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Working environment
Culture and principles
A career at the forefront of the legal profession is demanding. Our clients come to us because we set ourselves very high standards and it is precisely that challenge that motivates and inspires our people. But, at Clifford Chance, we have gone to great lengths to create an environment and foster a culture that supports you in meeting the challenges of your work and that enables you to develop to your full potential.
Life at Clifford Chance is characterised by teamwork and support. Joining us you will quickly become an important member of your team and take on real responsibility. As a trainee you'll be engaged in client-facing work, attend meetings and take calls, and you will often be asked to write the first draft of important documents and carry out critical research.You'll work closely with your supervisor and other team members, who will provide close support and guidance – while also giving you the room to develop your own ideas and opportunities to contribute to discussions. Ongoing training and development is woven into our culture and everyone here is encouraged to see developing new talent as part of their role. That's why you'll find that when you ask for help or advice, people will make time for you – whether they are on the other side of the office from you, or the other side of the world.
Clifford Chance was the first 'magic circle' firm to move its headquarters to Canary Wharf and our offices continue to set the standard for on-site facilities and working environment. Our aim is to give you all that you need to develop, to be effective and productive, to stay fit and well, to make the most of every day and to enjoy the company of your colleagues.
Facilities
- In-house restaurant - open for breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Deli bar - offers take-away sandwiches and snacks throughout the day
- Coffee bar - gives people an informal place to meet, and becomes our Budgie Bar on Thursday and Friday evenings
- On-site, state-of-the-art health and fitness centre - 20m swimming pool, gym, squash courts, exercise studios, personal trainers
- Multi-faith prayer room
- On-site wellness centre - offers medical services including doctors and physiotherapists
- In-house hairdresser, dry cleaner
- On-call taxi service
Social
A large law firm such as ours brings together people with many different interests and we host a wide range of sports, cultural and social clubs and activities. You'll find there are also regular practice-area and team social events, retreats and dinners; the Budgie bar, which is open on Thursday and Friday nights and can be booked at other times during the week for special events or team functions; and, not surprisingly, there are well-trodden routes from our offices to Canary Wharf's many cafes, restaurants and bars. There is also plenty of open space around us, including more than 20 acres of parks, squares and promenades.Ultimately though, what makes our working environment truly unique is the people who work here. You might be surprised to learn that lawyers make up only half the people at Clifford Chance. The rest are people who help drive our success in other ways - such as our document production staff, legal secretaries and human resources, technology and marketing teams.
All in all, we believe our working environment, from top to bottom, will support you, encourage you and enable you to develop to your full potential.

