Mayer Brown Summer Work Placement Scheme Review

I very much enjoyed my time spent with Mayer Brown - the atmosphere in the office is very friendly and open, and every member of staff made visiting students feel welcome. The insight itself was very enjoyable and gave a reasonably true insight into the life of a trainee at the firm. All other participants were like-minded and happy to share knowledge and experiences with other firms or in their respective universities.

For such a short insight program it is difficult to allocate very challenging or meaningful work, thus making it hard to feel like an integral part of the company. However, all work that we were given was very much appreciated, especially by senior staff, and was by no means unimportant.

Due to the open and friendly nature of the company, all solicitors and trainees were very approachable and happy to help if anything was unclear. Administrative staff, such as IT and receptionists, were also invaluable in making sure the week was easy for us.

The skills developed in my time at Mayer Brown will undoubtedly help in the pursuit of a career in Law - it is an incredible advantage to know the inner workings of such a large and well-respected firm. Other skills, such as IT, communication, social skills in a business environment, and commercial acumen are all very valuable skills to have been able to develop and become more aware of.

The insight was very well structured, however there could have been more communication to the solicitors responsible for supervising as to what stages of education students were at and what they would be expected to do during the week. However, in terms of scheduling and attending events, there were no major deficiencies in this respect, and the week in general was run well.

As mentioned above, the atmosphere in the office was very friendly and enjoyable. Making new contacts and learning more from other members of the program was also an enjoyable aspect of the week. The balance between the firm showing what real working life is like and also making the entire experience enjoyable was definitely achieved. I would recommend this placement for any prospective Law student or Undergraduate considering a career in Law.

As the program is so short, the company is limited in this respect. however, there was a certain amount of time spent ensuring we knew what was expected of a potential trainee at the firm and which competencies we should establish.

This was perhaps the most important aspect of the week. Trainees, Associates and Partners were all very willing to share what their working experience at Mayer Brown is like, and what it means to be in their position with respect to workload, client contact and application of knowledge. I came out of this program with a very good feel for what it would be like to work at the firm.

As above, the week was very helpful in exposing us to the culture of the firm. We were regularly encouraged to speak to younger members of the firm, and as a result gained a true understanding of the Mayer Brown ethos.

The content of the week spent with Mayer Brown was very valuable in helping me decide my own career path as we were exposed to real working conditions throughout, and spoke regularly with both junior and senior employees.

Travel and lunch expenses for the week were reimbursed.

Opportunities for networking were provided on the first day at the office over lunch, and over the course of the week we were encouraged to approach employees in areas of interest to us. Networking opportunities were also available amongst ourselves regularly.

The networking lunch was very enjoyable and informal, and also allowed us to meet more senior members of staff. All employees were very friendly and happy to answer questions and discuss business.

Yes, a presentation was given on Life at Mayer Brown for Trainees, where they discussed the available activities for staff outside of work.

Yes. I would particularly recommend this insight to a law student who is unsure whether or not they wish to pursue a career in Law after they graduate, or a non-Law student who would like to learn more about the life of a solicitor.