Vacation Scheme Student Review

I thoroughly enjoyed the insight into Gowling WLG. There was a great balance between practical application of the law in our assigned teams, informative presentations and question opportunities from various partners, and organised socials to spend with the other vac schemers and trainees. Within the Employment team, I had the privilege of investigating current discrimination cases and helping the team compare witness statements; therefore this week gave me a very accurate insight into law applied in practice, and into the firm itself.

I felt incredibly valued, notably more valued than I expected to be. The presentations we received from partners felt more like a discussion, and they made every effort to answer any questions we had. They were keen to fill up the time as much as possible, even where their formal presentation were over, and this highlighted to me how much this firm genuinely cares about its people. HR have also made me feel very welcome and valued whilst being here. They go out of their way to make you feel comfortable and to put you at ease. I also felt valued in my team, where I was given real work to do, and where they went out of their way to find work which was engaging, challenging and rewarding

There was plenty of support and guidance available from every level. HR were very approachable and always willing assist. We had numerous opportunities to talk to trainees about their experiences, both as a trainee but also as a vac schemer. This was particularly helpful in relation to the assessments. A trainee in my team made an extra effort to take me aside to speak to me about the assessment, and to answer any questions I had. My supervisor has been an excellent source of support when I have been undertaking the more practical tasks. She has been generous in her time and has been approachable, offering clarification where needed. When my supervisor has been unavailable, others in the team have been on hand to assist and have provided me with tasks to get stuck into. The partner presentations too have been a brilliant source of support - they are all approachable and very keen to answer questions.

I was personally thrilled to be offered a place in the Employment team for my Vacation Scheme, as I find discrimination cases fascinating having studied Employment law this past year. Next year I will be studying Advanced Issues in Employment Discrimination, and so to have experienced the practical application of Employment discrimination law in between has been incredibly rewarding. This week has confirmed and reinforced my interest in this area, so it may prove to be instrumental in future decisions to specialise. More practically, this week has given me practice in some essential presentation and interview skills. It is probably the biggest interview I have experienced to date. It has grown my confidence for such situations, and this will prove invaluable in the future. Similarly, the interpersonal skills which have developed through talking to partners and associates in both social and professional settings are very useful and will be transferred accordingly.

It was very well structured. There was a great balance of practical work, presentations and social opportunities. It would have been great to have even more time in our assigned teams, but given that we were only here for a week, the knowledge and experience we gained was indispensable. It was structured in the most efficient and productive way for everyone's benefit.

One of the biggest things I will take away from this scheme is the culture of the firm. The firm as a whole has an incredibly friendly feel, there is no hierarchy, and everyone is approachable and up for a chat. The atmosphere at times was tense, especially the day of the assessments, but we were all on the Vacation Scheme together, all in the same boat. Although tense, I would say the intensity of the week as a whole brought us closer together.

The firm provided plenty of opportunities for personal training and development. The practical work given on the scheme was of a high quality, well thought out and challenging to ensure you can push yourself and get the best out of the scheme. HR and the partners also gave very thorough overviews of different areas of the firm, which increased our knowledge of legal practice.

The insight gave numerous opportunities to ask questions. Talking to people at different stages of their career gave me a good understanding of how levels of responsibility changes and how that has an impact on life outside work. Practically, I was largely working on current cases which gave a very accurate insight into the work of the specific department.

The culture of the firm is one of the biggest things I will take away. The firm is what it says on the tin and on its website. Everyone was incredibly honest, and its "people-focussed" nature was clear from day one. There is no sense of hierarchy, and I think this is a difficult but valuable characteristic to develop in a business.

For me personally, the week was very valuable as I had a previous theoretical interest in employment law, and this week gave me the chance to put it into practice. It has confirmed and reinforced my interest in this area and may be useful in determining my future career.

I was paid, and it is very good pay, but you gain much more than that! Its a very enjoyable experience. You work hard and give time to the firm, but you gain so much out of it. The pay is definitely a bonus at the end of the day.

Plenty! There were numerous socials organised with trainees and loads of opportunities to ask partners questions. Beyond the organised slots, lunchtime provides a really good chance to network with others in the firm, or to catch up with your supervisor, and you may even bump into people on your commute!

They were so much fun! We went to the Escape Rooms on day 1, which was a great way to bond as a group, followed by drinks and nibbles with the trainees. It was useful to ask any questions whilst being in a really fun and social environment. We also had a meal out organised for us, which was also loads of fun and was on the evening after our assessments so was a great way to switch off!

Yes, Gowling WLG are heavily invested in their Corporate Responsibility programmes and this includes encouragement to get involved with charitable opportunities both inside and outside work. There are also social events that the trainees are involved in, from sports to balls, which all sound very exciting and all good networking opportunities.

I would definitely recommend this insight to a friend. This was the first vacation scheme I have experienced, and it has been excellent. It was incredibly welcoming and eye opening and I only wish it was longer than a week! Although I haven't got one to compare it to, I can't imagine a firm being more warm than Gowling WLG was.