Teamwork and learning on a global scale.

Victoria read French and Italian at Selwyn College, Cambridge. She was on the Linklaters vacation scheme in December 2007 and has been offered a training contract. She starts her GDL at the College of Law in London in September 2008.

Learning is a two-way process.

When I arrived at Silk Street on my first day, I was both excited and slightly daunted by the prospect of my two-week scheme at Linklaters. The excitement was justified; being daunted wasn't. Everyone was very friendly and, in the welcoming speeches given by the Graduate Recruitment team, it was made abundantly clear that the vacation scheme was very much a two-way process: not only was it a chance for Linklaters' lawyers and the Graduate Recruitment team to get to know us, but it was an opportunity for us to engage with the firm's work and its people. Just as importantly, it was a chance for us to find things out about ourselves.

Making friends and meeting influential people.

Whether meeting Linklaters' people at recruitment events, interviews or during the vacation scheme, I've been consistently impressed by their friendly and approachable natures. It's obvious that the firm places a great emphasis upon the development of its people and believes in forging a global network of driven and talented individuals – and that's true of those of us on the vacation scheme, too. I joined the Equity & Debt Markets department, and, from the outset, I enjoyed feeling part of the collegiate atmosphere. Take the 'morning prayers' session, for example; misleading name aside, this was a session in which senior members of the team shared their knowledge with the rest of the department. Whilst individual initiative is an essential part of the working dynamic, I gained a real sense of the collective nature of Linklaters' work. The global scale of teamwork became very clear to me whilst I was researching Islamic Finance for my trainee buddy. Although my contribution wasn't particularly large, I received an email within a few minutes from a partner in Dubai, thanking me for my assistance. It was great to feel part of a truly global team.

Why teamwork works.

Teamwork was a key skill required at every level of the vacation scheme. Both within the department and during the group exercises, it was essential to be able to work with different people to produce effective results. This was particularly apparent during the mock client pitch exercise. We were placed within groups and given just two hours to research and prepare a presentation for our assigned client. It was a very pressurised and time-constrained environment, so it was vital for each of us to identify our own individual strengths and combine them as a team to ensure the task was completed efficiently and effectively. Whilst we were quite nervous before our pitch, our team worked really well together and our collective effort secured us a very satisfying victory!

Learner drivers.

Learning at Linklaters is an ongoing process. Lawyers are required to update their knowledge constantly in response to changes in legislation and client needs. The ability to learn and to be willing to learn from others is a prerequisite for a legal career. Linklaters is obviously committed to top-quality training and constant career development. This drive towards learning at the highest levels allows the firm to foster a culture of ambition and achievement which, in turn, makes for a stimulating and challenging working environment.