Careers
Legal Clerkship + Research Assistant
The secret of getting ahead
is getting started.
You still have your entire career ahead of you. It is important for you to learn how successful consulting will work tomorrow. We'll teach you today. With us, you will gain an insight into a law firm that thinks ahead. We try out new things, are constantly learning and find better solutions than those that already exist. It's not for nothing that the most successful start-ups and their investors rely on us.
As a trainee lawyer or research assistant, you will be right at the heart of the team and the client business right from the start. Our claim: you will not only get to know individual cases, but also gain an overview of the big picture.
To support your personal development in the best possible way, you will have a tutor and, of course, the colleagues in your team at your side. With this support, you will learn how to solve complex cases for our clients. This will give you a feel for whether you would like to join us at YPOG and give us the opportunity to get to know you better.
Nice insights.
Would you like to find out more about YPOG in advance or do you have a question that you would like answered before your application process? Don't hesitate, just give us a call. Constanze looks forward to hearing from you. You can also meet us in person at events and career fairs. You can find the next dates on our events page.
What you can expect from us
Become part of our team
During your time with us, you will be supported by a tutor. This YPOGee will provide you with work assignments, answer your questions about the client context, involve you in teamwork, and familiarize you with the day-to-day practice of law. Of course, you will work together with other members of the team who will also be available to answer any questions you may have.
Through direct integration into the mandates and close cooperation with experienced colleagues, your learning curve at YPOG will rise steeply from day one.
A learning management system, wikis, process descriptions, assistance for working on mandates and various specialist topics for reference will help you to familiarize yourself and ensure a successful start at YPOG.
Prepare for your job and exams
During your legal clerkship or your academic work, you can take part in our broad "YBrains" training program. Experts from our own ranks, from friendly law firms or from clients will provide you with their professional insights. In formats such as online or in-house training, you can not only expand your legal know-how, but also exchange ideas and network with your colleagues.
For exam preparation, we will reimburse you the course fees for the Kaiserseminare offer up to an amount of 500 euros. You can use the "Jurafuchs'' learning app free of charge during your time with us.
Looking for insider knowledge? Find out independently on JurInsight about the experiences of previous trainee lawyers at YPOG, or contact our current and former NextGens directly
Build up your network
Our NextGen Roundtable takes place approximately every quarter. On this evening, you can exchange ideas with tutors, research assistants, trainee teachers, and interns outside the office.
During your time with us, you can of course also attend and help shape the events of our W@Y Forward and Queer@YPOG initiatives.
Your daily business
We are always on the lookout for new talent and would be delighted if you could support us during your legal clerkship or as a research assistant! If you are a team player and have a keen interest in practical training, then you've come to the right place.
- You will get to know large law firm-level advice in the environment of a leading boutique.
- You will support partners and associates in providing ongoing advice to clients.
- You will work on exciting projects and transactions.
- You will research various legal issues.
- You will assist with the drafting of pleadings and client correspondence.
- You will participate in academic projects and have the opportunity to publish your own work.
Working at YPOG
Hybrid Working
We firmly believe that it is extremely important for you to gain impressions and experience on site at the law firm during your legal traineeship. At the same time, we believe in trust-based, hybrid working.
That's why we offer you the opportunity to work from home on a daily basis in coordination with the partners in your team. During your time with us, you can get to know different YPOG offices without having to change teams, as our organization and IT infrastructure enable flexible, cross-location collaboration.
The personal exchange is just as good as if everyone were working in the same office. This is because we have developed hybrid communication formats that are tailored to our form of collaboration. For example, the weekly "12 mins. us" with information about the respective location, the monthly cross-location "Behind the scenes," and, of course, a daily exchange with your team.
Working Hours + Remuneration
We do not have fixed attendance times. We agree on your working hours with you individually and take your needs into consideration.
As soon as you have passed your first state examination, we will pay you 1,000 euros per working day. As a NextGen with a second state examination, you will receive 1,200 euros per working day per week.
