Vacation Scheme Review

It was very enjooyable. The fact you spend 3 weeks in one department does help you get to grips with what it is like. You can't put on a show for 3 weeks, and that is something that works both ways.

This varies from department to department. This is true of any firm. Unfortunately, you will have to do seats in which you are a big player, and others where you are less so. Nature of the game.

They are quite helpful on this point. I did not feel thrown in at the deep end at any point. However, I have been given work at times which was really difficult. It's a test though, at the end of the day they are trying to find the best.

Definitely not useful for your degree, even if it is a degree in law. Law in practice has very little to do with law in academia. Even more so if your degree is in Mathematics.

The structure was fine. The first two days of induction were miserable though. There is no need to spend hours in an IT suite learning how to search for files. You learn as you work anyway. Not saying abolish it altogether, but other firms get by with one morning of training.

Nice people. Some partners are less friendly than others. The people who are on the scheme are generally quite nice, but there is an air of competition.

Too much on the training front. Needs to be more snappy.

It really did. Doing a vacation scheme in my opinion is one of the only ways to work out whether you want to work for a firm. An assessment centre is like looking through a keyhole into the universe. A vacation scheme is being in the room, and seeing it for what it is.

It is easy to generalise as you are only in one department for three weeks. As at any firm, certain departments have a very different feel. However, even the least approachable departments are reasonably nice.

Very useful. Get involved in as many vacation schemes/insight days as possible. The only way to work out what is right for you is to physically experience it. Websites are deceiving, anyone can claim they are x, y and z, but you need to determine this for yourself.

Standard salary for a vacation scheme. It's not really about the money anyway...

They really do emphasise this here. But it would be nice to see more Associates at events. Trainees do not know enough about the firm, and Partners will not ever say anything negative. It would be good to get an experienced, honest opinion.

Quite fun. The bowling and karaoke was a highlight.

Yes, but they are not big on this here. Although they do a lot for charity.

Yes, but choose your department wisely. You are there for 3 weeks, which for some people on the scheme has proven a bit long, particualrly when they were not really getting on with the subject matter.