Acing your Vacation Scheme: Top Tips from Future HFW Trainee Solicitors

Lily: Ahead of the scheme, I kept up to date with commercial news relevant to HFW’s key sectors, focusing on both general market developments and industry-specific trends. I considered how these developments might affect the firm’s operations and its clients’ businesses. It is also helpful to familiarise yourself with the firm’s culture and values, including its approach to collaboration, client service, and international work. These will be particularly helpful when preparing for the partner interview and group exercise.

I also refreshed my understanding of trainee responsibilities and checked that the messaging behind my motivation for applying was evident and clear. Finally, I reflected on what I wanted to gain from the scheme, as this helped me identify thoughtful questions that could not be answered online and that I could raise with people at the firm during the scheme.

Patrick: I made sure I was up to date with current affairs, particularly the industries that HFW operates in. I reached out to people who had recently secured a Training Contract via the vacation scheme to ask about their experience and whether they had any tips. This helped me understand what to expect and how to make the most of the two weeks. I also refreshed my knowledge of key areas of contract law and made sure I knew my CV inside out.

Alex: Ahead of the vacation scheme, I made a deliberate effort to strengthen my commercial awareness by keeping up to date with current affairs. While there are countless resources available, I found the FT News Briefing, typically only around ten minutes long and the BBC’s Business Daily to be particularly effective in delivering concise, relevant insights. I also subscribed to Watson’s Daily, which was especially helpful in demonstrating how commercial developments can directly influence the legal sector. Together, these resources enhanced my understanding of the economic and regulatory landscape affecting both clients and law firms.

In addition, I revisited my application to ensure I could discuss my experiences with confidence and in depth. I also refreshed my knowledge of relevant university modules and essays so that I could refer to them naturally where appropriate during conversations and interviews.

Armand: I focused on strengthening my understanding of what HFW does and what differentiates it from other firms. I also familiarised myself with the firm’s training structure to better understand the type of work I would be exposed to.

Although there was no expectation of having prior experience in my assigned team’s field, I researched the key contracts, main actors and HFW’s expertise within that sector. I also got in touch with my supervisor and asked whether they could recommend any readings or topics I could research before the scheme. This gave me useful context and helped me understand how my contributions fitted within the team’s broader work.Finally, I prepared a series of questions that I wanted to ask throughout the scheme. This made my conversations with trainees, associates and partners more focused and productive.

Lily: I particularly enjoyed the industry and departmental talks. These sessions provided a valuable overview of the firm’s practice areas and the work they undertake, as well as insight into HFW’s resources and support functions, such as the Global Research & Resources Hub. The Q&A elements were especially useful and offered great opportunities to connect with people and follow up with further questions.

Patrick: During the two weeks I was seated in the Construction team. Being able to contribute to a few tasks and pieces of research was the part I enjoyed the most. It offered tangible insight into the type of work and level of responsibility a trainee handles.

Alex: I particularly enjoyed the sector-focused talks delivered by Associates across the firm. These sessions provided detailed insight into the type of work undertaken, the current challenges facing the industry, and the direction in which the market is evolving. Hearing about matters they had personally worked on made the experience especially engaging and practical. The sessions were also interactive, giving us the opportunity to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of both the firm and the wider legal profession.

Armand: The opportunity to work on live matters was the highlight. From the outset, I felt like a valued member of the team. I was involved in typical trainee tasks, exposed to a range of workstreams, and able to see how different pieces of work connected.

While you are not expected to be familiar with the tasks you are asked to complete, curiosity and initiative are encouraged. Colleagues were generous with their time and happy to explain aspects of the work I found interesting or challenging, which made the vacation scheme really engaging.

Lily: The research project was the most challenging aspect, primarily due to the limited time granted to complete the work. The task needed to be completed within three days, while balancing other vacation scheme responsibilities including getting to know the firm, my allocated team, my trainee buddy, and assisting with departmental tasks for ongoing matters. However, I found the exercise highly valuable and realistic of what would be expected as a trainee.

To manage my responsibilities, I actively communicated with my trainee buddy about my deadlines for both the research project and departmental work, and I was transparent about my progress to avoid delays. I would advise prospective candidates to maintain open and proactive communication with their trainee buddy or associates about their workload and deadlines. Ensure sufficient time has been allocated to review your work before submission and focus on producing high-quality work rather than unnecessarily overburdening yourself.

Patrick: I found the Negotiation task particularly challenging. There is a lot of material to go through and some technical areas to navigate under time constraints.

