Spring Insight Scheme Participant Review

The insight was thoroughly enjoyable since it was highly detailed and provided all participants with an understanding of how the firm operates and how best to succeed as a city lawyer. What was especially enjoyable was the ability to communicate with current employees and to see their opinions of the firm.

During the entire insight, I felt very valued. I was given real jobs to complete and positions, especially within a team context that ensures that I felt valued. What was even more comforting and I believe what made me feel valued was the fact that all employees were nice and approachable, even Hazel remembered all our names which definitely made me feel valued.

The Trainee that I was shadowing was really good at guiding me through the work that I had to do, and when I struggled he encouraged me to come to him for help even though he was very busy with his own work. Support from the business services staff was also prevalent during our preparation for the pitch.

What was particularly important for me was to feel motivated in order to improve in my approach toward academia and studying. My time at Simmons ensured that my experience acted as a motivator. I developed my confidence, and the guidance from Trainees further motivated me to achieve in my academics as well as my extracurricular activities.

The insight was very well structured. The schedule we were given was succinct and everything was addressed. However, we were meant to receive a tour of the office, which did not happen. Although travelling to see our Trainee's provided us with a brief tour, however, it would have been nice to discuss the layout of the office whilst walking around with someone. Citypoint is an amazing location, I don't believe it was shown off enough.

It was a friendly insight, everyone who I interacted with was positive and really provided me with a positive outlook of the firm. The Graduate Recruitment team were very friendly and that in itself has encouraged me to look into the firm further and consider a career at Simmons & Simmons.

The firm invested a lot of man-hours into participants of the insight scheme. This was particularly apparent within the shadowing opportunity that allowed me to develop both professionally and personally being able to do real work and interact with employees to develop soft skills. Overall, the extent seemed to be very large and it definitely improved the quality of the insight scheme.

The insight scheme definitely provided me with an understanding of what a full-time career would entail. I found out most about this from members of graduate recruitment, however, most of my current knowledge was from Trainees. They encouraged me through my own thoughts to consider a career at a firm that valued its employees.

The company culture is something you would be able to distinguish unless you actually visited a firm. Through the insight scheme, I was able to understand the culture at Simmons is very much a positive one, that is encouraging and supportive of all members of staff whether they were Trainees or Managing Associates.

The content, such as the shadowing, helped decide a future career path. I sat in Debt Capital Markets and the financial and economic aspects of the law really interested me. Also, being able to speak to a Trainee and his supervisor allowed me to ask questions and receive responses from both accounts.

The network and social events were very interesting and gave me the option to talk to Lawyers outside of the professional environment which gave me the confidence to ask questions and interact with them in a way that I wouldn't have been able to do in the office. That in itself was an invaluable opportunity.