DISCOVER Placement & Mentoring Programme Review

I was assigned a mentor and was given a comprehensive insight into the practice area I was assigned to. The schedule for the Placement was packed with presentations, networking, and practical workshops. The day to day involved mainly attending presentations, helping your mentor with live work, networking within the firm, and preparing for your project. You are given a schedule for each day of the week, and the firm presentations provide an in-depth/insider perspective on the firm that you would not get elsewhere.

The Placement offers the unique opportunity to get stuck in with real work, and it is important to be proactive and show initiative. Do be mindful not to overwork yourself, because you don't want to get caught up with more work than you can deliver on time, do consider quality over quantity. You can get stuck in with drafting, reviewing, Business Development tasks, legal research, etc. Definitely take the time to understand the task you are given and what the expected deliverables are. The workshops also provide practical insight into the work a lawyer would typically be tasked with as part of a corporate transaction.

The various presentations provided a deep insight into how the firm operates, where its priorities lie, and their approach/strategy within the legal market. Everybody was very willing and happy to answer any questions we had, so definitely make full use of that to enhance your understanding of the firm. Both trainees and the senior lawyers were very approachable and enthusiastic to share more about their role and what they do, so don't be shy! Ultimately, this was extremely valuable in helping me secure a Training Contract offer, as I could tie my motivations and experience together to explain why I wanted to work at Shoosmiths and why I am a suitable candidate.

From the get go, from reception to the estates team, everyone was super friendly and encouraged to be themselves. I found it to be extremely warm and welcoming. I could tell that everyone got along, and there was no face time culture, or stuffy atmosphere. There is open plan seating, and the Partners were extremely approachable and easygoing. Overall, an extremely conducive yet welcoming work environment.

Overall, the Insight was extremely valuable in aiding my professional development and gaining a thorough understanding of the firm. I was then able to match my ambitions with this and explain clearly why I wanted to undertake a TC at Shoosmiths. My mentor, fellow Placement participants, and everybody at the firm including the IT Support, Business Development, Reception teams etc were all extremely friendly and welcoming. There was also a social networking event scheduled with the Placement participants and other mentors, which was a great way of getting to know one another in a more informal setting.

Yes

The DISCOVER Placement application process includes only the application form and online strengths based assessment. Definitely take the time to read the Shoosmiths website and watch its YouTube videos to gain a better understanding of what the firm is looking for within your application and the online assessment. There are many resources and videos available by the firm that you can study to understand what the firm is looking for.