What I REALLY Do In a Day as a Corporate Lawyer in London - Tasks, Hours & Salaries

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The realities of life as a corporate lawyer (sorry to break it to you) aren’t exactly what you watch in Suits, Partner Track or The Good Wife - late nights, yes, but copyroom hanky-panky and brainstorming over whisky are definitely less common than 2am trawls through documents looking for a problematic clause or Deliveroo at my desk waiting for a contract to be signed 🖋️… So, in this video, I am breaking down what corporate lawyers actually do 👨‍💼
I run through the day-to-day tasks, areas of corporate law, and how law firms run.
Starting my life as a trainee lawyer, I really had very little idea what the role of a corporate lawyer was (other than looking as sharp as Harvey or Rachel). I also didn’t appreciate how many different teams there were within a law firm, and how these teams all mesh together to help companies with different types of deals and legal issues 🤯
I’ve now worked at a magic circle corporate law firm for over two years, so wanted to run through (in plain English) the basics of what I wish I had known going into this career. So, hopefully once you’ve watched this video, your understanding of corporate law will go a little further than mine did as a student trying to work out what to do with my life (i.e., corporate law = suave suits, battles for power and a fair few dollar bills) 👌
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About Me
I'm a lawyer, part-time KZbinr, son, brother, startup founder, fiancé, black coffee drinker and plant dad. I graduated from Cambridge University (where I studied French and Spanish), topped my law school class and now work for a corporate law firm in London as a solicitor (which takes up a lot of my time)!
Around that, I'm a big fan of discovering new ways of thinking, of balancing work with life, and of performing to the very best of my ability. Ohh, and being happy. And I try to share all that on this KZbin channel 😀
Fun fact: I believe we massively overplay the role of “natural talent” 😮 AND… I also believe that TOGETHER, WE ARE ALL CAPABLE OF POSITIVITY, PRODUCTIVITY AND SUCCESS.
📸 Instagram - / liam.porritt
🌍 My little kingdom - liamporritt.com
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Disclaimer:
Information, views and opinions depicted in this video are my own. Information visible on screens or in documents does not relate to my work as a lawyer for clients.
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[@sarahhladymacdonald2290]

as a current law student, this is such a helpful video to understand what the profession looks like. no coffee chat or networking event has ever been so informative. thank you!

[@NihilisticHedonism]

This guy should give presentations at careers fairs and websites

[@fionacampbell7020]

Right, he's so positive for starters....which is refreshing especially in law 👀

[@marianakamura5069]

Hi, Liam! Just wanted to let you know that I got the trainee contract of my dreams in the biggest law firm in Brazil (and Latin America) largely because of your videos! Thanks for being such a guidance and an inspiration throughout my Law journey. Your videos were both a great method to keep myself inspired to continue studying and a great distraction in my moments of time off. So yeah, thought it might be nice for you to know how impacful your work as a KZbinr really is. Bye! :)

[@goldenikeu]

congratulations 🎉

[@rafaelrezende3179]

which firm do you got in?

[@kollainamerica]

This really is a great video. I am a software engineer in new york city and to see the difference in both the cities is amazing! Keep them coming!

[@BomberFletch31]

Very well explained, Liam. For me, when I worked as a specialist in IP, at an IP specialist firm, I very rarely looked outside of my area, so much of what you spoke about was quite foreign to me, but I've definitely found this video insightful. And for me personally, it's a good reminder that when advising start-ups on IP protection and commercialisation (which is where my work lies predominantly) it's important to look at the bigger picture too, and refer them to other lawyers as necessary.

[@olivier3516]

Tremendous video Liam, keep them going ! They really help to motivate me to pursuit a career in London !!

[@evan]

My girlfriend is a corporate M&A solicitor but won’t tell me a lick of anything that happens cause ya know confidentiality so I found this super interesting! Also she nodded the whole way. Especially at keeping the client happy despite sleep needs

[@billcaan4192]

Lol how do u have a relation if she always at work...

[@ninthusiva7546]

​@billcaan4192 how do you type without a brain

[@vaidehisharma2789]

Such a great informative video. Kudos Liam. You're truly an inspiration 💕

[@KingOfBeansAndSoup]

This is genuinely the best law summary I've ever seen

[@Vitoloqb]

Your videos are amazing, thank you for sharing. We really appreciate your transparency and honesty.

[@nongeekandjii3701]

Such an insightful video! I'd love to see a more in-depth video of building a career in M&A specifically. Perhaps some early-career tips, helpful books/podcasts, pros & cons of the field, potential challenges & general mindset and lifestyle tips to get ahead in the field. Thanks for the content!

