Paralegal Review

I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the CMS Business of Law week which took place in July 2020. Even though the work placements which would originally take place were cancelled, I believe that the firm did the most that they could considering the circumstances and the volume of participants. The virtual experience was well-planned and we were given sufficient information in preparation for the experience in order to make the utmost out of the week-long internship.

I felt valued every single day that I was participating in the virtual experience and even in the lead up to the week. This, in particular, by the graduate recruitment team's transparency as the experience approached and circumstances had it that the internship would have to change. During the actual experience, the days would start and end with mindfulness sessions which were key in relaxing us and gearing us up for and winding us down after the informative days which the firm had planned.

We received constant guidance and support during the virtual experience. The graduate recruitment team were available throughout each and every day and when it came to the client interviews, the partner and/or associate which assisted us on the virtual visit also made a serious effort to provide support as best as they could. During the simulation exercise, the project managers responsible for this activity were also very helpful and would log into the different breakout rooms to offer guidance when needed.

As the virtual experience had a business of law focus, the skills I developed and the information received were valuable in terms of allowing me to further develop my business acumen and wider communication skills. While it is understandable that the firm had to cancel the work internships, this would have been equally beneficial in allowing me to further develop my skills as a legal professional and equip me with the necessary tools to be able to delivery legal advice.

The virtual experience was meticulously well structured and cannot be faulted. While there were some technical issues during some of the partner presentations, this was not something which could really be prevented. We were provided detailed breakdowns of the activities in which we would be participating in on each day and any questions which we had were always promptly answered by the graduate recruitment team. All activities originally planned went ahead and even the stakeholder simulation was seamless.

The general atmosphere throughout the virtual experience was energetic and friendly, which I believe contributed to making the Business of Law week as enjoyable as it was. While it could be quite tiring to be sat at your desk for 8 hours of the day and to communicate purely through remote means, the graduate recruitment team and members of the firm which were contributing to the different activities did an excellent job of making sure that they were upbeat and positive at all times.

I really think the firm did their absolute utmost in terms of personal training and development. They ensured that no stone was left unturned as they provided us with mindfulness sessions at the start and end of each day, psychometric sessions to better understand ourselves, virtual client visits to understand more about the communication skills we need to harness and a stakeholder simulation to truly test our team working, time pressure and multi-dimensional communication skills.

Unfortunately due to the condensed nature of the virtual experience (the removal of the work experience), I was not able to fully understand what it would be like to have a full time role with CMS. This would have been covered had the firm been able to move ahead with the two-week work placements within their practices but this was not possible due to the circumstances which were being faced at the time as a result of the pandemic.

The virtual experience definitely contributed to my understanding of the company culture as one which is extremely friendly, approachable and diverse. I had already acquired this understanding during the various activities which I attended that were organised by the firm in the lead up to the Business of Law week but I feel that the virtual experience truly solidified this and gave me a consistent picture of just how welcoming the firm is to all of its fee earners.

While I did not take up my training contract offer at CMS, I found the content nevertheless valuable in helping me to decide on my future career path. The multi-faceted content and the focus on the very business of the law was helpful in driving home the reality that a career as a solicitor entails a strong business dimension to it and with this, there is a serious requirement for solicitors to develop and hone their interpersonal skills.

We were paid £400 for our participation in the Business of Law week which I believe was more than adequate for the experience. This is the original pay which we would have received per week had the vacation scheme actually taken place from within their offices as originally planned. The fact that the firm retained this pay, notwithstanding that everyone was participating from the comfort of their own homes and with considerably lower expenses, demonstrates that CMS sees serious value potential in potential future trainees.

The graduate recruitment team planned a number of networking sessions which saw the involvement of diverse fee earners from within the firm. These included the managing partner of the firm's UK office, general and senior partners, senior associates and associates, trainee solicitors and even apprentices which are undergoing the firm's specialised route into law. I particularly enjoyed the fire-side chat with a senior partner which followed a presentation by the managing partner of the firm.

The networking/social event opportunities were really diverse and covered all bases in terms of the different people we were able to meet and the type of information which we were able to take away from each one. I particularly enjoyed the different breakout rooms which were organised for activities such as the pro bono session and the client visit. The graduate recruitment team were also very organised and ensured that most breakout rooms took place without any difficulty.

During the networking sessions which took place throughout the virtual experience we learnt of the different social committees and outside activities which members of the firm could get involved in. These ranged from pro bono work to being involved in choirs and football teams, which depended on the person's interests and which the firm would seek to cover by providing new opportunities for its people. We also learnt of CMS Innovation Hours where employees can contribute to the legal tech and innovation ideas which the firm was investing in.

Yes I would recommend this virtual experience to a friend. The covid-19 pandemic has meant that a lot of activities which we have grown used to have had to be restructured in some shape or form, and that includes in-person vacation schemes. While it is unfortunate that my virtual experience did not comprise a work internship, I feel confident that the CMS team will continue to work on their offering and to ensure that it remains a worthwhile experience.