Summer Clerk Review

I really enjoyed my time with Bakers. Everyone was welcoming from day one and it felt like I got to know those who I worked along with well even just in three weeks time. Every week was filled with events and socials while also giving you enough time to experience your departmental seat.

I felt like I was a part of the Bakers family during my vacation scheme. Any work I completed was appreciated by my supervisor and felt like I was actually helping them out and making an active contribution to easing the workload.

At the beginning of each department you are allocated a buddy and a supervisor which are there to give you work and guide you through any queries which was really useful. No question was a silly question which was very comforting.

I definitely learnt a lot about the practicalities of researching and analysing the law and then bringing that information together in a concise format which is easy to understand. This will help me throughout the rest of my degree, the LPC and further into my training contract.

It was a very structured scheme. We were given a 3 week timetable at the beginning and had it packed with events, socials and talks we could attend.

The general atmosphere was very inclusive, friendly and generally laidback which was refreshing.

We were given a presentation skills session which I think I'll find useful in any setting.

Working along side Bakers trainees, associates and lawyers give you a real insight into what hours they hour and the commitment such a role has. You were able to ask trainees how hours varied from department to department which was very eye-opening considering we only had time to actually sit in two departments within the firm.

It proved to me that Bakers genuinely does have a really friendly culture and it's something which you notice about lawyers who have started and trained with Bakers from the beginning of their legal career and other lawyers who may have been hired laterally from other firms.

You got a talk on each of the firms key departments which was really useful in helping you gauge what departmental seats you would want as a trainee.

We were paid weekly at an adequate rate.

Most definitely! One of my departmental seats had an open plan layout, so I sat among a trainee, associate and a partner. The thing you realise most at Bakers is that it's really not a hierarchical firm, so you feel you can approach any lawyer, whatever their status.

The socials were amazing! Most consisted of other trainees and graduate recruitment. There was also firm wide drinks and events which give you a chance to network with associates and partners as well which was a lot of fun.

We were given a talk on Corporate Social Responsibility and how lawyers are encouraged to get involved in pro bono work if they wish, and how it's not pinned against billed work.

100%!