Summer Vacation Scheme Review

A typical day at Cooley was varied, engaging, and well balanced. The mornings often began with breakfast, with coffee available throughout the day, creating a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere. Many days also included insightful sessions with partners or members of the covering several important topics.
After these sessions, we would usually arrive at our desks around 10:30am and begin working on tasks assigned by our supervisors. The work was meaningful, and there were plenty of opportunities to meet with supervisors, arrange coffee chats with trainee buddies and lawyers across different practice areas, and gain a broader understanding of the firm.
Lunch was a great opportunity to continue networking before returning to complete work, attend meetings, or speak with more people across the firm. One of the things I appreciated most was the level of trust and autonomy we were given. Rather than being closely micromanaged, we were encouraged to manage our own workload and make the most of the opportunities available, which made the experience feel authentic and empowering.
Most evenings also included social events, whether that was the firm’s summer party, dinner at a restaurant, or informal networking events. These provided a fantastic opportunity to build relationships with trainees, associates, partners, and fellow students in a relaxed setting.
My biggest piece of advice would be to manage your time effectively. There are so many opportunities to experience during the programme, from completing work to attending talks, networking, and social events, that the week goes by incredibly quickly. Planning your schedule and being proactive ensures you get the very most out of the experience.

Yes!!!

Absolutely. The programme helped me develop both my legal and professional skills. I strengthened my ability to manage multiple priorities and work efficiently under tight timeframes, particularly when balancing work tasks, networking opportunities, and firm events.
I also became much more confident communicating with people at all levels of the firm. Through coffee chats, meetings with partners, trainees, and associates, I improved my networking skills and learned how to build professional relationships more naturally.
In addition, I developed a better understanding of commercial law in practice and improved my ability to approach legal tasks independently. Being trusted to manage my own workload helped build my confidence, initiative, and organisational skills.
Overall, the experience made me a more confident, organised, and commercially aware aspiring lawyer, and gave me skills that I will carry forward throughout my legal career.

The level of support I received throughout the placement was exceptional. From the moment I arrived, everyone was incredibly welcoming, approachable, and genuinely invested in my development. My supervisor was always available to provide guidance, answer questions, and offer constructive feedback, while also trusting me to work independently.
Beyond my immediate team, trainees, associates, partners, and the Graduate Recruitment team all made time to speak with me, offer advice, and share their experiences. I never felt hesitant to ask questions, as everyone was happy to help and encourage my learning.
The balance between support and autonomy was one of the highlights of the programme. I felt trusted to take ownership of my work while knowing that guidance was always available whenever I needed it. Overall, I couldn’t have asked for a more supportive environment, and it made the experience both enjoyable and incredibly rewarding.

The company culture was one of the standout aspects of my experience. Everyone was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and approachable, regardless of their role or seniority. From trainees to partners, people were genuinely interested in getting to know us and were always willing to answer questions, offer advice, or simply have a conversation.
The atmosphere was collaborative, inclusive, and supportive. There was a strong emphasis on teamwork and personal development, and I always felt valued rather than just being there to observe. Despite the firm carrying out high-quality, complex work, the environment never felt intimidating. Instead, it struck a great balance between professionalism and approachability.
Overall, Cooley fostered a culture where people trusted one another, supported each other’s development, and encouraged curiosity. It created an environment in which I felt comfortable asking questions, taking on new challenges, and making the most of every opportunity.

I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of my placement at Cooley. It was an incredibly rewarding experience, both professionally and personally. One of the highlights was meeting such a wide range of like-minded people across the firm, from trainees and associates to partners and fellow students. Everyone was approachable, supportive, and genuinely interested in helping us develop.
The combination of meaningful work, insightful learning sessions, networking opportunities, and social events made every day engaging and enjoyable. I particularly appreciated the firm’s culture of trust and collaboration, which allowed me to make the most of the experience while feeling like a valued member of the team.
Overall, it was one of the most enjoyable and impactful experiences of my career so far, and I would recommend it without hesitation to anyone considering applying.

Yes