Summer Clerk Review

The Baker & McKenzie vacation scheme was excellent. Well organised with exceptional support networks, I really enjoyed the 3 week period on the whole. Bakers really looked to accommodate me in the best way they could, ranging from the people I worked with, my seat preferences, and the organised socials!

As a vac scheme student, I felt my input in the Corporate Department probably was more of a hindrance than a help, only due to the fact that they were pushed for time on such technical aspects of working to close a deal. However, my week in Disputes I could feel that everything I did was genuinely helping the trainees and associates towards their work. Moreover, the trainees were fantastic. I felt really accommodated on the whole and it took no time to fit in at all.

In Corporate (West), my support was fantastic. I was sitting in a room with an associate who broke everything down for me patiently and encouragingly. However, in Disputes, although my supervisor was equally as brilliant, I was actually sat in an office with a busy Partner. Minimal interaction or conversation on this front made me feel quite undervalued at times.

After a very quiet second week in Corporate, I was quickly working non-stop for my final week in Dispute Resolution on a range of tasks, having to balance the work-load against pressing deadlines. However, I was out by 6 every night which was nice.

Vac scheme students are not taken on to be given responsibility. It was a fantastic experience, and the research and drafting tasks I was given were invaluable. But there was not much responsibility when it comes down to it. Everything you do will be run through your superior, as is natural.

Having never done a vac scheme before, I cannot overstate how valuable this experience has been. The variety of work I have been is incredible, giving me real insight into the necessary skills and pressures of working within a world-class law firm.

Good mix of the serious work with the amicable. A bit of 'work-hard, play-hard' kind of atmosphere.

From start to finish, the vac scheme was well organised. Integrating you into the firm at first, and then the transition between your seats was seamless. Using "buddies" is also a great way to orchestrate things.

Really impressive investment in what the firm thinks will be their future trainees. Picking a like minded bunch of vac schemers meant we all got on well, and the time and money the firm clearly devoted to us was greatly appreciated.

Very good retention rates as I understand, both from their vac scheme to become trainees, and then keeping trainees on to become newly qualified associates.

As always, some enjoy the social side more than others, and I have made some great friends on nights out so far.

London is as expensive as it gets, but as a student at KCL, I was used to it in fairness.

The bars and pubs in the City are always a cool place to hang-out after work. Nothing crazy however.

I wanted to get involved in the football but nothing was available or organised by the firm. Very disappointing, as this would have been a great networking event.