Winter Vacation Scheme Review

I couldn't have had a better time. There was a good mix of time in a practice area, talks and social activities. The talks were genuinely useful and interesting rather than firm or practice area specific. Everyone was so lovely and I managed to get involved in so much. It was very organised and well structured.

We were given talks that were for our personal development rather than just to fill time. The fact that the managing partner made time for us meant that we all felt valued. I was given genuine and useful tasks in my seat that made me feel valued and as though I made a difference.

Graduate recruitment were very supportive and organised but the informal guidance and support from people in practice areas was even more useful. Everyone wanted to guide and support my development. I was given the opportunity to meet with people in areas I was interested in which has helped me make some important decisions.

The trainee skills I developed in my practice area will be useful in my legal career. The structured talks on having an agile mindset etc will be personally useful throughout my degree and in the progression towards my career. I was able to talk about the relevance of my degree to the practice.

It was the best structured scheme I have been on. We were given a group project to keep us busy if we didn't have enough work to do. There were useful and insightful talks - it felt as though nothing had been forgotten. We were contacted by our trainee buddies before joining.

The staff, grad recruitment at A & O couldn't have been friendlier - I was made to feel like part of the team from day one. Everyone was more than accomodating and genuinely wanted to help me get the most out of the experience. There was no competitiveness or sharp elbow culture. I feel as though I've made genuine friends there.

There were lots of development events - both firm specific and with transferable skills - which really showed the firm was invested in developing us rather than just advertising themselves to us. We were given the opportunity to meet people from Fuse, the managing partner and had a mental wellbeing talk which was really useful.

We were sat with a trainer at the firm just as a trainee would be and given work as though I was a trainee with a full time role at the firm already - it was genuinely a very valuable experience as I can now say that I am looking forward to starting there and have a good idea of what to expect.

We were part of the firm for a week at a particularly busy time so there was nothing to hide behind - even during a time of great stress people couldn't have been more friendly and understanding which is hopefully a very good reflection of the firm as a whole.

The culture, development and the work that they do helped me decide that this was the firm I would like to begin my career at. Even if they hadn't offered me the training contract I would have reapplied because the insight was so valuable and made me certain of my career decisions.

I was paid for the week and reimbursed travel for the assessment centre.

There was an event with future trainees, a lunch with trainee buddies and a partners dinner so we got to network with people throughout the firm. Everyone was keen to get to know us so they didn't feel like assessments or networking events but more like chats with interesting people.

There was an event with future trainees, a lunch with trainee buddies and a partners dinner so we got to network with people throughout the firm. Everyone was keen to get to know us so they didn't feel like assessments or networking events but more like chats with interesting people.

Yes, we were taken to the gym and shown the classes etc that go on there as well as being encouraged to talk to trainees etc about their own activities. We were invited to take part in any activities on during the vacation scheme and even offered a gym induction.

yes - I already have!