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

We were set a wide range of tasks, from an invigilated exercise and a case study to department specific tasks. I sat in the employment team and had the opportunity to attend an online preliminary hearing and draft an attendance note. This gave me great insight into the type of work that a trainee in an employment seat might carry out. I particularly enjoyed the case study; we were given almost the entire week to complete it. We had to look at multiple documents, such as contracts and emails, and advise a fictional client on any potential causes of action against multiple parties. The task also required us to do some legal research in relation to intellectual property law.

At the end of the week, we met with the head of intellectual property, Tom Lingard, who gave us detailed feedback, which was incredibly useful. He showed us a model answer and we were able to ask him questions about the task. I really valued that we were given such detailed feedback, as it highlighted the areas I could improve on in the future.

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

Most importantly, I learnt about the firm’s culture. While researching a firm beforehand is extremely important, you can never fully grasp what a firm’s like until you spend time there. There were many opportunities to interact with different people, which allowed me to witness the supportive nature of the firm and how friendly and helpful everyone was. On top of that, the partners were very approachable, and I felt confident speaking to them at social events and asking them questions, which allowed me to enhance my learning.

What key skills did you develop during the scheme?

I was able to develop a wide variety of skills during the scheme. One particular skill that I developed was networking. There were multiple opportunities throughout the scheme to network with the firm’s trainees, as well as associates and partners. For example, we would often have lunch with the trainees and one-to-ones with our trainee buddies. This allowed me to build relationships throughout the week and develop my communication skills in a professional environment. Time management skills were also important throughout the week. It was crucial that I understood how long a specific task would take me and prioritise certain tasks over others to meet deadlines.

Did the scheme end with a training contract interview?

Yes, we did ’speed interviewing’ with eight partners, which lasted around two and a half hours. Each partner asked two to three questions and I had the opportunity to ask them questions at the end too. We were told which partners might be interviewing us so were able to prepare beforehand. The questions varied from partner to partner, from motivation and commercial awareness questions to unique questions designed to see how we think. While interviews can be nerve-wracking, each partner was welcoming and friendly so I felt relaxed during the interviews. This was one of the most exciting parts of the vacation scheme as the questions asked were challenging but unique. I particularly enjoyed that I was able to ask the partners questions too as this gave me the opportunity to learn more about them and the work that they do.

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

Don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice throughout the week. You’ll be allocated a trainee buddy who’ll be there to support you. If you’re unsure of anything, ask them or anyone else, and they’ll be more than willing to help you. Additionally, remember to be yourself and show your personality! Of course, it’s very important to carry yourself professionally but try not to let that hinder you from being yourself.