Springboard Scheme Review

The Clifford Chance Springboard Scheme is one of the most enjoyable insights I have attended. Part of this stems from how unique the experiences on the scheme are and how the week is organised. I would say that the focus on Springboard is mostly on discovering more about Clifford Chance and the legal profession; consequently, the week is divided such that there is a very high ratio of talks to work shadowing. One day of these talks even took place in the Paris office, which we visited after a bit of sightseeing in the city.

The week is also packed with networking opportunities and social activities. You are able to meet solicitors from all the practice areas and ask them questions, which progress in complexity throughout the week as your knowledge of the Firm develops. The answers you get, whether it be from a trainee or a partner, all tend to be very honest and upfront. At the end of the week, you feel as if you have a very realistic understanding of the Firm, which is perhaps the most rewarding part of the scheme.

During the scheme, it certainly felt like Clifford Chance was going out of their way to make every single person feel valued. The week started with small gestures such as personalised mugs and Oyster card holders, which was very welcoming. It also became evident on the Paris trip that the Firm was willing to invest a significant amount in us all, to give us the whole Clifford Chance experience. Finally, there was this sense that we were always kept in the loop about what was going on with the scheme and what we should expect.

The guidance and support for us as a group was extensive throughout the week; graduate recruitment in particular, gave comprehensive talks on the entire process, from application to training contract. The scheme’s biggest point of improvement would probably be more opportunities for feedback and development on an individual level, although this would have to come at a cost of something else important.

The most important part of the week for most of us would probably have been the opportunity to apply to be assessed for a training contract. In this sense, all the information we received in talks and via networking was all very useful after the scheme, once we were sent the application essay to apply for an assessment day and asked to reflect on our week. I would also say that we received significant guidance on the legal profession in general, which might be immensely helpful down the line when comparing law firms or considering whether to go into commercial law at all.

The insight was incredibly well structured and we were given details of the schedule well in advance of the scheme. The days were all thoughtfully planned — for instance, the day before the Paris trip finished early in the afternoon to give us more time to rest. The other days were all quite packed with activities and ended relatively late, owing to social and networking events.

I would say that the entire week was dedicated to developing our understanding of the Firm and commercial law in general. However, there is one particular session that stood out, called ’Personal Impact’ with Charlotte McDougall, which was more focused on improving how we present ourselves in interviews and social settings in general.

The insight definitely helped us understand in great detail and honesty, life in the first two years as trainees. Especially through the work shadowing on the last day, we were able to observe the daily routine of solicitors in the office, the hours they work, the office environment etc. They were particularly genuine in discussing the kinds of sacrifices we should be prepared to make working at any top commercial law firm.

Firms often say that they are known for their friendly people and culture, but with this insight scheme, we were actually able to confirm this in person. Perhaps one of the most memorable aspects of Clifford Chance’s culture was the diversity amongst its employees. Random solicitors would turn up to lunch and they would be of all different kinds of backgrounds — a huge range of universities, countries, races etc. They made a strong point of that diversity coming naturally to the Firm, instead of being artificially sought out, which felt very genuine.

Networking opportunities were constant throughout the week and probably one of the most useful parts of the scheme. Most days, we would have breakfast and lunch served with trainees of a certain practice area, such as Litigation, Corporate, TPE. Plenty of employees also attended the social events, including the drinks on the first night, immersive theatre experience and dinner on the final evening. I would say that everyone was very open to talking about their experiences and the Firm and it was one of the most productive ways of learning about life at Clifford Chance.

There were networking and social events planned for every day throughout the week. However, one of the highlights of the scheme’s social calendar was definitely the Alice in Wonderland immersive theatre experience in Waterloo. In order not to give too much away, it suffices to say that this was an incredibly unique activity to have done on a Vacation Scheme. The whole night was quite detached from the whole commercial law focus of the week and so it was a highly refreshing, highly social event.

I would definitely recommend this insight to a friend. It’s biggest advantage is that it places a greater emphasis on educating than assessing; the bulk of the assessment for the training contract takes place after the scheme based on your reflection of the week. For this reason, the scheme is good for helping you discover if Clifford Chance, and more generally, if a career in commercial law is right for you. This year’s application process involved a video interview, a number of written statements and an interview, which may seem a bit much, but it is without a doubt worth it in the end.