First Year Scheme Participant Review

I enjoyed the First Year Scheme very much, each participant got the impression that Baker McKenzie truly wanted to pack as much into the 2-day scheme as they possibly could so that we get a fully representative view of the culture of the firm.

The barriers that I expected to be faced with in a formal setting like the Baker First Year Scheme simply wasn't there - we were able to ask questions to people from all sectors of the firm and get to know them both on a professional and a personal level.

The introduction of the workshop portion of the scheme was extremely useful, as it was a chance to engage with our fellow participants and create a bond. We received extensive feedback regarding language style, information etc. from an experienced panel which was a valuable opportunity.

The skills and information was highly applicable to both academic and working life, as it gave me greater insight into the practical side of my Law degree and allowed me to emphasise soft skills. It also provided a basis for what I would want out of a career in commercial law.

Very well structured in the timetabling, which was set out in front of us in the morning so we knew what to expect. There was an issue with accommodation overnight, but that was resolved quickly and did not impact any of the participants.

Very casual and friendly atmosphere, which was something I highly appreciated. Particularly during the shadowing afternoon, I found the atmosphere consistently open and there was no sense of oppressive hierarchy within the office.

The First Year Insight Scheme was a small taste into the inner workings of the firm, but it was clear to see how the organisers made an active effort to give us full exposure to the culture of the firm. The most important part was how many employees we were able to interact with throughout the day, which shows that the Scheme is about showing a long-term view into a career with Baker McKenzie from trainee to partner.

The shadowing process was the most important in showing us the prospect of a full time role within Baker McKenzie. I was in the EMI department, which I had little knowledge of and therefore went in with an open mind; I was very glad I enjoyed it so much, as I was given real work and had a chance to engage with many people throughout the office.

The scheme was heavily focused on company culture, which I approve of. Baker McKenzie has always placed culture as one of their main selling points, which I believe is important as it is ultimately the company culture that people stay working for. We were given presentations on Diversity and Inclusion, as well as talks from Trainees and Associates and Partners, which were highly informative and showed that the firm always have paths for us to develop within the office as well as give back to the community.

The content was highly helpful in affirming my interest in law. I would suggest perhaps more information about the different sectors that the firm is involved in, but I understand that there is already a large amount of very important content contained in 2 days. The social aspect of the scheme was also fantastic, and highly compelling!

There were plenty of opportunities as we met lots of employees from a wide variety of sectors and positions. We were able to have lunch with the trainees and shadow them, as well as go to a social dinner with them. Ther were also multiple presentations from partners in different areas of the firm so we gained perspectives from those who had similar experiences to us just a few years ago, to partners who had been at the firm for 10+ years.

The chance to go on the London Eye was one that me and many of the other participants had never been on, and the fact we were going with a group of trainees made the event even better. Afterwards, we went for dinner together and had the chance to talk to them in an even more informal setting; we found out that all the trainees are very friendly and that there is a collaborative culture within the firm, which simply reaffirms what we found out throughout the day.

We were given a presentation on the various causes that Baker McKenzie supports (ie. LGBT+, Womens, Disabilities etc.), and were able to see the achievements that the trainees contributed towards right from the beginning of joining the firm.

Highly recommend this scheme, the Baker McKenzie First Year Insight Scheme packs a lot of information into 2 days and, more importantly, allows you to gauge your personality with the culture of the firm - something that cannot be accurately done through a website.