What work did you get involved with on the vacation scheme?

During the scheme, I was involved in a variety of work. I officially sat in disputes and real estate finance. Examples of the work I was involved with in this area include research for a white-collar investigation, and reviewing and completing transaction documents.

While I was given work by my supervisors, I was strongly encouraged to seek out work in other practice areas that I was interested in. For example, I wrote a client letter on an emerging environmental, social and governance matter and updated a tax partner on the implications of a US tax policy. I also completed some work on the new restrictions on financial promotions of crypto assets and wrote an update on the 11th package of EU sanctions in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

I also took full advantage of the expansive pro bono opportunities at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher UK LLP. I was involved in a Domestic Abuse Response Alliance matter and helped on an asylum application. I made the most of the opportunities to work in different areas, which allowed me to find new points of interest and experience what the law firm has to offer.

What did a day on the vacation scheme look like?

I usually arrived at the office between 8:30 and 9:00am, preferring to start early so I could work on the set written assignments before the office became busy. I then completed work for my supervisors before reaching out to other lawyers for additional work. We generally had at least one presentation each day. These presentations introduced us to either a practice area or a committee, such as the firm’s diversity, talent and inclusion committee.

I spent most lunch times with other vacation schemers in the firm’s cafeteria. There were also opportunities to get to know my supervisors and other lawyers I was working with during team lunches. After lunch, I dedicated time to working on the group presentation scheduled for the final week. Getting together with my team members was a bit of a challenge as we all had very different schedules but we made it work.

The afternoons consisted of occasional breaks from work to chat with lawyers or my trainee mentor. I usually worked until 6:30pm but we were discouraged from working late – for example, on one occasion, I had a partner walk into the room asking me what I was still doing at work! Some evenings, the graduate recruitment team had organised events, such as welcome drinks, a film screening or a games night, which were attended by vacation schemers and lawyers alike. I also took part in the JP Morgan Corporate Challenge, which was a good opportunity to socialise and get to know people outside of work.

What’s the most important thing you learnt about the firm while on the scheme?

I learnt that Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher is a truly unique and exceptional law firm. While its legal credentials alone easily attract anyone wanting to practice law, what made me want to train here were the people. The majority of firms use their culture as a selling point, but with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, the term isn’t just a marketing strategy. Every single individual I met during the scheme was genuinely a nice person, from support staff to the managing partners. It became quickly apparent that the firm’s open-door policy is a lived reality. I believe a strong contribution to this welcoming feel is that the firm values and encourages people to have hobbies outside of work, and wants its lawyers to be well-rounded individuals. If you don’t just want to be a cog in the wheel but a valued member of a team, this is the firm for you.

What key skills did you develop during the scheme? / What key skills are required to have a successful experience on the vacation scheme?

A key skill required to be successful on the scheme is initiative; to proactively seek out work and to show an eagerness to contribute and learn. The work you’ll be doing isn’t merely mundane research that goes unread or simple administrative tasks. You’ll be working on active matters where your contributions are crucial to their progress. As a result, you get out of the scheme as much as you put in.

Effective time management is another critical skill. You’ll be expected to balance several different tasks at once, each with varying deadlines. Alongside this, you’ll engage in networking, complete two set written assignments and prepare for a final group presentation in front of partners. Meticulous planning and organisation are crucial since you’re not supposed to take your laptop home in the evenings.

Lastly, I believe a crucial factor to my success on the scheme was my willingness to admit when I didn’t know something. It takes courage to admit to a partner that you don’t know how to do something, but this humility, coupled with the ability to ask clarifying questions will allow you to understand how to tackle new tasks efficiently and effectively, saving yourself and the firm time and money.

What’s one piece of advice you’d pass on to future vacation schemers?

Be yourself. You’ve been selected for the vacation scheme for your unique qualities and experiences, not because you fit a predetermined standard. Remain authentic to who you are. Don’t fall into the trap of feigning interest or pretending to be someone you’re not as people will be able to detect insincerity, which may negatively impact your feedback! A good example of this is going on coffee chats with lawyers – I recommend you go on one or two but don’t find yourself in a position where you’ve asked for a coffee chat with someone saying you’re interested in their work and then you’re unable to follow it up with an insightful discussion. As a little aside, be aware that everyone at the firm is encouraged to give feedback on vacation schemers, not just the lawyers.

How can future vacation schemers ensure they get the most out of the scheme?

Be proactive and use the scheme to see whether you fit in a firm that operates a free market system. Actively seek out work that you’re interested in or that you'd like to learn more about (with prior approval of your supervisor, of course). However, be mindful that you don’t take on too much and that you can still give every task you’re assigned 100% of your attention. Don’t fall into the pitfall of thinking that the more people you work with, the more people give you feedback. Strong feedback from one person is a lot more beneficial for you in potentially securing a training contract than mediocre feedback from many. I’d also recommend that you don’t leave the written assessments and group presentation to the last minute. They’re a fundamental part of the scheme and you want to make sure you impress in them.