2025
A wide range of firms offer Training Contract opportunities. What attracts you specifically to Milbank? (250 words)
Milbank’s focus on its strengths and associate development has proved successful, from being awarded Project Finance Deal of the Year at the 2024 Asian Legal Business Korea Law Awards and ranking in the top tiers of Chambers US. This practice group recognition is paired with highly ranked lawyers, with the highest concentration of Chambers rankings per lawyer of any of the London offices of the leading US law firms (Chambers Student), offering trainees mentorship from market leaders during every seat. Milbank firm-wide strengths on both sides of the Atlantic attract market-leading work. A high-performing environment constantly delivering first-of-its-kind work would routinely push me beyond my comfort zone, but with the appropriate mentorship to help me across the way. Milbank is a clear choice for me, someone aiming to be a leader and innovator during my career.
Milbank's use of staffing coordinators attracts me to its training contract as I can further tailor my training contract to my needs and interests. The opportunity to express my interests before work distribution would allow me to work with different clients and experience different tasks, ensuring my trainee workstream is not completely supervisor dependent.
Furthermore, the learning does not stop once qualified. From the award-winning Milbank@Harvard programme teaching associates the ‘language of clients’ (Taha Khan), individual development needs addressed by the University of Law’s Junior Lawyer development plan, and the Advocacy@Milbank and Deals@Milbank macro-level programs. These programmes would enable me to deliver innovative solutions to clients in varying economic climates.
What personal qualities do you possess that you think would make you a suitable Trainee solicitor? (250 words)
My appetite for hard work would make me a suitable Trainee. This quality was demonstrated during my voluntary undertaking of an extended project qualification, writing a 20-page essay on the ‘freedoms and failures’ of European competition law. Writing academically about an unfamiliar area of law was testing, with simultaneous demands on several skills. To succeed I worked to access varying academic opinions despite paywall limitations, such as utilising resources at [REDACTED] University, and allocated time for research alongside primary academic commitments. This work produced an A* grade, achieving a mark of 49/50. My proactive approach to new, unfamiliar challenges would translate well to a Trainee role when starting new seats and projects with Milbank’s varying clientele.
My attentiveness would also make me a suitable Trainee. I have developed this quality as an equity research analyst for [REDACTED], where I am authorised to pitch short positions. The increased risk of uncapped losses demands clear qualitative and quantitative support. Therefore, if proposing a short position, I start by carefully reviewing financial reports and engaging an independent analyst from sector peers. I then search for catalysts that would significantly impact that firm’s business, such as technological obsolescence. These tasks ensure a solid proposal and an informed buy-to-cover timing suggestion. As a Trainee solicitor, I would employ such care in due diligence and drafting. The confidence gained from attentiveness would also provide comfort in accepting full responsibility for my proposals to clients, treating the firm as my own business from day one.
Please describe a current affairs topic you think would be of relevance to Milbank and/or our clients and explain why. (250 words)
The increasing operating costs for European companies will be relevant to Milbank, particularly its Financial Restructuring group, hedge funds, and private equity clients.
Firstly, there have been increased operating costs due to slower interest rate cuts by European institutions to combat inflation, resulting in increased borrowing costs. Global trends have then contributed to corporate costs in the continent, such as the re-election of Doland Trump and his threat of up to a 20% import tax increase (PBS News). Proposed UK employment rights reforms are predicted to cost businesses up to £5 billion a year (The FT) and may increase employer’s liability insurance premiums, adding to UK-specific operating cost concerns. These increased costs may lead to a continuation of the rising European distressed acquisition and financing volume into 2025, with the first two quarters of 2024 seeing a 66% increase compared to H1 2023 (White & Case).
This news is relevant to private credit firms, who can offer a lifeline to a financially distressed company, such as Covalis Capital’s £5 billion full ownership bid for Thames Water. This is relevant to Milbank lawyers, who have experience representing both sides of the table, having represented both buyers, like private equity firms, and clients, like Farfetch’s $500 million acquisition by Coupang. A potential deal volume increase in this area may also require Milbank to continue with strategic hires, such as Nicholas Dunstone’s partnership appointment in the Singapore office restructuring group, to maintain its award-winning lead (Legal 500) in this core practice.
2021
I am a penultimate year student studying Law (LLB) at University College London and I am writing to apply for the above-captioned role, as advertised to me at the 2018 UCL Law Careers Fair.
I am interested in a career in commercial law because I have enjoyed my open days at city law firms and legal internships. Through these experiences, I assisted with various tasks: merger, and investment transaction research, litigation case report search and proofreading Islamic finance agreements. I am drawn by the potential for holistic client engagement at different stages of a business’s life cycle and the skilful application of knowledge, negotiation and problem-solving skills to transactions that commercial legal practice would require. My interest in Islamic finance, stemming from the relative resilience of Islamic financial institutions during the 2008 global financial crisis drew me to complete an “Islamic Law, Finance and Business Ethics’’ course at Harvard University during the 2018 summer holidays. Given this interest, and Millbank’s position as innovative leaders in Islamic Finance - demonstrated by the firm’s role in advising the underwriters on the leading G3 issuance of bonds and Sukuk certificates by the leading oil and gas company PETRONAS - I am particularly attracted to a career at Milbank. The firm’s exceptionalism in advising on complex global contentious and transactional matters as illustrated by the recognition of the firm’s Finance and Restructuring Groups as the teams of the year at the 2018 Transatlantic Legal Awards, as well as the firms Chambers & Partners Band 1 ranking for Litigation & Arbitration. As such, it would be a privilege to work in an environment where exceptional results are consistently achieved in complex cross-border transactions.
I am particularly interested in training at Milbank because of the firm’s unparalleled demonstrated investment in its lawyers’ development. A conversation with Olivia Anderson and Emily Henderson, current associates at the firm, further developed my interest in training at Milbank, as they provided me with further insight into the culture of the firm and how its lawyers are consistently supported. A key example of this is the firm’s provision of the unique ‘Milbank@Harvard’ programme which illustrates the firm’s commitment to the continued professional development of its lawyers. The firm’s small trainee intake of 5 would provide me with greater opportunity for on-the-job training and responsibility, client exposure and the opportunity to develop strong relationships with other trainees in my cohort, as well as access to senior lawyer mentorship. Thus, I believe that there would be no better place to begin my career and develop as successful world-class commercial lawyer than at Milbank.
I believe that my previous experiences have equipped me with key skills which will ensure that I am a fantastic trainee solicitor at Milbank who can make valuable contributions to the firm. My intellectual curiosity and hard work ethic are evidenced by my completion of a 15-week “Islamic Law, Finance and Business Ethics” course at Harvard University in 3 weeks. I had no previous experience in this subject but my interest and drive to succeed resulted in me achieving a 95% grade in my final research paper. I was given a week to write the paper and present my findings to a class of undergraduates, graduates, and professionals who all commended my research. This experience also highlights my willingness to learn new complex matters, which I believe will be a valuable asset to have as a trainee solicitor. As the current elected [redacted] African-Caribbean Society Sponsorship Officer, I took the initiative to create a ‘Sponsor Guide’ which includes sponsor firm schemes and careers guidance to tackle the society’s members’ lack of awareness of sponsor opportunities. The Guide increased member applications for sponsor opportunities and has been described as ‘the best resource for first-year students.’ My commitment to achieving consistent excellence is illustrated by my provision of researched customer specific advice to walk-in clients at Toynbee Advice Centre, who have commended me on my ability to provide them with good advice. The ability to communicate with a diverse range of colleagues and clients is vital for Milbank lawyers, given the firm’s presence across 4 continents.
Thank you for considering my application and I look forward to hearing from you.
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