Summer Vacation Scheme Review

During the vacation scheme, you are placed in a practice area and work closely with a supervisor who assigns tasks similar to those a trainee solicitor would undertake. The nature of the tasks varies depending on the team’s workload, offering a realistic insight into day-to-day work. In each seat, you complete one assessed task to demonstrate your understanding and skills.
Alongside the seat work, you attend information and training sessions designed to deepen your knowledge of the firm and legal practice. You also participate in a group project, which involves regular meetings and culminates in a pitch, developing practical skills such as collaboration, presentation, and client interaction.
The scheme takes place in a very friendly and supportive environment. People are genuinely keen to help and take the time to get to know you. It’s easy to approach anyone for a chat, whether to ask questions or learn more about their work and practice area, which makes the experience both insightful and enjoyable.

It was very helpful to gain insight into the business and potential roles through both structured and informal opportunities. The practice area fair was especially useful, it gave us the chance to speak to people from a range of teams and hear first-hand about the type of work they do. More broadly, the culture of the firm made it easy to approach anyone from a team you're interested in, whether for a quick chat or a deeper conversation about their work. This openness really helped me understand the variety of roles available and where I could see myself fitting in.

Yes, I developed a range of new skills and built on existing ones throughout the scheme. I learnt how to conduct a company search, draft transactional documents, and approach legal research tasks effectively. Through the group project, I strengthened my teamwork and communication skills. I also improved my attention to detail, legal analysis, and legal drafting, particularly when preparing research notes.

The culture at the firm was warm, inclusive, and people-oriented, while also being intellectually rigorous. The lawyers I met were incredibly smart and capable, yet always approachable and open to sharing their experiences. There was a clear emphasis on collaboration, and it was easy to see how the culture supports both personal and professional development. The firm also felt very diverse, with a strong commitment to inclusion and creating opportunities for everyone to thrive. It’s the kind of environment where you’re constantly learning and growing, with lots of support and room for career progression.

I really enjoyed the insight; it was engaging, well-structured, and gave a realistic view of life at the firm. The variety of work, friendly culture, and opportunity to explore both contentious and transactional practice areas made the experience particularly valuable. I appreciated how much effort went into making us feel welcome and supported, and how keen people were to involve us in meaningful tasks. The scheme struck a great balance between learning, networking, and practical experience, and left me genuinely excited about the prospect of training at the firm.

Yes