Gibson Dunn’s Brussels office has been running a highly successful and much praised trainee scheme for well over a decade. We typically hire four trainees every six months, with the cycles starting in March and September (though, recognising Bar school dates vary, we can be flexible). Trainees can expect to handle a wide-range of matters dealing with some of the most interesting and challenging competition law issues of the day.
Our trainees are treated as an integral part of our case teams, which typically comprise three people: a partner, a senior or middle associate, and the trainee. They therefore enjoy close contact with the people deciding on the merits and strategy of a case. There is no set rule for the responsibilities they are given, which can vary depending on enthusiasm, experience and ability. Our main working language is English, but we handle matters in all the main EU languages.
We look for people with excellent academic grades who can demonstrate an affinity with competition policy and cases. Often, this will have involved studies and writing on specialised competition law subjects, and may well have involved previous traineeships with competition authorities, or competition law departments of businesses or law firms. It is important that we see a path to how the candidate plans to became a fully-qualified EU lawyer (not least because we like to hire our trainees as junior associates when we can). Curiosity and collegiality are essential.
Candidates are offered a six-month full-time contract at a competitive rate and, in line with the usual arrangements for lawyers in Belgium, are hired as independents.
For more information about the firm, our Antitrust and Competition Practice Group and the Brussels office, please take a look at https://www.gibsondunn.com/. Applications should be made by sending a CV, transcripts and a motivation letter to [email protected]. Gibson Dunn recruits on a strictly equal opportunities basis.