Akin

The firm’s City base primarily focuses on finance, and the training experience is typical of a US firm with a smaller London presence.: lots of “hands on and interesting” experience, supported by “formal training sessions run by the different groups to cover specific areas of work, key documents and market developments”. Rookies also report having access to “regular third party training, including from barristers’ chambers, on current events, case law updates and client care”. And partners are always on-hand for support: “Everyone, from NQ to partner level, is great at taking the time to explain things, is keen to answer questions, and is very happy to give you as much responsibility as you feel comfortable with (always with their support),” one trainee reports. “Of course, there are some people who I wouldn’t want to bother”, another source adds, “but I think this is the case at any office”.

This positivity is shared by many of the trainees. As one rookie summarised: “The staff at Akin are excellent. It is the best working environment I have been a part of and the trainees have become good friends. It is easy to ask fellow juniors for work when something gets very busy, and seniors are very accommodating and realistic with deadlines during the busier periods too.” Another source shares that trainees usually take lunch and coffee breaks together and “there is always someone to go to if you have a problem”.

The optimism of trainees continues when asked about the level of responsibility they are given by the firm. “I lateralled from a Magic Circle firm,” says one junior lawyer, “the level of responsibility given to junior associates is far higher than that of Magic Circle or the mid-Atlantic firms.” But with Akin only recruiting a handful of UK trainees each year, there’s plenty of individual attention to be had alongside this additional responsibility. “The best thing about working at a firm like Akin is that, due to the relatively small size of the firm and the teams, each person’s role is important. As a junior lawyer, this is particularly attractive as it means that you aren’t pigeon-holed into only managing administrative tasks, you are allocated substantive pieces of work. Whilst this level of responsibility necessarily comes with a steep learning curve it also means that your skill-set develops much more quickly (and you get much more enjoyment out of matters)!” one spy told Legal Cheek.

When it comes to legal tech, trainees seem (on the whole) fairly happy with the firm’s efforts. Problems are apparently “incredibly rare” and “any issues are dealt with at lightning speed” by the IT team. Another tells us this: “There is an account/app for everything you would need. The IT assistance at the firm seems to be very well-funded as you never have to wait more than a couple of minutes before someone responds to an issue or query. The research facilities are very good and some of the proof-reading software and document services afforded are very useful and well-utilised.” Rookies say they have “great flexibility in working from home and have been provided with all the equipment we need to do so”.

This year Akin relocated from the bustling Spitalfields Market, where it shared an office block with A&O Shearman, to new digs at 155 Bishopsgate, just a brisk four-minute walk away and right next door to Liverpool Street station. The new space sees Akin’s lawyers and staff spread across floors nine to twelve of the building, with newly refurbished offices and access to private roof terrace areas offering sweeping views across the City skyline. The move also drops the firm into the heart of the Broadgate campus, putting a host of cafés, bars, gyms and food spots on the doorstep — ideal for grabbing lunch with colleagues and after-work socials.

Work/life balance veers on the side of work, but is not unbearable. The workload comes in peaks and troughs, varying from team to team, but most seem able to get away from the office at a reasonable hour. “I would say it’s a pretty sweet deal for a US firm,” writes one respondent. “Weekends and holidays are honoured (unless there are emergencies) and your time is mostly respected. However, when work calls you are expected to answer.”

And of course, other than the sky-high pay and eye-watering bonuses on offer, there are always the perks to help offset the longer hours. Mental health services, gym reimbursement schemes, mortgage advice and corporate retreats are just some of the goodies on offer here. Some trainees have also been invited on “amazing away days at lovely hotels”. It’s all a long way from the firm’s origins specialising in criminal law, having been founded by two FBI agents.