Vacation Scheme Review

I thought that Simmons did a fantastic job of balancing a high level of challenging but well pitched work with workshops to gain a deeper insight into the firm as well as networking opportunities. Everyone that I met at the firm was welcoming and willing to throw me into life at the firm even though I was only there for two weeks!

I had feedback on almost all of the work that I submitted to people throughout the firm and was involved by Partners, Associates and Trainees in a wide range of tasks. I always had something to do and did not feel like the work I was asked to do was of low value at any point.

Graduate recruitment were always on hand to give us assistance and help if we needed, and there was a system established within the scheme where every Vac Scheme student had a trainee buddy assigned to them as well as a supervisor. This meant that there was a wide range of support available throughout the scheme.

In relation to my degree studies the information I received will likely not make a huge difference - it was more the inverse where my degree knowledge gave are a helping hand in some of the tasks that I was assigned. I definitely developed a greater sense of commercial awareness though which will invariably be a helpful skill in any commercially based career.

The insight had a really good balance of time in the office to work combined with socials and workshops throughout the two weeks. By the end of the scheme I felt like I had experienced a lot of the firm but also had the chance to meet people and bond with my fellow Vac Schemers.

Overall there was no sense of competition between the Vac Schemers at all during the insight. Simmons managed to foster a really positive attitude throughout the two weeks which made the whole experience a lot more enjoyable overall.

I had the room to engage with the tasks I was set independently but also had the opportunity to receive feedback, ask questions and generally improve my knowledge of certain areas throughout the two weeks. We were also given a range of workshops and interactive exercised to improve and develop our personal skills and commercial awareness.

I came away with a much better understanding of how the firm worked as well as how I would work within it if I had the opportunity to take up a full time role. A lot of what I learnt on the scheme would not be possible to glean online.

I was able to understand the culture of the firm not just through the work of graduate recruitment to explain it but also by talking to people that I worked for, all of whom were very happy to discuss the realities of their working life. Again, this is something that I would not have gleaned online.

The scheme gave me an invaluable insight into the day to day workings of and life at a city Law firm like Simmons. In the two weeks that I spent there it felt like I slotted into the firm well and was gaining a genuine insight into what a career there would be like.

We were all paid weekly for our engagement on the scheme which was more than generous in my opinion.

Graduate recruitment organised holistic socials as well as specified opportunities to meet a range of people within the firm including Partners and the Managing Partner. This gave us a wide range of exposure to people from all levels of work.

Every networking and social event organised was well attended and provided ample opportunity to talk. I came away from the Scheme with many contacts and friends.

We were informed about and actively encouraged to try different activities outside of work that were organised by the firm. Not only did graduate recruitment encourage us to get involved but various people within the firm running certain activities or sports also emailed the Vac Scheme students to officially invite us to different things.

I would definitely recommend this insight to a friend. I have gained an invaluable amount of knowledge and experience from it.