Vacation Scheme Student Review

Very much. The vacation scheme involved several social activities in the evenings, including dinners, parties, drinks receptions and team-building activities. The scheme also involved a schedule of workshops and interactive presentations given by various departments at the firm, all of which were engaging and enjoyable. Lastly, each of my supervisors endeavoured to make the experience as rewarding as possible (eg attending court/meetings with counsel) - the level of involvement added to the enjoyment.

As well as assessed tasks expressly relevant to the application, the supervisors made an effort to find day-to-day work that had a direct and useful application to the team's workload. Both of the departments I sat with were very busy, and I was lucky to be given some urgent research tasks which were immediately important and relevant.

During the vacation scheme I spent a week in two separate departments. In each, the vac-schemer sat with an experienced lawyer. This meant that the supervisor was almost continually on hand to answer queries or explain how to go about the tasks that had been set. Each supervisor also took the time to discuss my performance in the seat at the end of the week.

The skills developed will be of great use in a career in law. The scheme involved a detailed workshop on strategies involved in negotiation, and emphasis was placed on the importance of good research and legal writing skills.

The organisation and work by the graduate recruitment staff was excellent. The timetable was packed with different activities and presentations, with staff on hand to ensure that the vacation schemers knew where they were needed next. There was also sufficient time allocated in the schedule to really engage with the work, tasks and team of the current seat.

The general atmosphere was excellent. Although the teams I sat with were very busy during the scheme, every member of the firm took the time to answer questions, to show an interest in what we were doing, and to make the placement a more comfortable and welcoming experience. I wouldn't say that the atmosphere was relaxed, but it was vibrant and exciting.

As my experience was a vacation scheme, there was not much of an opportunity for such investment. I attended a negotiation skills workshop and several presentations from various departments. We were given guidance on how to write memos and notes in the house style. The feedback given by supervisors at the end of seats was very useful. We also received feedback from the HR staff regarding our performance at the assessment centre for the scheme, which was very useful.

To a great extent. Although there were so many activities and presentations throughout the fortnight, we were encouraged to treat the placement as though we were on a training contract. We were presented with work to do that a trainee would have been given, we had to learn the processes and procedures used in/by the firm, and we were given the freedom to manage our time and workloads.

Very much. The firm is very proud of its culture. There was unavoidably a bit of a 'party line' feel to some of the literature/presentations we were given - but it is important for the firm to make clear and 'sell' their culture to prospective applicants/future joiners. We also had a Q&A session with the outgoing Senior Partner, who further explained the firm's culture and direction.

It confirmed my choice of career. The experience was exciting, fast-paced, varied, intellectually stimulating and taxing, and overall very enjoyable.

I was paid £350 a week for the two-week period.

There were many opportunities. We attended a partners' drinks reception, a future joiners event (attended by members of staff and future joiners), and a final leaving party. I was able to arrange to meet a member of the employment department and also a real estate partner - these were not an official part of the vac scheme. Each seat also let you get to know the members of the firm in the team. My scheme was in December, so there were also periodical Christmas-themed parties that aided networking.

Great. There was always the chance to really capitalise on these opportunities if you made sure to talk to a varied selection of firm-members. There was also a good mix of employees at these opportunities, ranging from new trainees to senior partners, ensuring that a full cross-section of the firm was represented.

Yes - there are many, and the opportunity to establish activities if they are not yet offered. While at the firm I saw lunchtime yoga practice, band rehearsals, and the trainee revue. I also spoke to employees involved in sports teams

Yes. Fantastically organised, aimed at giving attendees that best experience and most accurate snapshot of a trainee's life, and specifically aiming to give the best introduction to the work and culture of the firm.