Cooley
London·San Francisco
Venture capital·Startups·Technology
Cooley has been ranked the #1 law firm for venture capital financings globally for six years running, working with thousands of high-growth private companies from first funding round onward.
Why this firm
The go-to firm for venture-backed startups
#1 law firm for VC-backed IPOs for over 20 years (IPO Vital Signs), and advises around 30% of all US-based unicorns
Trainees are typically the only junior lawyer staffed on a matter, not one of several in a rotation
One of the smallest, most selective UK trainee cohorts of any major firm: just six training contract places a year, recruited exclusively through two-week spring and summer programmes
What this firm looks for
Drawn from Cooley's own recruitment materials
Based on the firm's published recruitment materials, graduate recruitment commentary and stated values.
Not "the stern, silent type"
Cooley trainees describe the firm as explicitly not recruiting reserved personalities: it doesn't tend to recruit the stern, silent type, and wants people confident enough to voice ideas unprompted.
Comfort as sole junior on a matter
Legal Talent Coordinator Rachael Driscoll flags that trainees can expect to be the only junior member of the team on most matters, so the firm screens for adaptability suited to that lean staffing model rather than a large-firm rotation cushion.
Entrepreneurial mindset
Tied directly to Cooley's venture-capital and startup client base, trainees and recruiters both describe the firm's culture and expectations of junior lawyers as distinctly entrepreneurial rather than institutional.
Past applications
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