Vacation Scheme Student Review

I thoroughly enjoyed the insight at Bakers. Having three weeks at the firm meant that we got a chance to get into the swing of things and gain a real feel for the seats we were in. This was helped by the fact that my supervisors and trainee buddies as well as any other work providers always took the time to explain their roles, the work they generally did and give us a broader context of the work we were doing and the practice as a whole. I will leave with a much deeper understanding of what Baker & McKenzie does, its internal structure and the way things all fit together.

I definitely feel like my work was valued. I generally understood where it fit in the bigger picture, which was very rewarding as I could see how it would help the overall process. I was also included on email chains for work that I was involved in so that I could then follow the issues involved. So, although I was only in each department for a short while, I was always made to feel a part of it while I was there. I even attended department wide meetings and got to listen in on important phone calls with Partners on the floor.

We were really well supported during the entire scheme. The Graduate Recruitment Team was really helpful in all aspects and I felt I could go to them with any problem. People were very understanding of the fact that this was a new environment for many of us and always willing to help and explain things. We received telephone training and IT training during the first week and then throughout the scheme were given presentations on other areas of the firm.

The scheme has helped inform my decision to continue with the GDL and the LPC. It has also given me a better idea of where my interests within corporate law may lie. I’ve also learnt useful skills that relate more generally to the workplace and to business environments.

The entire scheme was very well organised. I felt there was a good balance of time spent in out seats in the departments and other activities with the vacation schemers. This meant we managed to get into some more complex and interesting tasks but were also able to get to know our peers better, both in the office and in a more social setting.

I found the general atmosphere extremely warm and welcoming. I felt I could approach anyone with a question, no matter how small, and they were always happy to take minute to help. I really enjoyed meeting the other vacation scheme students as they were all like-minded and friendly. I found there was no real difference at all levels of the firm and even partners made the time to talk to us about their time at the firm and answer our questions.

The firm gave us lots of really helpful talks and presentations to help us better understand the business as a whole. They also made sure we were able to meet a wide range of people from all departments and levels to ensure that our experience was not limited to our seats. This was really useful in showing us where we as potential trainees could fit in and was therefore invaluable in terms of personal training and development. The client pitch exercise was particularly useful as we received individual feedback on our performance in this.

The scheme really gave us an insight into life as a trainee. This was particularly thanks to the department presentations, which always involved a trainee who could talk about their personal experiences. Having a trainee buddy was also great as we could essentially shadow this person to get an idea of the daily life of a trainee. We also had talks with partners and other senior members of the firm and had supervisors that were associates or partners, giving us an insight into the higher positions.

I got a really strong feel for Baker & McKenzie's friendly and open culture and felt that it was really consistent throughout the firm. The social events were particularly important in this respect but I also found that on our floors, the open door policy applied to everyone I spoke to, demonstrating that this ethos is shared across the firm.

The scheme was extremely valuable. It confirmed my desire to work in corporate law and made me even more excited to do so!

I felt I was very well paid for this experience, especially considering how many exciting and fun events were planned for us throughout.

There were several social events planned by both Graduate Recruitment for the Vacation Scheme and in a more casual sense within departments and amongst trainees.

These events were really fun and relaxed. I felt I was able to ask honest questions and wasn't just there to impress people but to actually learn more about them and get a better idea of the work they do and of their experience of the firm. There was always a variety of people at these events, from across all departments and at all levels.

There were several opportunities to get involved with pro bono work and we were all invited to play for the touch rugby team as well.

I had a wonderful time, learnt a lot and met so many great people that I would really enjoy working and studying with in the future so I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for work experience in a very international commercial law firm.