Skadden is one of the largest and most prestigious firms in the world, with this high status matched by a supportive environment. Trainees get involved in real work from day one, but they are never given something they can’t handle. The firm specialises in a variety of different practice areas: from mergers and acquisitions to international litigation and arbitration. Current lawyers praise the diversity of the work, and the fact that no two days are the same. While the work can be challenging, trainees find that their skills improve greatly by the end of their contract, coming out strong in the face of setbacks. When not focusing on commercial or corporate law, Skadden has a strong commitment to pro bono, with the firm completing over 2 million hours of pro bono work in 10 years.