Clifford Chance SPARK Review

CC SPARK was a five day insight scheme which featured three days of classroom based sessions and two days of work shadowing. The classroom based sessions included presentations on firm's main practice areas, developing one's client focus and the firm's focus on ESG and legal technology. During the last two days of work shadowing, the tasks varied depending on the practice area and supervisor you were assigned to. Examples of tasks include producing a fee quote or conducting research.

The scheme developed my technical knowledge on commercial law, notably in regard to the mechanisms of M&A deals and financing structures. It gave me greater insight into the work that trainees carry out and has enabled me to better evaluate whether a career in commercial law is right for me. In addition, it also helped me develop my soft skills, particularly how to deal with clients and interact with more senior lawyers.

The scheme featured several sessions aimed at helping us understand CC's business as a whole. We learned not only about the work of the fee earners but also about the work of CC's business professionals such as the legal technology team or the community outreach team. Graduate recruitment was also particularly forthcoming about potential roles at CC and what skills and expertise that was needed for these roles.

The company culture was extremely welcoming and inclusive. Each and every person at CC was patient when answering questions and emphasised the collegiate culture of the company. It was evident that the management of the firm put in a lot of effort to cultivate a collaborative, well-balanced culture. The general atmosphere was warm and encouraging.

I greatly enjoyed the insight. The sessions were informative and extremely engaging. There was no moment in which I felt bored. The people were also extremely friendly and happy to answer any questions. I made a lot of friends on the scheme who I look forward to staying in contact with.

Yes

I recommend doing as much research into CC as you can to understand its differentiating factors. There are several city law firms which engage in complex, multi-jurisdictional work but there are many ways in which CC can be distinguished ranging from its unparalleled expertise in ESG to its specific culture. It should be clear in your application why CC, as opposed to any other magic circle law firm, is the right firm for you.