Career stories (2026) – Associate Trainee

Who are you and where do you study?

I’m Elga, and I work as an Associate Trainee in Krogerus’ Energy team. I have already completed my law degree at the University of Helsinki, and I am currently focusing on finishing my master’s degree in business at Aalto University.

What has been the best part about being a trainee at Krogerus?

During my nearly four-month traineeship, the best parts have been the people, the interesting assignments, and the unique atmosphere at Krogerus. Both the trainee group and my own practice team have been amazing and made me feel welcome from the very first week. As trainees, we have been involved in a wide range of tasks, and I’ve received valuable support and sparring both from the Energy team and from fellow trainees. The culture combines a high-quality and ambitious way of working with a relaxed and agile attitude, which has made the traineeship both enjoyable and motivating.

What was the recruitment process like and how did it feel?

The recruitment process consisted of submitting the application documents, completing a short pre-assignment, and attending an interview. The process was smooth, and after the interview the decisions were communicated quickly.

What does your typical workday consist of?

In Krogerus’ Energy team, the work is strongly transaction-focused, so my day-to-day tasks often include transaction-related work, such as data room measures and assisting in due diligence processes. A typical day also includes various legal research tasks, for example, related to administrative proceedings, land use, or legislative changes and interpretations. In addition, the Energy team trainees prepare an internal newsletter and a client newsletter twice a month, providing a timely overview of developments in the energy sector.

Which colleagues have you been regularly working with during your trainee period?

In Krogerus’ Energy team, there are usually two associate trainees at the same time, so collaboration between trainees is close. Work assignments come from all lawyers in the team, most often from associates. The Energy team is smaller than many other practices at Krogerus, so I’ve been able to get to know everyone relatively well during the traineeship, which has been really nice. Due to the transactional nature of the work, energy matters often involve lawyers from other teams as well, such as the Tax and Banking & Finance practices. This means I’ve also had the opportunity to work across practice groups, not to mention the day-to-day sparring between the trainees across teams.

What do you especially appreciate about Krogerus' culture and atmosphere?

What I especially appreciate about Krogerus’ culture is the combination of a relaxed atmosphere and high professionalism. The organisation is genuinely low-hierarchy, which makes it easy to approach anyone regardless of their role. I’ve also really enjoyed the activities outside office hours, as they’re a great way to get to know colleagues in a more informal setting.

How have you been supported as a young professional at Krogerus?

The people at Krogerus put genuine effort into supporting trainees’ learning: tasks are explained thoroughly, and sufficient background is provided so that trainees gain an overall understanding of the project and can learn from each assignment. I believe Krogerus’ way of working, combined with the traineeship’s structured guidance and feedback practices, provides excellent preparation for future work as a lawyer. As mentioned, the atmosphere at Krogerus is very low-hierarchy, and the threshold to ask for guidance is extremely low, which makes it easy to seek support whenever needed.

What are you planning to do after the traineeship?

After the traineeship, I’ll spend the beginning of the summer finishing a couple of remaining business school courses and completing my master’s thesis. I’ll take time off later in the summer, and in August I’ll return to the Energy team in a new role as an Associate.