Vacation Scheme Review

I really enjoyed the scheme as there was a wide variety of events scheduled throughout the week. Not only were there opportunities to speak with trainees, associates, and partners, but we also got to experience some of the wellbeing events that the firm hosts, e.g., yoga sessions. The people at the firm were also really nice and friendly, and I really appreciate them squeezing in time in their busy schedules to give us advice on our work, and the application process in general.

I felt that the firm really valued us during our time there as the graduate recruitment team prepared a wide range of events for us, while the trainees, associates, and partners were also extremely friendly. They were keen to answer all of our questions during the different Q&A sessions, and we were also able to contact them if we had more questions after the session. Our supervisors (and other associates) also kindly volunteered to help us review our research tasks.

I received a lot of guidance and support during the insight. I was able to contact the graduate recruitment team every time I experienced technical difficulties, and they would always provide me with a solution promptly. I also received a lot of advice and guidance from my mentor and supervisor. They were really keen to share their experience with me at the firm, as well as provide feedback for my research tasks. They also gave me some tips for becoming a good trainee/associate, and I found all of that advice helpful as well.

I think the skills that I have developed, and the information that I have acquired, during the vacation scheme would prove beneficial to my future studies, as well as in the workplace. The litigation research task helped me develop and strengthen important legal research skills. I became more familiar with sites such as Practical Law and Westlaw, and I believe that this will greatly assist me in my degree studies and beyond as I foresee myself relying heavily on these sites. Moreover, the presentations on the firm's different practice area also gave me an insight into the different work the firm specializes in, and it helped me discover the industries/practices that I find interesting.

I feel that the scheme was extremely well structured, especially considering how it was organized during COVID. The schedule was clearly displayed on InsideSherpa, and there were links for accessing every event. There were also interesting events planned out for us every day, ranging from wellbeing sessions to partner roundtables. Although the scheme was virtual, it was clear that the firm really wanted us to be able to experience what we otherwise would if the scheme was held in the office.

I would describe the general atmosphere or mood of the scheme to be friendly. Not only were our cohort excited to meet and help each other, but the people at the firm also seemed really enthusiastic about answering our questions and giving us advice moving forward. Although the research tasks did cause a bit of stress as we didn't have a lot of time to finish them, the associates were extremely helpful and friendly during their drop-in sessions, and it made me feel more comfortable about everything.

I think the firm did invest quite a bit in me concerning personal training and development. They organized different wellbeing sessions such as mindfulness and yoga, where we were provided with tips as to how to alleviate stress and be more efficient. There was also a training session for legal drafting, which I found to be extremely helpful. I appreciate how the firm was willing to invest in external sources to help us build skills that would prove beneficial in the workplace.

The vacation scheme was extremely insightful in terms of helping us understand what it would be like to have a full-time role with the firm. The trainees and partner Q&A sessions provided valuable insight as to the different types of work someone with that role would get to do. It helped also helped me understand the different challenges that I may face along the way. The training session on legal drafting also showed me what lawyers have to do daily.

The vacation scheme helped me understand the company culture quite well. We were given a lot of opportunities to talk to trainees, associates, as well as partners. Not only did we get a lot of information about the culture of the firm from the presentations and Q&As, but the opportunity to chat with the presenters also helped me realize how friendly and approachable the people at the firm generally were. The different wellbeing sessions included in our scheme also showed aspects of the firm outside of work.

The content in the vacation scheme was valuable in helping me decide on my future career path in the sense that it highlighted the different practice areas and industries that I might find suitable for my strengths. There were a lot of practice area overviews scheduled throughout the week, ranging from corporate to environmental law, and the presentations were also extremely insightful. The "coffee chats" with my supervisor and mentor were also extremely insightful and helpful.

There were plenty of networking opportunities throughout the scheme. We were given opportunities to ask questions after every practice area overview, and there were also Q&A sessions with trainees and partners. We also got an opportunity to inquire about the different affinity groups in the firm. Besides that, my supervisor and mentor were also very enthusiastic about arranging "coffee chats." We would have casual chats about our work, where they also provided me with a lot of advice with regards to my study and potential traineeship.

The networking and social event opportunities were good in terms of both quality and quantity. We had the opportunity to talk to people at the firm every day of the scheme, which was great considering that we were not in the office for the duration of the scheme. The people at the firm were extremely friendly and approachable, and would happily answer whatever questions we had. I also enjoyed the use of breakout rooms during these events.

There was a session dedicated to helping us learn about the different affinity groups in the firm. Although there wasn't a lot of time for each group to present, it was expected because of the short scheme. Furthermore, graduate recruitment also helped us contact the presenters if we had any questions which were not answered during the event. The presenters were all really friendly and approachable and were willing to answer any questions that we had.

I would definitely recommend this vacation scheme to my peers. The two research tasks we were given were quite challenging, but they really helped me develop important legal research, as well as time management skills. The soft skills that I have strengthened throughout the scheme would help me in my future studies and career. The different presentations and networking opportunities not only provided me with valuable insight into the different types of work that the firm specializes in but also allowed me to get a good grasp of the culture of the firm.