MILLS & REEVE LLP
The trainees always try to make an effort to get to know the vacation scheme students and take them for post-work drinks in more informal settings and find out a little bit more about them
The trainees always try to make an effort to get to know the vacation scheme students and take them for post-work drinks in more informal settings and find out a little bit more about them.” As one might expect, competition is pretty hot for places on Mills & Reeve’s work placement – last year there were over 650 applicants for just 36 places. The first step is to fill out the online application form. Fiona personally reviews all applications and the shortlisted candidates are then invited to take part in an online Watson Glaser critical thinking test. Those who make the benchmark score are vetted further by a training partner to decide who will be invited to take part in one of the two assessment days that take place in each of the offices in which the firm runs a work placement (currently Cambridge, Birmingham, Norwich and Manchester). On the assessment days, applicants are given a tour of the office, have an informal chat with current trainees and associates, perform a group exercise and undergo an interview. “The group session makes sure that candidates are good at participating in a team environment – neither hogging the show nor being a shrinking violet,” explains Brian. “Then the one-to-one interview with a partner allows us to find out a little more about the individual’s personality and motivations. Obviously, on top of that we are looking for someone who is fairly cheerful and enthusiastic about the chance they are being given.” The Holy Grail at the end of the vacation scheme is, of course, the
offer of a training contract. Around 24 people attend the assessment days at each office, competing for a final eight to 10 places on a vacation scheme (although currently this figure is six in Manchester). On average, the Cambridge office usually has around eight training contract places a year, Birmingham and Norwich both have five and Manchester three (with trainees encouraged to do at least one seat in the Leeds office). It’s also important to remember that not all of those places are filled with vacation scheme candidates, so those on the work placement need to impress to stand a chance of that elusive offer. “Essentially, on the vacation scheme we are looking for future Mills & Reeve trainees,” states Fiona. “That presents in attitude, willingness to learn, willingness to grab the opportunity with both hands and find out as much about the firm as they possibly can. Professional demeanour is also important, which can be tricky sometimes – knowing when to interrupt people and when not to, while getting across enthusiasm, can be a fine line. We are looking for them to do the best work that they can. They are not handing it in to be marked, but they are hopefully producing a final product they are proud of and that can be sent out to a client or used in a meeting.” Elle agrees that teamwork is a hallmark of the Mills & Reeve ethos and suggests that training at the firm is just as enjoyable as the vacation scheme: “I’m absolutely loving life as a trainee. You do need to be willing to work hard, but you should also get involved in the extracurricular
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