Vacation Scheme Student Review

I was given tasks by my supervisor and multiple fee earners. A few of the daily tasks I completed were: legal research, writing memos, writing a case summary, sitting on client meetings. After each of the tasks I would receive feedback. Personally, I have sent cold emails to people in other departments who specialised in my areas of interest suggesting getting coffees to expand my knowledge of the firm.

One of the new skills I have learnt was being able to give on-your-feet advice in the context of complicated client meetings. The group exercise we had to complete included a client-pitch and follow-up questions from the clients. Some of the questions were difficult and required previous knowledge, which pushed me to offer solutions without having had the advantage of research. I have built on previous skills such as using legal research databases, effectively summarising long documents in a short period of time, teamwork and public speaking.

The firm was very open and it was easy to organise meetings with various partners and some of the Mishcon Group’s CEOs. Besides this, the insight sessions specifically led by heads of departments greatly helped explain the firm’s vision and strategy plan. During these sessions the firm’s unique offerings were explained, as well as how the firm keeps its competitive edge and important clients. From the onset, my trainee buddy has offered great support and explained a lot of the work he completed during his two seats. It helped me understand the requirements and expectations of a trainee, whilst highlighting the role they play in the partnership.

The company culture can be described as one that is open, diverse and embracing of change. Despite all of the people I met coming from very different backgrounds, everyone was social and willing to learn. A lot of the people I met highlighted the importance of social mobility and improving the opportunities of groups from minority backgrounds, which created a safe atmosphere.

I thoroughly enjoyed the whole week. My supervisor played a very important part. All of the tasks I was given to complete were relevant to the department’s work. He took additional effort to explain the impact the department has within the partnerships, as well as the particularities of some of the most important cases the department undertook. There was a social activity in the middle of the week organised for the vacation scheme students which helped us bond as a cohort. It was a great way of networking, as well as relaxing. Due to its open culture, it was easy to grab a coffee with almost everyone in my department.

Yes

A tip I would give is to have a good idea of what you want to do in the future whilst being open to trying new things. An important factor in every discussion I had with each fee earner I have spoken to was to demonstrate why I wanted to qualify in the department of my choice. Being able to provide proof of the extra-curricular activities I undertook to support the career I wanted was something noted as a positive in my feedback. Research is the golden rule and is crucial. Coming prepared with tailored questions will give you the most out of the experience.