Graduate Review

I thoroughly enjoyed the insight. I learnt so much and really enjoyed my time in the Employment department. I had a range of experiences including a visit to the London office. The people are friendly and approachable. It is a tough and intense experience but worth it for the invaluable experience. I have made great friends in my fellow vac-schemers.

I felt very valued by my department. The Employment team are the smallest in the office and I felt that the work I was doing was useful and helpful to them. They included me in out-of-work situations, for example we had a leaving lunch for me on the penultimate day. I felt like part of the team which was lovely.

My supervisor really took the time to explain points of law to me, which was really helpful coming from a non-law undergraduate background. The team looked out for me and were genuinely interested in how I was getting on, whether my interview and Project:Nabarro pitch went well etc.

The skills I have gained will be invaluable. Other vac schemers who had already completed law degrees said they wished they had received the Knowledge training we had on the scheme before they started. The training we had for PLC, Westlaw and Lexis Library will be so useful for my GDL and LPC. I have also learnt a lot about office etiquette, using the phone and email, correct structure and tone of documents etc.

The scheme was very well structured. Training, department presentations and appraisal sessions broke up the day and were really well organised. The social events have also been really well organised.

The atmosphere of the firm is very friendly and the vac schemers have all got on really well too. The trainees have all really looked out for us, too, as they were in our situation not long ago.

The training has been fantastic and to a much greater extent than I anticipated. There have been regular feedback sessions and catch ups to help us assess what we have been doing and the stage we are at. The firm made clear at the beginning of the scheme that they invest in their trainees and have an excellent retention rate, so the vac scheme was intensive, well-structured and thorough to ensure they made the right decision.

I carried out tasks that would be expected of a trainee e.g. typing up telephone notes, drafting contracts, carrying out due diligence tasks. There were multiple tasks to juggle and prioritise so I think this was good practice for life as a trainee. We worked hard but socialised a lot too, and had to balance the two, which I imagine trainees must also manage. I felt like one of the team and was invited to team meetings etc so I felt like I was being treated as a trainee.

I spoke with a range of people from the firm and got the same impression from everyone - that the firm is friendly and down-to-earth. I learnt about the structure of departments e.g. trainee > associate > senior associate > partner, and how everyone helps each other out. It seems as though you can ask for help if you need it and it is no problem. The open-plan office layout means you can work collaboratively without being distracted, or cut off from your colleagues.

It was very valuable. Since I was doing the types of task a trainee may be expected to do, I feel well prepared for the future. The scheme has confirmed my ambitions to become a solicitor.

I will be paid a very competitive amount.

Yes, we were invited to other events other than the two planned socials. In the first week we went to a Nabarro:Exchange BBQ with employees and external clients, providing many networking opportunities. We also had a charity day which gave us an opportunity to meet other people in the firm in a relaxed environment. The department presentations gave us the opportunity to ask questions to other departments in the firm about what they do and their thoughts on the firm.

The pizza-making evening was great. It was really well organised and fun. I got the impression that the trainees were really interested and caring towards us as vac schemers. We also went for drinks on the first day which was a good opportunity to get to know each other and HR. It broke the ice and made the next day less daunting. We have another social planned tonight which is a meal and then an area booked in the pub next door. I'm really looking forward to celebrating the end of the scheme and our hard work together.

Yes, we received emails about all the events happening whilst we were on the scheme, including the Nabarro: Exchange BBQ, the Breast Cancer Care charity day, lunch time well-being sessions, opportunities to play netball, informal drinks after work etc.

Definitely!