First Steps Review

I attended the First Steps programme in Scotland and I would recommend it to anyone who is thinking of applying. The negotiation and presentation workshops were outstanding- they were not only informative but they allowed you to engage with everyone. The general atmosphere was relaxed and engaging with the associates, partners and trainees gave me an insight into what life is like in a big commercial law firm.

Everyone was friendly and they made me feel as if I had been working there for years. They tried their best to keep me involved and give me work so I felt as if I was contributing. If I had questions, they would stop what they were doing and show me as opposed to passing me off to someone else.

Never at any point was I left alone and there was always someone I could ask and turn to for help. This was whether I was asking a question about the task I was given or something as simple as fixing my computer. My buddy and my supervisor were not there for the majority of the week but even considering this, I did not feel abandoned because I could turn to my team, other trainees, and other staff.

The negotiation workshop was very informative and it has given me skills that I can use outwith my studies. The presentation skills workshop was also invaluable and I would advise everyone to pay attention and use the information for your final presentation. I was also given research tasks which enhanced my research skills- something which will be a huge benefit for my Law degree.

The programme was very well structured and I could tell that a lot of thought went into it. At the start, you are given workshops which allow you to interact with your peers. There was a social event later that night with trainees which broke the ice- this meant that any time you saw them during the week you could easily approach them. During the week, you work in your chosen department and the farewell drinks at the end were a nice finish to the week.

The atmosphere was very relaxed and everyone was respected. If like me, you based your perception of life in a commercial law firm from Suits, then you are wrong! The partners are all approachable and they sat in their respective teams as opposed to being cornered off in one area. This alone allowed for a more open atmosphere because you could easily approach them and there was no sense of hierarchy. When everyone was working, they worked together and I could see everyone going back and forth and bouncing ideas off each other.

CMS clearly invests a lot into training and development- in both time and resources. In Scotland, they invest in development far more than any other law firm and none of its competitors have anything like this available for second years. This gives you confidence because once you're there, it must mean that they see something in you if they are willing to go to all this trouble.

This programme gave me a clear insight into life as a trainee, associate and partner for CMS. Like all big law firms, you need to work hard and put in the hours and this is something I knew already. What I didn't know, is how friendly and supportive everyone is. I thoroughly recommend First Steps for anyone who has doubts about CMS or life in a big law firm.

Personally, the First Steps programme did not reveal anything new about the CMS' culture but this is because I knew a lot about CMS when I was preparing for the interviews. Rather, it confirmed its culture and gave me first-hand experience of everything that is on its website.

First Steps was very helpful for helping me decide on my career path it affirmed my interest in working in commercial law, particularly at CMS. It really was an invaluable experience not only about the inner workings of the firm but about yourself. If you have any doubts about your career path, do this programme so you know whether commercial law is for you early on in your career.

We were all paid very generously and travel costs such as train fares from Edinburgh and Aberdeen were all reimbursed.

The were opportunities to network throughout the week. First at the social event, then throughout the week. On the last day, I was given business cards from people in my department and they said I could contact them if I ever needed anything.

The networking and social events were excellent

There are various schemes and teams that all the employees are involved in. Some of the people in my department said that they play 5- aside football and I was told about the CMS World Cup. This is where once a year, all people for CMS gather and play a football tournament in a chosen city- in 2016 in was in Glasgow.

I would definitely recommend First Steps to everyone for all the reasons I have mentioned.