David Leen

I completed my degree in Law and Business at University College Cork during the Covid-19 pandemic. Although I hadn’t undertaken an internship with McCann FitzGerald LLP, I was highly impressed by their presence at various careers events on campus, which inspired me to apply directly for a traineeship. After taking some time to travel and pursue a Master’s in European Law and Technology, I began my training with the firm in September 2023.

My first rotation was in the Litigation department, where I dealt primarily with large disputes that frequently featured in national media. It was an exciting introduction to practice, with the opportunity to contribute to complex matters involving collaboration across multiple teams within the firm.

I was then assigned to the Financial Regulatory team, which involved fast-paced advisory issues, alongside longer-term projects. Throughout my time at the firm, I’ve been consistently impressed by the comprehensive support available to trainees — from weekly structured training sessions and workshops to accessible mentorship from both associates and partners. The firm’s commitment to embracing modern legal practices in a thoughtful manner has also been evident – including a month long trainee think-tank on responsible use cases for AI in legal work.

I’ve also enjoyed engaging with Pro-Bono work and the firm partners with a variety of Legal Aid Groups. The Social Committee at McCann FitzGerald does a brilliant job at bringing the firm together for various events across the year, including the charity table quiz, Summer and Christmas parties. There is also a trainee branch of the Social Committee who organise trainee specific events, the highlight is always The Trainee Weekend Away. McCann FitzGerald also has a book club, choir and football league which everyone loves to show support and get involved in.