Winter Vacation Scheme Review

by A&O Shearman

Best Student Employer

This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.

Rating

5/5
  • About You
    5.0
  • The Company
    5.0
  • Everything Else
    5.0

    About You

  • 1. To what extent did you enjoy the insight?
  • 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.

    5/5

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

    5/5

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

    5/5

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

    5/5

    The Company

  • 5. How well structured was the insight?
  • 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.

    5/5

  • 6. How was the general atmosphere during your insight?
  • 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.

    5/5

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

    5/5

  • 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 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.

    5/5

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

    5/5

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

    5/5

    Everything Else

  • 11. Were you paid or reimbursed adequately for this experience?
  • I was paid for the week and reimbursed travel for the assessment centre.


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

    5/5

  • 13. How were the networking/ social event opportunities?
  • 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.

    5/5

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

    5/5

  • 15. Would you recommend this insight to a friend?
  • yes - I already have!

    5/5

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Details

Insight / Vacation Scheme (< 4 Weeks)

London

January 2020


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