Sienna Henry-Fisher attended a one-week vacation scheme at Walker Morris in April 2019. She is studying law at the University of Leeds.
No of scheme places 48 Location of schemes Leeds Length of schemes 1 week Remuneration (per week) £175 Dates of schemes Insider report Walker Morris LLP
What did you do while on the vacation scheme? I joined the commercial dispute resolution team for the full week. I shared an office with a trainee and a senior solicitor who is now a director of the firm, which gave me a great insight into the role of an experienced lawyer, as well as what life at the firm is like. My tasks were all to do with live matters and included drafting client letters, researching into legal problems and reading through bundles for some of the cases being worked on. The focus was on gathering my own information and tasks from various people in the department. I also got the chance to go to court, which enabled me to see what a trainee might do outside of the office as well. On the social side, there was a pre-organised event halfway through the week, as well as informal after- work meet-ups. What did you feel that you gained from the placement? Spending a full week with the firm gave me a clear sense of the work and the people – a vacation scheme is so much more than an insight evening. As a second-year student, the chance to experience real work in a law firm was extremely valuable. Which were the most enjoyable – and most challenging – aspects of the scheme? Although it was daunting at first, particularly as a second year among GDL and LPC students, the whole week was very enjoyable, busy and positive – even the assessments. The highlight probably has to be going to court and gaining a great insight into litigation, though. There was an element of pressure because we were handling real client work, but I’m so thankful for it because the experience made me more confident and gave me exposure to completely new things. Did the scheme end with a training contract interview or some other kind of further recruitment process? There was an informal 15-minute chat with a partner and a member of HR about how the week had been – it was genuinely relaxed. Is there one key thing that you took away from the experience that you would pass on as advice to others? People at the firm just want to see that you are interested and eager. You are not expected to be a legal expert and there are people on the scheme with no legal background at all, so my advice is simply to never be without work. Always volunteer and once you have finished a task, ask for another one.
April 2020 June 2020 Closing date for applications 31 December 2019
Application procedure Online application form
For full contact information and details of Training Contract, see the firm’s full entry in the main directory on p440
Remember to cite The LawCareers.Net Handbook on your application form if you apply to this law firm.
103 WORK EXPERIENCE
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online