Vacation Scheme Student Review

I thoroughly enjoyed the two weeks. Everyone at the firm was approachable and eager to answer any questions I had. I was kept relatively busy throughout and learnt a lot in a short space of time. I certainly gained a great insight into what life as a trainee would be like and I can wholeheartedly say that I believe I would love it.

Every piece of work that I was given was accompanied by a very thorough background to get me up to speed with the deal/work. This made every piece of work very engaging and much more interesting. Feedback on work was always available if you asked for it and tended to be very detailed. Everyone certainly found the time to do this.

As a general introduction to what life at an leading international law firm is like, I am sure it will help my transition from non-law to studying law. Also, the information that I received has certainly helped me to decide that this is definitely a career that I really want to pursue.

Very well structured and organised. We were given a timetable on day one and apart from the inevitable minor alterations everything ran seamlessly. I was impressed at how much you can cram in to two weeks (in terms of talks, assessments, socials etc.) and still be able to spend a significant amount of time at your desk learning while you work.

I was pleasantly surprised at how relaxed the atmosphere was. Of course people are under an immense amount of pressure to meet deadlines etc. but the culture at the firm is one of collaboration and teamwork and the reliability of everyone at the firm was plain to see and I think this contributes to the atmosphere I experienced. Or maybe it was because it was summer and the weather was nice (mostly) and that put everyone in a great mood - who knows.

Having done research in preparation for my vacation scheme application and interview I had preconceptions about what the company culture would be like. However, I wanted to find out for myself what it would be like. Throughout the two weeks, during the talks, networking opportunities and generally working at me desk sharing an office with someone, I learnt that everything I had read in preparation was true.

As a non-law student with limited experience in law firms, I was nervous that I would find that a career in law would not suit me. However, the two weeks was a great experience and one that has made my mind up about law as a career. The work was really interesting and challenging and the people are very encouraging and supportive.

We were encouraged throughout the two weeks to meet people from other departments that we not directly working in and there always seemed to be someone available to answer questions I had. We had 4 socials, most of which the current trainees joined in with. Also, there were scheduled talks during which we could ask questions and meet people from all different departments.

As I have mentioned, we had four socials over the two weeks. Pasta making was a personal highlight and a great way to bond with the other vac schemers. We went out regularly for drinks and had dinner at the Duck & Waffle with other trainees. We were always encouraged to build our network within the firm by scheduling casual chats with trainees, and this was a great way to learn more about life at the firm.

Yes absolutely. Approach it with an open mind and try to experience and get involved with as much as you possibly can. It is the perfect way not only to find out if the firm is right for you but also if a career in law is right for you.