[@gingerssmelllikecabbageand8708]

My friend brother worked in London for Goldman.Remember watching the 6 nations final and half way through he has to go back into the office, was gone for 4 hours or so. Meet him at a wedding 6 Years later. Waited 5yrs at Goldman, was burnt, glad he done it, done his CV wonders. But said he would never go back. Looked for office hours at a much smaller firm and actually has a life. But it’s nice to see the mechanics of your industry

[@KP_City_Life]

This is so useful - for those who haven’t finished the LPC/SQE the firms’ focus more on pitching their “culture” and “diversity” but half of the students don’t actually know what they are applying for or understand much beyond that. More videos are needed about practice sectors. Thank you :)

[@ninawoods5985]

wHAT A liar. His salary is not 125k which he says on another video WTF not even partners earn that much hahhaaa another fake youtuber

[@KP_City_Life]

@@ninawoods5985 I disagree when you research what a practicing lawyer at CC earns plus bonus :/

[@ninawoods5985]

@@KP_City_Life what do you mean research lol I work in law

[@KP_City_Life]

@@ninawoods5985 then you know better then lol

[@pink99zz90]

Oh my god haha I left a comment last video about wanting more videos about being a corporate lawyer, and so today when I saw this video on my subscriptions I was so happy 😂😂 Been a subscriber for a while now and love your videos Liam, thank you for this! 🎉🙂

[@nashelyalvarez3760]

Thank you so much for making this video! It was super informative and easy to follow.

[@oabeo7361]

I work as a lawyer in the public sector but thinking of changing areas for various reasons. Your enthusiam is very refreshing and your content useful. All the best

[@mdg1867]

Good to see one of these videos again rather than all the over saturated productivity stuff. Enjoyed this a lot.

[@UNKNOWN-1589]

Amazing Video , the video concepts are getting better and better.

[@sahra8013]

Super informative, also thank you for making your gdl notes available for free !

[@lecieltombesurmoi]

This video is so well done, very informative

[@haydenwilsonx]

Awesome mate - financially a genuine in the day of rather than breakfast, walks, lunch, side computer views, wind downs etc. great work

[@TdotBlitz]

That was so clear and easy to understand! Thank you!

[@Boshby97]

Big up Middlesbrough! I'm starting my Law degree this year and I really enjoy your videos. They offer a great insight into the career, thanks Liam!

[@Jejdjejbfjf]

Enlightening video, Liam! I would add that lawyers increasingly have “commercial sense”, hence experienced lawyers may advise clients on business risks which are worth taking too, as opposed to simply presenting the risks to clients for them to decide.

[@user-zs9zs9nq9l]

I’m not sure on this one. From what I’ve experienced this would be viewed as a liability issue and all advice would be strictly off the record. If you are giving investment advice you need pre-approval from national regulators to do so which law firms would not have.

[@mememachine5244]

As a CEng I would argue the collective IQ and common sense of a legal team is less than that of a fitters workshop.

[@katie8325]

@@mememachine5244 ridiculous comment.

[@mememachine5244]

@@katie8325 Found the year 1 law student

[@janesmith9024]

Very well done. Unusually I have never had a billing target even when at one of the UK's best known firms (as that particular firm does not have them), although now I work for myself if I don't bill enough we starve so there is always a billing target in that sense.... Day to date in terms of what someone is doing for me it is writing (when not on client calls). So it will be writing an email/letter of advice and giving the client the answer to is legal question or amending a Sale and Purchase Agreement or other document. So if I had to have one phrase for what I do all day it is giving legal advice/drafting.

[@kan5604]

Thanks. You are a natural. You've made it easy for me to understand the detail behind a corporate transaction

[@aisyaanwar745]

Thank you for giving me an overall overview of becoming a corporate lawyer. Your video is really helpful 💯

[@graphenebusinesslaw]

Love seeing these from lawyers around the world!

[@guillermo5782]

Quite a nice explanation about what corporate law firms do.

[@yasmarsx562]

This is so informative! Its so interesting seeing how all the practice areas work together

[@sebastianclej-dv8ju]

Nice summary, congrats 🙌🏽

[@dimitrispetrou5583]

What an excellent video Liam! p.s The video editing has also reached new heights

[@mimi99270]

THIS WAS SO HELPFUL THANK YOU SO MUCH

[@guillermoferrertorrecillas8061]

So good video. Is impressive to see how you van manage to work as a corporate lawyer and at the sime time be able to make this quality content. Personally I feel represented by your words. I don,t work any more for a big law firm, but as a startup lawyer I do very similar tasks with my clients. Si true what you said about the strong demand from the client in the middle of a “closing”

[@BeauJasonWard]

Very insightful video! Keep up the great content :))

[@Szzzzx]

Very very very well explained!

