Vacation Scheme Placement Review

Thoroughly. The scheme was well planned, the people were very friendly, and it is just generally a lovely environment to work in. Couldn't recommend enough.

While you are only able to contribute so much to the work being undertaken, the work that I did do was extremely valued, and people went out of their way to come and thank me for the work I provided.

I think this is fairly subjective. You receive as much as you require. There is certainly the feel that no question is a bad one, but at the same time if you understand the task from a basic explanation people aren't going to keep going on, they will just let you get on with it.

While I have finished my degree, I would say that the skills I developed during my placement will be extremely beneficial during my training contract. The kind of tasks we were being given during the vacation scheme mirror those trainees undertake and as such I feel the scheme has prepared me well for my training contract.

DLA had completely changed the way that their scheme takes place this year. I would say that the structure was highly enjoyable, and allowed the vacation schemers to really build effective relationships with their fellow schemers and those who worked within the firm. The first week, involved all the vacation schemers from all the offices attending talks and workshops in the London office. This really prepared us well for the following two weeks as well as giving us a great amount of insight into the firm and enabling us to develop relationships with people across the firm which will no doubt be of benefit during our training contract.

The firm has an extremely down to earth feel. It doesn't matter if your having a conversation with the CEO, a global head, the managing partner or a trainee - everyone is friendly and everyone has the time of day for you. This was what stood out to me most during my time at the firm and is what I believe makes DLA such an incredible place to work.

The firm spent the entire first week providing us with an insight into life at the firm, the kind of work it undertakes and its strategy for the future. We also received workshops which prepared us well for the rest of the scheme and I would say for life as a trainee.

The latter two weeks of the placement were extremely insightful. By experiencing two departments you got a real feel for what general life is like at the firm, and then more specifically the different departments. I was fortunate enough to be on a scheme with a group of people who got on very well and as such did not only receive an insight into the departments I myself was in, but also others. I would say quite confidently that from the placement I know where I want to complete three of my seats on the training contract.

By splitting the vacation scheme into three weeks, and having everyone come together within the first week you got a real feel for the kind of people the firm looks for. With regards to the company culture, we got a lot of exposure to different areas of the company. Obviously you got a real feel for that during your time in the different departments, but we also had insight talks from the heads of all practice groups and again this just provided us with more information. I would say that the scheme left me with a great sense of how the firm operates and its culture.

I thoroughly enjoyed the scheme and was fortunate enough to be offered a training contract with the law firm. As such it obviously contributed massively to my future career path.

We were paid £275 a week (the regional offices) I think the London office was paid slightly more as well as being reimbursed expenses for the first week. You weren't reimbursed travel expenses once you were at your chosen location.

During the first week we had a networking dinner which was great fun, as well as many talks from different people within the company. I spent my second and third weeks in the Manchester office and would say that there was plenty of opportunity for networking and meeting other members of the company. My supervisors were sure to introduce me to every member of the team and I got to know most of the trainees very well. I would say that this is on you though, I was sure to move around the team and ask different people for different work, which was most definitely welcomed.

We did have a networking dinner in the first week which was extremely useful. I was also fortunate enough to attend the summer party for the Manchester and Liverpool offices so got to meet a lot of people I otherwise wouldn't have. The trainees were very good at organising social events and this was certainly a contribution as to why I got to know people so well.

In general the firm was very good at making us aware of the kind of activities you can get involved with outside of work. We received multiple talks, and I was even invited to choir practice during my time on the scheme!

Absolutely, I couldn't recommend the scheme enough. If you are looking for a law firm that has a huge global presence, high calibre work, and a down to earth friendly culture, DLA is the one. They very clearly value their recruitment process and this only lends itself to an enjoyable and enriching vacation scheme.