and see if this is a career that matches your interests and ambitions.

• Learn about White & Case
• Find out how we compare to other law firms
• Shadow one of our trainees
• Understand the day-to-day role of a trainee
• Enhance your future applications
• Meet White & Case trainees, associates and partners
• Attend networking events

Our two-day insight schemes run from 7 to 8 May and 14 to 15 May 2025 and the deadline to apply is 30 March 2025.

White & Case Virtual Learning Programme

Our virtual learning programme offers the opportunity to gain first-hand insight into life as a White & Case trainee and experience the realities of cross-border law.

There is no cost to access the programme; it is self-paced to fit around your schedule, and no application form or legal knowledge is required. You'll gain insight into the fast-paced cutting-edge projects our lawyers and trainees work on, and gain valuable skills by undertaking true-to-life legal tasks. Participation in the learning programme will be recognised on our application forms, and it is a great way to demonstrate your interest in law and White & Case.

Wherever you are based, we want to give everyone the opportunity to get to know us.

If you're globally minded and ambitious, join our virtual learning programme here.