[@hanao0109]

Hi Liam, amazing video! My question is: How many people usually work on a case and is it true that the newer you are to the firm the more you work- partners don't work as much? Also how much time do you need to work at a firm to become an associate and later a partner (is your goal to become a partner?) A follow-up question: where do you see yourself in 10 years? Thanks for the educational video.

[@607Michelle]

Terrific video - I am a Senior Corporate Paralegal and this high-level overview was great to watch!!! I have worked in large and mid-sized firms and I know you are going to do very well in your career…

[@hannahdong920]

So helpful! Thank you!

[@F1_girl_55]

This is ao useful for me. Next year i have to decide what carreer I'll study and i want to be sure i know what im choosing before actually choosing it

[@lawwithlilly]

Interesting. I’m a physiotherapy starting law in September. I am interested in Clinical Negligence and Ethics, but love business so may go down corporate law route. Criminal law fascinates me also, but maybe the thought and reality of criminal law may be two different things. I am definitely not going into the degree not knowing what law is all about. I have experience of medical, business, finance and drafting for businesses. Love this video- Corporate is pulling me.

[@eviekennett]

I’m a legal recruiter in London and absolutely love this video!!

[@jacklovethetardis]

Hi Liam. Just wondering what some practical tips were that you applied to learn all of this stuff as quickly as possible - 6 months doesn’t seem very long!

[@ThatCorporateLawyer]

The accuracy!!

[@CPKESQ]

Love the Pittsburgh skyline intro!

[@hali_kay32]

Excellent video!

[@mikeflanagan7139]

That was really good. Thank you.

[@reginajohnson5122]

So helpful!

[@z.a.8912]

Great vid! Will you be talking about salaries in the next video?

[@thezainmirza]

Awesome video, obviously talking about Lidl lol😂

[@theworldforgot4857]

MAY GOD BLESS YOU! THANK YOU FOR THIS!!!!!🙏🏽🤲🏾❤️❤️❤️

[@2easy178]

Hi Liam, I really appreciate your hard work that between all of your works you can find a time for making the videos like this, thanks for that , I am a first year international law student in master degree and interested in corporate law, what would u recommend to me to start to improve my skills on this area ?

[@corrrrrona]

Great video. Also is that Ella Mai - trip as background music? Where did you get that version, it’s so relaxing

[@reniersteytler1859]

Hi Liam, I am an inspiring corporate lawyer, just wanted to ask if you have content available on how you approach legal research, especially if it’s like a topic you know little to nothing about, and how it differs from the legal research you would for a college assignment? Kind regards

[@chrisblack5359]

The fact he chuckled when he talked about a company laying people off tells you everything you need to know about him/corporate lawyers

[@keatongroom]

So well explained, and helps me as I'm working in corporate finance. How do you get these videos done? Do you outsource all the infographics work etc?

[@leonardolealahumada8324]

Excelent Video. congratulations.

[@cj_vaishnavi_5724]

Very cool video

[@SparrshMath]

Loved the video Liam! Question for you is what happens when you client (the biscuit business) gets hit with a law suit? Who deals with that?

[@johnwright9372]

Litigation Dept.

[@muhannadmunir2641]

Hi great video Liam! I d like to ask; if a client ask you to do something but it’s not possible, do you become honest and tell them it’s not possible or try to partially fulfil their objectives ?

[@janesmith9024]

I am an older lawyer and I often tell clients I cannot do things - almost every week for a start I am rejecting work as it is not something within my area or the client might want me to word something in a way that breaches professional conduct rules and my duty as an office of the senior courts (which all solicitors are) and I always say no. If you mean on timing - sometimes it is not possible to do things as quickly as they want, but usually solicitors try to do things within realistic timescales.

[@jimbojimbo6873]

I’m a consultant we literally put a standard 7 hours a day for whatever client we work on, even if we actually do 19 hours.

[@hollybathgate3475]

Such a great video! I have a question for your Q&A - As a corporate lawyer would you ever spend time in a courtroom/directly arguing against opposition??

