Spring Insight Intern Review

Overall, it was a very well structured programme, giving us the opportunity to actually assist with client projects and perform meaningful work, which I really enjoyed. Within 2 days, I think this was probably the closest one could get to experiencing what it was like to work as a trainee at the firm, and many of my fellow interns agreed that this felt more like a vacation scheme at times than just an insight day.

I really appreciated that our supervisors trusted us to assist with actual projects and client work, rather than just being a shadow. I had the chance to sit-in on team meetings as well as help prepare documentation, which made a great learning experience. I think this was the most insightful 'insight' scheme possible within 2 days.

Each intern was paired with a trainee solicitor as a supervisor, who would guide us through the department and also assign tasks for us to do. My supervisor was excellent, and despite being swarmed with an ongoing project, she would always try to get me involved with whatever she was working on and take the time to walk through the details so I had a better understanding of the context of my work.

As I am in the first year of my undergraduate in a STEM subject, the insight scheme was less applicable to my studies than most other interns doing law degrees. However, I have started to realise that the tasks I was assigned (company registration, data protection research) are useful skills to have in any job, especially in tech start-ups.

We received the schedule for the 2 days about a week beforehand, and the programme generally followed it well. I found it to have a good balance of learning about the firm, working on actual projects within our chosen department, networking with lawyers and the graduate recruitment team, and fun social events!

The atmosphere was very friendly, while balanced with the professional air of a city law firm. You could tell that the collegiality between trainees, associates, and partners was quite strong and there was a lot of mutual support. Despite having us parachuted in for only 2 short days, they all tried to help us feel comfortable and treated us as if we were on a full vacation scheme.

As the programme was only 2 days long, there wasn't really any personal training or development planned. However, one of the senior associates walked us through a case study on mergers; speaking from his own experience on the case, he gave great analysis and advice for negotiations which I am sure would be beneficial for any future solicitors.

As we were embedded within a department for around 5 hours each day, I learned a lot by working with my supervisor on her actual projects. She was honest with her having a heavy workload that week and didn't sugarcoat having to stay late the previous evening when I saw her on the second day, which I appreciated as it gave me a good idea of what the workload cycle in the corporate law seat was like. However, even with the long hours that comes with working at a city law firm, lawyers who were working from home spoke to me about the firm's flexibility and supportive culture.

The programme was very immersive and I had the opportunity to interact with all levels of the firm: from my trainee supervisor, associates, managing associates, and even partners. The culture seemed very collaborative and friendly, even under high-stress periods. The firm also seemed quite flexible, with several associates working from home during my time there.

Pretty much every meal was a networking event, and we had to chance to chat with both trainees (1st to 4th seat were all represented) and associates. It was quite a well planned out programme and we were accompanied by the graduate recruitment team at all these events, so they could answer any questions we had regarding recruitment.

Networking lunches, playing darts after work with other interns and the recruitment team, sit-down three course dinner...couldn't have asked for more!

There wasn't too much of an emphasis on this during the programme, as it was more focused on the professional aspects of working at the firm, which I think is fine.

Would highly recommend this to anyone interested in experiencing a city law firm, even if they're not from a law/humanities background!