Insight Scheme Review

It was a great experience both in terms of an insight into the firm (it's culture, values etc) as well as the work that the firm does. There were information sessions throughout the week regarding the structure of the firm, the work of specific departments and the overall strategy of the firm in general. The department that I sat in allowed me to get involved with some 'real' work, and I had first hand experience of drafting a letter and an agreement.

Throughout the week I had a variety of people checking in with me, both about how I was doing as well as to see if I would like to do any more work. I was even invited for a department lunch which made me feel like I was a part of the team.

We had a training session at the beginning of the scheme which taught us how to use the IT system etc. Throughout the week if there was anything I was unsure of everyone in my department was happy to help and I definitely felt like I was able to ask for guidance and support.

Beyond my degree studies, attending the insight scheme showed me exactly what skills future lawyers need, the type of work commercial lawyers do and what a typical 'day in the life' of a lawyer looks like. This is incredibly invaluable information as it solidified for me why I want to go into law and the knowledge gained from the experience has made me a stronger candidate overall.

I enjoyed all of the information sessions, especially regarding technology and innovation as this is a hot topic in commercial law at the moment. However, I would have preferred for information sessions to run in the morning as having them at random times on random days did mean that I sometimes left my department in the middle of a task. That being said, the sessions were very good and having them in the morning is just a personal preference.

The atmosphere and culture of the firm was great. I really enjoyed the scheme itself, I thought everyone was very approachable and the socials organised by graduate recruitment were a huge success. I made some fantastic friends on the scheme and the general atmosphere was that we were sad to be leaving at the end of the week!

We were provided with IT training and were given access to internal firm resources which was very useful to scan through. All the talks were delivered by partners / senior people at the firm - it was very valuable to be able to talk to them and have access to their views on developments etc. We also had sessions on the negotiation tasks we would have to do if we were successful in attending the assessment centre for a training contract - this was very useful.

Seeing how the firm operates on a day-to-day basis was hugely beneficial to understanding how life would look like in a full time role at the firm. Also, talking to a wide variety of people from trainees to partners really provided a good insight into the type of work you would be doing.

Firstly, we had a specific session on the culture at the firm in terms of its ethos and diversity and inclusion initiatives. Secondly, simply by being there for a week and seeing how accessible most people were really highlighted the culture at the firm. Everyone was friendly and for the most part the culture felt very non-hierarchical.

Overall, the combination of all of the sessions as well as the informal discussions I had with trainees and associates really helped me to understand what I want from a career in law, why I want to pursue commercial law, and what specifically about the firm stands out to me and why I want to work there. For a second year non-law student, this was hugely beneficial.

The insight scheme is paid.

Yes. There were numerous sessions with Q&A opportunities at the end. Moreover, the socials provided a fantastic opportunity for networking and genuine conversations outside of a formal environment. Also, most people that I worked with in my department were very keen to stay in touch and offered advice on the whole application process post-insight scheme.

Great! We went to the Flight Club one evening and The Listing another evening. Both events were fantastically organised and they were a huge success. It was great that one of the socials was on the first night because it proved to be a great ice breaker, and it was great that trainees and associates attended these events and provided their insights.

I learned a lot about the activities / clubs / groups you can get involved in through personal conversations with the lawyers at the firm. We also had a talk about the pro bono work that the firm does. However, I felt that we could have been given more information about specific pro bono work, how many people are involved in this etc.

Yes! The insight scheme provided a really detailed understanding of how the firm operates, the work that each department undertakes, how each department is structured, the culture of the firm as well as the strategy of the firm long term i.e. in terms of innovation. The socials were super fun to attend and the entire week was a huge success. I thoroughly enjoyed my time and would recommend both the insight scheme and the firm overall.