Spring Vacation Scheme Student Review

The scheme was structured around a mix of graduate recruitment sessions, desk work, assessments and self-directed networking. Each day typically included one or two sessions organised by the recruitment team, covering introductions to different practice groups such as disputes, competition, and corporate, as well as firm initiatives like pro bono.
The bulk of my time was spent at my desk, sitting next to my supervisor and working on tasks for members of the asset finance team - where I was sat for the two weeks. This included legal research, drafting, and proofreading. Alongside the day-to-day work, I met regularly with my group of fellow vacation scheme students to prepare for our group presentation, which was one of the formal assessments on the scheme. I also made a point of reaching out to people across the firm outside my immediate team to learn more about the range of work Gibson Dunn does.

The graduate recruitment sessions gave me a broad sense of the firm's practice areas and the variety of work available across teams. Speaking with my trainee buddy and other trainees was particularly valuable for understanding what the trainee role actually looks like day-to-day, both within specific teams and at the firm more generally. Conversations with people at more senior levels then helped me see the longer arc of a career in law and at Gibson Dunn specifically. Taken together, those interactions gave me a clear picture of where I want to be and confirmed that law is the right path for me.

The scheme sharpened a number of skills I had coming in, though often in a new context. Working on legal documents reinforced the importance of attention to detail in a way that felt higher stakes than academic work. Managing my time across desk work, graduate recruitment sessions, and group presentation prep also pushed me to be more deliberate about prioritisation.
On communication, I became more conscious of clarity in two directions: keeping written work concise and precise, and being clear with my supervisor about deadlines and capacity. Teamwork was also something the scheme developed, and while not an entirely new skill, working on the group presentation was my first time applying it in a corporate context, which brought its own dynamic in terms of dividing work and aligning on a shared output under time pressure.

People at every level were genuinely interested in getting to know the vacation schemers, which made the environment feel welcoming rather than intimidating. My supervisor was particularly helpful, taking time to explain concepts and context rather than just assigning work, which made a real difference to how much I got out of the experience. The trainees were also a good reflection of the culture more broadly - they were open and generous with their time and clearly wanted us to do well. It felt like a firm where people are invested in each other's development, not just their own work.

I enjoyed it enormously. The work was engaging, the sessions were genuinely informative, and everyone I interacted with was warm and approachable. More than anything, the scheme reinforced what I was hoping to confirm: that I want to train at Gibson Dunn and pursue a career as a solicitor. Leaving with that clarity made it a really valuable experience.

Yes

Apply early as they consider applications on a rolling basis.
Do your research. Gibson Dunn has distinct strengths, works on interesting deals and a clear strategy in London, so showing you understand that will make your application come across as genuine.
Most importantly, be yourself. One of the things that struck me on the scheme was how much variety there was in the people who had been selected. The firm does not hire a particular type, and the people I met came with very different backgrounds and stories. Trying to fit a mould that does not exist will work against you. What comes across best is someone who knows who they are and can articulate why Gibson Dunn is the right fit for them specifically.