Vacation Scheme Student Review
at Ashurst
Insight / Vacation Scheme (< 4 Weeks)
Legal/Law
London Fruit & Wool Exchange
Review Submitted: September 2024
Overall Rating
5 /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
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Overview of Experience
5/5
-
Skills Development
5/5
-
Company Culture
5/5
-
Overall Experience
5/5
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Recommendations and Advice
Overview of Experience
Please give an overview of the insight and what was involved on a day-to-day basis.
- Sitting in on team meetings across different practice areas.
- Completing trainee-style tasks - these ranged from research-based tasks, pro-bono work, writing concise summaries for journal publications, and proof-reading.
- Networking opportunities - some more informal (for example, having coffees with various members of the firm), to organised sessions with partners across different practice areas.
- Opportunity to meet and socialise with fellow aspiring trainees.
- Completing trainee-style tasks - these ranged from research-based tasks, pro-bono work, writing concise summaries for journal publications, and proof-reading.
- Networking opportunities - some more informal (for example, having coffees with various members of the firm), to organised sessions with partners across different practice areas.
- Opportunity to meet and socialise with fellow aspiring trainees.
What was it like understanding all about the business and potential roles available?
- Learned that variety of roles within a law firm is more diverse than I expected.
- Gained insight into all the roles that work alongside solicitors in a law firm - eg Ashurst risk advisory team, technology team.
- Gained insight into multiple pathways into a law firm - apprenticeship schemes, paralegal route etc.
- Clear that commerciality has become increasingly important to Ashurst and the firm remaining competitive.
- Gained insight into all the roles that work alongside solicitors in a law firm - eg Ashurst risk advisory team, technology team.
- Gained insight into multiple pathways into a law firm - apprenticeship schemes, paralegal route etc.
- Clear that commerciality has become increasingly important to Ashurst and the firm remaining competitive.
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?
- Legal research skills - eg how to use sites like WestLaw and LexisNexis.
- Expectations for presenting legal research in a concise format - for example, having an executive summary at the start of the document signposting the key findings for the reader.
- Technological skills - eg how to track changes on a document when proof-reading on word.
- Networking skills
- Expectations for presenting legal research in a concise format - for example, having an executive summary at the start of the document signposting the key findings for the reader.
- Technological skills - eg how to track changes on a document when proof-reading on word.
- Networking skills
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?
- Exceptionally warm
- Complete lack of hierarchy - felt like I could approach and speak to anyone in the firm (regardless of whether they were a trainee or a partner) and they would make time for me.
- More casual than I expected - eg "dress for your day" rule with trainees.
- Complete lack of hierarchy - felt like I could approach and speak to anyone in the firm (regardless of whether they were a trainee or a partner) and they would make time for me.
- More casual than I expected - eg "dress for your day" rule with trainees.
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?
5/5
Overall Experience
To what extent did you enjoy the insight?
Overall, I loved my vacation scheme.
Admittedly, there were times when I felt a little overwhelmed, or second guessed whether I was "good enough". However, my supervisors were always quick to reassure me and ensured that I felt really supported throughout the whole experience.
I felt very lucky to be able to gain a firsthand insight into the culture of the firm, and see for myself that it is the right fit for me.
Admittedly, there were times when I felt a little overwhelmed, or second guessed whether I was "good enough". However, my supervisors were always quick to reassure me and ensured that I felt really supported throughout the whole experience.
I felt very lucky to be able to gain a firsthand insight into the culture of the firm, and see for myself that it is the right fit for me.
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 Ashurst
5/5
Would you recommend Ashurst to a friend?
Yes
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Ashurst
- Speak to as many people as you can at the firm to gain a sense of the culture / reality of working there before you apply.
- Thoroughly research Ashurst Advance and the firm's Risk Advisory arm, as this is becoming a progressive focus for Ashurst and its future development, and is pinpointed in applications.
- Research Ashurst's key practice areas and the work they're currently doing. For example, Ashurst has particular strengths in Finance and Energy/Projects.
- Don't write anything in your application that you cannot talk about thoroughly, or are not actually interested in.
- Thoroughly research Ashurst Advance and the firm's Risk Advisory arm, as this is becoming a progressive focus for Ashurst and its future development, and is pinpointed in applications.
- Research Ashurst's key practice areas and the work they're currently doing. For example, Ashurst has particular strengths in Finance and Energy/Projects.
- Don't write anything in your application that you cannot talk about thoroughly, or are not actually interested in.
