CMS Academy Participant Review

I have throughly enjoyed the CMS Academy. The fact the scheme is three weeks, wioth an extra week just focusing on the Buisness of Law before a full two week internship shows just how much the firm values its future. Moreover, the ffort that has been put in by staff from every area of the firm, from Grad Rec to partners to PA's has been off the scale.

I have felt very valued during my three weeks with the firm, I have been getting involved in real and meaningful work, with the biggest clients in the market. It is a sign that they value their vac schemers that the work I do has been sent straight to clients with minimal checking from my supervisor.

I have recieved a huge amount of guidance throughout the scheme, both in the first week while we carried out exercises and went on a client visit, but also throughout the second and third weeks too. My supervisors and buddy have always been on hand to help me in any way that have needed and it has given me the confidence to work to my best.

The skills that I have developed are completley transferable to my degree studies. Everything from research and summarising to managing multiple tasks simultaneously will help me as I enter my final year of university. Moreover, the experience and information I have recieved about working in a law firm, particularly a city law firm, will be invaluable as I seek to start my career in the sector.

The Scheme has been very well structured. The first week was meticulously planned and mapped out with plenty to keep us occupied and busy, while I have enjoyed the challenge of carring out multiple tasks simultaneously during my internship. The structure of my day during the internship has been changing daily, and this makes it very enjoyable, and for me to feel like I am genuinley a part of the firm.

The atmosphere has been brilliant. Everyone has been so enthusiastic and helpful. I have been very glad to see the whole firm really embrace the Academy and want to get involved, it makes a huge difference to see the enthusiasm of all of the people, and how this translates in better work, and happier employees.

The firm have invested heavily in me throughout the scheme. the first week was full of traning and development activities that were designed to broaden our understanding and have us working at out best, and it made a real difference going forwards to the rest of the scheme to have done these.

The Acaedmy has helped me to understand what its like to work at CMS on two levels. firstly, the Buisness of Law week really highlighted the place that the firm occupies in the market, and where the future strategy of the firm lies. This helped to understand the mentailty of those leading the firm forwards, while the internship fully immersed me into the day to day life of a lawyer.

The Scheme has allowed me not to just understand the culture of the firm but also to see it first hand. The way that everyone works together, regardless of which legacy firm they came from is seamless. If you didn't know there was a merger, you wouldn't be able to tell.

The Scheme has not only confirmed in my mind which career path I want to take but also where I would like to start that career. It has been an invaluable insight into the workings and activities of the firm, and a great insight into the life of a city lawyer.

I was paid very adequtely for this experience, ensuring that Icould stay in London and get the most possible out of not only the scheme, but the three weeks in London too. CMS also covered breakfast, lunch and dinner almost everyday of the first week of the scheme, which was very helpful.

There have been numerous opportunities for networking and meeting other employees of the firm. During the first week alone there were over 5 different networking events to get involved in, and there have been more during the course of the internship. I have met people from every aspect of the firm which has been a highly rewarding experience.

The networking and social opportunities have been very relaxed and open, allowing those involved to feel more relaxed and to get more out of them. The spread of people involved in them has been key to their success, allowing us to experience all parts of the firm firsthand, just as we would if we worked here.

We had a presentation which involved discussing what employees can get involved in outside of their work, and the varity is immense. the firm has a huge numbe rof sports clubs and networks that allow its employees to do what they enjoy outside of work in a relaxed environment with colleagues.

I would 100% reccomend this scheme to a friend. I have fully experienced what it is like to work for the firm, met a huge variety of people and clients while developing and learning new skills that will help me both at university and (hopefully) in my future legal career.