Summer Scheme Student Review

The work given to the summer students was very interesting and the firm gave a variety of opportunities to learn more about them as well as providing some fantastic social opportunities.

Although for the most part, I felt valued, there were times where being in an office, quite often for me alone or with a partner not interested in talking, where you would feel a little bit like a stranger.

The trainee buddies offered the best amount of guidance, with one of my supervisors also being fantastic. However, sadly, the other supervisor I have was not so strong. The graduate recruitment staff, on the other hand, were absolutely fantastic and a real credit to the firm.

The insight allowed me to gain skills which will remain with me throughout my professional career, from how to communicate with those you are working with, to how to complete certain tasks. They also focused a lot on one's personal brand and the skills that we should develop ourselves.

Very well structured - from day one each student received a list of calendar invites which completely sets out the timeframe of the two weeks.

The general atmosphere was good, there was never a moment where you felt bored but you did definitely know that you were here to work and to impress rather than to have fun.

The firm gave us a great amount of opportunity to network and liaise with various members of the firm, from trainees through to partners. The work that we were given seemed to be very symbolic of what a trainee would undertake and they gave a strong sense of what personal development schemes they run for when you are a trainee.

The summer students were given a talk from the Managing Partner, Jeremy Hoyland, on the general overview of the firm and how he perceived the culture, trying to refute the 'nice' tag that had been assigned to Simmons due to the negative connotations this could draw in a professional sphere. However, it is evident that it is a nice place to work, with a focus on allowing individuals to flourish through giving trainees a vast amount of responsibility from day one of their Training Contract.

The summer scheme confounded in my mind my desire to work in commercial law, moreover with an eye on working in a financial sector. The work really struck an accord with me, as did the atmosphere of the office and the general day to day work that Simmons does. They gave a really detailed overview of what it is like to be a commercial solicitor and the advantages and the pitfalls the profession may bring.

The scheme paid £300 a week

The firm offered a lot of opportunities to network. Apart from the final social, the other socials gave a chance to network with the graduate recruitment and the trainees. Whilst at work a various amount of sessions were run which allowed students to network with partners, trainees and associates alike. Moreover, they offered optional event which allowed for networking outside of the firm and also with members of the firm which we would not normally meet.

The firm offered three main socials; Bounce, Chocolate Making and also a final dinner with a drinks reception on the London Eye prior. They also ran various networking sessions throughout the two weeks whilst also having additional/optional events running. The Corporate Responsibility Awards were open to anyone who wished to come, whilst they also allowed you to get involved in Softball, Pro Bono work with their legal clinic, and a Fintech event that they ran alongside QMUL.

The firm played a lot on their corporate responsibility and charitable initiatives, inviting us to the annual Corporate and Social Responsibility awards event, which documented a wide range of activities that employees had got involved in. Trainees also gave a good overview of the sporting activities and social activities that are on offer to them.

I would definitely recommend this placement to a friend. I had a scheme which followed on from this one, however I would most definitely recommend Simmons first. The scheme facilitated a vast amount of learning about the profession and the firm, but also allowed for the students to make a real connection with each other through socials and various different events. I felt like this made it a very enjoyable atmosphere and somewhere where you would want to come to work.