Navigating common vacation scheme tasks: tips and best practices

Aug 31, 2023

Written By Lewis Ogg

Congratulations! You have secured a vacation scheme, one of the last hurdles to getting a training contract. Follow these five simple tips and tricks to prepare yourself for the most common activities your vacation schemes will likely have in store.

Improving in-tray exercises

In-tray exercises are a staple of vacation scheme work and are designed to imitate the type of work you would expect as a trainee from the law firm. This is the closest firms will come to seeing how you’d be as a trainee.

Tasks can vary considerably, somewhat depending on the type of work the firm focuses upon. For example, if you are sitting in a banking or corporate practice area, research tasks around due diligence are likelier than tasks such as contract reviews which would be more common in real estate.

It is important to play the role of a trainee while you are completing these tasks, so consider the style of working in the office and what level of independent or collaborative working would be expected. Think about what qualities the firm has said they value in their trainees, and how you can embody them. Remember also that there may be time expectations on your tasks, so remain time conscious while keeping your highest level of output.

Developing written work

Written assessments are closely tied to in-tray exercises, with many of the written principles being directly applicable to in-tray exercises. These two overlapping categories are the majority of work you are likely to complete for your vacation scheme.

Written work may require a degree of imagination and critical thinking, as well as the application of research skills. Open-ended questions such as ‘What could the firm do to be more appealing to prospective solicitors?’ that require you to combine personal experience with knowledge of the firm are sometimes used as an exercise to be completed after the scheme.

Similar to your university work, focus on the basic principles of writing high-quality work, remembering to be concise, informative, and conscious of deadlines. Common mistakes that trip up applicants when writing are not reading the question properly or allowing their level of SPAG (Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar) to drop.

As all Suits fans will know – ‘the law is a precise endeavour’ – so remember to work quickly but effectively. Follow this link to see how you can become more precise in your written work.

Navigating negotiation tasks

Negotiation tasks are perhaps the most unusual for interns as often people have little experience in these scenarios before coming on their vacation schemes. Bear in mind these simple tips, and you will steer through this new situation with flying colours.

Understanding the task at hand is critical. Make sure you are fully aware of your ‘client’s’ position within the negotiations and, therefore, what kind of clauses will be to their benefit vs detriment. There is no substitute for detailed reading, so it is worth thoroughly combing over all the information provided multiple times as a group.

Negotiations can be a tough contest, especially on vacation schemes, where individuals are worried about making any wrong step. However, remember that, especially from the buyer’s side, there are no prizes for being too stubborn to get the deal passed. These tasks are tests of your quick thinking and flexibility, so there’s little room for stubbornness.

Impressing in teamwork activities

Teamwork is an essential part of being a solicitor, whether that be for making the most of your training or delivering the best product for clients. Understandably then, it is a skill your firm will seek to assess throughout the week in a range of scenarios.

Negotiation tasks, as mentioned above, are a common example, as are group presentations. From a teamwork perspective, the point of these is to see what role you play within your teams and if you can bring the best out of those around you. Remember, the team’s performance reflects on everyone, so there is no point in trying to stand out at the expense of the team.

The key point here is to be respectful and receptive to other people’s ideas, which means being willing to not just listen to differing views but also being prepared to concede if someone does have a better idea than your own. Similarly, it’s also a good idea to hold space for quieter individuals to share their ideas.

Follow this link to see how you can level up your teamwork.

Excelling in exit interviews

Exit interviews are a customary part of the vacation schemes experience but vary wildly in both formality and importance. Some firms will have an informal ten-minute discussion to review the week and see how it could be changed in future. Other firms will have a longer, structured interview that culminates the week’s experiences.

Regardless of which type of interview you will be having, it is good practice to keep a diary throughout the week of what activities you have done, what feedback you have been given and how you would change your approach should you be asked to do it again. This will especially help to show your willingness to learn and adaptability.

Finally, use what you have learned! As a vacation schemer, you have an advantage over direct training contract applicants because you have seen how the firm runs and, therefore, why you specifically are suited for it. Don’t throw away your advantage by giving generic answers.

Summary

Vacation schemes are an exciting part of the recruitment process; appreciate the opportunity, and aim to enjoy it while also giving the best account of yourself. Remember, you are surrounded by regular people, who just want to work with positive and personable trainees that will make their work more enjoyable.

Stay calm, deliver your best work, and showcase your personality; hopefully, you’ll receive an offer!

Becoming a Lawyer