Bremner Fountain-White — Trainee solicitor

Bremner studied Law (LLB) at the University of Leeds. He’s a second seat trainee at Dentons, soon to be moving into his third where he will be placed on secondment with a banking client

Why did you decide on a career in law?

I wanted to make a difference. Law governs each and every sector and society through precedents and statute. I wanted to be a part of this and work in an ever-changing role where each day your role is updating with new laws and regulation.

I was particularly interested in commercial law because it is relevant to daily life. Being able to understand and decipher how everyday problems may affect clients, and the solving of these problems, was something that also sparked my interest in law.

What attracted you to Dentons?

I think my attraction for Dentons grew as I worked as a paralegal. You don’t really know what a firm is like unless you are working there (whether that be as a vacation student or paralegal for example,) as this allows you to really embed yourself into the firm.

Two things that attracted to me Dentons were the people and the quality/exposure to work at such a junior level. Everybody is approachable and the work I was involved with was of high quality. Most of my transactions were liaising with qualified solicitors on the other side, which highlights the exposure Dentons allows to junior roles.

What’s a typical day like as a trainee solicitor?

I prefer to get started early and clear my inbox from the night before, before others log in. There is no such thing as a typical day in the training contract as you never know what you might get asked to assist with.

In my current seat there is a good mix of refinancing work and corporate transactions such as share purchases, asset purchases, group restructuring and incorporations. You can be sure that each day will challenge you and test your limits but that brings a sense of achievement, and I would recommend grabbing every opportunity with both hands.

There are a lot of stereotypes about working in law, can you debunk a myth?

You are not a spare part, and you are involved with actual work that does make a difference. I think there is a common misconception that trainees at large firms are given mundane tasks and are not challenged.

Why should future trainees consider applying to the firm?

I honestly cannot sit here and tell you a time that I have never felt proud to work for Dentons. The new strategy will, over the next five years, continue to grow the firm and lawyers alike. There is serious investment in lawyers at all levels but especially at a junior level. They want the best and want us to be the best we can. It really is an exciting time to be a part of Dentons and if you feel you can make a difference then this really is the firm for you.