Vacation Scheme Student Review

I really enjoyed my placement at Walker Morris. The work I was given in my department was engaging and provided me with a challenge and a real insight into the work that is carried out in the department. The people at the firm were very easy to get along with and the social event during the week was a really good night out where the trainees were very accommodating.

I felt very valued at the firm, whenever I spoke to anyone they would show genuine interest in me and our conversations. Everyone in my department made time at some point during that week for me to talk to them and ask them questions about the firm and their careers. It was also reflected in the work that I was given because people would ensure that they gave me meaningful work to do rather than just menial tasks.

I was given just enough guidance so that I had all the background I needed to complete the tasks but not too much so that I was no longer doing work independently and was just following instructions. I was largely left to do things by myself after being set a task, but whoever I was working for was always open for me to ask them any questions that I needed to.

The skills that I developed will assist me in my future career, particularly when I come to be a trainee one day because the work that I was doing was similar to what I would be doing as a trainee in that department, so it is very good experience for me to have. The information is also good for me to use when I look at firms for a future job.

The week was very well structured, we received a timetable well in advance regarding the activities that would be taking place during the week and when. This was subject to very little changes and it was adhered to well. The work that was given was obviously less structured as it was dependent on the developments through the week but there was always work for me to do.

The atmosphere was very pleasant in the firm, whilst being very professional and serious, people were always happy to have a chat with each other and joke with each other. It was a very good mixture of professionalism and having fun whilst being at work. There was an emphasis within the firm of ensuring that everyone fits in well together and that was reflected in the feeling within the firm.

Being only a week long placement there was not too much scope for training exercises as such, but whenever I was given work, the person I was working for ensured that I knew what needed to be done which was all the training that was needed for the week.

I think the week was a perfect reflection of what life would be like within the firm in a full time role, it displayed the work that is carried out in the department, it gave me chance to meet a wide range of people from the firm who were very open and honest when talking to me, it was not as though they were setting out to promote the firm. It also showed the kind of hours that are worked at the firm and how it changes between departments.

It really showed the importance that is attributed to a positive attitude to work and a willingness to do what is needed to get the work done. Furthermore it showed how important the firm thinks it is to have people at the firm who fit in well because it is a very social firm that clearly values teams getting along so that they work well together.

It just further reaffirmed my desire to qualify as a solicitor but it also made me interested in completing a seat in the department that I spent the week in during a training contract.

The firm took our details at the beginning of the week and we were paid the day that we left.

There was opportunities throughout the week, from lunch with trainees and associates the day we arrived, to socials with the trainees during the week. We were also welcome to go and talk to anyone in the firm throughout the week, providing of course they were not too busy, but in my experience people were more than willing to make time to talk.

The opportunities were really good, everyone was happy and willing to talk and find out more about you as a person and what you were interested in. Everyone was happy to answer any questions that we had and it was not a strictly formal environment which made it a lot easier and made everyone feel more comfortable.

Yes, there was a lot of talk throughout the week about the many social activities that the firm has going on throughout a year, including firm wide activities, intra department activities as well as activities that the trainees organise together and charitable activities, so there seems to be plenty of things to get involved in outside of work.

Definitely, it was a very rewarding experience.