Vacation scheme student Review

During my vacation scheme, each day was different, but I primarily focused on tasks assigned by my supervisor. These included researching recent legal updates and preparing PowerPoint presentations for upcoming workshops. I also had the opportunity to participate in client meetings, where I was responsible for note-taking. Alongside my assigned tasks, I engaged in coffee chats with various members of the firm to learn about their areas of expertise. My evenings were often dedicated to collaborating on group projects with other students or attending social events organized by the recruitment team

Coming from a non-law background, I definitely gained substantial knowledge during my vacation scheme. The most significant skill I developed was time management. Balancing the workload from my supervisor, alongside scheduled coffee chats and attending educational workshops specifically designed for vacation scheme students, required careful planning and prioritization. This experience not only enhanced my understanding of legal practices but also improved my ability to handle multiple responsibilities efficiently. These skills have become invaluable as I continue to navigate both academic and professional environments.

I gained substantial exposure to the various departments within the firm through engaging directly with team members and attending informative workshops that covered specialties like capital markets and finance. I also had the valuable opportunity to interact with Legal Tech graduates who joined the firm via non-traditional routes. For future experiences, I would appreciate a deeper understanding of career progression within the business to better envision potential career paths and advancement opportunities in the legal field.

The company culture and general atmosphere at the firm were incredibly welcoming and open. Initially, I was a bit apprehensive, but every person I interacted with, especially the team in the arbitration department, was extremely supportive and eager to help me learn. It was particularly impressive to see a senior partner come down to engage with our cohort, showing genuine approachability and interest in our development. This experience truly made me feel like part of a close-knit community.

This insight program was one of the best I've attended for several reasons. The work assigned to me was both academically and intellectually challenging, which I found very fulfilling. The flexibility to schedule chats and return to my work later added to my comfort and ease. The workshops were not only interesting but genuinely useful, as evidenced by my notebook being filled with notes! Additionally, the recruitment team did an outstanding job organizing social events. Overall, this experience made me truly feel like a trainee solicitor.

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Definitely go for it and don’t hesitate! Make sure you prepare well for the assessment center. I did this by practicing competency questions, which helped organize my thoughts before the actual interview. Enhancing your commercial awareness is crucial, especially for the case study. I stayed updated with the news and read books by Chris Stoakes, which were very helpful. Also, consider checking out online practice case studies. I would strongly advise preparing ahead of time, as tackling all of this at once can be overwhelming.