[@noahhalton9534]

If you were on the litigation team potentially

[@katie8325]

Not as a corporate lawyer in the UK

[@Kyxul]

What made you go corporate over criminal etc? Is it better overall? I'm at uni currently, and want to hopefully be an Attorney in the US, eventhough im from the UK.

[@nefisayusuf6649]

First of all thank you this is such informing and easily understandable video!!! Second, I'll graduate almost after 4 month on Economics degree and i want to be corporate lawyer in the long run, So how can i make it happen? I mean do i have to study the whole LLB for 5 years or can i simply and precisely join corporate law because that's the area I'm interested in?

[@abdulsesay6241]

Wow, 1800 is pretty good for a international firm. In the US, there are small regional firms (less than 75 lawyers) who want you to bill 1800. That is definitely on the mid to lower end in the US.

[@johnwright9372]

That is roughly 7 to 7.5 hours per day. I have heard of partners billing more hours than there are in a day, mostly duplicating an associate's time. One fiction novel about a big Sydney commercial law firm based on a real story has a partner who bills so many hours he is known as The Time Lord (as in the UK science fiction series Dr Who)!

[@Sabir4u]

Do us another desk setup video

[@mwneo2604]

What are your thoughts on the clients inhouse-lawyers you might have to deal with?

[@vikramkambo7700]

Hi Liam, question for the Q&A. During your degree, does it matter where you get degree from in terms of employability?

[@romaine1369]

Seconded!

[@janesmith9024]

Quite a few firms recruit "institution blind" so although the firm may not go on visits to institutions where people have low A level grades, as long as you have very high grades and pass all the tests with high scores and have high marks on all modules on your degree,you are certainly in with a chance.

[@tiffanyyao9504]

What did you use to create your graphics? I wish my professor uses the same sort of ppt.

[@oliverwatt4489]

Do you see yourself staying within law long-term? Is equity partner the goal? Or do you have exit ideas in mind?

[@thatsimi8878]

He probably can’t discuss this online without jeopardising his current job

[@British_loyalist]

7:52 -- I did not think of Tesco

[@Jojo-vv9ue]

So interesting

[@xJanay]

Such an informative video! Thank you

[@benclapin8731]

Hi liam, just started working as a paralegal in a projects team (mainly mining and energy). Wondered if you had any tips for strong drafting - not something i'm used to from law school

[@Stefan-um6xq]

Hi Liam, do you think it is possible to work as german lawyer (with german law education) in the UK or do you think the different legal systems wouldn’t allow that?

[@lygiabird6988]

If you have Reddit you can go on r/uklaw and ask this, they usually give good advice. I think if you studied German law you would still need to do the LPC/SQE which is the course that actually qualifies one to practise law in the UK. You would also need a training contract, which is hard to get (it’s two years long and you sit a certain amount of ‘seats’ where you work in the different areas of law that the firm you are in covers). You may, however, want to consider applying for vacation schemes in the UK if you are living here or are able to work here. They are usually over the summer time and sometimes the firm will offer the candidates a training contract. The larger firms will even pay for you to do the LPC/SQE and even a GDL should you need it (graduate law degree, for those who don’t have a qualifying law degree. Not sure if your degree would be qualifying, but if you are doing the SQE it may not matter). UK law is super competitive! And very oversubscribed! However you may have something that firms want, so never say never! Good luck!

[@lehoff]

I could never be a lawyer! It's such a complex world and the hours are crazier than I would want to even imagine. Glad I do contracting. I effectively work 6 months of the year and that's already too much!😂 Great insights thanks for sharing! What an amazing world that corporate law seems to be.

[@manuelmanuel3968]

Government contracting?

[@lehoff]

@@manuelmanuel3968 a mix of both. I try and avoid government work as it's frustrating, but sometimes it aligns itself perfectly.

[@manuelmanuel3968]

@@lehoff ok. Off the top of your head. If any; What is the current business challenges your facing?

[@lehoff]

@@manuelmanuel3968 in public sector, budgets and alignment of outcomes (i.e. many targets and goals all competing against one another, and lack of alignment between gov departments, duplication of efforts). Private, translation of effort to value. People still look at whole life cost rather than whole life value. And showing the outcomes as delivering greater value than the investment is hard. ROI is the name of the game but not always that easy when doing consulting as some of the outcomes take a while to materialise.

[@user-ny9se4mu6l]

You are the Harvey Specter of UK

[@isekold]

Bro speaking fax

[@yuvrajsidhu3831]

Hahahahaha exactly😂😂😂😂

[@catubigklahrinz9553]

The bgm sounds really calming. What is it?

