Winter Vacation Scheme Participant Review

I found this vacation scheme at Simmons & Simmons to be a very enjoyable experience. There was a good balance of time spent within the department as well as various presentations and networking sessions. I found the socials to be engaging and interesting, with a diverse range of interns, making the experience very enjoyable.

During my time at Simmons & Simmons, I was made to feel very valued as the work I was being given was benefiting the team and members of the firm were keen to keep me informed as to the progress of deals that I had worked on. Moreover, everyone was very grateful for all the tasks I did complete and were quick to send their appreciations.

I felt well supported throughout the process. I had a trainee buddy in the same department as me for each week. My buddy was very supportive, providing lots of advice about how to approach new things as well as providing me with a realistic account of life at the firm. The Graduate Recruitment team were also very supportive, providing advice and guidance for the graduate application process.

The skills and knowledge I developed on this vacation scheme will certainly help me in the future, especially if I am able to secure a training contract! I was able to develop the practical skills needed to succeed as a commerical lawyer (attention to detail, communication skills, presentation skills) and this skills will similarly benefit me during my final year of university.

The vacation scheme was very well structured. As metioned, I found there to be a good balance between desk work, presentations and networking events. I found all of the social events and talks were very well-organised and a great amount of thought had obviously gone into making them run as smoothly as possible.

There was a really great atmosphere at Simmons & Simmons! Everyone was open, engaged and welcoming, making every effort to ensure we settled in quickly. I found that staff got to know me as an individual and were interested in my personal goals and interests. There was also a really great atmosphere amongst the intern cohort, we all got on well, making the expereince very enjoyable!

It was clear to see just how much Simmons & Simmons had invested into this vacation scheme and personally, I was able to get a lot out of it! In particular, I found the presentation on developing the skills needed to become a successful lawyer to be particurly helpful, allowing me to evaluate my own unique strengths and areas for personal development.

The vacation scheme helped me to develop a much better understanding of what it would be like to have a full time role at Simmons & Simmons. Spending time working on a desk, listening in on client calls and meetings, meant that I was able to understand the inner workings of the firm and what their lawyers do on a day-to-day basis.

Being immersed in a firm for 2 weeks, being exposed to members of staff and seeing how they operate in their professional environment gave me a good sense of the culture at Simmons & Simmons. My overwhelming impression of the firm is that it is a open, diverse and collaborative place to work.

I found the whole experience to be extremely valuable and has solidified my intentions to become a commerical lawyer. I found the desk work to be particuarly beneficial in solidfying my decision as I found the work to be interesting and in line with my interests. Furthermore, it has made me seriously consider Simmons & Simmons as a future employer.

I was paid weekly for my time spent on the Simmons & Simmons vacation scheme.

Yes, there were plenty of opportunities to meet other employees at the firm, with a stream of social events such as group lunches and after-work drinks. The networking sessions built into the days also gave exposure to partners and associated from across the departments and meant there was a wide variety of people that you could ask questions to.

I found all of the social and networking event to be really enjoyable!

Yes, there are lots of different opportunities at the firm, from sports clubs to volunteering.

Yes, I really would recommend this vacation scheme to anyone interested in pursuing a career in commerical law.