Vacation schemes and other legal work experience placements vary from firm to firm. Many will involve being assigned to a junior lawyer or trainee and helping them out with basic jobs for their supervising partner or extended team. Work you might expect to be given will include legal research, basic letter writing, note taking at meetings, photocopying and bundling of documents.
How much of a firm you will get to experience will again vary from firm to firm. Some firms will move you around between departments whilst others will keep your experience to just one department. You can always try requesting to get experience in the departments you are most interested in but this is not always possible.
As well as working as part of a departmental team, you may also attend seminars put on by the firm which gives a greater insight into the firm and their training contract.
As part of the more established vacation schemes you will participate in organised social events such as softball, quiz nights or just a night in the pub. These are a great way to get to know your potential future work colleagues better but you must be aware that most of these events are seen as an extension of the firm’s assessment of you. Therefore, you must be mindful to act in a professional way and not let yourself down by taking too much advantage of the free bar. By all means have fun with those around you but be sure to conduct yourself in a mature and appropriate manner at all times.
