Vacation Scheme Student Review

Really good fun. Quite a lot was fit into 3 weeks but it's all the better for it.

Have been given everything from proof reading to research and every opportunity to learn more about the context of the work. Quite lucky really.

Lots. Briefings, instructions on how to do the job/use the facilities, and contextual info throughout.

Not sure about direct transfer, but certainly helpful to know more about the form law takes in a commercial rather than just academic environment.

Very! Choc-a-bloc full of social events and regular opportunities to catch up with the Grad team.

All in all very positive. The team I sat with were helpful in spite of being very busy and I have yet to come across a bad egg here. Not a firm where face time was necessary - no late nights encouraged unless absolutely necessary, in the words of one associate 'you can leave at 5 on a quiet day because we know you can get the work done when it needs doing'.

Some formal training sessions (Lexis/Westlaw, facilities et al.) at the start of the placement. But the primary investment was mainly in bringing someone largely untrained and showing them what it is to work in a busy commercial law firm.

As a result of the Vac scheme, I have an understanding of what solicitors do day to day in my department.

The Vac scheme was structured in such a way as to expose you to all the practice areas of the firm and as a result, as many employees at the firm also. Talking to them and just working in your department mean you quickly get an idea of what the company culture is like and whether you're suited to it.

Very valuable. Being able to see and do first hand what you would otherwise have read about is invaluable.

Paid.

Yes, both formal and informal. There was even a networking session with other summer interns at some of the client firms which was fun.

They were great fun, surprisingly informative at times, very well organised and often went on till quite late. Invest in an alarm clock if you don't already have one.

Yes, a formal briefing on CSR opportunities and from talking to members in your team and department you get an idea of some of the things they get up to.

Yes