Vacation Scheme Review

I really enjoyed my insight, it gave me a great insight into the commercial word. I was able to shadow trainees and associates and do real work that would be used in actual deals! I also went to a lot of workshops and informal coffee chats with various trainees to learn more about A&O, all in all it was amazing.

Pretty valued at the firm, I was given a lot of independent responsibilities to do and I was able to manage my time myself. My trainer was very chill, so I wasn't given that much work to do by them but graduate recruitment were great at supplying extra work so that we wouldn't become bored during the week.

i personally received TONS and TONs of guidance and support. I met with lots of trainees for chats and tips, we had speed chats with trainees and q&a sessions with partners, additionally, we had the opportunity to ask graduate recruitment lots and lots of questions. there was plenty of support, i even got feedback from my supervisor as well as graduate recruitment over the telephone.

I feel like I improved my organisational skills and my time management skills and maybe my presentational skills. we were made to do a pro-bono pitch which forces you out of your comfort zone [if you hate presenting like me] so, I think doing that perhaps gave me some more confidence.

It is very structured. Every day there is a set time we can shadow the supervisor and we normally had the mornings to do workshops with the rest of the cohort. There would also be built in time to have coffee chats/informal meetings with trainees. In the evenings there are normally evening socials. We are given timetables.

It was great, but sometimes a bit competitive with the other students. I think there was some tension during some of the activities to be the best group and stuff but generally, the students were quite friendly and graduate recruitment and A&O staff were really lovely and helpful. Everyone was open to having a chat.

A great opportunity to see first hand what the firm is like. I really got to see behind the scenes during a peak time, where everyone is really stressed and busy with work. Even during this time, people were still trying to give me work and trying to make my vac scheme memorable. Also just talking to various A&O trainees about their experiences allowed me to sense what the culture was like.

Super helpful. After the vac scheme, I was able to learn more about the opportunities about the firm, what the firm would be like, career progression, whether commercial law is for me, whether the firm would be for me, my career progress etc. We had a workshop on it by grad rec and also we were able to ask first hand questions to associates and trainees about this to make up your mind.

I was paid £450 a week. I only did one week. There were opportunities to be reimbursed for travel and hotel accommodation [if you are financially diasdvantaged]. I personally did not ask for travel reimbursements because i live in London and only need to take the London underground tube and it is only a few stops, but people who were living outside London or perhaps zone 5-6 may have been reimbursed up to a certain limit i think it is £100

Lots and lots and lots of opportunities to network and meet other employees at the firm! I was booked into so many coffee chats with trainees and associates and people from my department. Everyone is really nice, and lots of lawyers came to see me after an email had been sent out that I would be joining the department. Also, grad rec organises lots of networking events.