Vacation Student Review

The experience allowed me to truly experience work in the commerical legal world, both in a legal team and as a trainee.

Right from the off I was given work and various projects to complete from a large variety of legal workers in my team ranging from senior associate to trainee. The more work I complted, the more I was given which really made me feel valued as a team member.

I found it very easy to ask not just my trainee but all members of the team any questions I needed to ask to enhance my understanding of a task or specific area of the law. I received feedback after most tasks I completed which assisted greatly in allowing me to develop the skills necessary to be a successful trainee.

Throughout my placement my skills went from strength to strength with regular practice and feedback helping me to improve each task I completed. Not only in the office was the feedback useful, I can now apply the skills that I have developed at PM in my legal studies and beyond.

The placement was extremely well organised with a schedule handed to each student on arrival, seeing us right through to the final day.

The atmosphere in my department was friendly and welcoming, and generally a positive vibe existed throughout the office.

My team members regularly asked me to complete semi-urgent tasks for them thus making me feel valued as a team member.

Both the practice presentations coupled with a three week immersion into the life of PM employees were very insightful and replicated very closesly what a traineeship would be like.

I now feel like I have a firm grasp of what the firms long term aims and goals consist of as well as how its values are employed and showcased by its employees on a daily basis.

It has more than secured my ambition for pursuing a carreer in commercial law.

Throughout the placement there were plentiful opportunities to get involved in internal projects outwith daily work eg the CSR programme, as well as a variety of fun social activities.

Although these events could be daunting, once settled it is difficult to remember why you were so nervous in the first place. All solicitors in the firm were friendly, welcoming and easy to talk to.

There are mountainous opportunities to get involved in and even the change to set up your own project and bring it to the firm.

For anyone seriously considering a carreer in commercial law, PM provides the perfect insight.