Sumer Vacation Scheme intern Review

It was a structured internship that provided a good balance between social events, talks (about the firm, the sort that you might expect on an Open Day) and work given by the relevant departments. If you had any questions about the firm that weren't answered as part of the timetable, or if you wanted more details, the general atmosphere was one that supported questions being asked to improve your insight. It felt like a genuine insight into the firm.

Many employees and the majority of trainees had completed internships with the firm. This meant that they were often very willing to share the experiences and go out of their way to make sure that you understood the purpose of the work you were doing and offer a thorough explanation. The overally result was that you felt valued.

Whether through official channels (like the grad recruitment team or your own allocated Supervisors/trainees buddies), or more widely (other members of departments) Simmons & Simmons employees seemed happy to take time out of their day to offer guidance or support. It was often volunteered and the general atmosphere was such that made you feel comfortable asking for guidance/support if you felt you wanted it.

The skills learnt were more relevant to transferable professional skills than those that would help degree studies.

Each of the 3 weeks followed a set timetable of events, both social and informative. The balance between these events and time spent in the department was well apportioned.

The atmosphere was great. It felt like an authentic experience of the firm's general working culture, but there was also a good balance of social events to remind you that you weren't supposed to over-commit to the work or get stressed about deadlines.

The biggest investment was the amount of time that Simmons & Simmons employees, ranging from professional support staff to Partners, were prepared to invest in you. Without exception, people would be prepared to offer support and guidance throughout the course of the scheme. You really got the impression that the firm wanted you to get the most out of the experience.

The combination of time spent in the different departments, networking events and research projects meant that you were able to gain a well-rounded insight into a potential role with the firm.

This insight was reinforced by both the formal timetabled events, but also through informal interactions with employees who weren't officially part of the scheme.

We were paid on a weekly basis for each week we were there. The amount was in line with industry standards.

There were plenty of events to network with employees at different levels and from various different departments.

There were plent of social and networking events spread over the course of the 3 weeks.

Some of these wider firm activities were advertised and included as part of the vac scheme. There were others that employees were happy to volunteer information about.

There was an excellent programme of events and the whole scheme felt well-managed. Whether you are curious about a career in law generally or if you have a specific interest in Simmons & Simmons you would be able to gain valuable insight from the scheme.