Vacation Scheme Review

Our daily legal tasks included document reviews, meeting attendance notes and collating research. Team bonding and networking opportunities were also put on for us by the firm, such as a volunteering activity with UOcean and mini-golf with fellow vacation schemers and trainees at the firm. We were also invited to take place in a Business Blog competition. Outside our legal tasks, we worked on a group business development presentation.

Yes definitely - time management, effective networking, processing large volumes of information quickly, writing up meeting notes, effectively communicating my capacity with peers and superiors.

Good. The workshops held by trainees and partners in particular gave us a helpful insight into how business development comes into the role of being a solicitor. Due to the Business Blog competition we were invited to take part of, we were able to experience a potential way in which us as trainees, would be able to engage in the firm's business and topical business issues alongside our legal work.

Extremely open, friendly, helpful and approachable. There seems to be a good level of trust between lawyers/trainees and their superiors which allows staff to engage in numerous commitments outside of their legal work/complete work in a time and manner which suits them due to the trust that they will get the work done effectively. There also seems to be a lot of 'extra-curricular' actives and scope to invest back into our community.

This was my first vacation scheme and so I was extremely apprehensive going into it however my experience was the complete opposite of any of my prior anxieties. The approachable and friendly culture put all of our nerves at ease and the range of activities helped us to get to know our fellow vacation schemers as well as the wider firm. The workload was manageable, however, I would say at times difficult to fit in with all the activities put on.

Yes

Make an application that truly reflects your genuine interest in the firm and the legal work they do. Culture is hugely important and so make sure that the RPC culture suits you and if it does, make that clear in your application. The firm seems to like well-rounded people whose interests go beyond the Law and so do not be reluctant to demonstrate your genuine personality and interests wherever appropriate.