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Aspiring Lawyers - Interviews & Vacation Schemes
Vacation Schemes Discussion
The Official Vacation Scheme Diaries Thread
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<blockquote data-quote="Alice G" data-source="post: 11272" data-attributes="member: 1160"><p>Ok everyone, here is the first diary entry. Remember, these will all be anonymously posted by me unless the TCLA author asks me to post their username. However, I will share with you all that this one is mine. I think I have shared enough on here already that this might have been a bit obvious but I also wanted you to know so that you can message me directly with any questions or queries about what I have written. If you guys have any questions at all about the other anonymous vac diaries then Jaysen and I would be happy to help you as best as we can. If you all would kindly post any questions or comments into this thread <a href="https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/vacation-scheme-diaries.1330/" target="_blank">https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/vacation-scheme-diaries.1330/</a> it would be really useful. That way, we can keep this thread exclusively for the vac diaries themselves which will make them easier for you all to access.</p><p></p><p>I hope this is useful! <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Where was your scheme and for how long for?</strong></p><p>I was on the Spring Vacation Scheme at Shearman & Sterling which lasted two weeks. </p><p></p><p><strong>What was your first week seat?</strong></p><p>Tax</p><p></p><p><strong>And your second week seat?</strong></p><p>M&A</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Day 1: </strong></p><p></p><p>We firstly had a brief introductory talk where we were told about the assessments we would undertake and were given advice about the scheme. We also had an introduction to the IT systems.</p><p></p><p>We then went for a lovely lunch with grad rec.</p><p></p><p>We met our supervisors in the afternoon and I familiarised myself with the online systems at the firm.</p><p></p><p>We had a cookery class in the evening with current trainees to round off the first day.</p><p></p><p><strong>Day 2: </strong></p><p></p><p>We had talks each day about various practice groups from 9:45am which all lasted an hour.</p><p></p><p>My biggest task for the second day was looking at a contract and cross-referencing it with a guide for what should be included from a tax perspective. I was able to infer what had been included and what hadn’t by paying close attention to the language used and making notes of what I believed to be missing within the contract. This was to help my supervisor for when he took a client call the next day to iron out any issues he felt were still missing and not provided for in the contract as it stood.</p><p></p><p>I had coffee with my trainee mentor on this day too and asked how I could get involved beyond the department in any pro bono work or attending any events etc at the firm. She invited me along to a pro bono clinic being held that evening which I attended with a newly qualified associate too. This was very enriching, and I felt I had been very lucky to gain this experience. </p><p></p><p><strong>Day 3:</strong></p><p></p><p>After attending the morning talk, I began writing up notes from the pro bono clinic which are then sent back to the clinic as a record of each person’s case. This did take quite some time as there was a lot to document, it is imperative to be very thorough indeed, and I also wanted to ensure it was without error because I was mindful of still representing the firm.</p><p></p><p>I was then set a research task which was due by the end of the next day (Thursday). I was tasked with researching the Financial Transaction Tax and the potential implications that Brexit might have upon this. I shan’t state too much in case this might be a task for summer students because I am trying to keep things informative yet fair. Also,the joy of the task was trying to figure out the unfamiliar and writing about it in an informed way.</p><p></p><p>A partner also asked me to look into his consumer rights regarding a non-work-related issue he was experiencing which was also quite a nice task. </p><p></p><p><strong>Day 4:</strong></p><p></p><p>I was very much working on my research task again on this day. Again, I took my time with it as I knew I was being assessed and we had been advised on the first day that it is better to take the time needed to produce higher quality work. </p><p></p><p><strong>Day 5:</strong></p><p></p><p>I had my feedback with the associate who set me my research task. They were happy with my work but I felt I had messed up a particular section which I was quick to admit in a bid to be self-aware when I submitted the work. At Shearman, this was a misjudgement. The associate said that I needed more confidence because it had been good work but because I was negative she went to read it with a more negative outlook. I am sharing this so that other people don’t make the same mistake.</p><p></p><p>I was then asked to fill out a form to HMRC on behalf of a client which meant that I had to source lots of information and just make an educated guess about what needed to be filled into the form.</p><p></p><p>On the Friday, the firm had organised us to go to Sink Pong as a social. This was exclusively for us vacation scheme students and no one else attended. A few of us stayed out for a couple of drinks and it was a nice way to round up the first week</p><p></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>First week roundup and reflections:</strong></p><p></p><p>I really enjoyed the first week and felt happy that I had been proactive and experienced a pro bono clinic – this was noted by the firm and was a great opportunity for me. I struggled with the research task and wish I had asked for greater clarity and guidance rather than being scared of being judged at a US firm as being too needy or dependent. That would not have been the case and I feel it was my downfall on the scheme as a whole, because the work I did submit I did not have entire confidence in.