Spring Vacation Scheme Review

It was a packed two weeks, there was no clear day-to-day work, and I was able to work for a variety of members of staff. The work day was 9:30-5:30 and there was approximately an hour for lunch. Work generally consisted of research and data collection tasks, though the exact nature of the tasks differed. It gave me a chance to look into various part of the department and get a taste of the range of work that the department did.

As a non-law student, I have gained a lot of new skills while taking part in this vacation scheme. Primarily, professional communication and time management. As I was handling tasks for people that related to genuine cases, I developed time management skills, such as knowing how long tasks would take and being able to communicate deadlines and time schedules effectively. As well as this, I learnt to use various legal technology, such as workshare compare, which allows me to compare documents - this was useful when comparing updated documents.

My department specifically really tried to sure the range of options available, which was a key aspect of the scheme that I enjoyed. I was able to work with those who undertook different roles, and this allowed me to see different degrees of responsibility. As well as this, I invested time into talking to non-solicitor members of the team to gain a greater understanding of the financial and managerial workings of the team. This was also crucial to develop my understanding of the business,

The company culture was perhaps the most attractive part of the scheme. Partners were extremely friendly and approachable despite their busy work schedules, and everyone at the firm was happy to talk about their experiences. The socials and extra-curricular activities were also plentiful, the firm offered plenty of official opportunities for the students to bond with each other. Privately also within the team, there were socials that allowed me to familiarise myself with those that I worked with.

The insight was extremely challenging but also very enjoyable. The work that I carried out and the people that I met were equally amazing, and I was able to get an insight into the firm that I would not have been able to gather through outside research. Despite being a student, I was given responsibility and allowed to get stuck in with serious work. This gave me a realistic taster of the firm and increased my desire to work there.

Yes

I think the most important factor that I would stress to somebody applying to Clyde & Co is to be genuine. The firm, although it holds its excellence in legal service provision as its most important factor, really values that they can work with the people around them. Being open and yourself to people also encourages them to get closer with you, which consequently also means that you are often given more interesting work, or let in on things you wouldn't normally have access to.