I would advise prospective candidates the following:

• Figure out what the client wants and keep it in mind throughout the negotiation.
• Establish ‘red lines’ you are not willing to cross i.e. think about what the worst-case scenario you are willing to accept is and avoid compromising beyond that point.
• Be realistic – asking for too much undermines credibility and is not constructive.
• Remain calm – it is normal to get nervous and flustered but try to stay grounded in your arguments and articulate your positions clearly.

Alex: The most challenging aspect was balancing the formal assessment tasks with additional work provided by trainee buddies and associates. It can be tempting to accept as much work as possible to demonstrate enthusiasm and a strong work ethic; however, the days are busy and time is limited. Upon reflection, I would advise future candidates to communicate openly and honestly about their capacity. The firm understands that you are only there for a short period and does not expect you to do everything. It is far better to complete one or two tasks to a high standard than to overcommit and risk producing work that does not reflect your true ability.

Armand: The most challenging aspect was balancing competing priorities: contributing meaningfully to your assigned team, completing group tasks, preparing for the interview and making time to meet people across the firm. It is natural to want to excel in all areas but managing that balance can be difficult.

I found that setting realistic expectations and communicating clearly with my team was key. Everyone understands that you are only there for a short period of time. Being transparent about my availability, informing my supervisor of competing deadlines and avoiding overcommitting helped me manage my time effectively and balance those priorities.

Lily: Connecting with people was key. Speaking with colleagues about their experiences helped me better understand different practice areas and support functions. These conversations provided valuable insights and guidance on how to perform well during the scheme. It was also important to me to build genuine connections, both professionally and socially.

I was also proactive in asking for opportunities. If there was a particular type of work, I wanted to gain exposure to, I spoke to my trainee buddy, who helped connect me with colleagues in the right department. I also stayed commercially curious, keeping up with relevant news and actively considering how developments might affect clients and the firm’s work.

Patrick: I made an effort to speak with as many people as possible for two main reasons: gain a better perspective of the firm and the work they do, and to get involved in more work. I also went beyond my trainee buddy and immediate team. For example, I spoke with trainee in the Shipping team and managed to assist with some tasks. This gave me a better idea of what working in HFW would be like, gave me more well-rounded of HFW’s culture, and gave me more material to talk about in my final interview.

Alex: One of the most valuable things I did was proactively reach out to people across the firm to arrange informal coffees and conversations. This allowed me to learn more about their roles, the teams they worked in, and their career journeys. Speaking to as many people as possible not only deepened my understanding of the firm but also helped me build meaningful connections and feel more integrated into the working environment.

Armand: Taking the time to speak with people both within and outside my team made a significant difference. HFW has diverse and specialised practice areas and speaking to individuals with different career paths and perspectives helped me develop a clearer understanding of life at the firm.

Preparing for those conversations, even if it was only briefly reviewing someone’s practice area and drafting a few questions, made those interactions interesting and productive. Everyone is really passionate about their work and appreciate someone showing genuine interest.

Lily: Be open minded and proactive! A vacation scheme is an opportunity for you to learn and gain insight into the role of a solicitor. Speak with people across different practice areas and departments, as this will help you in building your knowledge of the wider firm.

It is also helpful to have a clear idea of what you want to gain from the scheme given its short duration (typically two weeks, or one week for a spring scheme). This approach will help you assess whether a career as a solicitor is right for you, and whether the firm is a place where you will thrive.

Patrick: Try to always be busy. You will have the assessed tasks, but there is scope to take on more. Your trainee buddy may allocate work, but if they don’t, be proactive and ask if you can assist. The vacation scheme is a unique opportunity, and two weeks goes by very quickly, so make the most of it.

Alex: I would strongly encourage candidates to research the firm thoroughly, so they understand its key sectors, the nature of its work, and its strategic priorities. It is also helpful to think in advance about what you hope to learn from the experience and to prepare thoughtful questions.

Armand: On a practical level, HFW is a disputes-focused firm. Starting the scheme with a good understanding of dispute resolution processes and the role a law firm plays within them will be valuable. While trying to learn the entire Civil Procedure Rules is unrealistic, an understanding of the different stages and the main documents of a litigation will be really helpful.

In terms of attitude, I can’t overstate the importance of being yourself and allowing your personality and interests to come through. The scheme is a two-way process. The firm is genuinely interested in getting to know you, so approach it with curiosity and authenticity. Most of the people you will meet have been through a similar process and everyone is very welcoming. If something interests you, don’t be afraid to show it!