Vacation Scheme Review

Massively. Completing two weeks in two very different seats gave me an in depth insight into life at the firm. I was able to emulate the role of a trainee by being given typical trainee tasks to complete, as well as being exposed to live and exciting cases. The culture of the firm could not be better. There is absolutely no sense of hierarchy and everybody took the time to make me feel welcome.

I felt very valued during my fortnight at the firm. I felt like I was treated like a trainee by being given typical trainee tasks to complete. I was invited to every department meeting and sat in on a number of client calls. Lots of different people took a lot of time out of their busy schedules to chat with me and explain things in detail. I appreciated not being given fictional tasks to complete just to keep me busy.

I received a lot of support throughout my scheme. Lots of different people took the time to approach me and give me work, but importantly explained it in detail and helped me understand the context. I never felt afraid to ask somebody a question as I knew they would take the time to answer.

The scheme has equipped me with a number of skills which will benefit me in my career. I have become more accustomed with how to act in a professional setting. I have honed my attention to detail through the various tasks I have completed. My interpersonal skills have also developed, as has my ability to be dynamic and engage with a variety of people.

The scheme achieved the ideal balance of working in the department and informative sessions. This enabled me to develop a better understanding of the day-to-day role of a trainee, whilst simultaneously completing valuable skills sessions and learning new things. There was also a very good mix of social activities which enabled us interns to form bonds with the current trainees.

The atmosphere of the firm is truly first-class. There is a real sense of a flat hierarchy in which everybody is completely approachable at any time. I felt included at all times and never felt afraid to ask a question. The current trainees were really kind in answering our questions and giving us a really detailed insight about what to expect at the firm.

We completed a personal branding workshop which was extremely valuable in increasing our awareness of how others perceive us. It altered my perspective and honed my focus on how I want people at the firm to remember me after I leave. It was a fun session but at the same time extremely helpful.

Being able to sit in on various calls and attend all of the departmental meetings really gave me a good feel of life as a trainee. Combining this with trainee level work and the manner in which the lawyers treated me really gave me confidence that as a trainee I would be in extremely good hands.

Two weeks in two different departments really helped me gauge the firm's culture. The social events and the discussions I had with trainees heightened this further. I am leaving the scheme with eveyrthing I was hoping to experience about the firm's culture being completely confirmed. It is friendly, collegiate, supportive, and generally a great place to be.

The scheme confirmed to me that I am pursuing the right career path. This was largely due to being exposed to trainee level work and being treated as a member of the team. It made my experience feel like more than just a brief fortnight-long insight into life at the firm.

We were paid a competitive amount for our time at the firm. This was salary and not expenses. It is my understanding that firms of a similar size and location pay slightly less, but more or less the same amount. I felt it was a good amount to receive for the fortnight.

Throughout the scheme there were a number of scheduled networking sessions. This ranged from trainee networking to partner networking, as well as group practice area speed networking. This mixture enabled me to get a really detailed insight into life at the firm from vary different angles, as well as varied perspectives of the work.

The firm organised a number of fantastic social events. I really felt like they made a truly thorough effort to show appreciation of the interns and to make us feel valued. It showed a commitment that resembles how committed the firm is to its trainees, which naturally is hugely encouraging.

A few of the trainees spoke about the sporting opportunities available at the firm. The firm is big on hockey and cricket and organises a number of matches against other firms, as well as an annual tour. It sounds like great fun and something I would love to get involved in.

I definitely would recommend this scheme to a friend. The combination of the quality of work and the culture of the firm is second to none. It is a fantastic way of experiencing life at the firm and deciding whether it is the right fit for you. Even if you decide it isn't, the scheme will leave you with a number of improved skills and valuable connections, as well as an altered perspective of you as a person.