Vacation Scheme Participant Review

by Shearman & Sterling LLP

This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.

Rating

3.8/5
  • About You
    4.0
  • The Company
    3.5
  • Everything Else
    4.1

    About You

  • 1. To what extent did you enjoy the insight?
  • The vacation scheme gave an excellent insight into working at a major international commercial firm. I was given real work to help out on but also some research tasks to do which required getting to grips with several very technical and unfamiliar areas of law. There were social events to mix with trainees and plenty of opportunities to engage with everyone at the firm

    4/5

  • 2. To what extent did you feel valued during your time at the company or firm?
  • There were times where there was simply nothing I can do to help out my immediate supervisors as they were closing deals and so too busy to stop and explain something. However, this was rare and any piece of work I did always seemed to be appreciated by the person I did it for.

    4/5

  • 3. How much guidance/support did you receive during the insight?
  • At every stage, if I was given a task or stuck on one, my supervisors and others took considerable time to explain the issues with or even to check the work that I had done thus far. Technical concepts were explained very simply and it never felt as if I was a burden to be in the office.

    5/5

  • 4. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and information you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
  • Some of the issues may come up in the GDL but it is unlikely, when I start the LPC I imagine more of it will become useful then.

    4/5

    The Company

  • 5. How well structured was the insight?
  • Plenty of time was spent at the desks but with talks and other activities thrown in as well.

    5/5

  • 6. How was the general atmosphere during your insight?
  • The office is a great environment, very relaxed even when people are quite stressed! Its a friendly and open place to work.

    4/5

  • 7. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
  • We got to go along to training sessions as well as have talks especially for us.

    3/5

  • 8. To what extent did the insight help you to understand what it would be like to have a full time role with the company or firm?
  • People were open and frank about their hours and the nature of their work. It was refreshing to see.

    5/5

  • 9. How much did the insight help you in understanding the company culture?
  • 3/5

  • 10. How valuable was the content in helping you to decide on your future career path?
  • I think it was taken as a given that we all wanted to be commercial lawyers but they were clear that it was good to realise if you didn't want to do it over the course of the scheme.

    3/5

    Everything Else

  • 11. Were you paid or reimbursed adequately for this experience?

  • 12. Were there opportunities for networking and meeting other employees of the company or firm?
  • 4/5

  • 13. How were the networking/ social event opportunities?
  • Limited access to more senior lawyers but lots of opportunities to mix with trainees.

    4/5

  • 14. Did you find out about activities that employees can get involved in outside of work?
  • We were all invited to play in some of the sports fixtures that were on during the two weeks including five-a-side football and netball.

    4/5

  • 15. Would you recommend this insight to a friend?
  • Definitely

    5/5

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Details

Insight / Vacation Scheme (< 4 Weeks)

London

April 2015


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