Vacation scheme student Review

I really enjoyed my insight. I felt that it was very informative as by allowing for a week in each department I was able to grasp what the department did as well as being able to contrast one department with another by spending my second week in a different department.

I felt very welcomed by everyone at the firm and I felt that I could approach most people with any issue I was having. The open plan layout of the office held with the aproachfulness of the people and I genuinely felt that the firm aprpreciated what work I could do for them even without any legal training.

The guidance and support I received throughout the insight was fantastic. The head of the graduate recruitment Gill Warwick made an effort to keep in touch with all of us throughout the placement and we had two informal coffees for a catch up throughout the two weeks where we could voice any concerns or worries.

I managed to secure an offer of a training contract from the firm out of the placement and so in that respect it has allowed me to go into my final year of law with some indication of where I will be next year and a goal to strive for. The placement also gave me an insight into global law firms operating in Belfast and confirmed my interest in commerical law. In addition to that one of my modules that I am taking this year is on competition law usually involving undertakings or companies and so I feel that my time spent in the corporate department has allowed me to have a little bit more of a grasp on the issues important to companies and how they usually operate. I was also asked to compile a number of research pieces during my placement and so I feel that having to research and then compile the information into a concise and understandable document has helped me with able able to break down and manage the copious amount of reading required in my studies.

I felt that that insight was very well structured. There was a busy schedule which allowed for us to see various aspects of the firm whether that be seeing the probono aspect, having a coffee with one of the partners, chatting to the trainees as well as squeezing in some time for socialising! I liked the act that we got to spend time in two departments rather than one and the daily talks from other departments so that we could grasp a more rounded view of the work of the firm.

The general atmosphere of the insight I felt was welcoming, encouraging and down to earth. What attracted me to the firm was the people and the overall culture of the firm combined with their global perspective and legal expertise.

I felt that the firm did not just consider me like a useless vacation scheme student but instead invested in my learning experience. I was assigned a supervisor in the departent along with a trainee buddy, both of which made sure that i had not too much or too little work. I was given some purely administrative jobs such as the post and some photocopying and bundling however I was also given the opportunity to sit in on client meetings, do soe important pieces of research for clients as well as liason with council.

Obviously a two week placement is nothing compared to being full time at the firm, however by shadowing my trainee buddy and being given work similiar to that of a trainee I feel that I have a good understanding of what a full time role with the firm will be like.

Spending two weeks in any place allows you to fuly asborb all of the aspects of the firm's culture more so than perhaps a one day or even week work experience. Spending a full week in each department allowed me to realy knuckle down and get involved in the work of the departments.

From the insight I have decided to definietly that I wish to practice in commercial law and it has also helped me to decide that Belfast can offer just as much as any London office. Before the insight I was unsure whether I wished to go away to London or to stay at home as I was fearful that Belfast couldn't offer the calibre of the work that a London office could. However during my placement I was able to realise that this was not the case.

I was paid for the placement the same as I was paid at my placement in a London firm. I was more than happy with the price I was paid.

The firm organised a couple of lunches and dinner with the trainees and also the open plan layout of the office generally allowed for the meeting and networking with other employees of the firm.

I found the networking and social events of the firm realy fun. I especially enjoyed the dinner and bowling with the trainees and the lunch out on the last day was really yummy!

I discovered a lot about the charity work that you can get involved in also with the sports team involved with the firm.

I would definitely recommend this insight to a friend as even if you are not sure what area of the law you want to go into it lets you grasp whether cmmerical law or even law is for you. The insight also leds onto an assessment day which could result in securing a training contract offer putting you in a really good position after you graduate or going into your last year of your studies!