Vacation Scheme Student Review

I really enjoyed my vacation scheme at Herbert Smith Freehills. The scheme was very well organised, with several departmental presentations and social events. This gave us the opportunity to really get involved and learn about the work the firm do. I found it a very rewarding experience to meet lots of people and to get great feedback.

I felt extremely valued. People were extremely willing to meet up with me and tell me about the work that they do, and to get me involved in any opportunities that I wished to get involved in. People genuinely cared about my wellbeing and regularly gave me positive feedback and encouragement. The firm put time and effort into making us feel integrated.

I had a trainee buddy in both of the seats I was in for my vacation scheme. This was extremely useful as it meant I always had someone to talk to and ask questions of, if I didn't want to ask my supervisor. I was encouraged to ask questions whenever I did not understand something, and therefore I felt supported.

I've worked in two practice areas on my scheme that I have never studied or worked in before. I think it will really help me when I go on to study these areas on the LPC in particular. Furthermore, I hope to paralegal for some time before I start a training contract and feel the analytical skills I have developed have been invaluable.

On the first day we were given a booklet with the different presentations, social events and meetings scheduled for the fortnight. The scheme was extremely well structured, this meant that I always had something to do, and never felt bored. Graduate Recruitment were extremely organised and structured the two weeks well.

The general atmosphere is that Herbert Smith Freehills is a place with really smart and hardworking people. It is a firm where people are passionate about their work. Even more than that, it is somewhere that people care about your wellbeing. It is a very collaborative environment and considerably more friendly and caring than the classic city commercial law firm

The firm invested a lot, as they put on lots of different presentations to expand our skills and knowledge. We also had a learning and development presentation that was really interactive, and was essentially a shortened version of the training that trainees get in their first two weeks. The feedback I have received has also helped in terms of development.

I think I have got a good insight. I feel like people have been very honest with me about their hours and their work. I think the amount of presentations and events organised for vac schemers made the day quite different to a normal day of a full time solicitor at the firm however. Overall, being exposed to different areas gave a good insight.

I now understand that Herbert Smith Freehills is a very collaborative firm. It has a good, supportive culture. The sentiment is that no one should stay if they do not have work to do, and no one expects that. They work hard, but it is clear to me that the work is made much easier by having great people to work with.

I think the content of the day was really useful. It exposed me to different practice areas that I would definitely like to explore. It also showed me that I really love disputes work, and could see myself as a disputes lawyer. Speaking to different people also gave me different perspectives.

I was paid very adequately. We were also lucky enough to go to socials and drinks paid for by the firm. I had multiple coffee meetings that were paid for as well. The pay ensured that I did not have any money worries, which can not always be said for schemes at other firms.

There were lots of opportunities for networking and meeting other employees. We met the CEO, several partners, trainees and associates. There were partner drinks in the first week which was nice. We also had a social in the second week. I also had lots of coffee meetings with people across the firm.

The networking and social opportunities were great. It allowed us to meet people we may not have crossed paths with in our work over the two weeks. It also meant that we were able to get to know the other vac schemers really well, and build up relationships with people.

We had presentations about pro bono activities. I also met with someone from the BAME committee to find out about what they do. I had coffee meetings and chatted with people about the different activities they can get involved with. Everyone was very happy and open to discuss various activities they do.

I would recommend this insight to a friend and have done. I would say that is definitely challenging, but that the challenges on the scheme are reflective of the challenges as a trainee. I think anyone going into this career has to like a challenge and be happy to work hard. But also, I've had lots of fun.