Vacation Scheme Review

I really enjoyed and benefitted from my time on the vacation scheme. I felt I was brought into the team and not simply an intern on the outskirts. I was able to get involved in really work and benefit from practical experience. The ability to socialise at organised events helped tremendously with understanding the culture and allowing for a further opportunity to ask questions. Importantly, feedback was given throughout the vacation scheme which was invaluable.

From day one I was introduced to everyone and it never seemed to bother anyone if I had questions or asked to go over a piece of work. The open door culture instantly made me feel more comfortable in the work environment and gave me a greater confidence in my ability to carry out tasks. As mentioned, I was able to get involved in real work and this made me feel like a valued member of team as I could contribute to an ongoing case and not simply put in a corner and kept busy with menial tasks.

With both a trainee buddy and a supervisor, I was afforded these two initial ports of contact whether it be about working life or the work I was doing. They were always willing to give me feedback on good work as well as areas I could improve. In addition, the open door culture allowed me to speak to other people in the departments if my buddy/supervisor was busy. It was never a hassle and people were always willing to lend a hand or explain work.

It is the practical skills that I gained during the vacation scheme that I will benefit from the most. More specifically, managing expectations and not being afraid to approach people with questions if I do not understand a point. It is difficult to admit that you do not understand something, even when it has just been explained to you, but I have learned that it is important to just ask for another quick explanation than go off and work on the wrong task and then ask.

It is evident that this vacation scheme is well structured and organised. From the social events to selecting supervisors and everything in between; there is a not a detail that hasn't been thought out. Even outside of the graduate recruitment organisation, the supervisors/buddies were prepared for your arrival and had decided what work you could get involved in as well as setting aside time to discuss your progress.

The atmosphere and culture of the firm was positive, hard working and approachable. There was no hierarchy in the sense that if you had a question as an intern, you could approach a partner or senior associate if they had the time. Everyone was hard working but at the same time, they appreciate that they were once in your situation as an intern and therefore allow the time to answer any questions you may have.

With a majority of future trainees coming from the vacation scheme programmes, they firm went out of their way to help in your development. There were adequate opportunities to seek feedback in your departments as well as optional meetings with the graduate recruitment team to go over any issues or questions. There were workshops and talks in addition to the time spent in each department which really helped give a balance between development and practical exposure.

Apart from getting a feel for the type of work and the working hours, the people currently working at the firm were keen to impress on you what their role is like and what you could expect. Both in terms of what you can expect from the firm in a permanent role and what the firm expects from you. The was a distinct focus on the level of support that the firm provide in mentoring and development which I found to be a bonus.

Despite only being at the firm for two weeks, it was evident early on what type of working environment you could expect. The culture was definitely welcoming with an open door policy while at the same time providing a challenging work environment. It was very much - what you get out of it depends on how you put in. There was also no social hierarchical divide which was a great aspect when it came to the social events as you could speak and get to know about the firm from a variety of perspectives.

Prior to the vacation scheme, I was already intent on pursuing a legal career. However, my time at the firm did go a long way in solidifying my decision and provided the necessary practical exposure I needed to affirm my choice.

There were a number of social events organised for each week. With a varying scope of day and evening events, it allowed for a number of different people to attend which took away the pressures of networking and the office environment. Additionally, it ensured there was no repetition in what we did. Due to the culture of the firm, there were also opportunities to socialise and network outside of the organised events which, once again, took away the pressure that accompanies formal networking events.

The events were enjoyable. They were well spread out and as each event was different and either at night or during the day, it ensured there was no repetition. It was clear that these opportunities had been well thought out and organised rather than rushed together at the last minute. Additionally, the engagement from the employees of the firm outside of graduate recruitment, once again, made it feel as if they were happy to invest their time in you being on the vacation scheme.

Albeit limited to a two week period, we were able to find out about what the firm does outside of work including sporting, charitable and pro bono events. I was actually fortunate enough to take part in a number of these opportunities and I could not recommend it enough. However, although we were informed of these opportunities, they were by no means mandatory. There is a definite level of choice when it comes to what you would or would not like to do and I think that's important as everyone has different tastes.

I would highly recommend this vacation scheme if you are a person looking for a challenging workload in an environment that is a approachable and collegiate. The work varies and allows for working with people in different departments which keeps it exciting. Additionally, the social events provide a great opportunity to network but also get a real idea of what the firm is like and what they're looking for.