Summer Vacation Scheme Intern Review

Each intern on the scheme was allocated to a specific practice group, and mentored by an experienced supervisor. Each day would generally involve a cohort-wide talk about an aspect of the firm, followed by an afternoon at our desks, working alongside our supervisors to gain experience.

The scheme was very conducive to exploring a range of interests across the firm and to gain insight into the firm's business outlook (e.g. FUSE, managing partner talk). The trainee buddy system was an approachable way for interns to gain first hand insights into the firm’s culture, work for juniors, and different practice areas. A potential improvement might be to expand opportunities for interns to gain more direct exposure to multiple practice areas (e.g. rotations across 2 weeks) , so they can better compare different types of work and identify where their interests lie.

Firstly, I was able to develop a stronger sense of professionalism, especially in the way I communicate and conduct myself in a workplace environment. It was particularly beneficial to observe my supervisor’s approach, both in the way he communicated on calls and interacted with others in the workplace. The experience also reaffirmed the importance of managing other people’s expectations, for instance by keeping my supervisor updated on my whereabouts and availability. Finally, it improved my attention to detail in a legal context, especially in terms of reviewing contracts, connecting them to commercial issues, and understanding each party’s interests as reflected in the contractual clauses.

The company culture was welcoming and encouraging, which made it easy to settle in quickly and feel comfortable in the team. From the outset, I was introduced to everyone in the team, which helped create a sense of openness and made the experience feel inclusive. There was also a friendly and approachable atmosphere throughout the office, and it was clear that the firm placed importance on building connections across different teams and meeting as many people as possible.
This made the environment feel both professional and collaborative, while still remaining relaxed enough to encourage conversation and questions. As a result, it was easy to engage with others, learn more about the firm, and get a broader sense of its culture beyond just the team I was placed in.

I particularly enjoyed the insight, as it gave me the opportunity to meet people across different practice areas and at different levels of seniority, which made the experience feel both varied and substantive. I also found it valuable to be guided through standard documents in my practice area, as this helped me better understand not only the technical aspects of the work, but also how those documents sit within the wider commercial and legal context.
The experience was especially rewarding because it combined exposure to people, processes, and practical work in a way that felt both informative and engaging. That said, one aspect that could have enhanced the scheme would have been more regular feedback, for example at the midway point and again at the end. This would have provided a clearer sense of progress and offered a more structured opportunity to reflect on development throughout the scheme.

Yes

I would advise applicants to go in prepared to actively reach out to people and engage with a wide range of individuals across the firm, as this is an important part of making the most of the experience. It is also worth developing a strong understanding of the firm itself (e.g. its commitment to adapting technology to legal work and its strength in banking, so that your interest comes across as both genuine and informed). Throughout the scheme, it is important to make time for both your supervisor and your trainee buddy, as they can offer valuable insight and support.
For the assessment centre, I would also recommend being commercially aware and structured in your approach, as this will help you demonstrate both sound judgment and clear thinking under pressure.