October 2025: Jakub Kopáček is an associate in the Debt Finance Practice in the Czech Republic. He sums up his experiences in this busy practice and shares his advice for anyone considering applying to join the Prague office as an intern or an associate.

1. It's good to know what you want to do

When I joined White & Case back in 2019 as legal trainee, all I knew was I wanted to be engaged in transactional work for the most prestigious clients and have the opportunity to learn from the best experts on the Czech market. Very early on, I discovered my passion for banking and finance. Once I had realized this, I started to receive a steady flow of assignments from the Banking & Finance team to improve my knowledge and skills.

2. … but it's really important to keep an open mind

No one knows (or has the opportunity to try their hands on) all the different fields of law at the beginning of their career. Also, it is definitely a plus for every lawyer to have broad foundations and understand the interplay between different fields and its implications.

3. You'll work with multiple teams...

… both across the Prague office as well as across different White & Case offices abroad. This helps you develop and grow a real understanding of how interconnected our work is. At White & Case, legal interns are not assigned to one team, and thus you will be able to work with everyone.

4. The quality of the work here is essential

White & Case represents major clients and works on the most important deals. This translates into an essential need for retaining the best experts on the market and being committed to deliver top-notch services to clients. That's an incredible experience to have at the start of your career!

5. Two key skills are particularly important in this field

A deep understanding of the law to be able to indicate potential issues and comprehend every aspect of the work, and meticulous attention to detail to minimize the number of mistakes as much as possible. These skills are especially important in the beginning of your career, when you lay down the foundations of your knowledge for further development.

6. Time management is critical

You will usually work on multiple transactions at once. This means that you have to learn to prioritize certain tasks and to manage your time (but also the time of others) efficiently. On the other hand, the environment and amenities at White & Case aim to provide you with all conceivable support and comfort to help you with your time management.

7. Making mistakes is expected

But it is crucial to be able to learn from them and not repeat the same mistakes. No one expects that you will complete all assignments without any mistakes, but it's important to minimize them as much as possible.

8. We welcome candidates with a real interest in the law

You also need the commitment to learn and develop your skills. At White & Case, you will have everything you need to start your career and grow further. The sky is the limit!

9. No one expects you to know it all

A substantial part of the knowledge needed for our work isn't taught as standard at law schools. The only way to get this knowledge is to become involved in transactions from the beginning to the end and steadily improve your expertise. Everyone understands that you're here to learn and grow, and we are here to support you on your career journey.

10. Know that your ideas are valued

It is important to share your ideas and to ask when you don't understand something. You may well have spotted an issue that everyone else has missed. Everyone here is willing to discuss your ideas with you and answer any questions you may have.