Legal Intern Review

The internship has been a fantastic experience overall. I have found the experience of working in an in-house legal team on an industrial manufacturing site to be a great motivating factor. It's great to walk in to work on a morning and witness innovative machinery actually being manufactured. In-house legal departments seem to be much more collaborative, with the focus being on achieving outcomes rather than billing clients. It's also great to be able to contribute to some of the enormous engineering projects that Siemens undertake. As a member of the legal team I have worked with a wide range of people including engineers, project managers and salespersons, which has helped me develop a deep understanding of the business and its functions.

My colleagues often showed great appreciation for my efforts and it was encouraging to receive praise on several occasions on the internal Siemens social network. Siemens has a very inclusive culture and I was made to feel like a valuable member of the company. The work that I have been provided with has always been meaningful.

There is an extensive induction programme for new interns and graduates and a lot of guidance is provided mostly before taking on any work. My own line manager has always been approachable and accessible to answer any of my queries or provide guidance. Training events and initiatives occur on a regular basis in order to keep up-to-date with the firms' practices and affairs.

The workload does vary due to the nature of the work, some days are extremely busy whereas others are less so. As the legal and compliance department is a support function to the rest of the Siemens business, a lot of work comes in on an ad hoc basis and as a result workload can vary a lot. Interns are encouraged to be proactive in looking for work and offering assistance when they have spare capacity.

I feel I was given an appropriate level of responsibility as an intern considering the high value, high risk nature of the company's business dealings. I was given an increasing level of responsibility as I gained experience during the internship. It understandably required some time before I was given this responsibility.

The skills and experience that I have gained from this internship are invaluable to my future studies and career in commercial law. The internship has provided me with a wealth of commercial awareness and I feel that my confidence as an aspiring solicitor has improved as a result. Providing legal assistance across all of Siemens businesses in the UK & Ireland, I have come across a broad range of legal issues and developed a high level of adaptability. Carrying out legal research for my colleagues has enhanced my own legal knowledge.

Siemens has a very egalitarian office culture and I never felt intimidated when approaching senior colleagues. In my first week I had an informal chat with the man sitting next to me in the canteen, who I later found out was the managing director Siemens Energy! The atmosphere is very collaborative and each department works well together to achieve the end goal.

I would definitely like to come back and work for Siemens after I have qualified as a commercial lawyer. The company seems to constantly be looking to resolve the problems of the future and as result I believe a long-term career with Siemens would be an extremely exciting prospect. Working for a global, leading firm presents many opportunities for varied work and I believe the corporate benefits provide great incentives and allow you to focus upon and excel in your work.

Newcastle is extremely affordable and definitely lives up to its reputation as a great place for 'socialising'! The Siemens site which I am mainly based at is situated in Heaton, an affordable residential area popular with students and young professionals. The rent in Newcastle and the North-East is, from my own experience, much greater value than most parts of the UK, especially the South-East! The city-centre has a lot to offer and great countryside, national parks and beaches are very nearby and accessible. It's possible to jump on the metro in the city centre and be at the picturesque coastal town of Tynemouth within 25 mins. The metro is extremely convenient and makes travel around the city without a car or taxi no issue whatsoever.

Newcastle offers a wide range of nightlife activities. The city's reputation for a night out speaks for itself, however there is actually a lot more things besides this on offer than I had expected. There are plenty of restaurants across the city serving a variety of food. The city's theatre is also very popular, as well as the O2 academy for gigs. With 2 large universities in the city centre, it's almost impossible not to find something to do on an evening!

I have attended several careers events on behalf of Siemens to provide guidance and advice to students considering Siemens for a career. As a recent graduate myself, this has been an extremely rewarding experience and I feel I have been able to offer valuable advice as a result. The company also places a heavy emphasis on corporate social responsibility and as a result I have been involved with various charitable activities. These experiences have also helped me develop new skills and experiences outside of commercial legal practice.