Summer Intern Review

By the end of the internship I was finding it hard to imagine working anywhere else - even equally successful firms didn't seem to match up! This even made it hard for me to get motivated to do other TC applications. In a good way!

Everyone gave me great feedback on my work and I felt that my contributions were vauled. It was amazing to have top partners at a magic circle firm stopping by to check up on me and give me a pat on the back for good work. Really encouraging!

It was excellent - we were in contact with top partners nearly every day, who took hours out of their busy schedules to engage with us and give us advice and encouragement. In addition the excellent graduate recruitment team were always on hand to assist in stressful moments!

The work was challenging and required real application; there were times when I had a lot to keep up with. But you expect to be challenged when you're working at a MC firm (and I was really looking to be pushed!). At the same time, I was expected to leave at 5.30 pm, and actually got told to leave one night by my principal, who was astonished to see me hanging back 'til 6.30 to finish something off.

I was really challenged and given real trainee work to handle. Of course, there were times when I had to rely on my principal and others in the team to make sure I knew what I was doing - but that actually shows how high quality the work was!

As part of the scheme, we were given a written assignment, where we had to research corporate law and write a briefing for a deal. I've already used some of the company law concepts I learned in my degree - and it has made that module very accessible so far. I joined Linklaters knowing very little about the legal market and the technicalities of the work that they do; I left feeling extremely confident that I could handle it, and learned more than I could have imagined!

Staff were confident, friendly and outgoing. Open door policy. Team meetings over (delicious) breakfast every week. 24-hour restaurant with an in-house baker (!). Friday afternoon drinks trollies in every department.

Unbeatable socials (welcome drinks, cocktail making class, dinner at The Ivy, World Cup BBQ, pub quiz, spy game, farewell dinner, and joint VS after party at Kensington Roof Gardens!), challenging workshops, partner talks, work assignments, buddy scheme, tree-planting for CSR -- not to mention engaging work of the highest level and breakfasts/lunches with my principals and trainee buddies to get the inside story. All with support, guidance and encouragement along the way.

Couldn't have been more impressed - 100% confident that Linklaters will provide exceptional and unparalleled training for me as a trainee.

Offered a training contract to start March 2012 and have accepted.

There were 24 of us on the scheme - we all got along really well and went out every night that there wasn't a social, and at weekends. We met up after our interviews in August to catch up and since the summer we've been meeting up in our uni cities. Can't wait to start working with the other 2010 vac schemers when I start!

It's London - it's pretty expensive. But it's also an incredible place to live and work and the nighlife is second to none - so it's worth the financial pain. And you're paid very well on the vac scheme, which really takes the edge off.

Sports teams, gym, socials, CSR events, client events (cricket match between the banking team and a client), team breakfasts/lunches.