A-Z Of Employers: Linklaters

What does it do? Linklaters is a member of the unofficial club of leading City-based law firms, known as the Magic Circle. In fact, last week, they assumed first spot, in revenue generating terms, when annual takings of £410m, an increase of 8 per cent, allowed them to overtake all rivals for the first time. Formed in London in 1837, they practised largely domestic law until four years ago when they merged with three European firms and expanded into the Americas and Asia. Its practice covers much of the world, and most key commercial sectors. Among recent work listed on the website ( www.linklaters.com) is the legal advice on a £200m new airport project in Bangalore, numerous large investment bank transactions, and assistance given to the BBC with the legal niceties of the imminent switchover from analog to digital broadcasting.

Vital statistics: Linklaters has 29 offices in 22 different countries, and works with more than half of the world's top companies. Of 2,000 qualified lawyers worldwide, 500 are partners.

The office: The firm's head office is in the City, alongside the Barbican, with the appropriate address of 1, Silk Street.

Is this you? Every year, 130 trainee lawyers are taken on. Applications won't stay in the in-tray for long without top-drawer academic achievements. You'll also need to have people skills, drive and commitment, be organised and analytical and have an interest in commercial issues and the City.

The recruitment process: Typically, law students apply in their penultimate year and non-law students apply in their final year. Deadline details on the website. If you get called in, you'll take a critical thinking test, tour the building with a current trainee, and have two separate interviews. The second is with a partner and includes a commercial case study. All this takes half a day. Graduates taken on follow the set two-year template common to all trainee solicitors. You'll spend six months each in four different practice areas of the firm, and complete the mandatory elements of the Professional Skills Course laid down by the Law Society. There also might be the opportunity to work in an overseas office, or with one of Linklaters' many client businesses.

Top dollar? The company claims one of the best graduate remuneration packages in London: £29,7000 at the outset, rising to £52,000 on qualification two years later.

Beam me up Scotty? Once qualified you'll specialise in one area of commercial law. That might be advising companies on acquiring new businesses, making loans for aircraft financing, or drafting documents for the next big skyscraper in London.

Who's the boss? Senior Partner since 2001, Anthony Cann must truly feel part of the furniture. He joined the firm back in 1970.

Little known fact: Linklaters lawyers helped ensure that MTV was able to broadcast from its studio overlooking Leicester Square. They overturned a council planning decision, refusing permission to change the use of the building.