Vacation Scheme Student Review

I really enjoyed the my vacation scheme with HSF. My supervisors and trainee buddies were very lovely, personable and approachable. They were also very detailed, helpful and insightful in the feedback that they gave me. There were also several fun social events that were organised and lined up for us.

I was given a fair amount of responsibility in the work that I was assigned - I was given work that the solicitors would actually use (for instance by sending them out to clients or to colleagues after editing them). I was also told how my work would fit into the larger scheme of things, and was thanked each time I had completed my work.

The guidance and support that I received during the Vacation Scheme from my supervisors and trainee buddies was fantastic. Everyone was very approachable, and I was encouraged to go to them with my questions. When I did go to them with my questions, I would receive very clear, comprehensive and insightful answers.

The skills I developed include organisational skills, communication skills, the ability to write clearly and concisely, the ability to structure my work in a clear and organised manner, and the ability to think about things from the perspective of the clients. These skills will no doubt be very useful in my degree studies, in my future career, and in life in general no matter what the context may be.

The Vacation Scheme was very well structured - we were provided with a timetable beforehand, and any changes would be made known to us in good time. The distribution of time between desk work, informative presentations and social events was very good. My supervisors too were careful to plan ahead and make sure that I had work lined up for me.

Everyone at the firm was approachable and friendly, and the atmosphere was quite collegiate and supportive. There was a good mix between having fun and attending social events, doing work, and attending informative and educational presentations. The general atmosphere was one in which everyone knew how to both work hard and play hard.

The firm had clearly invested a lot into training and educating us. There were numerous informational and educational presentations to introduce us to the various departments and types of work done in the firm, and the supervisors were also very helpful in terms of assigning work and providing feedback for future development.

This Vacation Scheme was very useful in understanding what it would be like to be a trainee or commercial solicitor with the firm. Not only did we have the opportunity to ask anyone questions about their experience at the firm, we also had the opportunity to experience working at the firm for ourselves.

The Vacation Scheme was very helpful in this aspect, because it gave me ample opportunity to interact with everyone in the firm, to talk to them about the diversity initiatives and other aspects of the culture of the firm, and to observe how everyone in the firm interacted with one another.

My experiences on the Vacation Scheme helped to solidify and reinforce my desire to become a commercial solicitor. It confirmed to me that the work would be interesting and challenging, and that the teams in which I would have to work in would be supportive and conducive. The experiences also went some way to helping me understand the various practice areas into which I might want to qualify.

I was paid at the end of each week in this 2 week Vacation Scheme. The salary was competitive (compared with other big city law firms in London). The salary was also adequate to cover the expenses incurred in renting a place to stay, tube fares, and also money spent on food.

There were many opportunities for networking. Graduate Recruitment had organised many social events, including a dim sum making workshop, drinks with partners of the firm, a pub quiz night with future joiners of the firm and existing trainees in the frim, and farewell drinks. We were encouraged to meet as many other employees of the firm as possible.

There were many opportunities for networking, including a dim sum making workshop, drinks with partners of the firm, a pub quiz night with future joiners of the firm and existing trainees in the frim, and farewell drinks. These were all well-organised and provided good opportunities for networking, and were also very fun and enjoyable.

Yes, there are many sports teams (including netball and football), there is a choir, and there are many other opportunities to get involved in fun activities. For instance, the firm subsidises music lessons, and there are also yoga lessons. There are also many invitations to various activities such as chocolate making.

Yes, absolutely.