Vacation Scheme Student Review

I found my week at Simmons & Simmons to be insightful, interesting varied and an incredible opportunity in a growing, diverse office. My colleagues were welcoming, intelligent and happy to talk openly and share their views on the firm in comparison to others they had worked at. The socials were fun and different and I hope to have made some lasting friends.

Every piece of work I completed was gratefully received by the fee earner and even people I wasn't working with were approachable and happy to provide help when I needed it. My colleagues were down to earth and personable- I felt like I was leaving part of my family behind at the end of the scheme!

As I have paralegal-ed in the past, I was perhaps at an advantage coming into the scheme. However, I had at least 5 quality meetings with associates where I was given context to the work I was being given, as well as the valuable opportunity to ask questions. There were also formal sessions run by graduate recruitment to ensure basic knowledge in IT, the firm etc.

Having paralegal-ed previously, it was not quite such a contrasting environment as it may have been for others. I did learn a lot about the Corporate seat I was in, as well as about other practice areas at the firm, leaving me with a much better idea of how I would go about choosing my training contract seats.

The timetable was exciting and busy, but allowed us 1 full day in the department as well as various workshops, skills sessions and socials. The only possible improvement would have been to have the social on Monday evening moved to later in the week, when higher attendance might have been possible.

Everyone on the scheme was friendly, easy to talk to and busy, with some being more competitive than others. Colleagues were friendly and welcoming and the firm was generally pragmatic and forward thinking in its working environment. I could see myself working there and loving every second of it in a heartbeat.

Highly relevant personal skills sessions and workshops were organised throughout the week and colleagues were very supportive in our attendance.

I felt like it provided an incredibly valuable insight into what an incredible firm and office it would be to work. We spoke with people at many different levels of the firm on a professional and personal level.

I understood the Bristol office culture fairly well by the end, but as there will be days working in London I did not get a chance to experience that.

Speed networking with other departments in the firm allowed us to consider which departments we may be most suited to when considering our training contract and ask plenty of questions about the various practice areas and core differences between them. The route to a training contract was also clearly explained.

I think the pay was adequate for the week. Perhaps expenses being paid would have helped.

Many opportunities available for networking, particularly given the approachable nature of employees.

It would have helped to have more one on one networking opportunities, to complement the group sessions. However, on the whole the sessions were very useful and informal enough to ask the questions we had.

Yes employees spoke of opportunities to get involved with various sports clubs and societies.

It is the best work experience I have had to date and would recommend to everyone- once I've been given a job there!