All you need to know about Vacation Schemes

Vacation schemes are a key part of the recruitment cycle for the majority of corporate law firms, and require students to work for the firm for a short period of time, after which they may be offered a training contract. Not only are vacation schemes necessary for students to secure full-time employment, but they are also a great tool for students to decide whether a firm is the right fit for them: there is no better way to get a feel for the culture of a firm than working in their offices.

Most vacation schemes last one or two weeks, and paid placements that are designed to give students a hands-on experience of what it is like to be a trainee at the firm. Students will usually be placed into a seat - just like real trainees at the firm - where they will sit for the duration of the scheme. This means that students will often get very different experiences for their vacation schemes: a vac schemer sitting in the corporate team will have very different work that they will be undertaking than those sitting in entertainment and media, or pro bono for example. Regardless of whether the seat you are in is your preference, it is important to try to get as much as possible out of your vacation scheme. Below are some top tips on how to succeed while on placement, and what to expect during your time at the firm.

Vacation scheme applications

Before diving into the vacation scheme itself, it is important to consider the application process. With many top law firms using vacation schemes as part of their graduate recruitment cycle, the selection process is rigorous. Thousands of applications are submitted each year to city firms, but only a small percentage of applicants are successful. Demand for spots is very high, so it is important to make sure your application stands out. Our next blog post will focus on the application process in more detail, but in short, most firms will have an online application form, followed by some form of interview process (often a one-way video interview), before students are offered a place at an Assessment Centre. If you are successful at your Assessment Day, you will then be offered a place on the firm’s vacation scheme.

It is important to collate all of the information that you gain about the firm throughout your application cycle to use in your vacation scheme. For example, if you attended the Open Day and got lots of information on the culture at the firm, or you researched recent noteworthy cases the firm has been involved in for your application, be sure to make a note of these so that you can review them before attending your vacation scheme: the more knowledge you have on the firm, the more you will be able to impress during your time on placement.

Do plenty of research on the firm

This ties into the tip above well, but it is crucial to not only research the background on the firm, but also the specific department you will be working in. For example, if your seat is in Real Estate, it is useful to have a bit of background information on the current state of the real estate market so that you are able to ask relevant questions and understand the nature of the business before starting. It is also worth looking on the firm’s website and researching your supervisor and members of the team before joining, as well as looking at any recent cases the team has worked on, to show you have a knowledge of the department.

Remember: You are always being assessed

The exact process for vacation schemes will differ from firm to firm, but the majority of the top firms will be assessing you throughout your time on the scheme in a variety of ways. There will often be informal networking sessions where you will have the opportunity to meet other trainees and ask questions, there are often tasks or case studies to undertake while on the scheme which will be marked, and the work that you complete in your seat while on vacation scheme will also be reviewed by your supervisor who will report back to graduate recruitment on how you’ve got on. While this can feel very daunting for students with little or no work experience, it is important to try to get the most out of your vacation scheme. Always ask questions, be engaged and positive, and show that you can work hard and want to succeed.

Look the part and be punctual

Part of being assessed also comes down to how you show up to work each day. It is important to follow the firm’s guidance on dress code for the office: if everyone else is turning up to work in a suit and tie, make sure that you are not turning up in trainers. Ensure that you leave plenty of time to travel to the office each morning so that you are not running late. Before starting your vacation scheme, the firm will give you guidance on what to wear and where the office is located, so you can plan ahead on suitable outfits for your placement and the best route to get you to the office in the mornings.

Ask questions & be engaged

Asking questions is not only a great way to ensure that you are retaining information, but it also shows your supervisor that you are engaged with the work you are doing and are keen to learn. Be sure to also ask questions before starting a piece of work if the task is unclear: this will avoid you having to repeat work later down the line. This also applies when attending a networking session or a Q&A panel talk: try to think of a few questions in advance of these sessions that you will be able to ask that will help you to understand the firm or the particular topic being

discussed better. Make sure you engage in all activities including panel talks and networking sessions. It is easy to sit back, listen, and not participate, but this doesn’t show the graduate recruitment team that you want to be there, so ensure that you are getting involved in all tasks that you are given.

Remember: Everyone wants you to succeed

Vacation schemes can feel very daunting for students as many feel under pressure due to the continuous nature of being assessed throughout the entire two week placement. However, it is important to try not to stress, and remember that everyone wants you to succeed. These schemes are designed for graduates with little to no work experience, so you are not behind, and while the workload may be quite intense, everyone wants you to do well! Places on vacation schemes are limited, so you wouldn’t have been given a place if graduate recruitment didn’t think that you were a good fit for the firm. Try to remember this, as it will help you to relax and enjoy the process.

It’s a two way street

While the firm will be assessing you during your vacation scheme, it is important for students to remember that this is also a time to assess the firm. Each firm has different values, culture and teams, so use this time to work out whether you enjoy working at the firm, and whether it feels like the right fit for you. Be sure to get involved in any optional evening socials or activities during your time on the vacation scheme so that you are able to immerse yourself in the culture of the firm. If you decide the firm isn’t the right fit for you at the end of the scheme this is OK! It’s better to discover this now than one year into a training contract. So make sure that you reflect on how you feel at the firm over the course of your vacation scheme.

Enjoy the process

Finally, be sure to enjoy your placement! It’s a great achievement to secure a place on a vacation scheme, and once the nerves are out of the way, it’s a fantastic experience and a great way to gain practical, hands-on work experience. Try to enjoy every day that you are on placement: if you are happy to be there, this will show, and will greatly improve your chances of securing a full-time role at the end of the scheme. Just remember to engage with all activities, do your research, ask plenty of questions, and enjoy the process from start to finish.