Student Review

There was a lot to do, and there was a lot to see. However, I don’t think the insight was as valuable as it could have been. I signed up for the insight hoping for more than what I received, but it wasn’t a struggle, just a bit below expectation.

Everyone was very to themself. Many were clearly not accustomed to having to interact with students (we were ranged from the ages 16 to 17, and were in our first year of sixth form) and it was seen in the way they interacted. I admire how much they focussed on their job, but as a student I found it difficult to integrate.

I spoke to employees from different departments during my time there, but during the tasks, many were not able to explain properly how they would like a task to be done. It was easy to feel quite lost whilst trying to completely a task. There were workshops which were certainly more useful than being assigned actual legal tasks themselves.

Learnt a variety of skills from workshops. For instance, presentation skills. It’s not something that comes naturally to everyone and many of the tips proved to be very useful (e.g. where to look). There was also a networking workshop which not only gave me an opportunity to learn about the other students, but also allowed me to build my confidence.

Very structured. We were given a plan at the beginning which told us what we would be doing, when and with who. This made is easier to keep track of the day and gave an opportunity to prepare for tasks in advance. This preparation was also proving to be useful.

The atmosphere of the firm in itself was quite dull. As mentioned, everyone is quite to themselves and I found it to be intimidating to approach anyone. The other students on the insight definitely made it a much more enjoyable experience, and there was a shared drive to make the most of this insight.

Nothing solid, really. They invested their time and efforts in the workshops, which taught us presentation skills, networking skills and negotiation skills, and I am grateful for that. But given the scale of the company, I think they can definitely invest more in the students that come on to this insight.

I shadowed lawyers in their second and fourth seats, and in doing so I was able to discuss with them how they got to their current position and what they plan to do next. However, I was never able to sit and observe the general workplace (Such as, how people interacted with each other, etc) so I don’t feel like I full grasped what it would be like to work there.

As mentioned, I was not able to observe the company as a whole. By speaking to individuals who had been assigned to us, I believe I received a subjective view on what the company culture is. I would have much rather spoken to people on my own accord to discover this for myself.

It allowed me to establish that the legal field is not for me. Thus, it holds some value as it allowed me to discover what I want to do as a career by process of elimination. I would have liked to have had a discussion with people from other sectors of the firm (e.g. HR)

I appreciate being reimbursed for my journey, as it is not particularly convenient as a student to travel to St Paul’s Cathedral each day. This being an unpaid insight is something that does not bother me at the moment as the work was not particularly strenuous or tiring and I value what I have learnt.

As mentioned, we were able to interact with lawyers in their second and their fourth seats in varying departments. Other than this, however, there was limited interaction with other employees. I wish this was not the case, as it would have helped for those of us unaware of how many jobs there are around us.

There was a networking workshop between all the students at the beginning of the insight. During this networking workshop, we were able to discuss our current studies, as well as our future educational aspirations as well as professional. This was valuable as I was able to build connections with people who are aspiring to go into different fields.

Not at all. It was a very professional environment and everyone seemed very focused on the work itself. This was admirable to a certain extent but it made the atmosphere quite robotic. There was no interest in anything other than the law in front of them which was disappointing to see.

I would recommend it to someone who has a serious interest in law, or an equally professional field. Although I learn various skills such as networking, presenting and negotiating, the atmosphere is not for those who are looking for a place to learn as well as have fun. This is a very work orientated insight.