Why I Applied to Pinsent Masons
My name is Pyper Waldram, and I recently completed a vacation placement with the Corporate team in Pinsent Masons Glasgow office. Looking back on the experience, I wanted to share some insights from the recruitment process, assessment centre and placement itself to help future candidates feel more prepared and confident.
Like many aspiring lawyers, I spent a lot of time researching firms to find one that genuinely aligned with my interests and values. For me, Pinsent Masons stood out after I attended an Insight Evening at the Glasgow office.
What immediately caught my attention was the firm's commitment to innovation and legal technology. Learning about initiatives such as Vario showed me that Pinsent Masons is not only focused on delivering excellent legal services today, but is also actively shaping what those services will look like in the future. The firm's forward-thinking approach felt refreshing and exciting.
One of the highlights of the evening was speaking directly with trainees about their experiences. Hearing first-hand accounts gave me a much clearer picture of the culture of the firm and what life as a trainee could look like. I made plenty of notes during the event and later used these insights within my application.
If I could give one piece of advice to anyone applying, it would be this: be specific. Your application should be tailored enough that someone could recognise you are describing Pinsent Masons even if the firm's name was removed from your answers.
Navigating the Application Process
Before starting the application, I found it helpful to take a step back and think carefully about two questions:
- Why do I want to join Pinsent Masons?
- How do my experiences demonstrate the skills the firm is looking for?
Having clear answers to these questions made it much easier to approach every stage of the process with confidence.
While the online application allows you to save your progress and return later, I personally found it beneficial to complete it in one sitting. The testing section is untimed, which meant I could take the time to think carefully about my responses rather than rushing through them.
For the video interview stage, don't be put off by the format. You'll have the chance to view the questions before recording your answers, so I would recommend keeping a notepad and pen nearby. Jotting down a few key points beforehand helped me stay focused and ensured I covered everything I wanted to say.
Preparing for Assessment Centre
Reaching the assessment centre was an exciting milestone, but if I'm honest, it was also nerve-racking. It was my first experience of this type of recruitment process, and naturally I wasn't quite sure what to expect.
However, any nerves quickly eased once the day began. The graduate recruitment team created a welcoming atmosphere and genuinely seemed invested in helping candidates perform at their best. That supportive environment made a real difference.
My preparation focused on three key areas:
Understanding My Motivation
I spent time reflecting on why I wanted to join Pinsent Masons and how my previous experiences had equipped me for a career as a commercial lawyer.
Practising Interviews
I also took advantage of the mock interview opportunity offered by All About Law and Pinsent Masons. Receiving feedback beforehand was incredibly valuable and helped me feel much more comfortable discussing my experiences.
Building Commercial Awareness
Commercial awareness is something that often sounds intimidating, but it essentially comes down to understanding what's happening in the world and considering how those developments affect businesses, law firms and clients.
When reading the news, I found it useful to go one step further and ask myself questions such as:
- How might this impact a client?
- What challenges could it create?
- What opportunities might arise?
- How would a law firm like Pinsent Masons advise on this issue?
Approaching current affairs in this way helped me develop a more commercial mindset and proved particularly useful during both interviews and practical exercises.
Making the Most of Your Placement
If you're considering applying, my advice would be to find something about Pinsent Masons that genuinely excites you, whether that's a particular sector, client base, innovation initiative or area of law.
Authentic enthusiasm is far more compelling than trying to say what you think recruiters want to hear.
And if you're fortunate enough to secure a placement, make the most of every opportunity that comes your way.
Ask questions. Volunteer for work. Attend events. Introduce yourself to people across the firm.
One thing that surprised me most was how approachable and supportive everyone was. From trainees to senior lawyers, people were generous with their time and happy to share their experiences. Being proactive throughout the two weeks allowed me to gain a much deeper understanding of both the work and the culture of the firm.
Final Reflections
My vacation placement at Pinsent Masons was an incredibly rewarding experience. Not only did it provide valuable insight into the firm's work and culture, but it also strengthened my confidence, enhanced my commercial awareness and helped me develop skills that I will carry forward throughout my career.
For anyone considering applying, my biggest advice is simple: be curious, be yourself and make the most of every opportunity. You never know where those conversations, experiences and insights might take you.
If you're interested in applying for our vacation placement programme, visit our Early Talent page to learn more and explore current opportunities.
