BEST WORK PLACEMENT SCHEME – REGIONAL FIRM
some current trainees and be given a trainee ‘buddy’, who will look after them over their two weeks at the firm.” And the work they are given is as close to what a first-seat trainee would be doing as possible. “I strongly prefer to see people doing live work,” says Brian Marshall, a partner in the corporate team who has overseen trainee recruitment for the last 12 years. “What we do in our team, for example, is to start them with some analysis on a particular matter and then maybe end up with an email to clients with advice. Of course, feedback will be given along the way; but in most cases the emails are good to be sent.” Once again, Elle’s experience bears out the theory. “Each team seemed to do it slightly differently, but you very much feel like you are involved in the day-to-day running of the firm,” she recalls. “I distinctly remember that when I was in the projects and construction department, they were going to one of our university clients to do a presentation on student accommodation. Given that I was a student at the time, they asked me to put together about 10 minutes of that presentation and stand in front of the client and deliver it. For a young law student to have contact with the client, I think is pretty amazing. It shows they put trust in those they are thinking about recruiting.” The firm also tries to make sure that the vac schemers enjoy their spare time as much as possible. There are always a couple of social events organised by Fiona with the help of the trainees. These tend to fall at either end of the scheme, with
include the work placement students in all the other activities that are going on while they are there. “The trainees tend to organise sporting events throughout the couple of weeks,” says Elle. “There are netball and football teams, and then there’s the annual cricket match between the partners and the staff – the vacation scheme normally coincides with that.
a meal out early on (usually either the first or second night), so that everyone can get to know each other in a social setting. Then, towards the end (usually the final Thursday), there is an outing or event which might variously involve pizza making, comedy or even punting, for those in the Cambridge office. In addition, the current trainees
I think the vacation scheme is a great representation of what life is like on the training contract itself
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