Trawling through the long list of law firms, deciding where to apply for a vacation scheme, it became clear Pannone was the ideal place for me. The firm’s expertise across both commercial and private client practices, complemented by its consistently high placing in ‘The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to work for’ pointed to a place where people work hard and do it with a smile on their face.
My week’s vacation scheme in summer 2010 showed that to be a reality and the enthusiasm I had heard so much about was evident in everyone I met.
I arrived, with fellow students, on the Monday morning to be welcomed by Andrea Cohen, Training Partner, and Fiona Lyon, Training Administrator. Each of us was given a comprehensive information pack including a map and contact details for the employees we were to meet during our week. Each day I was placed in a different department, meaning no two days were the same, and I had the opportunity to get a taste of different practice areas, meet new people and generally enhance my understanding of and feel for Pannone. Every department was well-prepared, ready with work for me to do, and very welcoming; each trainee, associate and partner I met was more than happy to spare time to sit and talk with me and answer my questions.
The work differed from group to group but the open, friendly environment was consistent across the firm. This atmosphere, coupled with the challenging, real work I was set – from research tasks to valuing claims – gave me a fantastic, broad experience during just one week.
A lunch with trainees and a drinks event organised by the firm gave students added opportunity to speak to lawyers in a more relaxed atmosphere. By the time my training contract interview came around on the Friday morning, I felt I had really got to know the firm and the people who work there, and was relishing the prospect of winning a training contract with them.
Nia Jones – Future Trainee
Initially I became interested in Pannone due to the firm’s excellent reputation in Manchester. However, the major pull for me was the opportunity to sit in a range of commercial, corporate and private client based seats. I was adamant I wanted to train at a firm that offered quality training and work, but one where I could experience something other than a solely corporate focus.
I applied to Pannone for a vacation scheme in summer 2010 because they offered the opportunity during the week to sit in a diverse variety of teams and to work on tasks that would actually be of some use to the firm. I had experienced schemes in which I sat in a single department for the entire week and had often been quiet or spent my time photocopying, but felt I could gain a real insight into trainee life at Pannone as a result of the diversity offered.
I met all the vacation placement students at our introductory meeting with the Training Partner. We were given detailed packs including maps of the building, where and who we were with every day and a timetable of when a drinks session and interviews had been planned. We also had a lunch with trainees on the Monday which broke the ice immediately and made the nerve wracking first day less daunting.
During the week I sat in five groups, three of which I had been able to choose on my application form which was fantastic. Dispute Resolution, Clinical Negligence and Employment were among my choices, and I also sat in Construction and the Court of Protection Group. I had a set supervisor in each who had already set work or organised what they needed help with, or contacted the rest of the fee earners to see if they wanted to delegate anything, it was extremely well organised. During my week I drafted a confidentiality agreement, particulars of claim, wrote articles that were published on blogs and researched topical issues for ongoing cases.
Supervisors were always readily available if I needed advice on style or content and were more than happy to describe their own work and route into the firm. It made such a difference to have someone there who was aware that they were having a placement student. They had all set aside time to explain tasks through and the reason for doing them. It has proved invaluable to have experienced what I am now studying on the LPC.
The difference for me was in the people I met. On my final day my supervisor had to go out to a meeting which ended up lasting the day. I walked into the department not knowing who else to turn to, but after knocking on the first door, I was taken around, introduced to everyone and was quickly invited to sit in two different offices to see what was being worked on. I had current cases explained to me in detail, I was able to listen to the manner in which phone conversations were conducted, and I really believe it was the most valuable day I have had in any firm.
I was made to feel so welcome, I knew then that Pannone was my firm of choice. The open door policy was uniform throughout the groups I sat in, I was able to ask anyone for directions or help and they were more than happy to assist. I can honestly say I was made to feel a part of the team and valued for the work I had done.
The drinks session mid-week gave an informal opportunity to ask about trainee socialising and sporting activities and the general trainee experience as well as meeting partners and solicitors. I certainly did not feel as if I was being assessed or watched and really felt comfortable asking all the questions I maybe would not have done in the office environment.
The interview on the Friday was well timed because after the week at the firm, I felt relaxed and had a lot to say about my experience. I found the questions to be more about me than the dreaded “what song/colour would you be” genre, and the partners involved genuinely seemed to want to get to know me as a person, rather than engage in bizarre debate. I am consequently very excited and extremely pleased to be joining the firm in 2012.
If you are interested in applying for a training contract at Pannone please complete the online form. If you have any queries please email us at graduaterecruitment@pannone.co.uk.
