CMS First Steps Student 2017 Review

The scheme was made really enjoyable by all the staff at CMS/Nabarro. It was clear that a lot of time and effort had gone into making sure we were given good training and relevant tasks to complete. We were treated very well, with kindness and respect at all times.

I felt suitably valued by the firm during my time there. I felt more valued than I expected to say I was only with the firm for one week. Being allocated a 'buddy' associate and trainee from my respective department really helped me feel integrated into the team, along with feeling like you were actually helping someone rather than being a spare part.

Plenty of guidance was provided throughout the week and I always felt like I could clarify anything with the staff at CMS whenever I felt unsure. The skills sessions we attended really helped me to feel confident throughout the week, with the presentation skills session being very helpful for delivering our final presentation. There was always someone on hand who we could turn to with queries.

The experience I have had with CMS will undoubtedly help advance my current studies as well as my future career. The negotiation skills I learnt will help me throughout my advocacy module, on which I have an assessment just next week! The confidence and awareness I have gained from the overall experience will help me in any future walk of life. Being able to experience the office culture first hand is helping me immensely when deciding which type of law firm is right for me.

It was clear that the insight scheme was very well structured. There was plenty to be packed into the week and we were given an itinerary and initial briefing at the start of the week. We always knew where we were supposed to be and what we would be doing that day, even down to the social night which had been really well organised by the trainees.

As mentioned earlier, all the staff at CMS made sure that the week was enjoyable and that there was always someone on hand to help. This made for a very friendly overall atmosphere and the experience did not seem to intense or daunting as all the staff were so welcoming. We were able to feel valued as part of a team and that we were there for a reason, which everyone seemed to appreciate. The culture of the firm seemed very down to earth.

We were given IT training, skills sessions in negotiation and presentation, we were given a talk by partners about their career journey and were VC'd into a conference in London on innovation at CMS. The amount of investment that had gone into the scheme was clearly very high for a first year insight. We were able to have plenty of face time with many members of the firm, trainees, associates and partners alike. All members of the firm made time to talk to us and made us feel valued.

I feel like I got a good idea of what it would be like to work at the CMS Sheffield office. I was able to experience the general culture of the firm and how the teams work on a day to day basis. I would still be unsure as to exactly what I would do daily as a full time trainee but I certainly have a better idea now than I did before. I think the general ethos and values of the firm definitely came across.

As i have stated previously, I think I was able to get a good grasp of the company culture during my week there.

The contents of the week have been extremely valuable when helping me decide on my future career path. The talk given to us from different members of all different departments at the firm was really useful for getting an idea of where we may like to train in the future. The experience of working in the department, for me real estate, was again- superb for helping me decide what I may like to do in the future.

We were paid £350 for our week with CMS

Every day spent at the firm involved meeting new people from all different areas of the firm.

As mentioned above, there were many networking opportunities on a daily basis throughout the placement. The social night organised by the trainees was excellent and a great opportunity for some less formal bonding. I was also able to go for lunch one of the days with the ICE department, which was a great social opportunity to get to know people from a different department than the one I was working in.

Yes, I was able to find out that there was a Netball team at the company, and also committees for charity and social events, which both seem like opportunities I would be interested in. I had been told by trainee that there is a vast amount of social opportunities and networking opportunities at the firm all year round.

Yes I would strongly recommend the scheme