Winter Vacation Scheme Review

I really enjoyed the winter vacation scheme at Simmons & Simmons. The week was packed full of workshops, social events and working within your department. I found the training workshops to be extremely useful and learnt a great deal from them, and had a lot of fun at the social events. The work in the department was also challenging and rewarding.

I felt very valued at Simmons & Simmons as the work I was getting involved in was actually being used by the department and not just made up to keep me busy. I was also invited by my team to their christmas lunch and Christmas party so felt very valued and included.

The graduate recruitment team were always on hand to give guidance and support throughout the week. Also my supervisor and trainee buddy were very supportive as well as my partner mentor, who all gave great advice and answered any questions I had throughout the week. They have also all kept in touch after.

I feel we got a real insight into the life of a trainee solicitor and what a typical week might look like, which is really helpful moving forwards as I was able to realise this is the right path for me. Also writing research notes and analysing contract clauses was really good practice for the future.

I think the week ran extremely smoothly and was very well organised. The workshops always ran to time and were spaced out enough to be able to fit work for your department in between. There was never a dull moment where you found yourself with nothing to do, there was always lots to keep you busy.

Everyone was extremely friendly and approachable, and happy to answer any questions you might have. As it was a winter vacation scheme, we got to be involved in lots of the Christmas celebrations throughout the week, so it was a lot of fun and we got to experience a different side to firm life.

The firm were really interested in helping you to build your personal brand and skill sets for the future. At the end of the vacation scheme I was offered a training contract with the firm, so they have decided to invest in me and my personal training and development to a great extent.

I think that the vacation scheme successfully replicated the life of a trainee solicitor at the firm, which was extremely helpful to get an understanding of how day to day life would be. We also got a real feel for the firm culture and the type of person that it attracts, to see how working at the firm full time would be.

We gained a real insight into the culture of Simmons & Simmons during the vacation scheme, as we got to interact with so many different people from the firm, from the graduate recruitment team, trainees, solicitors and partners. Being there just before Christmas also helped to see the fun side of the firm and how they relax and celebrate.

I think the content of the workshops was very well thought out and helpful to build our own skills and learn to self-reflect. The content of the work I carried out for my department was extremely interesting and made me certain my decision to pursue a career in law was the right one for me.

We were paid a good amount for the week since I was able to stay with a friend for free in London, the amount we were paid covered all of my travel and food with extra left over. If I had to pay for accommodation then it probably wouldn’t have quite covered that too.

There were many networking opportunities throughout the week. We met lots of trainees and supervisors at the welcome drinks. I was assigned a partner to go for coffee with, who I have kept in contact with. We also had more informal social events for networking, as well as the Christmas lunch and party I was invited to.

There were plenty of networking and social events throughout the week. I particularly enjoyed the school of wok, where we learnt to cook and got to eat our creations, as well as network with other trainees, graduate recruitment and the other people on the vacation scheme, it was a lot of fun.

I found out about the different sporting activities there are to get involved in as I am a keen sportswomen. There are also other societies you can join and get involved with at the firm so that you meet other people and get to do something outside of your typical working day.

I would definitely recommend this vacation scheme to a friend. The application and interview process is lengthy but once you make it on to the scheme they have a high offer rate for training contracts. You get a real feel for what it would be like to work for the firm.