Trainee Solicitor Review

I thoroughly enjoyed the vacation scheme. Everyone at the firm that I made contact with made me feel very welcome at all times. The scheme provided a great balance of legal insight, firm insight, networking opportunities and social events. The direct assessments on the scheme were also handled very well, and not made to be unnecessarily stressful.

I often felt very valued on the scheme. This was evidenced by the nature of the work I was given to complete. Frequently I was given the work of actual trainees at the firm to assist with, and on top of this my contributions to that work was clearly taken in to account.

Guidance on the scheme was very well managed. The entire graduate recruitment team made themselves accessible and approachable at all times. On top of this, in each of my seats I was assigned a "trainee buddy". These buddies were there to provided direct support on anything at all that I needed help with.

The legal knowledge I gained was quite specific to the matters that I was working on each seat. As a result it is unlikely that this information will be of great help to me going forward. On a more general level, the two weeks definitely improved my writing and research skills.

The structure was good. Almost every day started and ended with an insight in to a different area of the firm. Social events and networking events were well spaced out across the fortnight, never feeling like they were too many or too few. I also admired how the first day was well utilised to get us used to the offices and structure of the scheme ahead.

The atmosphere was superb and as expected. It was continually professional without feeling intimidating. Everyone was very aware of our limitations as vacation scheme students, and as such we were never expected to work beyond our capabilities, yet we were still suitably challenged. Creating a good atmosphere to be involved in.

The firm heavily invested in our personal training and development over the scheme. In our first week we had a workshop put on for us focused on 'making an impression' and improving our social interactions. This was particularly useful as it took place just before our partner drinks evening. Additionally the firm provided extensive feedback of our assessment day performances. This was very useful for future interviews.

The insight provided a great insight in to what it would be like to work for the firm on a full time basis. We were exposed to a lot of work typical of trainees of the firm will take on, and our days followed a similar structure to that of a trainee.

The insight was a perfect insight in to the company's culture. We were exposed to all areas of the firm, all members of the firm, and engaged with people in different ways throughout the two weeks. This all culminated to allow to really measure the company's views and approaches to a variety of things.

It was very valuable. As the work we were given truly reflected that of a typical trainee, we could gain a true first hand insight as to what it would be like to work as a city lawyer. Additionally, we were given an honest picture of the downsides of the career path, helping us to make a truly informed decision.

We were paid competitively for a vacation scheme.

They were numerous in both weeks.

They were excellent, alongside planned events, I attended my department's Christmas party, and joined several partners and associates for lunch.

No, this was not something mentioned at all.

Yes! It provides a perfect insight in to the firm.