Vacation Scheme Participant Review

It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Every day of the three week vacation scheme offered a new experience or challenge to overcome or learn from. By the time it was over you really felt like you had developed an array of new skills.

Even as a vacation scheme employee with little experience, you were trusted with work which made a real difference to the services that the DLA Piper lawyers provide.

Every person at the office was helpful, friendly and prepared to answer any question you might have. You were expected to show initiative and be proactive, but you always felt like you were supported as part of a fully integrated team.

I am certain that the skills I developed on this scheme will prove to be invaluable in my future career, both professionally and outside the work place.

The vacation scheme was very well structured and we always had enough time to complete the tasks we were given. In addition, we received talks from a variety of senior figures at the firm who gave us more of an insight into the ethos behind DLA Piper's success and, as potential future employees, how we could make a difference.

Lively and energetic, but focused.

I received personal feedback at the end of each week, which involved a meeting with the supervisor for each department I was in.

The first week was dedicated almost solely to this purpose. It was emphasised on more than one occasion that the scheme was a two-way process, which made it clear that our opinions of the firm were important.

It was fundamental. We received talks from employees of different levels of seniority, which helped to provide a full picture of the ethos at the firm.

Personally, I had already attended a number of other events organised by the firm which had helped me to decide upon my chosen career path. However, the vacation scheme was extremely useful in consolidating this opinion.

Considering the fact that nowadays many internships are unpaid, I was extremely pleased with the level of pay I received for attending the scheme. In addition, some of our travel and food expenses were reimbursed.

There were plenty of opportunities to network, and I still maintain contact with a number of the people I met throughout the scheme.

There were plenty of opportunities to socialise and network. In addition, the accommodation arrangement meant that it was easy to organise further social opportunities outside of office hours.

We received presentations and spoke to a number of trainees regarding the out-of-office activities available at the firm, of which there were many.

I would definitely recommend this scheme to friends. I chose to attend this vacation scheme over similar opportunities at other companies, and I am extremely happy with this decision.