Vacation Scheme Student Review

I really enjoyed the scheme. My line managers were friendly and got me involved in as much as possible and the support available to vacation scheme students was wide-ranging. I was able to make the most of the tasks given to me because I felt comfortable asking for help and discussing tasks with my assigned scheme buddy.

Managers and buddies always set aside time for vacation schemers - I felt that everybody was approachable and down to earth. We were also assigned 'buddies' for the duration of the scheme so no matter what was happening on the desks, there was always someone to answer questions and get advice from.

The programme was extremely structured with clear directions for any issues that could have come about. At the beginning of the programme, we were given a handbook which very neatly detailed points of contact, frequently asked questions and the timetable for the scheme. This was really useful in organising my time and making the most of the placement.

The skills developed on the scheme will no doubt be useful for the real world. Having spent two weeks doing real legal work and another week on presentation and soft-skills, I have learned a considerable amount throughout the scheme. I especially look forward to putting my developed presentation and communication skills to use in the future!

Very well structured. We knew what we were going to be doing weeks in advance but the programme also left room for flexibility to really make it personal. Whilst there were some structured mandatory activities we were also able to schedule our own informal sessions with team members and other vacation schemers.

The other vacation schemers and members of the business were extremely fun, down to earth and easy to get along with! This was the first vacation scheme where all members of the regional offices were invited down to London for the first week. This allowed us to interact with vacation schemers from across the country!

The amount of time that the firm put into the vacation scheme is extremely valued. We were able to get first hand insights from some very senior members of the business and had 1 hour briefing sessions for various departments within the firm. This was extremely valuable and the firm clearly invested a lot of time into preparing the sessions.

Having completed the vacation scheme, I was able to get answers to all the questions that you cannot find anywhere else. Things such as what the culture was like, the true working hours and the substantive work were all made clear having spent 3 weeks at the firm gaining first-hand experience.

The structure of the scheme enabled me to network with members of the business from various departments and roles. This was particularly useful in finding out what the culture is like and understanding everyone's personal experience. I thought that breaking up the scheme into two separate departments was a fantastic way to aid this understanding.

The vacation scheme solidified my ambition to become a corporate lawyer. Having the ability to speak to members of the business and carry out real world tasks was especially helpful in deciding my future career path. I also found that the scheme provided more general insights into other industries which further steered my thinking.

The pay was entirely adequate for the duration of the scheme.

There were lots of networking sessions and a daily session where members of the business from different sectors outlined their work and took questions from us. These sessions lasted about an hour each and were extremely useful in finding out about other areas outside of our 2 chosen practice areas.

There were plenty of networking and social sessions in the first week which helped break the ice between vacation schemers and give a feel of the firm. We also had an informal social with trainees towards the end of the programme which was a nice way to wrap it up!

I was able to discuss with my line managers the various roles and activities they do outside of work which I found particularly interesting. The trainees also told us about the different activities the firm offers in terms of sports or entertainment which helped me understand the culture and opportunities available.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the vacation scheme. It wasn't too long but was enough to get a really valuable insight into the work the firm does and the culture / atmosphere. I'd definitely recommend anyone who is interested in a career in commercial law to apply - it really is worth it!