Summer Student (EPC) Review

I fully enjoyed the summer placement. From the first day to the last, I have been given and also chased work from the team. I didn't feel like I was just a summer student, I was made to feel fully welcome and a member of the team.

Everyone from my buddy through to the partners were incredibly helpful and more than willing to answer my questions or have a chat about the job they do and what exactly it involves. The summer students were all taken out for various lunches and dinners and my team took me out on the last day for a lunch to round off the two weeks.

I was fully supported throughout the placement. If there was something that I was unsure of or I didn't quite understand, it was no problem to ask and there wasn't ever a question that they would regard as silly. All tasks were fully explained via email or in person which helped me grasp the tasks which were stretching me or that was in an area of law that I had never studied.

The skills that I further developed during the placement will definitely help with my fourth year at university. Planning, time management and communication were the key skills that I utilised and are required to be successful in CMS.

CMS is everything I expected it to be and more. Well organised, corporate and at times really pushed me. I enjoyed getting large volumes of work and prioritising them accordingly. All of the introductory sessions were carefully prepared and well thought out, giving summer students the best possible start. I also enjoyed the fact that to some extent we had freedom to get on with work. It made the experience as close to being a real trainee at CMS as possible and not simply a summer placement. A high standard of work was expected from us at all times, despite never having tackled the form of work before. This continually pushed and motivated me to complete the task at hand to the best of my abilities.

The atmosphere was always positive and reassuring, a trait that seems to be embedded in CMS. I have previously had work experience in the Edinburgh office and it too had the same nothing was too much trouble atmosphere. There were various events within the team which I was invited to. This further made me feel like a part of the team. While there were various fun social events planned for us, hard work was expected from us also. This meant staying as long as it took to complete the work if it was required before the next day, and not handing in a rushed job.

My group for the presentations were fortunately enough invited along to a presentation workshop the day before our presentations. This helped immensely in calming nerves and tightening up the presentation.

As I mentioned previously, I did not feel like a summer student. It felt like a full time job with a great deal of responsibilty attached. I can honsetly say that I fully enjoyed the experience. I was also given full access to the UK filesite system, reinforcing the level of trust that was placed in us.

The two weeks gave a great deal of insight into the company, how the other members of the team interacted with each other and the expectations that were placed on everyone.

From gaining work experience four years ago with CMS to my vacation scheme today, it has cemented my interest and passion for not only law, but also hopefully progressing through my career in law with CMS.

I was paid £350 per week for the summer vacation scheme.

Yes, there were plenty of opportunities to meet with the other summer students, current trainees and also with partners.

These were good. Just the right number and they were optional so that if there was work that needed attention, the time could be spent on that.

Yes, there are various football leagues and also the CMS world cup which sounds like a great experience and something that shouldn't be missed.

Yes.