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<blockquote data-quote="Legalstalker" data-source="post: 177120" data-attributes="member: 31343"><p><u>My VS experience </u></p><p></p><p>Vac scheme completed and I'm absolutely shattered!! I really don't understand how people do these things back to back with other schemes let alone doing 2 week ones. Although my one was very jam packed having been 1 week so super understandable. </p><p></p><p>I will say i had a great experience, the others on the scheme were great and made the week super enjoyable. I do believe the people you're with make or break it. I did go in with no expectations as i had never done a vs before and i believe this was the best way to approach it. Albeit i would've helped if i prepped a bit more but it was soo doable if you hadn't prepped as they teach you everything. no need to do any legal prep in the slightest as they teach you researching, IT etc. It really is made for a level playing field if you're non-law and as a law grad i think it was great to see that. </p><p></p><p>The basic financial terms are defo needed knowing warranties, indemnities etc are a must as when you are assessed through group or written assessments it would look good if you knew the basics of what investors look for in businesses and how they would tackle these issues. </p><p></p><p>I would also recommend knowing the firms key sectors and a little information on these area as your assessments/interview could be based on the firms key sectors. But this could be very firm specific but i doesn't hurt to learn and know a little more about the place you'll be attending.</p><p></p><p>I found my supervisor to be AMAZING!!! He was genuinely the best and broke everything down for me as if i wasfresh to earth lmao. Even with a legal background they don't expect you to know everything and they really want you to learn. Do not approach the scheme as if you know everything as it would be pointless in you being there if they can sense you want to show you know everything.</p><p></p><p>I personally booked coffee chats before and during my scheme as there were people i really wanted to met and didn't want their schedule to get busy. DO NOT just focus on getting chats with partners. I met a range of people, trainee, associate, counsel and partners. All were helpful but the trainees give you a true insight to the firm so don't think they are below you as they are really not and you will probably find out the most information from them. I will say only trainees and associates took me out for coffee partners did not but that is very subjective as i know others who had partners take them out. I also think this is down to their workload and not wanting to leave when they have a lot on.</p><p></p><p>Try to book meetings before friday! especially if you are on a one week scheme. A lot of firms are hybrid so many are not in on a friday. Luckily for us most came in as we were there but every firm is different so try to book them before friday as things can change and they may want to stay home lol. I would also say don't leave your networking until the last day. I did see a few on my scheme who decided to not meet anyone mid week and leave it all until friday where they were hit with people working from home or super busy. having 10 vac schemers wanting to meet you on their last day also looks like they weren't a priority and you just met them because you had time? This is just my opinion though and they may not think like that. Some may argue to leave networking to the last day and focus on the work you are given mid week! do what suits you best but i did my networking through the week and on the friday and was super free and just used that time to proof read any work i had, going to other departments and shadowing trainees or assisting my supervisor on his work. </p><p></p><p>I also would not pay attention to where the other vac schemers are in their journey. on my one there were 2nd year students to paralegals different age ranges and personalities. I didn't feel like a 2nd year would get it over me as i was a graduate as that's not what all firms look at. I really did believe there was a level playing field and they don't just take you on as you're young and easy to mould... well that's the impression i got from the firm i went to. A lot of the trainees joined the firm as grads or last year non law students. It was super diverse and we heard lots of different journeys even career changers. </p><p></p><p></p><p>Myself and the other vac schemers had a whatsapp group chat prior to starting which i think was helpful to get to know each other but also on the scheme we'd message and ask who wanted to go to lunch with each other and would meet up. i think this was great for us as it allowed us to get to know people we hadn't interacted with through workshops or prior. I would most definitely class some of these guys as my friends as they were just soo nice and it was great to hear what everyone was up to aside from applications and see what firms they will be attending in the summer for other schemes. This also helped when we were at socials we were able to meet up etc.</p><p></p><p>All 20 of us went to both socials that were arranged for us this was optional but everyone knows you must go to them haha and realistically i loved the socials they were great and no one left early. we all stayed and some stayed even later to speak to trainees and others at the firm. Also made for good conversation the next day. You are never pressured to drink and they always had soft drink options. I opted for both and i never felt awkward not having alcohol. There were vegan, halal, gulten free and veggie options for all food we were given so very inclusive they did this without asking us but if you did have dietary reqs you could ask.</p><p></p><p>I had reasonable adjustments for my written assessment and the firm was soo happy to accommodate. I didn't have to declare before the scheme either. they really made sure i had everything i needed and more. Normally i feel weird asking fo rextra time but grad rec made me feel super comfortable no questions asked. I also felt like this wouldn't be put against me or my application. It was just amazing to see this much support. I wasn't the only person who needed adjustments.</p><p></p><p>All workshop/sessions we had were insightful and a lot of us were definitely between practice areas once hearing the teams talk. teams i wouldn't even consider joining for a seat made me want to join them and i know a lot of others felt the same. The grad rec team did a great job organising and everything was on track. </p><p></p><p>We all got to selected our 3 top practices we want to sit in for the week some got their first and others their 2nd i don't think anyone got their 3rd but most got their first and that is great i got my 2nd and was chuffed. Everyone was soooo welcoming it's like i already knew them. Everyone morning i wen ti n a littl earlier to greet everyone in my team and i spoke to every single person too. i felt that it was important ot understand why people do what they do and why they enjoy it . I was given some great tips. SPEAK TO EVERYONE not just the lawyers. analysts, secretaries the lot speak to them all they will help you when needed and they are a part of the firm too. I had help from out teams researcher and she gave some great tips for practical law and lexis nexus i wish i knew whilst at university haha.