This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.

Rating

4.7/5
  • About You
    4.8
  • The Company
    4.7
  • Everything Else
    4.6

    About You

  • 1. To what extent did you enjoy the insight?
  • Overall, a very good balance was struck between getting an insight into the firm in general, the department and meeting the other students who could potentially be part of my vac scheme/trainee cohort. This is due to the fact that the placement lasted for a whole week, rather than the one or two days which other firms offer.

    5/5

  • 2. To what extent did you feel valued during your time at the company or firm?
  • This can be highlighted from the positive way in which I was treated in my chosen department. The whole department took time to get to know me over the week, and I was given work by my trainee buddy and the rest of the department whenever I asked; the work was not insignificant nor trivial. I was given my own work space and resources which added to the feeling of responsibility.

    5/5

  • 3. How much guidance/support did you receive during the insight?
  • A whole day was spent introducing me to the firm, and this included IT training. This also included presentation and negotiation workshops which helped in my preparation for my assessed presentation at the end of the week. In terms of support within my department, my trainee buddy was available whenever I had questions about the tasks that I was given and the whole department offered feedback on the work that I had done.

    5/5

  • 4. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and information you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
  • Overall, having a better understanding of the culture of CMS will help should I have the opportunity to return to the firm in the future. Furthermore, the presentation and negotiation workshops has given me a greater understanding of how to perfect these skills; this will be of assistance during my studies and also as a career as a commercial lawyer. Lastly, I was exposed to legal issues which are relevant to some of the modules that I am currently taking at university, so I feel that I have a better understanding of certain topics.

    5/5

    The Company

  • 5. How well structured was the insight?
  • I was emailed a timetable of the week before starting and was given a booklet at the start of which also detailed this. I never had an issue with not knowing what to do or where to go because there was always this information to refer to. Even so, it was made clear during the induction.

    5/5

  • 6. How was the general atmosphere during your insight?
  • Supportive, engaging and modern.

    5/5

  • 7. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
  • The fact that the placement lasted for a whole week, including social events and networking events, the investment was second to none. So much time was dedicated to personal development on the first day and the opportunity that I had to get feedback on the work that I did has given me confidence going forward.

    5/5

  • 8. To what extent did the insight help you to understand what it would be like to have a full time role with the company or firm?
  • I was able to meet a wide range of people from trainee level right through to partner level, so I feel like I have come away with an accurate idea of what life of a trainee (and to some extent, a partner) is like. The longer you're in a firm, the better understanding you get; one week was adequate.

    4/5

  • 9. How much did the insight help you in understanding the company culture?
  • Spending a week doing the work of a trainee within the actual office space with all of the other staff, networking with people from across the firm, participating in a firm social event, researching the firm for a presentation all adds to the understanding that I was given about the culture of CMS.

    5/5

  • 10. How valuable was the content in helping you to decide on your future career path?
  • I was already set on pursuing a career at an international law firm such as CMS before starting the placement. The work that I did confirmed this. Spending time in a specific department and finding out what other departments do, I have a better idea of what Seats I may want to consider when training.

    4/5

    Everything Else

  • 11. Were you paid or reimbursed adequately for this experience?

  • 12. Were there opportunities for networking and meeting other employees of the company or firm?
  • Trainees were present throughout the week and there were opportunties to speak with partners.

    4/5

  • 13. How were the networking/ social event opportunities?
  • There was a great social event on the first night of the placement. It was a good opportunity to meet the other students and network with a range of trainees who attended. There was also a trainee networking lunch during the week, so this supplemented the previous insight I had been given.

    5/5

  • 14. Did you find out about activities that employees can get involved in outside of work?
  • 5/5

  • 15. Would you recommend this insight to a friend?
  • I am unaware of another placement that provides such a detailed insight into a law firm at such an early stage. The programme is very well-structured so there are opportunities to engage in numerous activities, from the firm induction to the social event to the work within the departments, so you come away with an accurate idea of the culture of the firm.

    5/5

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Details

Insight / Vacation Scheme (< 4 Weeks)

Commercial Law

Scotland

April 2017


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