For my two-week vacation placement, I sat with the Construction Advisory & Disputes (CAD) team in the London office. Given Pinsent Masons' strong reputation for handling complex construction disputes, I was excited to get stuck into this area of work.
Before starting, I was introduced to my trainee buddy and supervisor via email, which made joining the team feel much less daunting. The firm also hosted an induction day for all vacation schemers across its UK offices. It was a great opportunity to get to know the cohort and build connections beyond the London office.
On my first day in CAD, I received a warm welcome from my supervisor and was introduced to the wider team. The open-plan office made it easy to put faces to names, and I quickly felt comfortable introducing myself and starting conversations.
My knowledge of construction disputes was fairly limited, as the subject had not formed part of my undergraduate law degree. However, my buddy and supervisor shared useful resources, insights into the team's clients, and an overview of the different forms of dispute resolution. Their support helped me get up to speed quickly and gave me the confidence to take on tasks from the outset.
The work itself was varied and engaging. I completed research tasks, proofreading exercises, took notes during client calls, and worked on a range of live documents, including matters involving the firm's Atlas clients. Research and proofreading allowed me to refresh my legal research skills, revisit resources such as Westlaw, and become familiar with new legislation and texts specific to the construction sector.
Through this work, I gained a deeper appreciation of major developments affecting the industry, including the impact of Grenfell and the Building Safety Act 2022. It also highlighted how technical and commercially focused construction disputes can be, extending far beyond black-letter law.
I also had the chance to get involved in activities beyond my day-to-day work, which made the placement even more rewarding. Highlights included attending the CAD Middle East Hub update and accompanying the LR&T team to court for a commercial litigation matter. These experiences allowed me to meet colleagues from different offices and practice areas while seeing first-hand the breadth of the firm's work.
The placement was also an excellent opportunity to build my network across the firm, from trainees through to partners. Everyone was approachable and generous with their time, and I found that people were always willing to have a quick chat during the day. My trainee buddy was particularly helpful in introducing me to colleagues whose work aligned with my interests, making networking feel much more natural.
I also attended a networking lunch with the 2024 Progress with Pinsent Masons cohort, where I had the chance to reflect on and share my own experience of the programme. It was a particularly rewarding full-circle moment.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my two weeks at Pinsent Masons. The placement was both intellectually stimulating and genuinely enjoyable, thanks to the supportive and welcoming people I worked alongside. It provided a great insight into the firm's culture and the collaborative nature of the CAD team.
For future applicants, my advice would be to start preparing early and make the most of the networks and resources available before applying, including programmes such as Rare. My top vacation scheme tip is to stay curious, ask questions, and maintain an enthusiastic attitude throughout your placement—you never know where those conversations and opportunities might lead.
Lauren secured her Training Contract after successfully completing the vacation placement programme. But her journey with the firm started before the applications opened. Lauren took part in the Progress with Pinsent Masons programme (now Unlocked) run in partnership with RARE. The programme is designed to give candidates opportunities to connect with PM colleagues and improve their commercial knowledge before applying to our opportunities. Join Rare today and sign up to Vantage to hear directly from employers about work experience, vacation schemes, mini pupillages, training contracts, pupillages, insight events and more.
