Vacation Scheme Student Review

I had a brilliant time during the scheme. It allowed me to throughly experience the firm's culture, get involved with different matters and tasks, and most of all, get to know some truly inspiring people. I would recommend the scheme to anyone who wishes to get an inside perspective of the firm in order to make an informed decision.

I felt really appreciated and valued during the scheme. The firm put a lot of work and planning towards it and it showed. We had a full schedule with events, training and presentations but all balanced with the time in the departments we were sitting in.

There was plenty of guidance and support. The HR team was always available to answer any questions, we had individual trainee mentors who provided invaluable guidance and we sat with a supervisor each week, who would allocate tasks and support us throughout. I didn't have a supervisor during a brief period of time and even then I was still supported by other associates within the group who went out of their way to make sure I was settled.

This experience has assisted me in making my decision. Deciding where we want to train is such a life-changing decision and we need to make sure it is the right fit. The scheme allowed me to truly experience the firm so that I can now make an informed decision and be sure it is the right step in my career.

It was really structured. As I mentioned, the HR team puts a lot of effort into planning the scheme. We had a notebook with all events in our schedule, including all the useful information and guidance as well as list of all key contacts: vac schemers, supervisors and trainee mentors. We also had a log book which was only for our benefit (no need to hand in at the end), but it allowed us to write down the tasks we undertook and what we had learned afterwards.

Great atmosphere. Everyone was genuinely nice and welcoming, always available to answer questions, going for a coffee, offering support and ensuring we were settled and comfortable. There was no sense of competition between the vac schemers and that really added value to the experience. It was great being a part of such friendly atmosphere.

The firm invested in us to a great extent. The first two days of the schemes were filled with training, induction presentations and ice breaker exercises. We also had several social events to allow us to interact with each other in a less "formal" scenario. We got to know the training partners as well as the regional managing partner.

It helped a lot. Albeit for only 3 weeks, we did really get a taste of what a trainee would be doing in every department we were in. My supervisor ensured that the tasks I was getting were the same a trainee would be expected to undertake. We got to experience the culture, the hours, the works and the atmosphere of the work life, which was invaluable.

It was incredibly helpful. We were able to interact with current trainees, associates, senior associates, counsel and even partners. It was extremely informative getting all the different perspectives, understanding their jobs and challenges. It really allowed me to grasp the inside culture, specially how different some departments are from each other.

The scheme was invaluable. It was obvious that I was interested in the firm for having applied and worked to get as far as the vacation scheme stage. However, being there truly solidified my choice - I knew it as soon as I started that it was the place for me.

The vacation scheme was very well remunerated. It is definitely a high selling point on top of everything else. Some people had to take time off their current jobs and others were doing it whilst on their summer holidays. Being paid during the scheme allows us to disregard any money concerns and just focus on the experience.

Plenty of opportunities. On the first days we had lunches and evening receptions to allow the vac schemer to get to know each other a little bit better, which was great. Then we had some social events with other trainees and our trainee mentors, which allowed us to ask informal questions. We also had lunches with partners and other associates which allowed us to ask questions and get to know them a little bit better in a less intimidating setting.

Absolutely brilliant. They were well planned and well executed. My absolute favourite was the River Thames boat cruise and reception afterwards. It was such a fun experience and it allowed everyone to relax and enjoyed themselves. The flight with darts was also great fun as we got to compete with each other.

We had great presentations about the Pro Bono initiatives and the BaSE programs as well as the social clubs within the firm. Everyone is really engaging with all the initiatives and the firm in itself. It was great to hear about the progress made and the challenges still to be overcome and how we can be a part of everything once we join the firm.

100%. Firstly because it is a great way to experience the firm and the profession in itself - you need to be there in order to fully understand it; secondly because only by experiencing it you are able to decide whether it is the right fit for you. I already knew the firm was my first choice, but by undertaking the scheme I have made a solid and fully informed decision.