Oliver read law with American legal studies at the University of East Anglia
My A levels were history, politics, geography and biology
You can't get a much broader mix than that. I first became interested in a career in law when I heard Michael Mansfield QC, the famous barrister, speaking at our local arts centre. He was compelling. Law was for me. But I didn't want to be a barrister, pottering around in chambers. I wanted to be a solicitor and work in a team.
I also have to admit to a fascination about all things American
So I leapt at the chance of doing law with a side order of America. Nottingham University offered a similar US bias but it was an option that you applied for after your first year. I knew at the outset that I wanted to spend a year in the US studying that country's legal system, so I wanted to choose a degree where that year was a certainty.
I did a vacation scheme at a US firm
But it was a bit more 'eat what you kill' rather than the collegiate, team atmosphere of an international firm with its roots in the UK. US firms in London are also fairly new to the concept of trainees. I wanted to train with a law firm where the concept of training was well established, where the lawyers are used to working with newcomers, and where there was evidence of some great support.
I applied for a training contract with most of the magic circle firms
In fact, I think I applied to ten firms altogether. When I attended the interview with Freshfields, I felt that they were genuinely interested in me: what I was doing, where I saw life going, and what made me tick. At the end of the interviews and my tour around the firm, I felt that I had been given every opportunity to give a good account of myself - and I had. So I was delighted when I received an offer.
After the LPC I deferred my training contract
I did some temporary work locally to earn some money and then I went off travelling around Central America and Argentina. I had a wonderful time - and it was all the more valued knowing that it would be the last long holiday I would have for a while.
My first seat was three months in structured and asset finance
I started off updating the jurisdictional legal opinions to ensure that the repurchase agreements that the banks hold on their balance sheets comply with the rules of each jurisdiction. To do this I had to check that the legal opinions published by 64 jurisdictions were still valid. In many cases there were new supplementary rules and I had to seek the opinion of local counsel. 'Repos' as they are called are less abstract than derivatives, but it was highly technical work and lots of responsibility for a trainee to be given.
My second seat was three months with dispute resolution
I worked with the engineering, procurement and construction team on two disputes. The first concerned a contractual dispute involving the design and integration of a complicated IT billing system. I had to study several experts' reports and compare some specific points they made. The second dispute concerned the installation of an offshore-onshore gas pipeline.
My third seat was also for three months
This was a further three months in dispute resolution but this time we concentrated on corporate disputes. Next will be a seat in corporate, I'd like to get involved in private equity or M&A work.
Outside my work commitments, I help on the vacation schemes
Last summer it was my job (no hardship) to put together some social events for the vacation students over the three weeks they were with us. We had drinks receptions, a summer carnival, a karaoke evening, a posh meal followed by a club, and a hilarious evening at the comedy store.
So far, everything has come up to my expectations
I'm just thrilled to be here. I have a decent amount of responsibility, I read about my clients in the national press, and I take part in some ground-breaking deals. I'm extremely lucky.
