The months leading up to qualification can be a stressful time - particularly for trainees who are considering moving firm to pursue new challenges. I joined Brodies' corporate team as a newly qualified solicitor in 2018, so I know what it's like to be in that position. To help NQs who are now facing the same choices, I've put together three reasons why the firm's Corporate and Commercial practice area (C&C) is an excellent place to start your legal career:

1. Deal quality: C&C is one of the firm's core business areas, and our team has exceptional credentials across a broad range of specialisms - private equity; mainstream M&A; the formation and operation of investment funds; financial services regulation; cross-border transactions; employment matters and corporate tax. The corporate team completes an impressive number of deals every year; a particular highlight in recent months was acting for a Silicon Valley headquartered private equity fund in the sale of its interest in a software company to a Wall Street private equity firm for over $1 billion. Over 90% of our deals by value have an international element, meaning there are real opportunities for junior lawyers to get involved in market leading, complex and high value deals from the outset of their career.

2. Excellent support network: Continuing professional development - or CPD - is a term feared by many lawyers but Brodies makes it simple. The firm offers a structured NQ training programme designed to help you take responsibility for refining your commercial acumen and general business skills. Each of the various practice areas within C&C also organises regular team-specific sessions which focus on improving technical ability. These sessions are often delivered by key players who are considered to be market-leading experts within their respective fields, giving you the opportunity to benefit from their many years of practical experience. Partners and senior lawyers across C&C are particularly approachable and are keen to spend time developing junior talent, meaning 'on the job' informal training is also undertaken on a continuous basis. But it's not all work and no play - the people within my department are also really supportive, friendly and always up for making the most of the social aspects of office life! I am lucky enough to work with some fantastically talented lawyers who really strive to support each other in delivering the best outcome for our clients. It's also nice to be surrounded by people who don't make work drinks feel like, well, 'work'. In recent months, we've enjoyed a number of team bonding and BD activities, including an outing to the cat patting café in Edinburgh and various dinner and drinks events hosted across the city.

3. Breadth of opportunity: As they say, variety is the spice of life. This is particularly true for qualifying trainees who will likely have gained a feel for where they want to qualify during their seat rotations, but in many cases have a limited understanding of the various specialist work streams that actually operate within their practice area of interest. My experience of C&C is that no two days or tasks are ever the same: our clients come to us for advice and support on a wide range of projects and issues, and a key part of your role is to be adaptable. In my short time at Brodies, I've been fortunate enough to get involved in a number of transactions which cut across many of C&C's areas of specialism, as noted above. I joined the firm firmly set on a mainly M&A focused role, before discovering that my passion actually lay within the world of investment funds. The clear benefit of qualifying into a practice area which can offer you the breadth of opportunity that C&C can is that you will likely work out what you enjoy most while trying your hand at a variety of different tasks along the way.

To apply for one of our NQ roles, visit Brodies' careers page.