Vacation Scheme (Winter) Review

A great fortnight and really good insight into law in the City. There were 20 people on the scheme, and by the end of it, we all wanted a place at Herbert Smith.

There's obviously a limit to the work a non-law finalist can do in a big City firm. Still, I was asked along to client meetings where my notes formed part of the matter file. Partners asked me to sit in on conference calls, and I was given live research tasks to do, which were actually read and discussed.

We were all assigned a partner mentor (somebody different from the partners whose offices we were sharing) to chat to in the case of any problems/difficulties. The trainees really looked out for us, and the two partners I sat with talked me through all of the work they were doing.

Quite a lot of work to balance with social stuff and presentations. I ended up in the office until 7pm on two evenings - a real taste of being a trainee!

I'm doing a non-law degree - I imagine the skills will help a lot during the GDL and LPC.

It was Christmas season, and it awesome - Christmas quizzes, parties, and a brilliant 'Twelve Days of Christmas' scheme where partners/associates took it in turn to open their office to the rest of the department for a day, complete with hilarious decorations and food/drink.

A very clear timetable (including at the application stage), and everything flawlessly carried out.

Feedback from the interview at the beginning of the vacation scheme, and then feedback from both weeks at the end of the fortnight, before entering the training contract interview.

Everybody who succeeds in securing a vacation placement is offered a training contract interview. Herbert Smith will then fund the LPC (and, if necessary, the GDL).

Went out for drinks every night together when there wasn't something put on for us - some good venues in Exchange Square! Vacation scheme students were asked along to all of the department parties, which were really impressive. Events that were put on for the vacation scheme included: - cocktail mixing class (complete with an open bar) - party at a club in shoreditch - first-night meal out - partner lunch - farewell drinks - trainee & vac schemers lunch

London - that pretty much says it all. Most people on the vac scheme were either staying with friends from uni or with relatives.

Great location - Brick Lane, Shoreditch, Farringdon... Bars and pubs were thriving after work every night, and there were always people from Herbert Smith up for going out.

I went along to a legal advice centre one evening to see the pro bono element of the firm. A partner also asked me along to attend a legal lecture. A few people on the vac scheme played sport for Herbert Smith's teams over the fortnight.