Vacation Scheme Placement Review

Very much so. The week offered a good inside into both life at a commercial law firm and more specifically, the firm itself.

I had a genuine feeling that the work I was given mattered, and so it is fair to say that I was made to feel valued. For almost all of the tasks I was assigned, I was given autonomy to complete the work, as a permanent member of staff would be given.

I was never given a task without sufficient instruction as to what was required, which is to be expected. I wouldn't necessarily say that I was checked upon as often as I would have thought, but I think that is probably because I had understood what was required and did not have to seek further guidance. There was only really one task where guidance was given afterwards because the work required amendments. That guidance was very specific, unambiguous and constructive.

While I did learn an awful lot on an area of law I had no previous experience in, that would only come in use were I to continue in that specific area. I can imagine that soft skills can be learnt during the week by certain candidates, but not necessarily if you already have worked within a professional environment.

Well structured for the most. The first morning could perhaps do with a tweak to include a little more information about the firm itself, from employees of the firm. I found my department to be busy, which meant that at no point did I have nothing to do.

Very good; staff at the firm were incredibly helpful across the board, providing valuable insight into life at the firm, both positive and negative. I did not engage with anyone who lamented having to give me their time. Likewise, amongst the vac schemers themselves, there was good rapport all round throughout the week.

This was a one week placement, so candidates should not expect to receive any form of substantive training and/or development. Nonetheless, the 'investment' in the the vac schemers during that week, from my own perspective, was good and what would be expected.

I feel the main purpose of the week was to obtain an understating of what it would be like working at the firm, and I think that the placement achieved that. Rather than the timetable alone, it is down to the vac schemer to approach as many staff as they can to gain a valuable range of views on the firm.

It is difficult to obtain a full understanding of a firm's culture in the space of a week, since you are reliant on what staff tell you (if you ask questions) and what you see during that small time. Nonetheless, I feel that if you try to speak to as many staff as you can you will get a decent feeling for what the firm is like, how it treats its staff and what is expected of its staff.

Only in the sense that it confirmed that I want a career in law, but there was very little, if any doubt, on that beforehand,

As expected.

During the week there were three opportunities for networking afterwork, and one or two during working hours, which is more than can be expected for five days.

The main networking event was held on a Wednesday, and in itself was a good evening. The downside of the evening is that it was not attended by too many trainees, which limited the amount of further insight on offer into the firm.

Yes; one particular trainee explained the social life at Walker Morris, and others alluded to it also.

Yes.