Summer Vacation Placement Student Review

The vacation scheme lasted 5 days. Day 1 primarily involved listening to lectures surrounding who Gateley are, the current trainee experiences, responsible business etc and then briefly meeting your department and trainee buddy. The departments are randomly assigned and I was assigned the Corporate department. The remainder of the week was spent with your departments carrying out a variety of tasks typically set by your buddy. This could include writing letters to clients, research tasks etc.

First day into the placement we had a teams meeting with the CEO (Rod) who really went into detail about who Gateley is, how they were formed, why they are different from other firms and really explaining Gateley's unusual but effective business model. You get lots of exposure to the other roles available at Gateley by simply working and being sat within a team. As regard to the potential roles available it is not massively discussed whilst you are here. However the careers page on Gateley is very easy to navigate.

Through this placement I have had the opportunity to work on certain skills such as time management (by organising my own work load), working as part of a team, liaising with staff and clients, enhancing my research skills. The biggest benefit I found personally was the exposure to a law firm working dynamic and how they structure and work through cases.

Company culture and general atmosphere were both 10/10. I honestly can't rate this category high enough. When you first meet your department the first thing you will realise is that the partners are not hidden away in offices at the back. They sit at the same desks as everyone else. It doesn't matter what your job role is on the team you all sit and collaborate together. Instantly you notice the lack of hierarchy feel. Everyone seems genuinely happy to be there. You would never tell who the trainees are simply by observation. The atmosphere is very nurturing and supportive without being hand-held.

This insight was a fabulous opportunity which has just further cemented how much I want to work here. The feeling of inclusion and support is second to none. The insight gives you real exposure to what being on a team at Gateley is like. If you have the opportunity to participate definitely do not turn it down and I encourage everyone to sign up for a TC/Vac Scheme with Gateley.

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