Vacation Scheme Review

Vacation schemers are assigned to one practice area per week. Tasks can be a mix between fictional assignments or genuine assignments that need to be completed for clients. The work is often research based. There are also opportunities to attend client meetings. Additionally, there is time for coffee chats with trainees, associates, or partners to discuss what life is like at the firm and their legal careers.

I gained a first-hand experience of what being a commercial lawyer is like. From attending client meetings and engaging with commercial solicitors, I realised the importance of commercial awareness and business acumen in the industry. Additionally, the importance of organisation and deadline management was key in the vacation scheme. Often times multiple people may give you work to do. Thus, it is important to manage the workload well and complete the assigned tasks in an organised fashion.

I learned about the various practice areas at Dentons in great detail. From speaking with the lawyers there, I got a better understanding of Dentons' key strengths as well as areas in which the firm is still trying to develop in. Furthermore, the trainees were open to discussing the challenges of trying to get the seats they were interested in, as well as the ongoing difficulties in the NQ market. The experience was very helpful in this regard.

The company culture was very friendly and everyone was very open to discussing what life was like at the firm. While more senior members of the firm were busy, they were still open to having coffee chats. It is important to take initiative when setting up a meeting with them. While everyone was friendly, the culture was still professional.

I enjoyed the vacation scheme very much. I made a lot of new connections during the scheme and my trainee buddies and supervisors were supportive throughout the two weeks. Additionally, there were many networking opportunities and some socials, so it was easy to meet new people. The work itself was challenging at times, but still very interesting and helped to further my skills and knowledge.

Yes

Just be yourself and try to demonstrate your uniqueness. While Dentons wants to hire smart, capable people, they also want people who have a life outside of work. It is important to demonstrate this aspect when applying to the firm. Demonstrating commercial awareness is also very important, because knowledge of how businesses work is key if you want to become a commercial lawyer.