Vacation Placement Review

The placement was thoroughly enjoyable. A wide range of activities to get involved in were on offer. This included networking opportunities with other departments and clients, mini tasks during the week and department work. Alongside meeting individuals from different teams, I enjoyed having a daily outlook on the way different departments operate. Even with the firm's collaborative culture, there were still some differences to note in the way workload was balanced or type of work provided to trainees.

The firm collaborative and supportive atmosphere really shone through. The people were ready to explain any work required and, when relevant, provide feedback upon completion of work. There was encouragement to integrate into the teams, including socials between the departments and taking opportunities to speak with different individuals in the office.

There was constant guidance during the placement. For work within the department, there was always an explanation regarding the nature of the work and what was required. In relation to other tasks during the week, graduate recruitment provided detailed information of work to be completed and the resources available for use. A recruitment officer also called in during the week to follow up on experiences and assist with any possible issues.

The week furthered my time management an organisation skills immensely. During the first day, there was a timetable provided detailing responsibilities for the week and the tasks which had to be balanced. It was also useful in developing networking skills, both during the day and through socials in the evenings. Sharing ideas outside the department was encouraged, and many were willing to share experiences of the legal field and working at Shoosmiths.

The insight was largely well structured. A timetable was provided at the outset for the week. This included time for work within the department, preparation for two mini tasks during the week, and any socials planned. The firm left responsibility as to how these activities would be approached to the candidate and their individual departments.

The firm had a largely friendly, supportive atmosphere within the teams. There were often open discussions between legal professionals at different levels, a feature which can be attributed to the open plan offices. One of Shoosmiths' core values of pulling together was noted as all opinions were taken on board from administrative level right up to the firm's leadership.

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The placement provided great insight into having a full time role with the firm. It highlighted just how much Shoosmiths invests into its people, the level of responsibility given to trainees, and the involvement required with the firm's business services. I received a level of support which would be built on for trainees, in particular provision of training days early on and seminars on key business matters.

The company culture was distinctly identifiable during the placement. People at the firm were friendly and open at all levels from administrative to managerial level. There four key values within the firm were embedded in the daily work of its people. Specifically, it was apparent that the people at Shoosmiths work together, within and between departments, and provide clear commercial advice to clients.

The duration of my placement was a week, consisting of usual business hours. I was delegated work to complete for a specific department, along with additional work for other departments when needed. This included tasks such as assessing case files, updating files, and conducting research. For the level of responsibility I had, as a student there for a short time, I believe the placement was adequately reimbursed.

During the week some networking events were organised for the firm. This comprised of lunch opportunities with trainees for all placement students. The atmosphere at these events was relaxed, with a willingness to share experiences from the staff. I was also encouraged to attend events for Shoosmiths staff, including a business launch attended by different departments within the firm and a barbeque for some of the firm's major clients.

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I would highly recommend the placement to a friend. The people at the firm aimed to be as inclusive and accommodating as possible, and provide an accurate representation of life at Shoosmiths. The activities organised during the week were varied, and there was opportunity to get more involved in firm events when they came up. This was an enjoyable placement within a supportive and friendly office.