Allen & Overy has the highest profile of any law firm at the UK’s leading campuses, according to The Law Student Survey 2007, a study by High Fliers Research of more than 1,300 undergraduates planning to work as solicitors after university.

The firm is one of the five so-called “magic circle” London law firms that compete each year to recruit the very best graduates.

“The feedback that we get from students is that they often see us as being one of the friendliest and most accessible of the magic circle firms,” says Zoe Gordon, the graduate recruitment manager at Allen & Overy. “People really seem to respond well to our approachable staff when we’re out on campus; it’s something that certainly helps to set us apart from other firms.”

Allen & Overy’s recruitment promotions may be personable, but competition for training contracts at the firm is still fierce, with about 45 applications per place. “In addition to strong academic qualifications, we look for people who can demonstrate key skills such as motivation, initiative, teamwork, communication skills and commercial aware-ness,” Gordon says. “And everyone we recruit has to demonstrate to us their reasons for wanting to pursue a legal career and why they want to work for Allen & Overy.”

This commitment is an important factor in a sector where lengthy working days are the norm. “There’s always going to be an element of long hours no matter which firm you join,” Gordon says. “And yes, our trainees may have long days, but that is balanced out when things are quieter. You certainly wouldn’t be working late every night.”

Applications for the firm’s next intake of graduates close in six weeks, and interviews for short-listed candidates are in September and October. Those who are successful can look forward to financial support at law school plus two years’ training with the firm.

“We have our own legal practice course at the College of Law in London, so that enables us to stay in regular contact with our trainees during their time at law school,” Gordon says.

“Their college learning is supplemented by seminars and lectures at our offices. There are lots of social events happening too, which helps trainees to meet the people they’ll be working with once they join the firm.”

Graduates’ formal training is structured through four six-month “seats”, one of which could be an international or client secondment. “We are delighted that around 90 per cent of our trainees choose to stay with the firm on qualification,” Gordon says. “The majority of our partners trained at the firm, so there is a history of graduates joining Allen & Overy for the long term.”

Martin Birchall is editor of The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers

No 41 Allen & Overy

What is it? Allen & Overy is a London-based international law firm with a staff of 4,900 working from 25 offices in Europe, Asia and the US. The company works across eight practice areas, the largest being the corporate, banking, international capital markets and dispute resolution departments.

Which graduate jobs are on offer? The firm recruits around 120 trainees annually for its London office, including law and nonlaw graduates.

Where are the jobs? Allen & Overy’s main UK office is a new state-of-the-art building designed by Foster and Partners at Bishops Square in the City of London. The firm also has a smaller office for its banking and international capital markets departments in Canary Wharf.

What’s the pay like? The starting salary for new trainees is currently £35,700, which rises to £65,000 upon qualification as a lawyer.

What’s the competition like? Allen & Overy received more than 5,000 applications for training contracts in 2006.

How do you apply? The final application deadline for September 2009 and March 2010 training contracts is August 31. Apply via www.allenovery.com/careeruk

2002 - 39, 2003 - 37, 2004 - 56, 2005 - 57, 2006 - 41

The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers is based on research with more than 16,000 final-year university students. Order the 2006-07 edition from Times Books First for only £13.49 (rrp £14.99). Call 0870 1608080 or visit timesonline.co.uk/booksfirstbuy

Explore Career & Jobs

• Graduate / Management

• Senior Executive

• PA / Secretarial

• Public Sector

• Legal

• Recruiter Forum

• MBA

• Top 100 Graduate Employers

• Top 50 Women

• Best 100 Companies

• Careers in

Times Recommends

• Inspirational leadership
• How to get a new job
• The reluctant CEO