Summer Placement Review

I really enjoyed my week. I learnt far more about the firm from talking to people from a range of levels, including those that have been a paralegal with the firm, than I could ever have learn from reading about it. Having said that, what they say online really is true, and the culture is evident throughout. I was on a very small team for the week, and would have loved an opportunity to have a little more contact with the partner, however she was extremely busy, and the rest of the team could not have been more welcoming or helpful. The upside to being on a small team also meant I got to see a wide range of things, and learn about law I hadn't heard of before.

I was treated like I already was part of the firm. I was given real work, and people talked to me freely, not like I was just doing work experience. Everyone was welcoming and always happy to answer questions and explain things to me. I felt appreciated and valued, and that they wanted me there as much as I wanted to be there.

My supervisor, a trainee doing a seat in the Planning team, was absolutely fantastic. She took the time to thoroughly explain everything to me, and also offer feedback. She was always available to ask questions, and along with another trainee from real estate spent lunch times with me and talked through everything from their experience to plans for the future. It felt as though nothing was too much trouble, even when I had a lot of questions or needed guidance. As a trainee she also knew exactly what I was going through currently, and really I could not have had a better supervisor.

The skills I developed obviously directly correlate to my career in law, and learning a new area of law, it was really beneficial to learn to apply my skills in new ways, and to new concepts. I also got a lot of guidance in the type of training I want, and seats. The most valuable information being not to definitely say no to any seat, because many had been surprised by what they enjoyed. This information will assist me in my training, but also beyond as I could head into a new area of law I had previously not considered, but could really enjoy.

The structure was generally pretty good, though I didn't necessarily know what I would be doing at the beginning of each day. It might have been nice to know which task was coming next, but because everything was fully explained before I started on it, this didn't really effect my experience.

It was an interesting time to be at the firm for the week of the EU referendum, and this was quite in the air, the mood a little down perhaps on Friday when the result news broke. That was however very short lived, and generally the atmosphere was a friendly open one, where no one person, irrelevant of status, was more important than another. Everyone seemed to really pull together and enjoy what they were doing. From many different areas of law, people were happy to chat and discuss, passionate about their job and the firm.

In terms of time, the company definitely invested in my training and development. My supervisor gave me a lot of her time, and also lunch breaks. In addition, the HR head in my office had a meeting with me on the first day, and a third member of the planning team gave up an hour to hear my presentation and give me an interview. I really appreciated the time people gave up to answer my questions and tell me more about the firm or their area of work. Paralegals from different areas, as well as future trainees and current trainees all gave time to offer support on my placement, and in Birmingham mid-way through the week, HR was also really attentive to come and ask about the weeks progression. I certainly feel the firm invested in me as a potential future employee.

Being only a week, it's not possible to gauge exactly what working at the firm long term would be like, but for the day-to-day type of work that there is, and also the office atmosphere it was very helpful. It was also invaluable to be able to speak to lawyers who have been with the firm for many years and hear what they have enjoyed, and their advice. I did get to understand how the office works, and how Shoosmiths as a firm operate. I got to experience the friendly nature, and how open people are, as well as how prepared to help one another.

This point was raised in my HR meeting on the first day, when the culture was really explained to me. Since that meeting I could really see the culture working throughout the office, and also on my trip to Birmingham, reinforcing what I had been told about the inter-connected nature of the offices, and the culture throughout. The week really helped me to see the culture in working action, which meant far more than reading it on paper ever could. I got to see how the culture translates into the everyday behaviours of the firm's employees and how business is conducted.

The week was invaluable for helping me to decide. I now know that it is really important to me that I am somewhere like Shoosmiths who will give me responsibility, and let me tackle real work under supervision. It has also shown me the value of a regional firm, and how important culture is. Shoosmiths has reinforced for me that law is the career I want to pursue, but more importantly, the type of firm I want to be at.

I would have more than happily gone without being paid, it was just a generous benefit to the week, which I already felt like I got so much from.

Whilst being in a business park meant there seemed to be little employee activities outside of working hours, on a trip to Birmingham I did get to meet many trainees from other offices, and also the planning team from Birmingham. I also had the opportunity to meet other placement students like myself, and to meet the HR team. In my own office, I was able to go to different floors and meet lawyers from another area of law. I would have liked the opportunity to maybe undertake a social activity with my supervisors and team however.

As mentioned above, had it not been for the day in Birmingham it would have been very limited, and it would have been nice to be able to do something after work. Of course I appreciate this is not always easy with many lawyers working late, but it would have been good to have something in the diary for the week, with enough warning for anyone who would have liked to come.

Another placement student and I did ask about this, but it seemed to be pretty quiet. A lot of lawyers were very busy and so didn't have a lot of free time. In addition to this being in a business park meant everyone had driven and it wasn't so simple to go for a drink after work. I did find out about New Friday which is being re-instated by the trainees, however the date planned was a month away and there was nothing else yet on the books, though I was invited to keep in touch and possibly join this event.

I would definitely recommend it to friends. It was priceless for getting a feel for the firm, and seeing and hearing what being a part of Shoosmiths is really like. Nothing beats talking to people and eating it direct from them , or seeing how passionate they are about the firm. It was a week very well spent, and left me eager to go back.