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Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

Summer Vacation Scheme Review

at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

Insight / Vacation Scheme (< 4 Weeks)

Commercial Law

London

Review Submitted: July 2021

Overall Rating

4.9 /5

The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!

5/5 - Overview of Experience
5/5 - Skills Development
4.8/5 - Company Culture
5/5 - Overall Experience
5/5 - Recommendations and Advice

Overview of Experience

Please give an overview of the insight and what was involved on a day-to-day basis.
With the guidance of a supervisor and trainee 'buddy', I worked on various tasks on live matters including research, drafting legal documents and preparing legal advice notes. As part of the scheme, I also attended presentations on the different practice areas of the firm and to learn more about the firm's strategy, pro bono initiatives and life as a trainee.
What was it like understanding all about the business and potential roles available?
I learnt about roles that I did not know about within the law firm including professional support lawyers (PSLs) and business development professionals.
Please rate how insightful you found the insight
5/5
How would you rate the structure of the insight
5/5

Skills Development

Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
Learnt new skills, particularly drafting, and developed my existing research skills, knowledge about various legal practice areas across transactional, contentious and advisory work, and my understanding about typical trainee solicitor tasks.
How would you rate the training provided during your experience?
5/5
How would you rate the knowledge learned around industry-specific skills during the experience?
5/5
How would you rate the knowledge learned around personal or professional skills during the experience?
5/5
Please rate how the knowledge learned has helped you with regards to your career development
5/5

Company Culture

How would you rate business leader involvement during the insight
5/5
What was the company culture and general atmosphere like?
Very friendly. Lawyers from trainee-level right up to partners were incredibly generous with their time and there were many opportunities to ask questions and gain insight. The firm's commitment to its values like collaboration and diversity were very apparent in the day-to-day conversations I had.
How would you rate the inclusiveness of the culture?
5/5
How would you rate the networking opportunities?
5/5
Please rate how valued you felt during your insight?
4/5

Overall Experience

To what extent did you enjoy the insight?
Very much enjoyed - the programme was intense in terms of how much information was packed into a 3 week period but the insights gained were so valuable. The work I was tasked with was interesting and engaging. The lawyers I worked with and spoke to were incredibly friendly and made me feel very comfortable during the scheme.
Please rate your level of enjoyment on the insight
5/5
Please rate how your experience met your expectations
5/5
Were you paid or reimbursed adequately for this experience?
I was paid

Recommendations and Advice

Please rate the future employment prospects at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
5/5
Would you recommend Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer to a friend?
Yes
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
Research the firm well as there are lots of factors that make the firm very unique as compared to other commercial law firms. But most importantly, be yourself rather than what you think the firm may 'want' in a candidate, as diversity is really valued by the firm and its lawyers.
In This Review
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