Virtual Vacation Scheme Review

The virtual CMS Academy experience was incredibly engaging and well organised. I particularly enjoyed the interviews with clients and presentation by Duncan Weston on Lupl. Whilst it was certainly different from the traditional in-office vacation scheme, I felt that we were offered a great deal of support and an experience fit for the modern post-covid law firm.

The Early Talent Team excelled at providing support to participants in the virtual CMS Academy. I knew who to contact if I had any questions and always received a quick response. The decision to assign group work before the virtual week was a great idea as it provided participants with the opportunity to get to know another participant virtually which personally made me feel more connected and comfortable.

We received clear, detailed instructions for all aspects of group work and solo tasks. I felt confident in my understanding of what was expected of me during the virtual week. The Early Talent Team took the time to introduce themselves and their backgrounds which made all communications with them feel more personable.

The CMS Academy changed my perspective on what it takes to be successful in the business of law in the 21st century. The focus on tech and explanations of the importance of tech in the practise of law reframed the 'legal tech' narrative for me. I now see clearly how legal tech relates to the wider business strategy of CMS and other law firms. This new perspective will be immensely valuable in the early stages of my career.

The structure and organisation of the virtual CMS Academy was flawless. There were one or two technical glitches as expected but the team were very pragmatic and quickly resolved the issues.

The first day of the virtual experience felt a little awkward for me. This was the first time I had worked from home over zoom so it took some getting used to. I overcame this by throwing myself into the virtual experience and making the most of the following days. Overall, the virtual experience was really enjoyable and informative. I have recommended it to several others since and will continue to do so in the future.

The client interviews and meetings with trainees provided a lot of insight into life as a trainee at CMS. The Early Talent Team also gave a detailed presentation on the qualifiation and dual qualification process with CMS as well as the route to progression within the firm.

The discussions with trainees, partners and other members of the firm provided a range of opinions on life at the firm. The client interviews also helped with understanding the culture at CMS as they shared with vacation scheme students the reasons why they like to work with CMS lawyers. It is clear that CMS highly values diversity and inclusion.