Lean Digital Processes
Whether onboarding, document processing or e-learning. At YPOG, we have organized our workflows quickly and efficiently. Thanks to our fully digital cloud infrastructure and the continuous improvement of our processes, we have been able to eliminate most time wasters from our day-to-day work. With us, you can experience how people work together in a modern, digitally minded law firm.
Physical + Mental Health
Your health is very important to YPOG. For your mental well-being, we work together with OpenUp. Through OpenUp, you have unlimited 1-on-1 access to coaching and mindfulness consultations with psychologists and other mental health resources.
For a workout-life balance, we cooperate with the Urban Sports Club and as a YPOGee you get your membership significantly cheaper. We also offer yoga classes and back training, work with running coaches, provide fresh fruit and vegetables and offer you the opportunity to lease a work bike. We have equipped our offices with the latest ergonomic chairs and height-adjustable desks.
Insights
"From the very beginning, I was accepted and treated as a fully-fledged team member on an equal footing. In particular, the early active promotion of independent specialist publications is for me an expression of the dynamic DNA of this young but professionally excellent unit."
Jakob Schlösser (Research assistant)
"I was already able to take part in internal specialist training sessions with associates and partners on day 1. Both my tutor and my partner, as well as everyone else, always had their "door open"; the fact that I was only a student didn't matter at all, and they always made time for me."
Isabell Kraus (Research assistant)
"I've always found the very friendly atmosphere in the team and in the office to be a big plus at YPOG. This creates a very collegial atmosphere in which you are quickly accepted into your team and can also quickly take on responsibility. The mentors also ensure that more complex tasks are explained appropriately and discussed afterwards, so that you can achieve learning success yourself."
Niclas Poot (Research assistant)
Further Benefits
It is important to us that you feel comfortable at YPOG and have everything you need to perform well. That's why we have various benefits for you and your colleagues and regularly add to this offer.
With a notebook, two monitors in the office, a monitor for working from home, a company cell phone, and a tablet if required, our hardware setup leaves nothing to be desired.
Top furnishings, barrier-free access, great surroundings, and of course, nice colleagues - you can feel at home in our offices.
If Excel, Word, or PowerPoint are annoying you, we have an in-house expert who can help you immediately and give you tips on the programs. You can find further help in the tutorials of our Learning Management System.
We regularly take the whole team away from our day-to-day work to work on important strategic issues and to have a good time together.
There are two fixed dates in our party calendar: you and your colleagues celebrate a summer party at your location and the YPOGees from all locations get together for the Christmas party.
You have a four-legged friend who should also be your constant companion at work. As part of our pooch policy, we also welcome team members with fur at our offices.
Apply to YPOG
You can upload your application documents using our online form. Transparency is very important to us. We provide you with comprehensive information about what makes us tick and what it's like to work for us. We would therefore be delighted if you could also provide us with some information about yourself: We ask for your CV, your references, and some information about your application, for instance, when you could start with us. A cover letter is not necessary.
What happens next with your application?
Once we have received your application, we will get back to you within a week. If we are interested in your profile, we will meet for a personal interview in one of our offices. Is a face-to-face meeting difficult for you to arrange due to a long journey or other reasons? We can also arrange a virtual meeting. This will allow you to get to know your team's partner and your tutor. You and we can then decide whether we are a good fit.
By the way…
...at YPOG we are on a first-name basis from the very beginning. You are welcome to omit the formal "you" (“Sie” auf Deutsch) in your application.
Your Contact
Ready to get ahead?
We are always on the lookout for new talent and experts. Nothing suitable at the moment? Then send us an unsolicited application.
Our vacancies are currently only available in German.
Places to be
Berlin
Kurfürstendamm 12
10719 Berlin
Our Berlin office is located on Kurfürstendamm, in the newly constructed building of the former Gloria Palace.
Hamburg
Willy-Brandt-Straße 59
20457 Hamburg
Our Hamburg office is located downtown – on the banks of the Bleichenfleet canal.
Cologne
Agrippinawerft 30
50678 Cologne
Our Cologne office is in the famous Rheinauhafen district (a former commercial port near the city center).
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