Victoria Carder

Title: Billing assistant
Department: Accounts and management information
Location: London

I joined in December 2002 straight from college. An old colleague of my parents liked working here and thought I would enjoy it too – how right they were.

Herbert Smith is a very friendly firm, yet it still maintains a highly professional environment. I was made to feel very welcome when I first started, not just by my immediate team, but also by the fee earners.  The social side is most definitely a plus too. It's very important to socialise with your colleagues - and at Herbert Smith there's plenty of opportunity to do so.

I have been a member of the Social and Sports Committee for five years. We organise a huge range of events for the staff, from pool competitions and football tournaments to theatre trips and go-karting. The SSC also runs the firm's "Charity of the Year" and last year raised £100,000 for Breast Cancer Care.  I have met some fantastic people through the committee and have had such fun organising and taking part in the events. I recently received the Client Service Award for the work I have done on the SSC.

There's a lot of potential for you to further your career at Herbert Smith.  The learning and development service is excellent and continuously offers a range of opportunities to all staff. You are encouraged to go the extra mile and the fact that your efforts are always noticed, and subsequently rewarded, makes the firm a great place to work.