Vacation Scheme Student Review

The work placement at Walker Morris was extremely enjoyable. During the week you feel very involved as there are a number of activities to participate in in addition to spending time in your department. All the staff are very easy to get along with, funny and friendly. The trainees make a real, active effort to get to know you and organised drinks after work on three occassions within the week.

Everyone at Walker Morris did their best to make all of the Vacation Scheme students feel at home. The fact that many social events were organised even though it was only a one week placement meant that you got to know everyone really well - especially the other vac schemers and the trainees. All of the staff are very friendly - from the most important partners to the support staff to the door man. I felt very involved in the firm - it was as if I was actually starting a new job here rather than just being on placement.

My supervisor was great, he showed me the ropes and gave me guidance when I needed it but he wasn't patronising. He respected me as an aspiring lawyer and therefore left me to my own devices a lot of the time.

I wasn't overly busy on any of the days on my work placement. Sometimes it is difficult for your supervisors to give you work as they are so busy with their own very important cases and clients. However I was able to attend client meetings and listen in on phone calls which my supervisors made - this is great for getting an idea of what you will be doing in the future.

My supervisors were happy to have me call clients for simple information. Any written work which was given was checked first before it was sent out.

The most useful thing is observing the more senior lawyers at work - listening in on their phone calls and attending client meetings. This really gives you a feel of the sort of skills and attitude you will need to be successful as a lawyer. With written work comprehensive feedback was always given, so this gives you an idea of how to improve and what sort of style you need to write in.

There was a really good atmosphere in the offices. I sat in the employment department and all of the team were very friendly and approachable and seemed to have a great work-life balance. There seems to be an "open-door" culture at Walker Morris and solicitors of all levels of seniority are very approachable.

The placement was very well set up with an induction session, introductory lunch, talks from trainees, different tasks to do in your department, social sessions and group exercises which we were assessed on throughout the week.

Walker Morris really wanted each vacation scheme student to get the most out of their placement. They were very keen for everyone to demonstrate their skills and abilities throughout the week so that they could judge which candidates would be right for a training contract there.

I have a further interview with them coming up so I am hoping I will be able to impress.

Everyone was really friendsly and we all seemed like the same "type" of person. We all went for lunch together each day. There was a social organised on the Wednesday - we had drinks with the trainees and the vac scheme students and everyone seemed to have a really fun night.

Leeds is a great city to live and work in. I went to University in Leeds so I know the city and nighlife well anyway. Drinks and clubs are as expensive as any other major city. There's a great variety of bars, restaurants, shops etc.

There's a great variety of bars, restaurants, shops etc. Leeds is an amazing city. Walker Morris is right near the centre of Leeds so its easy to go for a drink after work or meet for lunch in a nice restaurant.

The trainees were really keen to get all the vacation scheme students involved in social activities - they organised to meet for drinks after work on three of the nights of the week! We were given information about Walker Morris' sports teams etc, so there's obviously a lot to get involved with once you become a trainee.