Vac Schemer Review
at CMS
Insight / Vacation Scheme (< 4 Weeks)
Commercial Law
London
Review Submitted: July 2022
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
-
Overview of Experience
5/5
-
Skills Development
5/5
-
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.
The online week featured networking sessions, simulation challenges and talks from partners and trainees at the firm. We also had a chance to have a meeting with one of the firm's clients and present our ideas on firm partnerships and innovation based on research tasks given prior to placement. The two week internship will see us placed in a practise area and have a trainee mentor, alongside arranged networking and socials.
What was it like understanding all about the business and potential roles available?
The vac scheme was focused specifically on the trainee solicitor role as this programme is designed as a pathway and insight scheme. However. there was wide regard for the different types of departments you could qualify with and a lot of advice on how to go about picking your 4 practise areas during a training contract to ensure you make the most of that experience.
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?
Teamwork is a big skill pushed as the majority of tasks and simulation challenges feature group work in small teams. We were pushed to react quickly to sudden challenges and really focus on reflecting how we performed once the task was over. We were also give two opportunities to present, one formally and one more relaxed, after an in depth presentation workshop where we focused on structure and presentation style.
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?
Overwhelming friendly. There was never a stupid question and whatever problem you had there was something willing to help. The culture across the firm was extremely friendly, even at partner or associate level.
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?
Hugely. There was a great mix between informative talks to educate us on the business workings of a city firm and what to look for in a training contract, between challenging tasks that encouraged us to develop our skills and gave us a chance to show our knowledge and enthusiasm for the firm.
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 CMS
5/5
Would you recommend CMS to a friend?
Yes
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to CMS
Try to understand the unique appeal of the firm's culture and the firms upcoming strategy to be the leading relationship law firm using the website and online resources. This will be the basis of application questions and will be really helpful for interviews. In the group assessment too be sure to not interrupt and really focus on listening to others and engaging the quieter members of the group.
