Guide
So, you’ve got yourself through the recruitment process and find yourself at the point of the summer vacation placement, which may seem like a daunting prospect. We want to make the experience as enjoyable as it can be for you so that you can really get the most out of your time with us.
In advance of the week, you will be given a schedule for your time with us which will incorporate not only day-to-day working within your allocated department, but also some sessions which will give you key information about life at Gateley and what to expect should you go on to train with us. We hope that the sessions will give you just a taster of what would be to come and the people who work with us.
So how can you make the most out of your placement and increase your chances of getting a training contract offer with us?
It sounds simple to say, but read up on what you’re coming into and what Gateley do as a business. Familiarise yourself with the department you’re working in and the key people within the team, whilst you don’t need to know every single aspect, it’s good to have a foundation of knowledge you can build on. Take a look at our social media pages and any news articles Gateley may have published in the weeks before you join, try to take steps to increase your commercial awareness and what’s going on in the world that may affect our business.
Even if the department you’ve been placed in wouldn’t have been your first choice, be open-minded with an eagerness to learn and think of the skills, experiences and knowledge you can get from that team. Don’t forget also that during the week you’ll have the opportunity to get to know all the other departments within the business, so don’t worry that you’re being pigeon-holed into that area of law. You never know you may just surprise yourself with something you may not have ever considered!
All of our staff in every office are approachable, we are not hierarchical, and anyone will be more than happy to speak to you and answer any questions you may have. With this in mind, however, be conscious of other people’s time, everyone is very busy! From our fantastic admin and secretarial teams right up to the CEO himself, never be afraid to speak with them if there’s something you want to know! The kitchen is also a great place to get chatting to people…
Working within the firm for the week gives you the best possible opportunity to find out what it’s like to work with us. Ask questions to the people around you and network as much as possible, whether that be with your buddy, the wider team, the Early Careers team, the Training Principal or HR, everyone will be happy to give their time to you. Never be afraid to ask questions, even if they may seem silly to you, there’s no such thing as a stupid question!
Think about what information you want to know and how you can get it, whether that is around working at Gateley or something relating to a specific piece of work you’ve been given. There may be occasions where you’re not as busy as others, however, think about whether you could be doing something productive in that time which will increase your knowledge.
Naturally there are a number of skills we’re going to be looking for from you whilst we assess your potential as a future trainee and it’s important to be aware of these day-to-day so that you’re able to ensure you stay on track and impress those around you. Make sure you’re managing your time effectively, producing accurate written work (be aware of grammar, spelling and punctuation), meeting deadlines, working as a team, using your own initiative and demonstrating your potential to be a future trainee at all times.
The Summer Vacation Placement does involve a number of social activities, but please remember that there will also be senior stakeholders in the business in attendance and you will need to maintain a level of professionalism at all times. These social events will give you the opportunity to chat and network with others around you on a more casual basis and your conduct will be reviewed on the basis that the role of a trainee/ lawyer will incorporate many social opportunities. This also goes for your day-to-day role, think about professional standards within a law firm and how you can meet them, when in doubt, ask your buddy about what is expected.
Make yourself available and do everything with motivation and enthusiasm. Be kind and be friendly to everyone you meet and make sure to network as much as possible with your fellow cohort, you could be training alongside them one day.
We get it, this is all new and probably a bit scary. The work that is given to you will be entirely appropriate for your level, but we appreciate there may be times when you don’t understand and need further help or explanation. Your buddy, and indeed the team around you, will always be there to help if this is the case, however we’d recommend always trying to come up with answers/ solutions to put to them first, rather than having the expectation you will be given the answer.
This is not essential, however it will allow you to look back on the experience and remember how much you’ve learnt. Keeping a log of what you’ve been doing each day will also help massively when it comes to your final interview.
As part of the placement, you will have an interview with two of the firm’s Partners. The interview will in part cover what you have learnt as part of your placement and give you the chance to reflect upon your experience. Think about what you’ve got out of the placement and perhaps what you feel you could’ve done better and improvements you could’ve made. This is also a great opportunity for you to ask our Partners directly any questions you may have.
We have to impress you too. Don’t see this is as us solely assessing you, you need to make sure that Gateley is the firm you want to train and advance your career with.
Be yourself, be a sponge, take in as much information as you possibly can so that you come out of this with the best idea of what it’s like to work at Gateley. Once the placement is over, we’d love to know your thoughts and so feel free to get in touch with your feedback.
I gained a greater insight into the areas Gateley specialises in, the culture, outreach work, and the expectations of a trainee solicitor working at the firm. Furthermore, I was able to understand more about the Gateley group structure. It was fascinating to discover how the firm has diversified its offerings to further meet client needs. I also enjoyed learning about the importance that Gateley places on diversity and inclusion.
Talk to as many people as you can and get to know the team really well. People will remember the work you did for them but they will also remember your personality and your demeanour.