How To Prepare For Your Upcoming Vacation Scheme

Securing a vacation scheme takes a lot of time and effort. It usually comes with setbacks along the way, so if you are in the position of having an upcoming scheme, you should be extremely proud of yourself, congratulations! You deserve to take a moment to relax. Nevertheless, an aspiring lawyer’s work is never done. While it is important to recharge, it is now time to start thinking about how you can make the most of your scheme, whether that is in hopes of securing a training contract offer or just learning as much as you can while you are there. Either way, preparation is key. Here are some tips to help you do your best at the scheme!

1. Do Your Research

You probably did plenty of research during the application process but now it is time to have a refresh and really look into the firm in detail if you had not before. Start with the firm’s website. Look at their key practice areas, recent deals, any awards and what kind of projects they have been involved in lately. It is helpful to look at the firm as a whole and the specific office location you will be attending the scheme in. This will give you a big picture outlook as well as catered knowledge to the team at that office. Beyond the firm’s own site, there are loads of useful resources out there. RollOnFriday, Legal Cheek and the Commercial Law Academy are great for finding out opinions of the firm and unique insights. It is also a good idea to look up the structure of the scheme itself and try to find posts from previous attendees. This means that you will be more prepared and less caught off guard by what is coming.

Remember to take note of the people’s names you see who work at the firm whilst researching, especially if they appear on notable deals. This will mean you can search them up on LinkedIn and find out more about what they do and what they are interested in. This is really important when you are trying to build genuine connections during the scheme.

2. Revisit Your Application

Before the scheme starts, take the time to read over your original application again. Remind yourself of what you said about the firm, why you wanted to apply and what experiences you highlighted. Your motivations might have changed since then and that is totally fine. Think about how your perspective has evolved and why these motivations have changed. Is there something you have learnt about the firm since applying that has made you even more interested? The reasons you gave in that application were strong enough to get you through a competitive process so do not forget about them. Utilise those same motivations and examples when talking to people at the firm or at the interview for a training contract.

3. Commercial Awareness

It is easy to forget about keeping up with commercial awareness when securing the scheme, as that feels like the hardest part done. However, as I am sure you have heard before, commercial awareness is something that you need to continue to build on throughout a long period of time rather than one three hour sit down session. The legal and business worlds move fast, so it is worth staying up to date with key news stories, especially ones linked to the sectors the firm focuses on. This shows you are genuinely interested, not just repeating what you researched months ago. It is also important not only because it will look good, but also because it will help you get the most out of the learning experience. This does not mean that you need to know everything, but it will be really helpful to bring your commercial awareness into the work you do on the scheme. If you have not already, make it a habit to stay up to date, for example using the Financial Times and BBC Business are good starting points. If you prefer to listen you can try podcasts like Watson’s Daily or Wake Up To Money. It does not need to be overwhelming, just pick a few key stories and stay consistent.

4. Practical Considerations

It is just as important to prepare practically for the scheme so that you are your best self going in. You should take care of anything you can control in advance, so you have no unnecessary and avoidable stress on the day.

Plan your route: Work out how you will get to the office each day. Whether that is walking, taking the train or catching a bus, plan it out in advance. Give yourself more time than you think you will need because being late on your first day not only does not make the best first impression but will cause you to be stressed and not your authentic self.

Dress code: Most firms will expect you to wear smart clothes, especially on day one. Decide what you are going to wear the night before or even a few days outfits. This saves panic in the morning and helps you start the day feeling put together.

Admin: Make sure you have completed any pre-scheme tasks, documents, ID checks and online forms. These allow for a much smoother start for you and the firm.

5. Mindset

Preparation will definitely help your confidence but do not forget that the firm already believes you are capable. You would not be there if they did not see potential in you, so remind yourself of that. Everyone on the scheme is there to learn and no one expects you to know everything or get it all right straight away. Be curious, ask questions and get involved. Whilst it is of course important what the firm thinks of you, it is more important that you enjoy yourself and learn as much as you can from the experience. The people around you genuinely want you to succeed and make the most of your time.

Your vacation scheme is a massive opportunity. It could lead to a training contract or help you figure out your next steps. The best way to make the most of it is to go in prepared and be yourself.

Article written by Caity Kelly, University of Bristol Undergraduate LLB