Placement Scheme Student Review

The placement involved talks introducing us to the firm and its practice groups, with a heavy emphasis on the roles of a trainee and the life of a junior lawyer. In the week-long placements, we were allocated a supervisor and trainee buddy with whom we liaised to obtain work. Day-to-day work involved shadowing trainees in their tasks, carrying out legal research, and conducting basic due diligence.

- Introduction to case and file management - Taught the importance of procedural aspects of a trial - Honed ability to narrow research to maximise time efficiency - Learnt the use of some LegalTech - Understood process innovation through the use of internal precedents - Learnt to write brief and focused legal notes

This experience opened my eyes to the internal operations of a law firm, particularly how teams are composed and how they work with each other. Moreover, I understood how legal research in the practical context differs from the academic context, with which I was well-versed. I was taught how to apply knowledge of a client's key drivers/hot buttons to every piece of work produced. Gained some insight into legal business development.

The culture was one of approachability and open-door policies. The human element was emphasised in internal and external communications. A key aspect of this involved being encouraged to ask questions and clarify any doubts that I may have before commencing a piece of work. In addition, I was appreciated for a job well done and provided honest feedback for any shortcomings.

The insight provided well above and beyond what I needed to complete the tasks that I was allocated. For example, I was provided with context for the claims/transactions that my tasks were related to. While not necessary to complete the task at hand, this helped me gain additional insight. Bertie Chilton and Seline Velioglu were particularly helpful in providing extra bits of information, for example on the LIBOR transition project.

Yes

Be honest about your hopes and aspirations. The firm appreciates that as a prospective placement student, you are unlikely to be sure of your practice areas of choice and detailed knowledge of how a City firm works. In doing so, they make sure that the placement scheme is structured to give you insights that no amount of online research on the firm would.