A vacation placement in the Glasgow office of international law firm

NAME Carlene Nicol
DEGREE Law, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow (2009)
VACATION PLACEMENT DLA Piper Scotland LLP, Glasgow
Applying for vacation placements

I applied for my vacation placement by filling out the online application form on the DLA Piper website. The interview was fairly formal, but the firm arranged current trainees to chat to us before and after the interview, which allowed us to get a more personal insight into the firm.

'We took part in practical teambuilding workshops and were given an afternoon to focus on our interview skills.'

How I spent my work experience in Glasgow

I spent my first week in the corporate department. A highlight was when I sat in on a conference call meeting, which involved the real estate, restructuring and corporate teams. This was most insightful as I was able to see how the complexities of the transaction were being handled in a dynamic team.

Most afternoons involved a talk or presentation from members of different departments, which allowed an insight into the firm’s vision for both the regional and international offices. There was also an organised drinks evening in the office, which allowed the summer placement students to meet everyone in a relaxed environment and I was made to feel very welcome by the firm.

While on the two-week placement, we took part in practical teambuilding workshops and were given an afternoon to focus on our interview skills. This proved most useful when I was asked back for the assessment day after the placement.

My vacation scheme lead to a traineeship

Since accepting a traineeship contract with the same firm, I have attended a dinner with my fellow future trainees and the recruitment team. We are also encouraged to chat via a trainee portal forum, which allows us to get to know each other in a social setting.