First Year Insight Day Attendee Review

The insight day began with a warm introduction with the early careers team, who set the agenda for the day and welcomed my cohort to Ashurst. They then provided a thorough introduction to the firm, featuring Ashurst's global reach, practice divisions (such as Corporate, Real Estate and Projects & Energy Transition), the firm's values, an introduction to Ashurst Advanced and Ashurst Risk Advisory, and an overview of the merger.
We had a Q&A session with current trainees who gave an insight into their journey to law, typical trainee tasks in their practice areas, as well as secondment opportunities and trainee social events. Another key session was the Projects & Energy Transition Practice Insight. This provided a brilliant insight into the practice, featuring
My personal highlight was the commercial awareness workshop. I was tasked with reading and analysing Financial Times articles on the impact of fluctuating oil prices on consumer demand in the fossil-fuelled and electric vehicle markets, and to consider the role that different teams across Ashurst would play in the deal. I found this very enjoyable and beneficial for future vacation scheme applications.
We also had time to network with trainees, take a tour around the office, and enjoy the brilliant food Ashurst had provided!

It was fantastic to learn about Ashurst's business model and potential roles through targeted insight sessions into Ashurst Advanced and Ashurst Risk Advisory. The Early Careers Team also did a brilliant job of highlighting the route to qualification with the firm, and the vacation scheme and training contract opportunities available!

I built upon skills in personalisation and networking through targeted networking sessions with trainee solicitors at the firm, as well as through the office tour. I also developed skills in critical analysis and presentation during the commercial awareness workshop. This was done through my analysis and presentation of commercial considerations in a Financial Times Article.

The culture was warm, friendly and engaging. The trainees, associates and partners all seemed to have positive relationships with one another, and every person I met and spoke to across the firm was engaging and willing to help and advise me! It was fantastic to see a diverse range of people in firm of different ethnicities, sexualities, and gender.

I enjoyed the insight day to a very strong extent. I cannot fault a single part of it, other than that I would have liked it to have been two or more days rather than one because I enjoyed it so much!

Yes

My number one tip would be to personalise your application to both yourself and the firm. Explain clearly why you want to attend an insight day at Ashurst, and link that back to your own personal experiences and feelings about the firm. Do not be afraid to be direct in your application.