Work Experience Student Review

I am a work experience student at Pinsent Masons and I have spent a week working here. During this week, I have taken part in various pratice groups. These practice groups involve working with a Trainee Solicitor at the company and gaining a better understanding of what lawyers in top law firms do on a daily basis. I have attended a Construction Forum, where I learnt about the new points of law concerning construction and I have done research on certain areas of law including Consumer Contract Regulations and Intellectual Property.

I have learnt how to analyse a point of law and think about how this impacts a law firm's clients, for example how a change to the law concerning a construction contracts can impact how a lawyer drafts a contract. I have also developed my team working skills by working with other work experience students in business exercises and reaching decisions on a point of law together. I have learnt that team work is very important when you are a lawyer as you are likely to be working on projects in teams, so it is vital to be able to put your point of view across and speak up without completely dismissing another person's point of view.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my work experience at Pinsent Masons and it has exceeded all my expectations. I have enjoyed learning about different types of law, talking to trainees about their experiences regarding law and working on different projects in order to enhance my understanding of the legal system. I feel that I can leave this programme having learnt a lot of information and invaluable skills, which will put me in good stead for the future when I am applying to a law firm for a training contract.

Pinsent Masons have made me feel valued during my work experience programme as I have been involved by working with trainees and helping them if they need assistance. I feel that Pinsent Masons have really got work experience students envolved in the work that they do and this is vital as it gives us as students a real insight into what it is like when you work as a lawyer for a law firm.

My programme is very structured as at the beginning of the week I was given a timetable which informed me about what I would be doing each day. Each day I knew what to expect in terms of what area of law I would be working in/learning about and every morning there was a law related presentatoin, for example there was a presentatoin about litigation and a presentation about corporate law which I found to be very informative and helpful.

I have worked with a number of trainees in different departments during my time at Pinsent Masons and I felt that I was offered a lot of support. Each trainee that I worked with was always there if I had any quieries and were very approachable. They also helped me to improve my knowledge of law by setting me tasks to research certain laws or acts. Every day of my work experience at Pinsent Masons was very enjoyable.

I was offered a lot of support by every member of the Pinsent Masons team and many people made me feel very comfortable and told me that if I had any queries, they were there to help me. I found this to be very comforting and I think this helped me settle in during my week at the firm as I always felt that if I had any problems, somebody was there to help me or give me guidance.

I do not recieve a salary as I am a work experience student.

I have not spent enough time at Pinsent Masons to be involved in any of the activities outside of work as I have only been here for a week but I am aware that there are a number of activites such as sport activites where employees get involved.

Yes

I would recommend Pinsent Masons to a friend as it is a professional law firm which treats its employees with respect and as a firm it made me feel very comfortable and I have learnt a lot during my time here.

I would advise people to apply to Pinsent Masons.