Vacation scheme placement Review

I really enjoyed my vacation scheme placement at Shoosmiths. The overall experience could not have been more positive; the people, the tasks I was given and the information I gained while there are going to be invaluable to me as I embark upon the process of applying for a training contract. I had high hopes of my placement and the experience managed to exceed them.

Even though everyone at the firm is extremely busy, I was never made to feel like a burden. My host, along with the whole employment team, gave me tasks that genuinely needed doing but that I would be able to complete. I was always thanked for the work I completed and given useful feedback on it. I could not have been made to feel welcome.

I was allocated a mentor who I was in touch with before I even arrived for my placement. He showed me round and introduced me to everybody, including senior associates who checked with me every day that I had things to be getting on with and that I was OK. I was made to feel entirely at ease with asking questions, and the feedback I received was always relevant and useful.

I asked to be placed with the employment team as I was studying it at the time and it is an area of law that interests me. The work that I did while at Shoosmiths helped put my learning into context which aided my understanding of the subject immensely. I also gained a lot of information that will be extremely useful for the training contract application process.

The organisation of my placement was exceptional. I was given full details of my mentor, information about the firm and the Milton Keynes office and was encouraged to get in touch before my first day. When I arrived I was given a comprehensive timetable and clear deadlines for the submission of tasks. Shoosmiths ensure that their vacation scheme placements are structured so that those of us lucky enough to obtain a place get the absolute maximum from it.

The atmosphere at Shoosmiths was overwhelmingly positive. The firm have a break out area where the trainees are encouraged to take a meal break, and on the last day they took us out for lunch. All of the trainees, associates and partners took the time to talk to us and the overall working environment was extremely welcoming. My experience on placement demonstrated that the firms values and culture permeate all levels and departments and are not merely words on a page.

While on placement I was included in training sessions and given the opportunity to meet with a number of partners and senior associates. I was given a project to do which I presented to trainees, senior associates and a partner, all of whom took the time out of their day to assist with this. The time that was given to me as a vacation scheme placement was a clear indication of the extent to which Shoosmiths invest in their employees, and in ensuring they take on the right people.

Although I only spent a week with the firm, I got a real sense of what it would be like to work there. I spent time with employees in administration, trainees, associates and partners and got to see how they all work together to provide a high quality service to their clients.

Shoosmiths culture and values was one of the things that appealed to me the most. I got a genuine feel for this when I attended an insight evening but this was cemented on my placement. I found the culture to be extremely positive, open and progressive and definitely something that I want to be a part of.

I was already clear that I want to pursue a career as a solicitor but the experience gave me much more of an awareness of the different departments and the work they do. It also gave me a clear understanding of Shoosmiths as a firm, without which it would have been harder for me to prioritise the firms that I am applying to.

I was paid £275 for my week placement.

I met a number of employees during my placement-from trainees through to partners. I now have details of a number of employees who I will be able to contact should I progress through the application process. I was also invited along to a networking event with other young professionals and will now be invited to any further ones in the near future.

As above, I was given ample opportunity to meet people within the company, and also to meet other young professionals locally. I was also involved in helping collect funds from employees for a charity event that the trainees were organising. This was a great opportunity to talk to people in every department.

As well as the regular networking event mentioned above, I was also made aware of the work done by the company to support their nominated charity. I was also aware of the existence of sports and social events that employees are encouraged to get involved with.

I would absolutely 100% recommend this experience. I liked the look of Shoosmiths on paper and got a really positive feel on an insight evening so I had high hopes for my placement. Shoosmiths surpassed my expectations in terms of the organisation and the amount of tasks and training that I was able to complete in such a small space of time, but it was the people who impressed me the most. I was made to feel so welcome and was taken aback at the amount of time given to me. Anyone considering applying for a training contract at Shoosmiths should apply for this placement.