Summer vacation Scheme Review

It was a fantastic experience from beginning to end. Everyone at the firm, in every position was polite, friendly and professional. It was an extremely great insight into how the firm actually operates on a day to day basis. Providing you with real tangible work, allowing you to contribute to cases, whilst walking you through the process of creating a case file and how to provide a first class client service. I was excited to wake up early every morning, to get back to the office and have new, challenging and intellectually stimulating experiences. I would highly recommenced anyone who is interested in a immersing themselves in a legal career, but also for anyone who wants to experience a profession, progressive and practical thinking firm. Truly the best job EVER!

Ever heard of the saying "I feel like a million bucks!"...well that's the best way I could describe it. At first, I thought that the work that I would be assigned would be things such as: filling papers, getting tea and coffee or simply sitting at my desk in isolation. I was so wrong. The best part about the firm is that the more you are willing to listen, learn and work, the more they are willing to let you take-on. If you demonstrate a real passion for a particular area of practice, your buddy will try and get you the experience that you need or introduce you to the experts in the field. I wanted to gain as much insight into the firm as much as possible, so I wanted to do as much work as possible. The great thing was that there was always something to do. However, the most amazing part about this was that the work that I was set, was actually used by the solicitors and contributed to the pending cases. Everyone was so friendly and said 'thank you' for everything that I did for them. It was like being part of a family, each supporting each other, working towards the end goal of first class client services. At the very beginning of the scheme, I was paired up with a 'buddy' who explained everything that I wanted to know, gave me tasks and made sure that I was never bored, isolated or confused. My buddy was so amazing that we got lunch together and even drove me after work to the train station, before going home himself. I can truly and honestly say that I made a good friend. This was not an isolated experience. Everyone I spoke to was extremely friendly, helpful and positive. In many firms that I have done similar summer vacation schemes, the Partners were cold, distant and quite individuals, nothing could be more different than the experience that I felt here. I felt like the firm was my new home.

Every question that I could possibly have wanted to ask I did and I received enlightening answers. Whenever I was assigned a task, I was always told that If I had any questions or if I was confused "just come over and let me know". I was never left in the dark, without anyone to talk too. I was even given the phone number or my 'buddy' and a few of the other trainee solicitors in the office, if I needed any questions answered or support for after the vacation scheme.

I developed my communication, legal writing, interpersonal skills, commercial awareness and confidence in working in a fast-paced professional environment. I learnt how to effectively network, thinking about the business and practical side of commerce in people lives. It was extremely helpful to see the practical considerations that the firm takes into account, that I would not otherwise have seen at University. Additionally, I developed my knowledge on the importance of client service. The firms core values have become apart of my everyday ethos, namely: talking business sense, being within reach and responsive, taking initiative and pulling together. Taking these values forward in my career have enabled me to provide first class client service and how to productively perform in a fast-paced, challenging and professional environment. I also learnt how important it is to keep up-to-date with everything in the global economy, national markets, whilst keeping an eye on the future. I have truly developed skills that I will take forward and keep for life.

The insight was extremely well organised and structured. I knew exactly what was expected of me from the start to the end. If I had any questions about anything I could ask my Buddy or the contact in HR. There was never a single point in the entire vacation Scheme where I did not know what I was supposed to be doing. The part that I liked most was the Buddy system and being placed next to the departments trainee solicitor. In previous vacation schemes with various other firms I was isolated away from the rest of the team and felt isolated. The fact that the scheme was organised in such a way that I was place with the whole team, made the whole programme seem seamless. Fantastic, fantastic, fantastic...!

The atmosphere was all round positive, energetic and professional. Even in very stressful and demanding situations the teams maintained their friendly and positive attitudes. The firm even took me and the other individual on the vacation scheme out for lunch and discussed how the trainees were performing on their various seats, how they found the firm from their personal experiences and what they did outside of the firm with colleagues. It was great fun and was great to see that everyone was just as positive and fun inside the office as they were outside. I was invited to other social events hosted by the firm, even after my vacation scheme had come to a close.

I felt that the firm did invest quite a lot into me. They fact that I was assigned a Buddy who took me under his wing and guided me through the works, is evidence of the training they provided. The one-on-one contact was amazing. Taking time out of their busy daily schedules to provide me with the personal training. Additionally, they trusted me with real work that was pending in the firm for real clients, which is evidence of the personal training the invested in me. The fact that they gave us an opportunity at the end of the scheme to show how much I learnt about the firm, what I experienced and to express who I was as an individual. Many of the Partners took time out of their busy schedules to come and speak to me, providing me insight and perspective of the firm and the industry.

The insight gave me a clear insight about what to expect if achieving a full time role with the firm. This was achieved by providing me with real work, that had deadlines and for real clients. I received real insight of how the team functions and the process to which the end result of perfection is achieved for their clients. Partnering me up with a 'Buddy' gave me focus on what he did as a solicitor on a day to day basis and how he organised he day. I was also allowed to see how to organise myself in order to perform multiple task and how at any moment things can change and priorities shift. Additionally, I was allowed in a client commercial conference call to draft notes. This enabled me to see how an Associate addressed clients needs and effectively carry out the work.

From the moment you step into the office you get a sense as to the type of company that it is and the culture that it operates under. The company's core values truly are instilled into all members of the firm, namely: talking business sense, being within reach and responsive, taking initiative and pulling together. By the time I left the vacation scheme, I also felt that these values were apart of me. The amazing part is that these core cultural values are not just words on paper or on their website, they are genuinely a part each individual and used to help achieve the clients specific needs. The results are expressed by the company's long term relationships with their clients, their continuing success and growth. They provided me with an assignment, which enabled me to research and evaluate the type of culture that the firm has and how the use it.

I knew exactly what I wanted to do as a career and where I wanted to be in the future. The experience was truly incredible. In order to truly understand what is expected of you in your role, whether you will enjoy this every day and if you will fit in with everyone else at the firm, it is essential that you go and experience the firm yourself. I would extremely recommend anyone who is thinking about perusing a legal career to take the time and apply for the vacation scheme and visit the firm to meet it's people.

The fact that I was paid for the vacation scheme was amazing. As a student it covered my transportation and food costs for the whole scheme. Additionally, receiving pay made me feel that the work that I was doing was contributing to the firm and that they valued my presence.

There were plenty of opportunities to meet other employees. All you have to do is to put yourself out there and there will be someone to greet you with a simile. Even if you do not put our self out there, the firm arranged for us to be taken out to lunch to meet other solicitors and trainee solicitors in order to meet other people in the firm and to ask different questions. I would say that you would be hard-pressed to leave the vacation scheme without being able to network and meet lots of different people in various departments.

If they had a sporting event on you would be invited. If they had another charity event being hosted by the firm you would be invited. The firm organised a lunch opportunity to meet others in different departments and different backgrounds.

There were lots of opportunities. During the lunch breaks I was able to talk informally with different members of the firm about what they do outside office hours. The response was enthusiastic. Everyone one is encouraging and wants all the staff to get involved in as many events as they feel comfortable doing. You can also start your own club or organisation and even invite other members from different offices all over the United Kingdom.

I would absolutely, 100 percent, definitely recommend the vacation scheme to a friend. In fact, I have already recommend the scheme to several of my friends, in different Universities, degrees and year groups. It was an amazing experience!