Summer Vacation Student at RPC

About You

Role Description

Sat in the Media, Intellectual Property and Technology and Outsourcing team for one week and the General, Medical and Liability team the following week

1. To what extent did you enjoy the insight?

I thoroughly enjoyed this vacation scheme. It was very well structured and I was able to engage in a wide range of work, with opportunities to interact directly with core clients. I felt well looked after for the duration of the scheme. The scheme was jam packed with the right balance of educational and social activities.

10/10

2. To what extent did you feel valued during your time at the company or firm?

Everyone was friendly and I felt like a valued member of the team for the time I was there. I felt all my contributions were valued. I learnt a lot of skills and was also encouraged to challenge ideas. For example in my first week I was invited along to deliver a training session at a client office.

9/10

3. How much guidance/support did you receive during the insight?

I received a lot of guidance. Each week there is a review session with our supervisor and we are able to talk through all the feedback from the relevant teams. Everyone was also more than willing to carve out time for a coffee in the canteen in order to find out more about the firm and different practice areas.

10/10

4. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and information you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?

The skills were invaluable. I received great time management skills and I feel a lot more self-aware following the scheme. I worked for different fee earners against tight deadlines. I also did practical things such as legal and commercial research and drafting.

10/10

The Organisation

5. How well structured was the insight?

The structure was very well thought out. We had talks from all the different teams. Through innovative things such as "speed networking" we managed to get a full picture of all the different parts of the firm. We also had an interactive session which involved a game. Everything fit really well around time spent on the floors with practice groups.

9/10

6. How was the general atmosphere during your insight?

It was an amazing atmosphere throughout. The other students on the vacation scheme were not overly competitive and the staff did not pit us against each other. It was bubbly and there was a lot going on through out the scheme, from after work seminars to industry wide events.

10/10

7. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?

There was so much investment into us. We were fed throughout the scheme and had travel covered. We were also invited to a tour of the Lloyd's building and learnt so much about the insurance industry. Several partners and fee earners prioritised spending time talking to us.

10/10

8. To what extent did the insight help you to understand what it would be like to have a full time role with the company or firm?

We had a full session with HR at the end of the scheme who spoke to us about the life of early joiners and beyond. We were also trusted with trainee level work and sat closely with the trainees.

10/10

9. How much did the insight help you in understanding the company culture?

It was a great way to see the culture in action. Siting in the communal pods helped to understand what it means to be truly collegiate. People often came over whenever they had a query, regardless of what level they were in the organisation it never felt hierarchical

9/10

10. How valuable was the content in helping you to decide on your future career path?

It helped me lot as I saw the different paths my legal career could go. I saw the breadth of opportunities and also some of the high quality clients.

9/10

Other Information

11. Were you paid or reimbursed adequately for this experience?

excellent food throughout the scheme. quality canteen. sufficient travel expenses offered also

12. Were there opportunities for networking and meeting other employees of the company or firm?

There were several opportunities for networking embedded into a weekly timetables, and supervisors were also proactive in organising opportunities to meet different people in the business if we so wished.

9/10

13. How were the networking/ social event opportunities?

We had hot food during networking!! And the socials kept booze following throughout. It was great as a diverse selection of people from across the business attended networking, not just lawyers. Marketing teams came sometimes. The industry wide events were also a good way to learn more about clients

10/10

14. Did you find out about activities that employees can get involved in outside of work?

Yes, there was so much to do after work. When talking with one of the lawyers, he said if he didn't have external commitments he could easily fill all his evenings with all the great things the firm provides. There is a football club a theatre club and a book club a choir and so much more.

10/10

15. Would you recommend this insight to a friend?

Yes, without hesitation

10/10

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