</p><p></p><p>I really enjoyed all the morning talks too.</p><p></p><p>I loved sitting in a small team like tax at Shearman and I had the most incredible supervisor that week. It was a pleasure getting to know them and chat with them.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Alice G, post: 11272, member: 1160"] Ok everyone, here is the first diary entry. Remember, these will all be anonymously posted by me unless the TCLA author asks me to post their username. However, I will share with you all that this one is mine. I think I have shared enough on here already that this might have been a bit obvious but I also wanted you to know so that you can message me directly with any questions or queries about what I have written. If you guys have any questions at all about the other anonymous vac diaries then Jaysen and I would be happy to help you as best as we can. If you all would kindly post any questions or comments into this thread [URL]https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/vacation-scheme-diaries.1330/[/URL] it would be really useful. That way, we can keep this thread exclusively for the vac diaries themselves which will make them easier for you all to access. I hope this is useful! :) [B] Where was your scheme and for how long for?[/B] I was on the Spring Vacation Scheme at Shearman & Sterling which lasted two weeks. [B]What was your first week seat?[/B] Tax [B]And your second week seat?[/B] M&A [B]Day 1: [/B] We firstly had a brief introductory talk where we were told about the assessments we would undertake and were given advice about the scheme. We also had an introduction to the IT systems. We then went for a lovely lunch with grad rec. We met our supervisors in the afternoon and I familiarised myself with the online systems at the firm. We had a cookery class in the evening with current trainees to round off the first day. [B]Day 2: [/B] We had talks each day about various practice groups from 9:45am which all lasted an hour. My biggest task for the second day was looking at a contract and cross-referencing it with a guide for what should be included from a tax perspective. I was able to infer what had been included and what hadn’t by paying close attention to the language used and making notes of what I believed to be missing within the contract. This was to help my supervisor for when he took a client call the next day to iron out any issues he felt were still missing and not provided for in the contract as it stood. I had coffee with my trainee mentor on this day too and asked how I could get involved beyond the department in any pro bono work or attending any events etc at the firm. She invited me along to a pro bono clinic being held that evening which I attended with a newly qualified associate too. This was very enriching, and I felt I had been very lucky to gain this experience. [B]Day 3:[/B] After attending the morning talk, I began writing up notes from the pro bono clinic which are then sent back to the clinic as a record of each person’s case. This did take quite some time as there was a lot to document, it is imperative to be very thorough indeed, and I also wanted to ensure it was without error because I was mindful of still representing the firm. I was then set a research task which was due by the end of the next day (Thursday). I was tasked with researching the Financial Transaction Tax and the potential implications that Brexit might have upon this. I shan’t state too much in case this might be a task for summer students because I am trying to keep things informative yet fair. Also,the joy of the task was trying to figure out the unfamiliar and writing about it in an informed way. A partner also asked me to look into his consumer rights regarding a non-work-related issue he was experiencing which was also quite a nice task. [B]Day 4:[/B] I was very much working on my research task again on this day. Again, I took my time with it as I knew I was being assessed and we had been advised on the first day that it is better to take the time needed to produce higher quality work. [B]Day 5:[/B] I had my feedback with the associate who set me my research task. They were happy with my work but I felt I had messed up a particular section which I was quick to admit in a bid to be self-aware when I submitted the work. At Shearman, this was a misjudgement. The associate said that I needed more confidence because it had been good work but because I was negative she went to read it with a more negative outlook. I am sharing this so that other people don’t make the same mistake. I was then asked to fill out a form to HMRC on behalf of a client which meant that I had to source lots of information and just make an educated guess about what needed to be filled into the form. On the Friday, the firm had organised us to go to Sink Pong as a social. This was exclusively for us vacation scheme students and no one else attended. A few of us stayed out for a couple of drinks and it was a nice way to round up the first week [B] First week roundup and reflections:[/B] I really enjoyed the first week and felt happy that I had been proactive and experienced a pro bono clinic – this was noted by the firm and was a great opportunity for me. I struggled with the research task and wish I had asked for greater clarity and guidance rather than being scared of being judged at a US firm as being too needy or dependent. That would not have been the case and I feel it was my downfall on the scheme as a whole, because the work I did submit I did not have entire confidence in. I really enjoyed all the morning talks too. I loved sitting in a small team like tax at Shearman and I had the most incredible supervisor that week. It was a pleasure getting to know them and chat with them. [/QUOTE]
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