Vacation Schemer - Trainee work Review

The scheme is really well managed. It is designed to give graduates a feel of what it is like to be a trainee with the firm but at the same time recognising that we are not. We were given opportunities to speak with people across the firm and were given lots of talks. There is no better way to truly understand Camerons and to get a feel for whether it is the right place to start your career than by doing one of their Vacation Schemes.

I did some useful work, however doing a vacation scheme is of much more benefit to you than to the team you are sat in. This is because it takes a vac schemer much longer to do something as they are doing it for the first time and learning in the process. However both teams I sat with made me feel very welcome and gave me lots to be getting on with. When I had questions, people were always happy to spend a bit of time answering them.

I am sure the firm chooses supervisors who are good teachers, as both supervisors I sat with were wonderful. The firm also ensures that a trainee is responsible for helping you out in each seat which means that you are able to go to them first for small matters. The support network is therefore great and both trainees went out of their way to answer my questions and even take me out for lunch. This was really useful to get a proper feel for the kind of work I would be doing as a trainee.

I always had lots to be getting on with but I never felt that I was swamped with work and couldn't cope. The firm makes a point of ensuring that you do not stay there all night and that you go home at a reasonable time.

I drafted documents and wrote a report however this was all checked thoroughly and so I wouldn't say I was given a huge amount of responsibility. However I wouldn't want to have been given any more because when I did the scheme I was still just part way through my GDL at BPP and therefore had lots to learn still.

Doing a Vac Scheme really puts the work that I will be doing as a trainee into perspective and has therefore helped for the LPC.

I definitely got a sense that this was somewhere I wanted to work as the atmosphere is great.

As I previously stated, Grad Rec clearly spend a lot of time organising the Vac Scheme. It was very well managed from start to finish, with informative talks and activities set up for us on a daily basis. They are very personable and handle each Vac Schemer well, get to know them and call you very promptly afterwards letting you know the outcome of the placement.

It is a short scheme (2 weeks) and therefore the initiative is rightly more on aiding your awareness of the firm than on personal development per se. However the firm does invest a lot of time in the Vac Schemer.

I have a training contract with the firm starting in 2012 once I have finished the LPC.

There were a couple of organised events after work i.e. a very nice dinner with the other Vac Schemers, Grad Rec and a few trainees. Our intake also went to the pub a few times on our own initiative which was great.

I already live in London and therefore this wasn't an issue. Obviously socialising in London is going to be more expensive than elsewhere.

Central London obviously has good nightlife.

The firm has sports clubs. However obviously in London there are lots of things to get involved in outside of work if you are proactive.