Work Experience Programme Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my vacation scheme at Mayer Brown. As with all placements, the desire to impress leads to a degree of self-pressure. However the genuine, down-to-earth people who work there immediately put me at ease and ensured that the scheme was both enjoyable and challenging. By the end of the three weeks I was really hoping for a training contract offer.

I was pleasantly surprised by the role I assumed as Vacation Scheme student. I frequently had direct contact with partners who were willing to trust me with research tasks and drafting. I genuinely felt like I was able to assist on a wide range of matters and my contribution was always appreciated, no matter the limitations of my legal experience.

Partners, associates and trainees were willing to take their time to explain tasks thoroughly, and then give detailed feedback on what I had produced. Questions were always encouraged, and there was an appreciation that as students, we had a lower level of legal and practical knowledge. The HR and graduate recruitment team were incredibly supportive and friendly from start to finish.

Beyond the substantive knowledge learnt whilst working in department, the scheme was more valuable for developing interpersonal skills in both a professional and personal environment.

Three weeks was the ideal length of time to gain an accurate insight into a law firm and decide whether it is a good fit for you. Having completed other two-week schemes, I can see that the extra week provides you with adequate time to settle into each department and feel part of the team. I appreciated that the three weeks was not crammed with assessments and presentations. This made the scheme feel more natural and not like a three week interview.

Brilliant mix of people, many of whom I have remained in contact with. Having met everyone 3 months prior at an organised open day, the first day of the vacation scheme felt like a seamless transition. Full credit to the graduate recruitment team for selecting a great bunch.

Even when given the inevitable unglamorous tasks, supervisors made sure that my next job was more interesting. A Banking and Finance partner, with whom I was not working with at the time, offered to let me sit in on a conference call because he genuinely felt that I would learn from it. This demonstrated the emphasis placed on my personal development as he went out his way to arrange this. Before leaving each department I was given a debriefing with those who I had sat with to ensure that I had gained something from my time there.

There was a good balance between time spent at the desk and presentations/assessments/social events.

From the first day it was clear that there is no one Mayer Brown 'type'- instead I found a refreshing mix of personalities as I walked around the office. There is a real culture of diversity that is obvious simply from setting foot in the place.

Being able to select the two departments that I would be sitting in allowed me to gain exposure to areas that I was genuinely interested in. The experience I gained will be relevant when I make my seat choices a few years from now.

Whilst other firms offer more ££ per week, remuneration was more than adequate considering it was a three week scheme.

During the scheme there was a real emphasis on interaction with trainees, especially at social events. I was also taken for coffee with my departmental supervisors (despite them being very busy!) and had lunch with my trainee buddy. A networking lunch was also organised with partners, meaning I got to meet a good cross-section of the firm.

Can't complain about a trip to Paris.

This was not emphasised on the scheme, however, during the three weeks employees were taking part in a charity bike ride in the canteen- a good laugh for a good cause.

I would, and have recommended others to apply for a work experience programme and training contract at Mayer Brown.