Vacation Scheme Review

I enjoyed the insight greatly. I learned a huge amount about the law firm, its practice areas, its culture, and what it would be like to train there. The camaraderie with the other students on the scheme made the socials even more enjoyable, and the trainees were extremely welcoming to all of us.

I felt extremely valued during my time at Simmons & Simmons. Everyone in the two departments I sat at- from trainees, to associates, to partners- assigned me real, complex work. I felt as though I actually had the chance to contribute to the firm, and while the work was often not straight-forward, I always felt at ease asking questions.

I received a great amount of guidance and support during the insight. From an organisational point of view, graduate recruitment were always on hand to help with any queries. Within each department, my trainee buddies and supervisors checked in with me regularly, making sure I had plenty of work to do and felt comfortable and at home.

I feel that I developed a great number of skills during this placement. Juggling different tasks assigned by various people was a great lesson in time management, while preparing a number of notes on different points of law sharpened my legal research skills. Most importantly, I learned a great amount about the law firm as a business, and the day-to-day skills that a lawyer needs to succeed.

The insight was very well-structured. There was a good balance of talks and networking events with time actually spent in each department doing work, with about one talk or event per day, on average. The socials and talks were very well-organised and a great amount of thought had obviously gone into making them run smoothly.

The general atmosphere during the scheme was friendly, collaborative, and supportive. The trainee cohorts were obviously very close-knit, and they extended their camaraderie to us in a very open and welcoming manner. Everyone in the firm was relaxed and friendly; nobody, even partners, seemed unapproachable, or too busy to come and say hello.

I feel the insight gave me an unbeatable understanding of what working at Simmons & Simmons would be like. Being in two different departments was instructive, because I saw some differences in the way people worked, but that the overall culture remained the same. Everyone I spoke to was very enthusiastic but honest about their experiences at the firm.

For me, personally, the insight didn't make a huge difference in my career path- but only because I was already very set on becoming a commercial solicitor, and the insight fully confirmed my goals. If a student were unsure about their future, however, this scheme would be hugely useful, because it gives you the chance to do real trainee-level work.

I was paid, and very generously compared to other London vacation schemes. I also particularly appreciated that our salary was paid every Friday during the scheme, instead of afterwards, as many other schemes do. This was particularly important for students who needed the salary in order to stay in London.

There were plenty of networking and social events. The networking events allowed me to speak to many senior people from different parts of the firm, which gave an insight beyond the departments I sat in. The evening socials were well-attended by trainees and associates, and a great chance to chat to them more casually.

I would absolutely recommend this insight to anyone interested in a career in law. I learned a huge amount about the firm, and I believe I have a true picture of what working there as a trainee solicitor would be like. There are constant opportunities to ask questions and seek out new work, and as long as you take them, you can develop many vital skills.