Vacation Scheme Partipant Review

I would normally start the day by getting in touch with my supervisors. In addition, I would tend to any of the tasks I had been assigned. Tasks included legal research, drafting, proofreading and putting together presentations. A group task was assigned during the vacation scheme, so that also took some time. Lastly, I had calls with lawyers from departments I was interested in, with graduate recruitment and also with fellow vacation scheme participants.

I believe that it was quite easy. Throughout the placement, there were opportunities to hear from different sides of the firm. For example, on the first day we heard from the Graduate Recruitment Partner. I also had the opportunity of hearing from the Management Committee, the D&I partner, those in charge of CSR and people working in business development. In addition, given that Baker McKenzie is a full-service law firm, there were talks given by partners from each major department (with the opportunity to ask questions). These talks also featured trainees and associates, who were able to give a different perspective. I also had the opportunity and of reaching out to people from department I was interested in for further talks.

Yes, definitely. I was able to develop my prioritization skills while managing the various tasks that I had been given. I learned how to condense complex information and make it palatable to those without legal expertise. My teamwork skills improved during the group project, especially given that we had not previously worked together. Lastly, I learned how to set boundaries. Although I wanted to complete as many tasks as possible, when I did not have the capacity to do so I made it known. This was not taken badly by anyone, rather I was respected for having clear boundaries.

Very welcoming and warm. The vacation scheme was virtual but I really felt like I was a part of the firm. First of all, we were given laptops which allowed us to access the firm’s intranet. Second of all, there was a supervisor and buddy system. This ensured that I had a stable point of communication. Both my buddy and supervisor were more than willing to guide me and allocate work to me. Lastly, I was able to hear about the firms inclusive culture first-hand from the conversations I scheduled with employees and by attending a Steering Committee meeting of one of the firm’s many inclusion networks.

I enjoyed it a lot. I was able to improve my skills tremendously and was able to do so in a very nurturing and supportive environment. I enjoyed the nature of the work, it was diverse and challenging. The group project also allowed me to get closer to fellow participants and sharpen my team working skills. The social events very also a nice way to relax after a productive day of work. However, what stood out to me the most was the people. Eveyone I came across was friendly, kind and willing to help me improve my skills and progress my career.

Yes