Open Day Review

The Open Day was very interactive which made it particularly enjoyable. There was lots of opportunities to talk to various people and the day was extremely varied which kept things fun and interesting.

As a student currently applying for training contracts, I thought the presentations were tailored to my needs. I felt encouraged to apply to Baker & McKenzie because of the friendly nature of everyone I met. It was especially useful to have such a large number of trainees around during the day to talk to and they're advice was very helpful and reassuring. Also the number of associates and partners that joined us to lunch further added to the value Baker & McKenzie clearly sees in their potential future candidates.

There were always trainees on hand to offer support during practical exercises which was helpful. Everyone was felt comfortable to speak as much/little as they liked without feeling any pressure. Each exercise we did was explained well beforehand and we were given ample time to prepare. I felt that throughout the day there was no a moment where we were left alone and no time was wasted.

The practical exercises are invaluable when preparing for assessment centres and interviews. I have been to open days before that have similar exercises but I was pleased that Baker & McKenzie offered a mixture of both a presentation and a negotiation scenario. There was a good emphasis on teamwork throughout the day and this hones essential skills for working as a commercial solicitor. The presentation on applications was particularly useful for me as I am applying to Baker & McKenzie and other similar law firms for training contracts.

The day ran to schedule and included a good variety of presentations and exercises. The interaction with trainees and fellow open day students was especially good as often an open day will consist of purely presentations and talks which can become tedious. The only negative would be that a full half hour was not required for the office tour, however this gave us a chance to chat with trainees and take a break before the next exercise.

The general atmosphere was relaxed and friendly. The employees were very forthcoming and answered our questions honestly and informatively. The day was busy and varied and this kept everyone enthused which reflected in the way everyone performed in the exercises.

The presentations were specific to the needs of future candidates and each trainee came prepared to talk to us with very useful topics rather than wait for us to ask questions which I appreciated. Many of the employees including associates and partners took the time to meet us at lunch which is impressive. Also the exercises were specifically designed to help us develop the skills needed in the job and the assessment centre.

Meeting trainees is an invaluable experience because they were very honest about what life at Baker & McKenzie is like.

I believe it is very difficult to fully understand the culture of a company until you have spent a significant amount of time there, however everyone I met was extremely friendly and approachable. I would already be very comfortable with contacting the trainees I met if I had a query about the role which I believe is a large part of the firm's culture.

The day definitely encouraged me to apply to Baker & McKenzie.

The firm offered to reimburse expenses but I had none to claim.

Trainees were involved in all aspects of the day: helping with exercises, giving presentations, talking to small groups, taking office tours. At lunch many associates and partners came to join us and this offered a great opportunity for networking and meeting people from all levels of the firm.

Since this was an open day, other than lunch there were no social events.

One of the trainees spoke about the sports teams that Baker & McKenzie has as well as other societies and language courses. He said it was a very sociable firm and as well as Baker & McKenzie events, the trainees often socialise outside work. We also found out about many opportunities to get involved with pro bono and non-legal volunteering.

I definitely would recommend attending this open day if you were thinking of applying to Baker & McKenzie. In fact, I would recommend it to anyone considering becoming a lawyer because it gave a great insight into the career and the type of work that lawyers do.