Hi guys
Sorry to slightly hijack this Ronnie...
EagleLegal - interesting thread for me. I'm a (lapsed due to law course fees) PPL. Did the airline sponsorship schemes etc back in 1999 before i decided to give up on the idea for a multitude of reasons. I still look longingly skyward but try not to think about it now....
Anyway, I've been working in a different field for a few years. Finally decided a couple of yrs ago to take the law plunge and am now doing the second yr of a part time cpe before starting the LPC in September (I'm 30 this year by the way). I have a training contract lined up starting sept 2006. Given my interests, I am keen to get into the aviation side of things. Like you said "enthusiasm for the area undoubtedly makes it more enjoyable". Ok, banking is banking, but I'd rather be financing a 74 than a combined harvester. I'd love to have done an MA in Air/Space law too, but I've already done a 4yr degree, followed by a year's MA, 2 year part time GDL and now onto the 1 yr LPC so.... Every time I come out of my last exam i swear I won't do that to myself again.
I did a placement at Ince & Co a while back, which was great, but not sure if lit. was necessarily for me. Considered Beaumont & Son etc., but in the end decided that something broader would be my best bet. In the end I chose a top 20 firm with strong av. finance team and a top-rated (Chambers places it 2nd tier) reg. bunch, eve though the former head honcho has since moved to chambers. You can probably guess the firm. Begins with a D and is having something of a shocker at the moment... Sometimes I think I should maybe have applied to more places (maybe MC too - you can always trade down), but the truth is I got a good feeling from the firm I chose so I'm actually very happy with it, and I am hoping I'll get a seat in both av. finance and reg. As far as I know there is no aviation lit. going on there, but we'll see. Will I enjoy lit. or transactional more. I think I'm of the opinion that you just can't tell till you've done it.
How have you found the job ? hours shocking I'm sure, but generally enjoyable ?
And how are you getting on with your break over to a flight deck ? How are you going to do/finance it ? I'd be really interested to hear.
Ronnie
Look at the UK section here
http://www.chambersandpartners.com/uk/
You can search under "Aviation" which will give you 2 options - regulatory, and insurance (litigation). This will turn up the top rated firms in the area
Off the top of my head for aviation litigation firms to consider (I'd say) are Clyde & Co, Ince & Co, Beaumont & Son, DLA, Barlow Lyde Gilbert
Finance is more what you'd expect. Clifford Chance, other MC firms etc
Hope that helps somewhat
A couple of words of advice from someone probably not qualified to give it.
1) As EagleLegal says, "make sure you get into one of the recognised top firms". This is important. The chances are you will not be at the same firm all your life and the better the name on your CV the more flexibility and mobility you grant yourself.
2) (This may not ring true for a firm such as Beaumont & Son which is a niche aviation firm, but is true for almost all others I'd say). Sure, express your interest in their strong aviation work, BUT DO NOT express an interest ONLY in aviation work. You will get binned immediately. Remember that they want you to be flexible, open minded etc etc. The firm I am going to has a niche area that a lot of people are interested in getting into. Those who banged on mostly about that in their interviews were binned. The correct approach in my mind is to look at what the firm does (read, where it makes its money) and tailor your answers in the interview accordingly. Remember you need to get in. Once you're in, then push for what you want.
I wish you the best of luck, both of you.
Keep us informed of how you are getting on.
Of course you may want to go to the bar, in which case everything on this thread is useless
