Spring Placement Scheme Review

During this placement, there were a series of talks by senior lawyers from the firm’s six main practice areas (corporate, finance, MIT (marine and international trade), commercial litigation, real estate and EPP (employment, pensions and private wealth)), the chance to meet and network with a trainee buddy and an associate supervisor and daily tasks undertaken for the rail finance, litigation and innovation teams.

The tasks we were given were broad and served as a good introduction to the daily responsibilities of a trainee, although they were sometimes a bit simplified, as they needed to be understood by non-law students. The week involved several in-depth presentations, which really helped to test and develop my communication and commercial awareness skills.

I developed a comprehensive understanding of how Stephenson Harwood operates on a day-to-day basis - including what different practice areas do, the subgroups that make up each practice area, and how these groups interact with each other. I also got a very clear sense of the structure of the firm and its role as a business, especially through a very interesting innovation presentation.

Although the placement was entirely virtual, so there was no chance to experience the atmosphere of the office, I felt that the general atmosphere fostered by the firm was very friendly. The lawyers giving the talks all clearly knew and liked each other and were friendly and welcoming, emphasising that there were no stupid questions. One-on-one meetings with a trainee buddy and an associate supervisor reinforced this as they were very generous with their time.

Overall, it was a very enjoyable week. We were constantly busy and were given significant time to interact with representatives of the firm, in both formal and informal settings. There were obvious challenges hosting the week since it was entirely virtual, but I felt like a lot of thought and time had gone into making all the placement schemers feel valued and welcome.

Yes

Personality and friendliness were very valued during the week, so try to relax and come across as naturally as possible during any interview. Also, think about your reasons for applying to Stephenson Harwood specifically, and make sure that you can articulate them effectively.