Vacation Scheme Student Review

I thoroughly enjoyed the insight - it felt real, not artificial, and there was a really good balance between informative sessions about A&O, networking events and real work back at my desk in my department. I had always had a very good impression of the people that work for A&O and the insight confirmed this - even networking casually it was hard to find and pigeonhole people into being a partner or senior associate, trainee or PA. Everyone was really friendly and willing to go out of their way to help you settle in.

All levels of people were interested in finding out my name, where and what I studied, and how I was enjoying my time. Some tasks that were set were 'fake' or old trainee tasks but this was in the interests of showing me how trainee tasks would be. The majority of tasks were real work, the first stages of drafting and research deals. I even went to visit a client for a meeting in Oxford.

People were always willing to give you work, talk you through the work or their careers and journeys in general. If there was ever a query or concern we were equipped with an iPad for the scheme which had useful numbers and contacts. It is such an open-door culture here you can really pick up a phone and call anyone, or drop someone an email. Everyone responded and were more than willing to guide and support you.

I have had many part time jobs so usual skills I felt I already had. Yet this role required a lot more prioritizing and networking. In addition, there was a presentation skills session, and a corporate women's session about building your brand. The knowledge facilities here are really excellent and gave me transferable skills that will help in my degree and future career. Also, more complex commercial transactions and scenarios were described to me but if I didn't understand my trainer would draw the situations out on the whiteboard and ensure I understood before I began any work.

On the iPads we were given, there was an A&O application which included our 2 week timetable, contacts and important names and numbers, as well as extra information like floor plans, menus, gym timetables and departmental information. Our emails were calibrated with our calendars and all of our information was set up for us. We could add any extra plans or coffee dates into our diaries so it was really easy to keep track of events.

Really friendly, fun and collegiate. I think so much of the work crosses over departments and levels of seniority due to the size and complexity of the work that it results in a really good atmosphere. I was surprised for a Magic Circle firm how much of an open-door policy there was, and how people knew others around the building when it is such a huge firm. It exceeded my expectations.

I think they really invested - they did not just have information regarding A&O and what life would be like here, but actively encouraged us to attend training sessions at other departments, or the knowledge centre for training sessions such as personal branding, presentation skills and business development. I think this is something quite unique as this was an investment into us as persons, not just instrumental in terms of our benefit to A&O, or one day working for them.

I think within my department I really got a true insight into what it would be like to work for the company. However, I have heard from many people that departments differ quite significantly in not just the work but the way they are run. Perhaps two seats of one week each would have been more beneficial but if I was in any doubt it was really easy to schedule a meeting with a trainee, NQ or associate within that department to find out what goes on.

I think without having done a vacation scheme, despite thoroughly enjoying the interview, I would not have believed a firm of this size and reputation to have been so friendly and collegiate. That would have made me hesitant to accept so the insight definitely helped understand the company culture.

I think over the 10 days there were probably at least 6 arranged networking events. Yet we were also actively encouraged to seek out people and make coffee dates in our diary to talk through anything or ask questions. We were matched with a trainer who we sat with, and a trainee buddy also. I feel like I gained really good exposure to people in all kinds of departments. The best networking opportunity was either a Friday evening drinks trolley within my department where people were a little more relaxed as it was very informal, or a kind of speed-dating departmental fair where we could talk to a few people from within different departments and gain an idea of their experience and what it does.

They were all really fun and different - they said they don't like to repeat things each scheme so on the four planned evening socials we went places completely new: an electronic darts club, a quiz night at the in-house restaurant, a lollipop making place, and a really nice hotel for a formal dinner. Outside of arranged events, I had multiple coffees with different people from around the firm and lunch on different occasions with my trainer or trainee buddy.

We had a number of events pre-arranged in our diaries about initiatives and activities we had mentioned in our applications that we would like to get involved in. It was really good for these to be so informal as it gave you a real sense of what it would be like to work here.

Yes, definitely.