Vac Schemer Review

Really enjoyable week, consisted of doing work around your given department, meeting staff and completing a few assessments

I was in the corporate department and so it was obviously quite busy and the staff were trying their hardest to manage their time and find things for me to do. Saying that though there was only once that I found myself with not much to do, and I was kept busy 95% of the time - it flew by

I received enough. Hard to answer this question because obviously you're there for a vac scheme and they are trying to see how you work without too much guidance! There was always someone available to answer any questions I had, but I tried to do as much as I could before asking to show that I was capable.

Hopefully i'll get a job here.. so it could shape my career!

Extremely well structured. The head of HR Heather was brilliant in organizing the events, which included loads of meetings with current trainees, assessments and lunch etc

Walker Morris is an amazing firm, one of the only law firms I've visited and didn't feel uncomfortable. I think most firms have a reputation for being strict and potentially stuffy, but WM was friendly, warm and genuinely enjoyable to be at. I had a laugh with a few of the trainees and associates and partners. If you're nice to them they will be lovely back.

They were clearly investing in the vac scheme and the people that took part. The bar tab alone from Wednesday would have been near to £1000! We were given logins to computers, access cards to the building, unlimited printing facilities etc. In terms of training and development our two assessments were ran in house although the negotiation was organized by Ulaw (it has been BPP and independently ran before so there is no bias!)

The current trainees were very forward in describing their role, and while obviously as a trainee you won't be expected to do as much as a partner, you are still given meaningful tasks which will help the firm. This was the same as a vac schemer, it wasn't as if you were doing rubbish tasks that were put in the bin, I put together a PowerPoint that was used by a partner on a call with a client for example.

As I've already mentioned before, the firms culture is outstanding and you can tell straight away that WM ensure they hire approachable and genuine people. The insight showed me this as trainees came out for drinks twice during the week, I could pop into anyone's office for a chat and my mentor was absolutely brilliant with me.

I want to work here! the scheme proved that I didn't want to work in an office that doesn't invest in its staff and just expects its people to churn out work without having a social life or enjoying themselves and WM has shown me that to find an office which does is attainable.

£175 for the week. (hopefully a full wage in the future if I'm hired)

There were numerous chances to network with staff during the week. The Wednesday is the social with trainees and a few partners. This was slightly more civil than I thought it would be having heard stories about how mental it could have been and has been in the past. To be honest i'm glad it was not wild because it meant I got to chat to them more and also wasn't feeling too rough the next day while I had work to do.

They were really good. The social on the Wednesday night met in the reception of the firm at 5:30 (when most of the firm finishes) and we were taken across the road by some employees and were allowed to order anything on a free bar. There was also pizza brought out and then we all just mingled for about 5 hours.

There seems to be a thriving social side to the firm, with office football teams, netball teams and loads of external charity work. When I was here the trainees kept mentioning that they were all doing the three peaks challenge and a few of the lads were talking about going to watch the football together.

I would most definitely recommend the firm and the experience to a friend. I think the role is brilliant and I would love to be successful in my application for a training contract. I will be eagerly awaiting a response, which I have been told by HR should take around 4 weeks.