vacation placement Review

I have enjoyed this insight more than previous ones that I have done. There was plenty of work for me to do that was challenging but not unrealistic. Everyone was extremely friendly and we were all made to feel at ease right away, with everyone being very approachable and willing to answer any questions.

I felt valued with the work that I was given as it was contributing to the day to day tasks of my team. Everyone was keen to talk to me and see how I was doing, as well as give feedback on any work that was done which was extremely useful.

The first day of the insight was an induction to explain the format of the two weeks, and this was then followed by a local induction the next morning that was tailored to each individual office. We were also given a trainee buddy and a qualified supervisor who kept an eye out for me in the office and provided guidance when needed.

I have learnt legal skills from the work that I was given which will give me a greater understanding of the work that I will do as I continue my legal studies, allowing me to see how the work I am doing will be applicable to a real legal environment. The two weeks also helped to boost my confidence.

The first two days were fairly structured with induction and presentations for all of the vacation schemers, after that the structure was down to the individual teams we were placed in. There were lots of presentations and meetings that I was able to attend which added structure to the days.

The general atmosphere was great. The open plan of the office created a friendly and approachable office environment that was easy to get involved in. Everyone was happy to introduce themselves and talk to me about the corporate team and their own pathway into law with was extremely helpful and comforting.

The firm offered us talks and discussions on the practice groups, as well as presentations on innovation within the firm and the legal profession in general. We were also given guidance on our SWOT analysis presentations and interviews which will be helpful for any future applications we may have to do.

Being placed in the same team for two weeks allowed me to understand what it is actually like to work in a law firm as I became more comfortable and learnt more about the team, the work they do, and the people around me. The work provided was also similar to that which would be done by a trainee solicitor.

We were able to attend several talks on the culture of the firm, learning about their values and the work that they are doing in order to move forward with the firm's goals. The immersion in the departments also enabled us to understand clearly what the culture of the firm is actually like.

The scheme reaffirmed that I wanted to work in an international commercial law firm. The work that I was given and the work of those around me was exciting and interesting, and demonstrated to me that it was a career path that would interest me and keep me interested as my career progresses.

We were paid per week, but there was no further reimbursement on top of this which could be problematic for people who have to pay for somewhere to stay in London.

Yes - we had a trainee lunch and drinks on the first day, and leaving drinks on our last day.

The networking opportunities were very useful to be able to learn more about the firm and the legal profession in a more relaxed environment. Everyone was extremely approachable and seemed keen to take time out of their day to come and talk to us which was great. They also arranged a cocktail making evening for the vas schemers and a couple of trainees which was fun.

Yes, I was invited to a spinning class with the corporate team, and there were also other lunches and drinks that the team regularly organises. The firm seemed very social and keen to spend time with their colleagues outside of the office in order to create a productive work-life balance.

Yes, it is a great vac scheme whether you know that you want to be a lawyer and you want more experience, or even if you still want to learn about the profession. I would highly recommend as it was incredibly enjoyable and informative and you can get a lot out of two weeks.