Spring Vacation Scheme Review

I thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of this placement scheme. The working environment was positive and there was a very welcomimg an inclusive atmosphere, coupled with a range of interesting and challenging work.

I felt that I was valued in that people were very willing to give me work, not just from the team I was placed in but other departments. I expressed a particular interest in Real Estate work which then led to me given a number of pieces of work to do from that team.

I received a lot of guidance and support. My trainee mentor in particular was very helpful to me and there was no feeling of intimidation or being unable to ask for clarification if I needed it.

I think the knowledge I now have of working life inside this law firm has given me an invaluable opportunity to see what being a solicitor in a national law firm is like and therefore confirmed my desire to be a solicitor. I was placed in the Planning Team which allowed me to build on and utilise some of the basic knowledge I already had from studying housing law.

Very well structured. On the first day my trainee mentor was out of the office for a course as part of her training contract. However this did not detract from the overall structure of the week and her instructions to me were very clear. I also had a written task and a presentation to complete throughout the week which added structure.

Very positive working environment, I really enjoyed myself.

The firm did invest in me in terms of exposing to me as much variety of work as possible. I was also able to spend time with the other trainees and placement student at lunchtime which was nice to get to meet more people. They also gave me some really good branded products!

I feel like I do completely understand what working at the firm would be like. I rhink this particularly comes from sitting in a department where there were lawyers from every level, trainee up to partner and head of the national team. I think I was very lucky to be able to see this and therefore how the work changes and progresses throughout a career.

A very strong team focus within the department I was in. Very collaborative and positive. I did not get much exposure to all of the other teams but from the people I spoke to, it was clear they all really enjoyed working at the firm and had the same enthusiasm.

The week fundamentally confirmed to me that I want to be a solicitor, in partcular at a national law firm.

Yes I was reimbursed and it was more than enough to cover my travel expenses for the week.

For me this was primarily at lunch times when I was able to spend time with trainees from different years which I really enjoyed. Also at the presentation on the final day there was an opportunity to meet a partner I had not previously met which i particularly enjoyed.

They were really helpful for me to be able to get to know more people in a large office when everyone is very busy. It allowed me to feel like I had experienced more of the culture of the firm.

The office I was in has less of an after work culture than the others, and this was explained to be purely because of location. However there are national programmes that take place between all of the offices. There is also a very strong charity focus at the firm which my mentor was heavily involved in being a trainee and I was able to get involved in some of the planning of these events.

I would absolutely recommend this to a friend who was interested in a career at a national law firm.