Vacation Placement Student Review

The insight was really enjoyable. The entire experience gave a very realistic expectation of what can be expected in the role of a trainee solicitor. Every aspect was made enjoyable through variation of tasks for example in order to meet personal objectives as well as to get a real insight. Those involved in every aspect were also brilliant. There were so many opportunities for questions from people across the office.

When asked to carry out tasks, feedback was usually prompt and very useful. Most often the tasks are key aspects of a case or transaction that another solicitor/ associate/ partner is working on so it's really good to know that you're getting involved in real work when someone tells you how much they appreciate you helping them out by taking responsibility for a range of tasks.

Support was very much on hand throughout the placement. Key contacts were set out at the beginning of the placement as well as having names included on the placement timetable of those who were responsible for providing work to do on certain days. Graduate recruitment, trainees and supervisors were extremely helpful at all times and provided a lot of support, especially surrounding the training contract assessments and any specific problems that may have been encountered on particularly difficult tasks.

The skills I have developed upon have been extremely useful in enjoying the vacation scheme and in really challenging myself. I found that I was willing to give things a go and ask lots of questions for clarity and be willing to learn from mistakes which I think are invaluable skills to take forward in any role.

The general structure of the vacation placement was excellent. The fortnight was really well structured in terms of the range of presentations, events with various people within the firm and the rotation of departments each week. All in all these enabled an insight into what can be expected from working for Pinsent Masons.

The office in Belfast is extremely friendly. There is also an excellent work ethic and everyone seems to be always working really hard and there is a real sense of teamwork in the office. That said, everyone still makes efforts to catch up and generally ask how you are finding the placement. I personally found that the atmosphere can vary between departments but not so much in a negative way, rather that different departments work and communicate in different ways and at different times.

The vacation scheme very much encompasses learning some things on the job. It is a really great way to learn and gives a chance to get a realistic idea of your own capabilities and how best for you to learn. There was always an opportunity to receive feedback on work which enabled improved development moving forward.

For me the placement was a very help insight into what I could expect from working at Pinsent Masons full time. We spent the majority of the day in departments working alongside the other solicitors and trainees doing work which all came together. Seeing how each day played out across the two week period meant that there was a realistic insight into how each day can vary.

During the placement I learned a lot about the company culture - something which I think you would know much less about looking at the firm from the outside. The culture of the firm is very much down to earth, it is a firm which is ambitious yet realistic and there is a culture to strive to do and be the best you can. It proved that the typical myths about corporate firms and their working culture can be easily exaggerated and that working in a corporate firm is much more exciting that what you would expect.

We were regularly been given more and more information whether that was generally about the firm, specifically about certain roles and certain departments or different offices. For me it was a chance to learn a lot more and broaden my thoughts about my future career path not only in terms of considering a career in corporate law but also in areas which I probably would not have considered previous to this.

Pinsent Masons provided excellent remuneration for the placement. For the Belfast office this was £250 a week which is very much what a trainee solicitor would be paid in Belfast. Even had it not been paid, the experience is invaluable and so invaluable and therefore for me the pay was just a bonus really.

Almost everyday there was an opportunity to meet new people within the firm from all different levels. There were several lunches organised, some with trainees, with a partner, and with those responsible for the firm's business responsibility and work within the community. Everyday morning there was a brief presentation on a department within the firm with a solicitor or associate and an opportunity to get to know more about their background and how they came to work in that particular area of law.

The networking and social events were excellent opportunities. They enabled us to get to know other employees in a relaxed and enjoyable setting and provided ample opportunity to get to know a bit more about people and therefore feel at ease to ask questions about what we really wanted to know and hear about each person's own experiences within the firm.

Yes, on the first day we were given an introduction to the firm which involved discussing the initiatives that the firm is involved in within the community, the various sports teams and other groups that there are to get involved in. We had a lunch with representatives on the firms corporate responsibility committee in order to get more information on how people get involved and what opportunities there are.

Yes, the vacation placement was an invaluable experience. I enjoyed it much more than I expected to and was able to learn so much about the firm that I would otherwise not have known.