• Get Everything You Need to Secure a Training Contract
    Now half the price. Join TCLA Premium for £30/month and get step-by-step application support, daily commercial awareness practice, and 700+ successful examples of past applications and interview experiences. Plus so much more.
    Join Premium →
  • Ask Withers Anything! (Live Q&A)
    17 Nov 2025 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (UK) Hosted on TCLA Forum
    Chat with Withers' graduate recruitment team and ask about life at the firm, secondment opportunities, and what it's like to be a trainee. Simply return to this page on the day to post your questions.
  • SQE Student Panel with BPP
    19 Nov 2025 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm (UK) Zoom (registration required)
    Join us for a live student panel with BPP University Law School. We'll be joined by Jonny Hurst, Senior Lecturer in Law at BPP, and current BPP students who will share their advice on passing the SQE.
    Register on Zoom →

To those who have had students shadow them as part of vacation schemes...

g.hoiyan28

New Member
Mar 19, 2025
2
0
...what traits/qualities/attitudes did you appreciate? Did they do anything in particular that impressed you?
I'm an upper sixth student applying for work experience at a mid-sized firm that I'd like to work at in the future, so I'd like to leave a good impression ☺️ Please let me know if this isn't the right topic to be posting under!
 

Amma Usman

Legendary Member
Staff member
Future Trainee
Gold Member
Premium Member
Sep 7, 2024
1,492
1,586
Hi!

I think the best people to answer this would be associates who typically supervise work experience students during these schemes as they’d have a good sense of what stands out. Just to check, are you asking for advice on how to secure the work experience by getting through the application and interview stages, or how to leave a good impression once you’ve secured the place? Or both? 😊

From what I’ve seen, a couple of qualities that supervisors and firms generally value are proactivity and strong organisational skills. First, showing a genuine willingness to learn and get involved wherever possible really helps you stand out. Then equally important is how well you manage and balance the tasks you are given as a result of that proactivity, as it shows good judgment and strong organisational ability.
 

g.hoiyan28

New Member
Mar 19, 2025
2
0
Hi!

I think the best people to answer this would be associates who typically supervise work experience students during these schemes as they’d have a good sense of what stands out. Just to check, are you asking for advice on how to secure the work experience by getting through the application and interview stages, or how to leave a good impression once you’ve secured the place? Or both? 😊

From what I’ve seen, a couple of qualities that supervisors and firms generally value are proactivity and strong organisational skills. First, showing a genuine willingness to learn and get involved wherever possible really helps you stand out. Then equally important is how well you manage and balance the tasks you are given as a result of that proactivity, as it shows good judgment and strong organisational ability.
The latter; and thank you for your answer!
 

About Us

The Corporate Law Academy (TCLA) was founded in 2018 because we wanted to improve the legal journey. We wanted more transparency and better training. We wanted to form a community of aspiring lawyers who care about becoming the best version of themselves.

Newsletter

Discover the most relevant business news, access our law firm analysis, and receive our best advice for aspiring lawyers.