Ewan Viney

• Degree: History, University of York
• Joined: February 2011
• Doing now: Corporate
• Office location: London
• Favourite quote: “In Heaven, all the interesting people are missing.” – Nietzsche

I first considered applying to Hogan Lovells in a pub! I was speaking to an old friend from school and the topic of careers came up. My friend had studied law and said not only had she completed a vacation scheme with Hogan Lovells, but that she had gone on to accept a training contract with the firm.

My friend had only positive things to say about her experiences with the firm, so when I started the training contract application process, naturally Hogan Lovells was first on the list. Compared with other interviews and assessment days I had attended I found Hogan Lovells’ the most welcoming. Whilst the assessments were demanding, they gave me an opportunity to perform to my best. Throughout the day everyone I met spoke extremely highly of the firm, including the trainees that joined us for lunch.

I was offered and accepted my training contract in March 2008, during my final year at university. Post finals, I studied both the GDL and the accelerated LPC in London. It was good to live and study in London, having spent three years at university in York. I enjoyed the more practical and relevant nature of the GDL and LPC course compared with my Arts degree. I was in the first intake of Hogan Lovells trainees to sit the accelerated LPC. Although the course was undoubtedly hard work, it was far more beneficial to complete it in a shorter period because the more time pressured nature of the studying realistically reflects the environment in which you will work when you commence your training contract.

After finishing my LPC I had a year off before starting with the firm. I worked as a paralegal at a large City firm for six months, and then had six months off to go travelling, during which time I spent four months travelling through Africa (from Kenya down to South Africa), and two months in the ski resort of Whistler, Canada.

Having now been with the firm for four months, I have not been disappointed. Whilst the work is of course second to none, with clients and transactions to rival any of the largest law firms in the City, what I find most enjoyable about working at Hogan Lovells are my colleagues. On the few occasions I have had to stay late, people have been very appreciative of the effort.