Vacation Placement Student Review

I was part of the litigation team in the Glasgow office. I was given two buddies who provided me with tasks along with the other solicitors in the team. I done a number of independent research tasks, attended several meetings, drafted court documents and even attended court one day in Edinburgh. The other interns and I also attended a few insight events and socials over the course of the two weeks. Everyone was really helpful and approachable, I didn’t feel under a lot of pressure to complete tasks quickly and found it easy to ask for help when I needed it.

I learned a lot more about how a law firm operates and what is involved day to day in a law firm. I also developed my understanding of IP law as I completed a lot of work in this area of law after expressing an interest in it. I also done a lot of research based tasks using databases such as Westlaw and found using these a lot easier by the end of my placement after getting more practice.

The firm were very good at giving us an insight into what a traineeship with the firm is like and into what opportunities are available within the firm after fully qualifying too. They provided an insight night with the CAD team, and spoke a lot about secondments and opportunities internationally within the firm. With regard to how many placements were available among the interns, there was not a competitive undertone to the experience. Everyone was reassured that the biggest part of the decision as to whether a traineeship would be secured was the assessment centre which we had all successfully completed.

Everyone I met in the firm were all genuinely friendly, approachable and seemed to want the best for me. I learned a lot about different roles within the firm, particularly from the trainees who had experienced a few different departments. From my desk I felt I could have asked anyone around me for help at any point and they would have been happy to help- ranging from trainees to partners. The socials arranged for us interns were attended by more than just who “had to be there” and everyone seemed genuinely interested to get to know me. I haven’t experienced another workplace or any other situation where everyone was so friendly!

I absolutely loved my time at Pinsent Masons! This was partly down to the work I was given- particularly because I was given a lot of work in the areas I had expressed an interest in. It was also due to the wonderful atmosphere in the firm (friendly faces, socials, lunch with the trainees etc.) I didnt feel too under pressure or stressed, and left every evening at 5pm- I felt it was a very enjoyable way to experience working in a law firm.

Yes

The advice I would give to someone applying to work at Pinsent Masons is to be confident and be yourself at the interview. I felt that the in-tray exercises I completed didn’t go completely in my favour and I found them quite difficult, but I think by being confident and friendly on the interview portion of the assessment centre helped me to secure the job. I think that the experiences I had in the Vacation Placement and the attitudes of the others picked for the scheme confirmed that this is the kind of person who is a good fit for the firm.