</p><p></p><p>I'm not sure what else to include but happy to answer questions if anyone has any. Overall i had a great time but it was really draining on the body lol but i didn't really feel it that much in the week i can feel it now today that i am back at work. I loved it and i think many others did too. now to keep my fingers crossed. (pls do bare with my grammar and spelling i am writing this at work very fast)</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Legalstalker, post: 177120, member: 31343"] [U]My VS experience [/U] Vac scheme completed and I'm absolutely shattered!! I really don't understand how people do these things back to back with other schemes let alone doing 2 week ones. Although my one was very jam packed having been 1 week so super understandable. I will say i had a great experience, the others on the scheme were great and made the week super enjoyable. I do believe the people you're with make or break it. I did go in with no expectations as i had never done a vs before and i believe this was the best way to approach it. Albeit i would've helped if i prepped a bit more but it was soo doable if you hadn't prepped as they teach you everything. no need to do any legal prep in the slightest as they teach you researching, IT etc. It really is made for a level playing field if you're non-law and as a law grad i think it was great to see that. The basic financial terms are defo needed knowing warranties, indemnities etc are a must as when you are assessed through group or written assessments it would look good if you knew the basics of what investors look for in businesses and how they would tackle these issues. I would also recommend knowing the firms key sectors and a little information on these area as your assessments/interview could be based on the firms key sectors. But this could be very firm specific but i doesn't hurt to learn and know a little more about the place you'll be attending. I found my supervisor to be AMAZING!!! He was genuinely the best and broke everything down for me as if i wasfresh to earth lmao. Even with a legal background they don't expect you to know everything and they really want you to learn. Do not approach the scheme as if you know everything as it would be pointless in you being there if they can sense you want to show you know everything. I personally booked coffee chats before and during my scheme as there were people i really wanted to met and didn't want their schedule to get busy. DO NOT just focus on getting chats with partners. I met a range of people, trainee, associate, counsel and partners. All were helpful but the trainees give you a true insight to the firm so don't think they are below you as they are really not and you will probably find out the most information from them. I will say only trainees and associates took me out for coffee partners did not but that is very subjective as i know others who had partners take them out. I also think this is down to their workload and not wanting to leave when they have a lot on. Try to book meetings before friday! especially if you are on a one week scheme. A lot of firms are hybrid so many are not in on a friday. Luckily for us most came in as we were there but every firm is different so try to book them before friday as things can change and they may want to stay home lol. I would also say don't leave your networking until the last day. I did see a few on my scheme who decided to not meet anyone mid week and leave it all until friday where they were hit with people working from home or super busy. having 10 vac schemers wanting to meet you on their last day also looks like they weren't a priority and you just met them because you had time? This is just my opinion though and they may not think like that. Some may argue to leave networking to the last day and focus on the work you are given mid week! do what suits you best but i did my networking through the week and on the friday and was super free and just used that time to proof read any work i had, going to other departments and shadowing trainees or assisting my supervisor on his work. I also would not pay attention to where the other vac schemers are in their journey. on my one there were 2nd year students to paralegals different age ranges and personalities. I didn't feel like a 2nd year would get it over me as i was a graduate as that's not what all firms look at. I really did believe there was a level playing field and they don't just take you on as you're young and easy to mould... well that's the impression i got from the firm i went to. A lot of the trainees joined the firm as grads or last year non law students. It was super diverse and we heard lots of different journeys even career changers. Myself and the other vac schemers had a whatsapp group chat prior to starting which i think was helpful to get to know each other but also on the scheme we'd message and ask who wanted to go to lunch with each other and would meet up. i think this was great for us as it allowed us to get to know people we hadn't interacted with through workshops or prior. I would most definitely class some of these guys as my friends as they were just soo nice and it was great to hear what everyone was up to aside from applications and see what firms they will be attending in the summer for other schemes. This also helped when we were at socials we were able to meet up etc. All 20 of us went to both socials that were arranged for us this was optional but everyone knows you must go to them haha and realistically i loved the socials they were great and no one left early. we all stayed and some stayed even later to speak to trainees and others at the firm. Also made for good conversation the next day. You are never pressured to drink and they always had soft drink options. I opted for both and i never felt awkward not having alcohol. There were vegan, halal, gulten free and veggie options for all food we were given so very inclusive they did this without asking us but if you did have dietary reqs you could ask. I had reasonable adjustments for my written assessment and the firm was soo happy to accommodate. I didn't have to declare before the scheme either. they really made sure i had everything i needed and more. Normally i feel weird asking fo rextra time but grad rec made me feel super comfortable no questions asked. I also felt like this wouldn't be put against me or my application. It was just amazing to see this much support. I wasn't the only person who needed adjustments. All workshop/sessions we had were insightful and a lot of us were definitely between practice areas once hearing the teams talk. teams i wouldn't even consider joining for a seat made me want to join them and i know a lot of others felt the same. The grad rec team did a great job organising and everything was on track. We all got to selected our 3 top practices we want to sit in for the week some got their first and others their 2nd i don't think anyone got their 3rd but most got their first and that is great i got my 2nd and was chuffed. Everyone was soooo welcoming it's like i already knew them. Everyone morning i wen ti n a littl earlier to greet everyone in my team and i spoke to every single person too. i felt that it was important ot understand why people do what they do and why they enjoy it . I was given some great tips. SPEAK TO EVERYONE not just the lawyers. analysts, secretaries the lot speak to them all they will help you when needed and they are a part of the firm too. I had help from out teams researcher and she gave some great tips for practical law and lexis nexus i wish i knew whilst at university haha. I'm not sure what else to include but happy to answer questions if anyone has any. Overall i had a great time but it was really draining on the body lol but i didn't really feel it that much in the week i can feel it now today that i am back at work. I loved it and i think many others did too. now to keep my fingers crossed. (pls do bare with my grammar and spelling i am writing this at work very fast) [/QUOTE]
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