Vacation Scheme Review

I really enjoyed the experience. I was placed in a small team and had the opportunity to really experience what the work would be like as a trainee in the restructuring team would be doing. I think 2 weeks was a great length because I had time to adjust to the working styles.

The whole team made me feel welcomed and valued from the first moment I was introduced. They let me participate in meetings and took time to explain what they were doing and the significance of their work. I was always welcomed to ask questions and ask for work. They also gave me feedback on my performance.

I was always encouraged to attempt the work as I saw it and to ask questions along the way. When I made mistakes, I would get really good feedback and suggestions on how to improve. I never felt uncomfortable asking help from even from the senior associate. They often asked me how I was getting on throughout the task.

For me as a career changer it was really important that the vacation scheme gave me a true picture of what a lawyer did. The work responsibility that I was given was an eye opener and it confirmed the decision to change was a correct one. It was important for me to understand the work culture and how promotions worked, and not just how the training seats were assigned.

From the induction day to the last day, the programme was structure very well. We were given sufficient information through email and we knew the activities we were doing throughout the two weeks. We were kept busy, but with enough time to discover the firm in our own pace.

Everybody was very welcoming and was happy to share their story. I did not feel intimidated to speak to people and ask them stuff. The open layout helps in terms of meeting others from other departments. It was also a great way to understand the friendship and work culture in the office.

The firm provides a scholarship for the LPC and many training opportunities during the training contract. This is a very big investment on behalf of the firm. The firm also continually trains its solicitors throughout their career. They know that there is competition to get the best as often the candidates who get vacation schemes with them also have placements with other firms.

The firm caters for different personalities, diverse backgrounds and personal, family needs. Many work flexibly and so many I have spoken to are happy working there. Work and life balance is done pretty well by most. The opportunities for secondments in other offices is definitely one of the biggest selling point for me.

I spoke to many lawyers who did not originally train in PM and they offered really good insight on the culture. PM truly value its people and finds creative ways of working to accommodate individual needs. The open layout encourages people of various levels to mingle. The laid back Fridays are nice because you get to see people's personalities.

I got my hands dirty with real trainee work and I appreciated that. It was important to know what lawyers do to really be sure that this career change is a good one for me. The 2 weeks at PM really helped me make up my mind and it confirmed what I wanted in a place I work for.

I can't remember exactly what I the pay was but it was sufficient to cover accommodation. I am not residing in Birmingham and I did not want to commute for over 2 hours daily. More me, payment was not the issue, I would still have done this experience without the pay.

There were plenty of networking events. Firstly in London we met the other vacation schemers of the English first intake. In the Birmingham office, networking breakfast, lunch with trainees, and social evening was organised. The Head of Office also had coffee with us. The open layout made it easy to meet others too.

Induction was really good. The networking breakfast was disappointing because not many qualified lawyers showed up. The trainee organised events were okay, but you only networked with the same trainees that showed up. Nonetheless, the events were fun and we learned a lot about the process of getting training contracts.

Trainees are very social and they do internal PM gatherings as well as meeting up with trainees from other Birmingham firms. Qualified lawyers are involved a lot in client events and charity. Of course there are so many things to do in town as well which employees do outside of work.

Pinsent Masons' vacation scheme was very well organised and everyone was so welcoming. I would highly recommend doing the VS scheme because it gives you a real insight of the company's culture and type of work you would eventually do. They are not afraid to give you responsibility either, which is great!