VACATION SCHEMES: HOW TO IMPRESS
Caroline Walsh, former head of legal trainee recruitment and development at Clyde & Co, knows better than most how to maximise your chances on a vacation scheme, having run dozens over the years in her role as graduate recruiter extraordinaire. She offers her 10 top tips – advice you would be foolish to ignore! When it comes to exploring a legal career, there is no better way than to spend some time in a law firm. However, competition for vacation schemes is fierce. As firms increasingly use them as a recruitment vehicle, they have become more structured, with the training contract recruitment process often forming part of the scheme and firms becoming choosier over who to invite. If you are lucky enough to secure a place, make sure you get the most out of it. Rather than approaching your vacation scheme as simply some work experience, you should use it as a real opportunity to explore not only the career, but also the firm. When reading the recruitment brochures, it may appear that all firms are similar. This is not the case – even firms of the same size in the same location can be wildly different. The focus of, and culture within, each firm will vary considerably; and you need to find the right one for you. You will know almost immediately if you feel comfortable. Think back to when you attended university open days: I am sure that some universities were more appealing than others. The scheme is very much a two-way process – you are looking at the firm just as much as it is looking at you. Read on for my top 10 tips for getting the most out of a vacation scheme. 1. Don’t worry Don’t forget that you have fought off some tough competition to get your
place, so you should feel confident that you have the necessary intellect and ability. But be sure to remember what you wrote about in your application form, as the recruiters/partners who will interview you are likely to ask you questions about it. 2. Look the part Many firms operate dress-down policies, but they can vary considerably from firm to firm and it is worth checking with a firm about its dress code. If in doubt, wear a suit. Remember that you want to be noticed for your ability, not the way you are dressed. Also, you do not want to miss out on a trip to court or an important client meeting just because you look too casual. First impressions count for a lot and making the right one is vital. 3. Have the right attitude As already mentioned, it is taken as given that you have the intellectual ability to do the job. You have time during the scheme to create a good impression and the best way to do that is by having the right attitude. Friendly, enthusiastic, keen and willing A great way to impress on a vacation scheme is to get involved in the firm’s extracurricular activities – be it playing for a sports team, helping out with pro bono or throwing yourself into a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative. One vac schemer who completed a placement at a top commercial firm recalls: “All summer students were briefed on the firm’s CSR schemes and ideology, and were encouraged to attend and contribute to the summer party of a local primary school, whose students attend weekly reading sessions at the offices. I was proud to enact a courtroom scene for the children while dressed as Buzz Lightyear!” Case studies
students are a joy, and these attributes will not only help you to get good work experience, but also help to ensure that the people you are working with will champion your application for a training contract. 4. Ask questions A vacation scheme may be your first (or only) chance to see first-hand what you are potentially signing up to as a future career, so seize the opportunity and find out as much as you can about the firm. Working with an array of lawyers, from trainees to partners, offers a golden opportunity to quiz these people about their lives: why they chose this career, what keeps them at the firm, how they chose their practice area when qualifying and so on. Remember, most vacation scheme supervisors are happy to share their rooms and are expecting to be grilled! 5. Social situations These aren’t just an opportunity for you to let your hair down, especially with regard to the consumption of alcohol. In fact, this is exactly what you shouldn’t do. Your conduct at these But of course, your main focus should be seeing whether you can thrive in the firm’s working environment, get on with your colleagues and meet the challenges that you face. Another student who completed a vacation scheme at an international firm says: “We had time- pressured written assignments and client pitches to prepare – and on top of that, we had various tasks handed to us by the teams we were sitting with. I liked that the vacation scheme was challenging and that I rarely left the office at 5:30pm; it helped me to experience the realities of working as a commercial trainee solicitor. It also helped me to confirm that this is a career path I want to set myself with the task of achieving.”
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