Vacation Scheme Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the Linklaters vacation scheme, as I was able to learn a great deal about the firm, its values and culture. This knowledge was supplemented by a broad range of presentations on the different practice areas on offer, which I found to be especially useful given that we could only sit in two departments during our time on the scheme. What really increased my enjoyment of the scheme as a whole was the firm's culture. I felt truly at ease and able to speak freely to all those I came across during my time there.

I felt greatly valued throughout my time on the Linklaters vacation scheme. This was especially apparent when carrying out work in the two departments I had a chance to sit in. The trainees, associates and partners that I spoke to were all extremely friendly, and made an effort to speak to me throughout the duration of the scheme. As well as this, I was given substantial work assignments to complete, which were of a level of that which would be given to trainees. This provided me with a great insight into the type of work being carried out, and made me feel like a valued member of the team.

I received an extremely good level of guidance and support during the vacation scheme. This was especially due to the 'trainee buddy' mentoring system, which put me in contact with two trainee solicitors from each department I sat in. I found both of my trainee buddies to be extremely helpful, friendly and open to further discussion about their personal experiences at the firm, and advice in general about the scheme. In addition to this, other trainees and associates I spoke to were all very willing to offer me advice in general.

I learned a great deal about the work being carried out by the departments I sat in. I was able to draft research memorandums on complex legal issues, teaching me not only how to effectively find information using the resources provided to me, but also how to present my findings in an appropriate format. As well as this, I was able to carry out a debt restructuring research project, which enabled me to learn a significant amount about an area of commercial law I had not had much previous exposure to.

The insight was very well structured, with a good balance of presentations, departmental work and evening socials. The second week of the scheme was noticeably more busy, however this was understandable when considering that the client pitch needed to be rearranged due to partner availability. Placing the training contract interviews in the final week of the scheme enabled us to fully familiarise ourselves with the firm and its workings before undertaking an interview.

The general atmosphere was very friendly during the entirety of the scheme. This was as much the case with employees at the firm as well as with the other vacation scheme students. The way the scheme was organised greater facilitated this, as we were given several opportunities to interact with the other vacation scheme students during socials, enabling us to form stronger bonds. It was also stressed that we should not see each other as competitors, which helped ease any tension that there might otherwise have been.

Throughout the scheme we were given a range of opportunities to improve our personal development. The process of giving feedback at the end of each seat was especially useful in this respect, and reflects the wider culture of transparency surrounding feedback at Linklaters in general. In addition to this, we were given opportunities to develop our presentation skills through mock mediation sessions and a mock client pitch.

During my time on the scheme I was able to gain a real insight into the typical tasks that would be conducted by trainees in each department I sat in. The level of responsibility we were given was sufficient enough to make me feel like I was making a real contribution, with the tasks often being challenging but rewarding to complete. As well as this, being given multiple tasks at a time allowed me to develop my skills of planning ahead and managing time, which are key for any trainee.

I felt that I gained an extremely good insight into the firm's culture as a whole. This was facilitated largely by the length of the scheme, with four weeks enabling a greater exposure to both departments that I sat in. As well as this, the vacation scheme students were encouraged to join in with any departmental socials that were taking place, which allowed greater interaction outside a work context.

The vacation scheme really helped me to identify what kinds of departments would interest me. It is often difficult to be able to judge whether you are more suited to transactional or contentious work without receiving first hand exposure to each type of department. As I was able to sit in a mixture of both types of department, this allowed me to establish what kind of work interested me more, and will thus prove instrumental when choosing my seats as a trainee.

There were several opportunities provided to us to network with a variety of individuals at the firm. On our first day of the scheme itself we were able to network with a range of associates and partners. We also had the opportunity to listen to a number of partner-led presentations on key areas of the firm. As well as this, the trainee buddy scheme enabled instant contact with trainees. Alongside this we were encouraged to join in with weekly drinks trolley socials, which allowed us to speak to a range of personnel within each department.

There were numerous networking and social event opportunities throughout the scheme. A particular highlight was the taxi treasure hunt, which allowed us to work in groups with other vacation scheme students, thus serving as a useful means of getting to know our peers better. In addition, being able to go on the London Eye was also very enjoyable, and we were able to network with trainees at the firm during the evening. Having two evening socials each week provided a good balance with other work commitments and deadlines.

From conversations I was able to have with both my trainee buddies, I was able to find out about weekly activities that they both took part in. The firm offers sporting opportunities such as weekly football and touch rugby sessions which are greatly attractive to me. As well as this I was able to learn about the pro bono work that my trainee buddy was taking part in, and even helped with researching elements of this.