CMS Academy Participant Review

I absolutely loved my virtual experience with CMS. Every element of the original CMS Academy was translated into a virtual experience - from mindfulness sessions to client visits. I was made to feel so welcomed and a part of CMS and encouraged to share my thoughts and ideas. We were given many opportunities to get to know our fellow participants, through the set tasks and also through more informal sessions. I really enjoyed the virtual experience!

I felt extremely valued during my time at CMS. From the outset, it was emphasised how we are the next generation lawyers and how important we are to CMS as a firm as well as how much they appreciated us being part of this virtual experience. It was clear, particularly through conversations with a number of Partners that they value the ideas that trainees have and they are equally part of the team despite them being junior lawyers which was really encouraging.

The Early Talent Team and the facilitators from Mind^3 were always on hand to give guidance and support -whether about IT issues, given the virtual nature of the experience or anything else. There were sessions where less guidance was given but this was for the intention of giving us the freedom and independence to tackle the task in a way we thought best and allow us to learn as much as possible from this experience.

I think the skills I learnt were geared towards life as a lawyer and skills I would need to practice as a trainee. It was a very practical week. I particularly enjoyed the virtual client visit as we heard from the other side of most of the relationships that CMS have and gave me an insight and better understand of what clients value and therefore how as a trainee and associate I can start to develop and clients them better.

The virtual experience was really well structured. We were given a timetable prior to the CMS Academy with specific timings and plans for each day. They had organised the entire week to allow participants get the most of out of it and also ensure each day was different. It was evident a lot of time and planning had gone into the virtual experience and it did not fail to disappoint. I was extremely impressed with how much was fit into a short space of time!

Super positive atmosphere - at the beginning of each day we had questions posed to get our brains warmed up for the day. It was always something fun to share such as "What does your perfect Sunday look like". The hosts were very energetic and we had a lot of uplifting music during our breaks too. It was a really engaging week and I was made to feel like the purpose of the week was for us to get to know CMS and learn as much as possible.

The company invested a lot in us and continue to so. The entire week was aimed to develop our professional and personal skills through a variety of different sessions. For us to better know our strengths and weaknesses and develop a better understanding of the client relationship. The intenton of the week was mostly to develop our skills in presentating, networking, mindfulness. It was clear that CMS really care about our personal training and development.

The virtual experience was great in being able to understand what it would be like to have a full-time role at CMS because I was able to talk with so many current employees.

One of the earlier sessions as part of the virtual experience was with different employees at CMS. It was a varied group of employees, from lawyers to support staff so I was able to get different perspectives from people about the company culture. We were openly encouraged to ask questions and given candid responses. I was able to understand the open nature of the company and how every individual's ideas and suggestions are welcomed and how constant career progression is encouraged.

Really valuable - It reaffirmed that I want to be a solicitor in the future.

I was generously paid for the virtual week I worked at CMS.

There were so many opportunities for this. We networked with Partners via regional drinks, with trainees via trainee Q&A and as previously mentioned a variety of employees discussing the culture of the firm.

We were put into a number of smaller breakout rooms with other Academy participants where we discussed and worked together on tasks. We also had virtual drinks with a Partner and networking drinks with the other participants too. I really enjoyed this and despite the virtual nature of the experience was able to meet a number of the other participants from all over the UK who had applied to different offices which was really nice.

Yes definitely. I learned about the Corporate Responsibility events that take place and how employees can get involved e.g. PRIDE and with Alzheimer's UK. I also got familiar with the other groups such as the CMS choir and the women's football team which I would be interested in joining. I further got to know about the trips abroad that take place with the sports teams. In addition, there were lots of discussions around the BAME network and how employees can get involved.

I would definitely recommend this virtual experience to a friend as it was very well organised and really fun! I was able to meet so many of my future colleagues and develop lots of new skills and partake in sessions that really challenged me. I was also able to meet trainees and Partners at the firm to get a real insight into the culture and life at CMS as well as meet CMS client's which was unique element of the virtual experience!