[@dearjem]

11:05 oh no think big clients still need to respect work life balance idk Really great overviee 🥰

[@sternmbikay8505]

Hi Liam, I’m a current Bcom law student and intend to do 2 years of LLB. Could this take me into the Corporate Law sector which is my dream and why I have started this path.

[@markmarque2592]

for you hack "trade unions act". led that to netherlands labour industrial court .😮😮😮😮😮😮😮

[@lovelylouis7400]

Liam , your asome

[@amalia20039]

I've got a question Why everyone quits corporate law???

[@oscarsuperstar2807]

how much travel is there in corporate law

[@user-jd9zo8zs2q]

Hey i am a company serectary in india and planning to do LLB i had a question, i want to be a corporate lawyer so for that do i need to take a bar council license or can i be a corporte advisor without getting bar council license meaning in m&a do i need to appear before courts since over there is a rule if i take bar council license i have to give up my company secretary license

[@gabebonsuamako1718]

Hi I'm wanting to study law would really appreciate knowing what a levels I should take

[@ellacowell6660]

hi, i'm no liam porritt but i am a first year uni law student and i would say there are no a levels you 'should' or 'must' take in order to study law. every course i applied to had no required a levels. please study what you enjoy and don't let anyone (even liam porritt!) tell you what to study - you know what you're best at, and what you find most interesting, and that is the most important thing when studying a levels, especially if the course you intend to study at uni has no required subjects. i hope this helps :)

[@Trazynn]

Still doesn't make sense how time is assumed to be standardized like that. As though you put the same amount of labour in at any minute. As though getting stuck on a simple problem is worth more to the client than cruising on a difficult task.

[@David-so7kv]

Could you provide me with material to study corporate law?

[@Bambotb]

Did you need to study finance master after llm?

[@Dsnipez18]

I couldn't find where in the video he covered salaries?

[@gracewagstaff8205]

What A levels/gcse's do you suggest or did you do? if you don'y mind sharing, what kind of grades did you need in them to get to where you are now?

[@narcissistichumility1269]

For law GCSE choices don't matter, just try to do well. For A levels choose at least one essay subject. Subject choice doesn't matter that much, just make sure it's not media studies or similar. Mostly just focus on getting good grades. You ideally want to be getting all top grades for both A levels and GCSEs.

[@janesmith9024]

Mine were English literature, History and German (A levels). GCSEs (in my case I am so old I did O levels which GCSEs replaced) I did English lit, English lang, maths, history, geography, French, German, two sciences and music. It can help to have things like English lit. and history as law involves a lot of writing, but it is not essential and some lawyers might even have A levels like physics, chemistry and maths. For the better firms the starting point is usually at least AAB grades at A level as a threshold for the best firms.

[@snakegaming3325]

If you’re in the UK, what A-levels or GCSEs you do, do not matter. You do not even need to study Law at uni, as there are other routes of qualification. Firms like seeing passion; what are you doing to showcase this? Have you done any vacation schemes? Feel free to even reach out to a law firm and see if you can intern to help out. The one other thing I would say is, make sure you really know what being a lawyer entails. Often people think life is super glamorous and base expectations on popular tv shows, but that is not always the case.

[@HafsaJ]

How do people become partner?

[@ananyasood960]

Heyy! Are you a solicitor? 🤔

[@lll.636]

So me, a UK resident. If i register a startup company in the US (Florida) and I start to make very good revenue. But my company operates and is maintained in the UK. But the company does not have a branch in the UK. Does the company pay taxes to the UK?

[@sajidsyed1897]

Not at all. You just need to submit with the tax authority your tax receipt that you paid in the country where your company is registered and doing business

[@BomBomm12345]

you have a perfect life... good grades, good career, in relationship, have a youtube business, etc..

[@deusvultpictures6550]

I wouldn’t call working until 2am a perfect life

[@rafd3593]

Corporate law firms are lucky to have clients with bottomless pockets.

[@keatongroom]

Whats the most accurate legal series or movie out there? I'm told Suits isnt really, which is sad cause its my favourite series lol

[@user-jx8xf2pk5c]

there wouldn't be one, because all M&A lawyers are either bored, coke addicts or stressed - or all three. it would be a pretty anti-climactic movie.

[@og7952]

is the answer, not much ? yeah.

[@owenlambert7276]

What law firm do you work for?

[@kmac7161]

Clifford Chance, I believe

[@Dark_girl-xj2el]

In the year 2024, I will obtain a work ID as a lawyer, and I will also apply for a master’s degree🎉😊