Vacation Placement Student Review

by Shoosmiths

This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.

Rating

4.7/5
  • About You
    4.6
  • The Company
    4.8
  • Everything Else
    4.8

    About You

  • 1. To what extent did you enjoy the insight?

    • A thoroughly enjoyable experience which provided an invaluable insight into what being a trainee at the firm would be like.

    5/5
  • 2. To what extent did you feel valued during your time at the company or firm?

    • I felt like a truly valuable member of the team, and really appreciated the fact that people took the time to get to know me on a personal level.

    5/5
  • 3. How much guidance/support did you receive during the insight?

    • A great deal, both from my trainee buddy and other fee-earners. I also felt comfortable asking as many questions as necessary regarding my work.

    5/5
  • 4. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and information you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?

    • As someone who is looking to join the workplace in the near future, I think that the placement allowed me to develop a variety of useful skills, whether they be my attention to detail or my organisational skills.

    4/5

    The Company

  • 5. How well structured was the insight?

    • We received a detailed timetable on the first day which clearly laid out the events of the placement. That said, I appreciated the fact that there was still the flexibilty for me to get involved in tasks as they arose.

    4/5
  • 6. How was the general atmosphere during your insight?

    • I would describe the atmosphere as professional yet welcoming. Whilst it was clear that everyone was working extremely hard, people still had time to get to know me and have a chat.

    5/5
  • 7. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?

    • I appreciate the fact that the placement was a huge investment on their part.

    5/5
  • 8. To what extent did the insight help you to understand what it would be like to have a full time role with the company or firm?

    • As mentioned above, it gave me a great insight. The only limitation was the fact that the placement was rather short. I would have loved to have spent two weeks working at the firm rather than a week.

    5/5
  • 9. How much did the insight help you in understanding the company culture?

    • The open-plan layout was a major factor in being able to get a feel for the firm. In addition, going for lunch with current trainees helped in this regard.

    5/5
  • 10. How valuable was the content in helping you to decide on your future career path?

    • Extremely. I was given 'live' work from the outset and as such, I got involved in many tasks a lawyer would on daily basis.

    5/5

    Everything Else

  • 11. Were you paid or reimbursed adequately for this experience?

    • Competitive rates compared with other placements.

  • 12. Were there opportunities for networking and meeting other employees of the company or firm?

    • Yes, besides informal lunches with current trainees, people made themselves available if you expressed an interest in their line of work.

    5/5
  • 13. How were the networking/ social event opportunities?

    • In light of the length of the placement, they were beneficial. I particularly enjoyed the informal nature of the lunches as I felt more comfortable asking questions.

    5/5
  • 14. Did you find out about activities that employees can get involved in outside of work?

    • Yes, as I think that work/life balance is a very important consideration.

    5/5
  • 15. Would you recommend this insight to a friend?

    • Absolutely! It is the perfect chance to find out firstly whether a career in law is what you truly want, and secondly, whether Shoosmiths would be the right place to further your career as a solicitor.

    5/5
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Details

Insight / Vacation Scheme (< 4 Weeks)

London

July 2016

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