Spring Vacation Scheme Intern (Discover Placement & Mentoring Programme) Review

My vacation scheme at Shoosmiths was a genuinely rewarding experience that gave me a real feel for life as a trainee. Each day combined hands-on work during my seats in the Competition and Real Estate teams – I was given substantive tasks from day one.
The tasks were interesting, and the feedback I got helped me improve as the week went on. Alongside the work I received from my supervisors, there were training sessions throughout, so the days were varied and productive. The thing I will remember the most is the people. Everyone was friendly and happy to help, whether I had a quick question or needed a task explained.
It is clear that a lot of thought went into organising the scheme – the Emerging Talent team did a fantastic job.

The scheme gave me a well-rounded understanding of Shoosmiths as a business, well beyond the teams I sat in.
The knowledge and training sessions on areas such as Corporate, Real Estate and Advisory were insightful and engaging, and they showed me how the firm's practices work together to serve clients.
Combined with my time in Competition and Real Estate, this gave me a clear picture of the breadth of work available to trainees and the different paths a career at Shoosmiths can take. It made me even more confident that Shoosmiths was the right firm for me, and I am delighted to be joining as a trainee.

Yes, Shoosmiths helped me to develop my legal research and time management skills.
First, legal research. The tasks from the Competition and Real Estate teams meant working through real client issues, and I got better at finding the relevant points quickly and explaining them clearly. The feedback I received helped a lot with my writing too, particularly on keeping things practical and focused on what the client actually needs.
Second, time management. With tasks from two teams and training sessions throughout, I had to prioritise and check deadlines early, which is something I know I will need as a trainee. Finally, I became more confident in asking questions. Everyone was so approachable that it felt natural to check my understanding rather than guess.

The culture was one of the main things that stood out to me. The atmosphere was professional and driven, but also warm and welcoming. Everyone I met was friendly and supportive. There was a real sense of collaboration across the firm, with people happy to share their knowledge and help each other out.
Partners and associates were approachable, and I never felt nervous about asking questions or putting forward my own ideas. It was clear that trainees are trusted with important responsibilities and encouraged to take ownership of their work, rather than being kept on the sidelines. Seeing that made me even more excited to start my training contract.

Thoroughly. One highlight was seeing how my work fed into live client matters. Knowing a piece of research would actually be used made the tasks feel meaningful and motivated me to do my best.
The social side was a great bonus too (e.g. team lunch). It was a good chance to speak with people across the firm. Overall, it was an experience I'd recommend to anyone considering a career at Shoosmiths.

Yes

Develop a strong understanding of Shoosmiths' 2030 strategy.