Vacation Scheme Intern Review
by Simmons & Simmons LLP
This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.
Rating
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About You
4.6
-
The Company
5.0
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Everything Else
4.5
- 1. To what extent did you enjoy the insight?
- 2. To what extent did you feel valued during your time at the company or firm?
- 3. How much guidance/support did you receive during the insight?
- 4. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and information you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
- 5. How well structured was the insight?
- 6. How was the general atmosphere during your insight?
- 7. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
- 8. To what extent did the insight help you to understand what it would be like to have a full time role with the company or firm?
- 9. How much did the insight help you in understanding the company culture?
- 10. How valuable was the content in helping you to decide on your future career path?
- 11. Were you paid or reimbursed adequately for this experience?
- 12. Were there opportunities for networking and meeting other employees of the company or firm?
- 13. How were the networking/ social event opportunities?
- 14. Did you find out about activities that employees can get involved in outside of work?
- 15. Would you recommend this insight to a friend?
About You
Graduate Recruitment really made the effort to incorporate the vacation scheme interns as part of the firm. There were so many ways to get involved after-hours, and the training sessions on negotiation and drafting gave true insight into what is expected from a student interested in becoming a trainee solicitor.
In the Financial Services department, I felt particularly valued because I knew my efforts was saving the trainee time as she was under a strict timeline to get the assignment done. I really felt my contributions was meaningful.
The trainee you get is really invaluable in providing you support and pointing out key people to talk to or things to learn about whilst at the firm.
The scheme definitely helped cement my interest in becoming a commercial solicitor. Until I had personal experience at the firm, it had always been more of an assumption than a true belief!
The Company
Again, graduate recruitment did an amazing job updating people within the firm to expect us, show us around and give us work. Most people went out of their way to make the vacation scheme interns feel comfortable and were always willing to answer any questions we had.
The general atmosphere is FRIENDLY. I heard many associates and partners who had come from other firms say that they had not experienced such a collaborative atmosphere at other law firms. This is a really good point to keep in mind!
The firm heavily recruits from its vacation scheme interns.
It helped cement my interest in working at Simmons & Simmons!
The departments differ slightly in culture but overall it is a very friendly firm.
The managing partner's talk on the aspirations of the firm was very insightful in terms of what the firm expects from the lawyers it is recruiting.
Everything Else
£275/week
The trainees planned a social for us to climb the O2. As well, there were drinks events and bowling after work.
Good networking opportunities although more so with trainees and perhaps associates rather than partners. To be fair, though, one of the graduate recruitment partners, Alex Brown, came to loads of after-work social events.
We attended the softball game and heard about the cricket team. I'm not sure what other sports opportunities are available.
If this firm has the qualities you are looking for, you should most definitely apply!
Details
Insight / Vacation Scheme (< 4 Weeks)
London
August 2013
