Work experience student Review

We attended talks given by solicitors and other Pinsent Masons employees which were very informative and covered topics such as how to get into a legal career. We also were given legal tasks such as looking through a lease report and statutory drafting. In some sessions we would be put into breakout rooms to complete tasks to talk with peers.

Communication skills were necessary when we were put into breakout rooms, as we had to present our opinions and ideas in a clear concise way. I developed my understandings of legal documents and the sessions were informative. The sessions on commercial awareness were particularly useful, especially since it is a key part of being a lawyer.

I did enjoy it a lot. Obviously an in person experience would have been even better but the virtual experience covered so much content, it definitely exceeded my expectations. It was interesting to interact with lawyers working at the firm and to learn how they got into the legal profession.

It was very well organised. Pinsent Masons used a platform called Forage which had tabs to view the schedule for the week, any tasks and when they were due as well as some additional videos from people at the firm. They also ran a introduction event to demonstrate how to use Forage.

I learnt a lot about the company culture. All the lawyers who spoke to us highlighted the morals of the firm and how they invested in volunteering projects. They all seemed friendly and the working environment seemed to be focused on inclusivity. They all said the work was varied and that they enjoyed it.

It gave me a good insight into what a legal career would be like, and how learning the law differs from applying it. The employees emphasised the point that no matter what stage you’re at it is possible to get into a legal career. It has definitely made me consider working in a corporate firm.

No it was a virtual experience, so there was obviously no additional meal or travel costs. We also were not doing the work that you would expect to be paid for as the programme was an informative experience. It was more about learning than it was about working as we had no law experience.

Yes, on all the calls we had the opportunity to ask questions and interact with the employees. In the breakout rooms we would often talk with the team leader about their experiences, and we would also talk with peers both about the tasks and socially when given the opportunity during a lunch break.

Yes

The work experience placement was very informative especially for someone with no prior knowledge about the law. The opportunity allowed me to get a better understanding of what working at commercial law firms is like and I learnt a great deal when I was on the placement. It made me feel confident that a legal career is what I want.

I only participated in the virtual programme but I would say put effort into your application and don’t do it at the last minute. The employees spoke a lot about the importance of grammar in applications. They also said it is a good idea to get involved with projects such as this one early given that law is such a competitive field.