There’s no doubt that going on an international secondment can be one of the more glamorous and exciting elements of a training contract. Trainees who spend time in an overseas office often report increased responsibility and a bolstered network of contacts from across the firm. At WFW ‘international secondments are actively encouraged and there is even an option to complete two’! A White & Case trainee had a ‘very positive experience. The team was supportive and friendly and the transition was smooth’. A HFW recruit described their secondment as ‘brilliant – high level of responsibility, great to build an internal network (and have friends to stay with should I find myself back in Asia)’. A Clifford Chance placement was ‘exceptional – I experienced the “one firm” mantra in real life’, whilst a Norton Rose Fulbright recruit found their secondment ‘really well organised’ and enjoyed working with a ‘really good team’. Trainees flocked to Baker McKenzie because of its ‘truly global reach’, and to Stephenson Harwood because of the ‘availability of international secondments, especially in Asia’. A Freshfields secondment was summed up neatly as ‘in the office: taking a step up to doing junior associate work. Outside of the office: great fun and you are well supported’. A CMS trainee’s overseas placement was ‘one of the best experiences of my life to date’, while for an Akin Gump trainee it was ‘fantastic. On a professional level, it allowed me to expand my network, experience working culture in a different continent, and work on completely different kinds of deals than I would in London’. A Covington & Burling trainee said ‘my international seat in Dubai was great!’