insight scheme Review

Workshops ranged from 'Question and Answer' sessions with representatives from various practice areas; dispute resolution and corporate legal challenges; and guidance from graduate recruitment. There were plenty opportunities to meet with a broad range of the firm's trainees, associates, partners and graduate recruitment officers. Representatives joined us for lunch, led workshops and attended an evening networking social at the fabulous Sky Garden. Everyone was very friendly and supportive, and you really felt immersed within the firm's culture.

I felt extremely valued by everyone. Each representative addressed you as a potential future trainee, and worked hard to immerse you within the firm's culture.Several trainees offered long-term guidance by handing out their business cards and stressing that they were available to advise on our future applications. They were also very grateful for any assistance provided during the work-shadowing section of the programme. I felt very valued after my trainee supervisor thanked me for proofreading a document.

The Graduate Recruitment Scheme offered valuable advice on future applications for vacation schemes and training contracts. Their presence throughout the workshop and approachability meant that it was easy to ask any further questions.The partners, associates and trainees were always willing to talk extensively about the firm and its values. Some of the trainees even offered their contact details, so that we contact them for further advice following the workshop.

We got a real sense of the firm's work and values during our time there, and were immersed within its culture. The disputes resolution and corporate workshops were also valuable introductions to legal proceedings. As a non-Law student, I had very limited legal knowledge. However, the mediation proceedings during the disputes resolution workshop, for example, were explained in detail before we tackled the task. Despite being outnumbered by Law students, I did not feel disadvantages and believe I made valuable contributions to the team, as a result. I hope that the skills that I learned during these sessions will assist me at assessment centres, in the future.

The general atmosphere during my insight was very friendly and supportive. During the workshops, representatives of the firm seemed to take a genuine interest in your development. There was a real sense that they viewed you and a potential future trainee, and they worked their hardest to facilitate this. The culture I experienced during my insight is what really sold the firm to me. I believe that there is a fantastic working environment.

The general atmosphere during my insight was very friendly and supportive. During the workshops, the representatives of the firm seemed to take a genuine interest in your development. There was a real sense that they viewed you and a potential future trainee, and they worked their hardest to facilitate this.

The work-shadowing aspect of the insight is a unique feature of First-Year programmes at firms. It is very rare to have the opportunity to experience the real working culture at firms; yet, in my opinion, this was one of the most valuable aspects of the scheme. Shadowing a trainees gave me real insight into what it would be like to train at the firm, and I was impressed by the responsibility afforded to trainees. This made me very keen to train at the firm.

I believe I had a detailed understanding of the firm's culture. This is because we were constantly interacting with trainees, associates and even partners. I was very grateful to all the representatives who took time out of their busy schedules to welcome us into the firm. The combination of the office workshops and evening social event really gave a sense of the firm's 'work hard, play hard' culture. This was very important to me, as I want to enjoy going to work each day and have good relationships with my colleagues both inside and outside the office.

As a non-Law student, the content of the dispute resolution and corporate workshops were very helpful. All legal terminology and technicalities were explained in detail, and I was then able to apply these to the tasks. This gave me confidence in my decision to pursue a legal career following graduation.

I would have liked the graduate recruitment team to have given more emphasis to the activities employees can get involved in outside of work. Although I was able to gather this information from a number of trainees and associates, I feel as though the extra-curricular culture of the firm is something that should be formally recognised in graduate recruitment presentations. For me, the opportunity to engage with colleagues in activities outside of work is a major selling point for the firm