Career in a law firm

In Switzerland, law can be studied at the universities of Basel, Bern, Fribourg, Geneva, Lausanne, Lucerne, Neuchâtel, St. Gallen and Zurich. Law studies can also be completed at the FernUni Schweiz. Various universities of applied sciences also offer courses in business law. Furthermore, a one-year internship is required for admission to the bar exam. This guide provides an overview of the necessary qualifications, applications, hiring criteria and other relevant information for aspiring lawyers interested in a career in a law firm.

Law firms primarily look for motivated legal associates with the basic knowledge acquired from their studies and strong comprehension skills. When applying as a trainee lawyer, it is important to have obtained a Master’s degree or that it will soon be awarded. The obligatory one-year internship as a trainee lawyer will only be credited after the Master’s degree has been awarded. An application essentially consists of a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, an overview of grades, any certificates and references. The cover letter should be easy to understand and have no spelling mistakes. Verbal and written communication skills are important tools for lawyers, as they communicate daily with clients, counterparties, courts, etc. Academic reports and grades are often reviewed based on the specific courses taken. The candidate may have chosen to study courses that are relevant to the firm’s areas of expertise. In addition, qualifications and certificates obtained outside the university degree may also be enclosed.

Proof of previous work experience is always an advantage. This can help applicants with lower grades stand out from the competition. Supervisors often experience that new employees with previous work experience can confront challenges better than those without prior work experience.

Generally, it is an advantage if applicants speak several languages. The official language of the canton is expected, as well as a good knowledge of English at least and a passive knowledge of French. Hard and soft skills are also crucial. Hard skills are learnable skills that are usually easy to demonstrate and relate to professional competence. Soft skills are character traits that are important for working in a team, amongst other things. Soft skills include qualities such as assertiveness or persuasiveness.

The question of whether to choose a large or a smaller law firm for the trainee internship or for the first position after passing the bar exam is a difficult one for applicants. In smaller firms, the atmosphere is often more informal and exchanges between colleagues often take place face to face. Lawyers often chose small firms in order to be able to have responsibility over their own cases shortly after starting to work there, which is in turn, associated with a great learning effect. The benefit of large law firms on the other hand lies in the likelihood that at least one employee will be available to answer questions.