Summer Placement Student Review

It was a great experience and a good insight into the life of a trainee at Pinsent Masons. Everyone was so friendly and the work was interesting. The three weeks flew past.

Everyone put in a lot of time and effort into making us feel welcome and valued. I was working on real client matters and really felt like part of the team.

We were in constant contact with the graduate recruitment officer and had weekly meetings with our supervisors. I sat right next to my trainee buddy, so she was always there for help and guidance. Everyone was very open and approachable and willing to help.

I was able to develop my legal research skills during the placement and we were given practice group presentation talks each morning so I learned a lot about different areas of law I hadn't come across before.

The three weeks were very well organised. We had practice group presentations every morning, and then spent time in our various departments. They had also organised various social events for us to take part in and everything ran very smoothly.

There was a great atmosphere in the office. Everyone I met during my placement was very friendly, welcoming and willing to help. The colleagues in my particular department got on really well and it was a lovely working environment.

Partners and associates from each department would take time out of their day to give the summer placement students a presentation on their area of law and answer any questions that we had. My supervisor and I discussed my personal goals at beginning of my placement and each week we would have a meeting to review my progress. My trainee buddy took me along to a couple of training sessions that she attends on a weekly basis and she also spent time explaining to me the context of the work I was doing and, where appropriate, how to improve on the work I had done.

The experience gave me a realistic insight into what life would be like as a trainee at Pinsent Masons. The work I was given during my placement was work that would have normally been assigned to the trainee, and the trainees I spoke to were very honest and willing to share their experiences of working at the firm.

On our first day at Pinsent Masons were we introduced to the firm's six core values (open, approachable, ambition, excellence, respect and cooperation). This turned out not to simply be a marketing exercise, as all the employees I met during my summer placement seemed to embrace, be firmly committed to and practice these core values.

It has reinforced my desire to work in a commercial law firm.

We were given £250 a week.

There were plenty of opportunities to meet other employees at the firm. On our first day the Head of Office and a few partners came in to speak to us and we got a chance to speak to them individually; there was office drinks for everyone on the Friday after work; a partner lunch; and we also got a chance to meet partners during our interviews and assessments.

Very enjoyable. The social events also included a pub quiz, office drinks and going to a golf stimulator lounge in Glasgow.

We were given a corporate responsibility presentation during which we learned about the ways in which employees get involved and help out in their local communities. However, given that we were only there for three weeks, there wasn't much opportunity for us to get involved in these kinds of activities.

Absolutely.