Vacation Scheme Student Review

I enjoyed it in that there was the right amount of work balanced by the right amount of social activities. However I feel I would have enjoyed it more if I was given slightly more work during the day to keep me busier than I was. But overall, the atmosphere at work and during the evening activities was pleasant.

I felt valued because the work I completed was appreciated by my supervisor and he gave me very detailed feedback at the end of my time at the firm. I feel I would have benefited from a bit of feedback from other associates I completed work for too and would also have felt more valued if I was given more work.

I received a lot of support from my trainee buddy; she was helpful in all aspects. My supervisor was also always available to guide me through everything. There also a lot of IT training; more so than any other firm so that was extremely helpful too.

The information and skills I picked up will help a lot when I become a trainee and it should also assist in my Legal Practice Course. The vacation scheme was the best way to decide on my career path. However I do not think they help much with my degree.

It was well structured because there was a good balance of work and socialising. But I would have preferred to sit in more than one department. The only weakness was that the scheme required me to sit in the same department for the whole three weeks.

The atmosphere was quite good in that most people were friendly and welcoming. Some members of staff were perhaps not as friendly as they could have been but I was largely pleased with the atmosphere as understandably they were busy with work.

The invested a fair amount in training; more so than any other firm I have been to. My trainee buddy also helped develop my skills a lot. However on the whole I do not think much investment was needed as the insight was only three weeks.

The insight was the best way for me to understand what it would be like to have a full time job at the firm. I was able to experience the work, the people, the office and the clients and this was invaluable in deciding which firm I would like a full time job at.

The insight made the culture very clear in terms of both work and people. There is a limit as to how much one can find out about a firm's culture over the website and so the best way for me to learn about was to experience it in person.

It was invaluable. I enjoyed the work and atmosphere so much that the insight confirmed that this would be the best career path for me. Perhaps the only improvement would be that if I received more work, I would better be able to understand the nature of the work entailed in my career path.

I was paid an allowance but not a salary. Expenses such as travel had to be paid myself.

Yes there were plenty of opportunities including networking events, a partner dinner, bowling and karaoke. They were well attended by firm employees. I was particularly happy with the partner dinner; it was great to see so many partners interested in vacation scheme students.

They were very fun and I could tell a lot of effort had been put into them by the graduate recruitment team. I enjoyed it not only because the events were fun but also because they were all opportunities to network with existing employees.

I was not able to find out a lot about pro-bono activities but I was able to find out about sporting activities and Project Nabarro. I would have appreciated being able to take part in some of this whilst at the firm for the insight.

Yes, it was a great experience. It was the best way to learn about the firm and the career path. Perhaps it could be improved by rotating departments whilst at the firm or by ensuring more work is received by the vacation scheme student.