Life as a Summer Student: Jedd France

What was your experience at Burness Paull?

With the previous two summer placements taking place online, I had a sneaky suspicion that Burness Paull would be putting a lot of effort into making the 2022 intake as special as possible. It is safe to say the firm definitely delivered. From the very first day in Edinburgh, dressed head-to-toe in a brand-new suit I learned very quickly that was not required, I could tell from the beaming smiles on their faces that the graduate recruitment team were delighted to have the summer students back in the office.

The Burness Paull Summer Vacation Scheme was filled with exceptional experiences throughout the four weeks I was in the Glasgow office. Spending my first two weeks in the Dispute Resolution team, I was assigned tasks that were both intellectually stimulating and very rewarding to complete. Whether it was preparing case notes for a solicitor acting in litigation, or compiling the most recent news articles concerning product liability claims, I was instantly made to feel part of the team and assigned real responsibility.

I then spent my final two weeks in the Technology & Commercial department, where the work was fairly different but enjoyable nonetheless. A lot of my time in the team was spent reviewing contract terms for ongoing agreements and working with other members of the team to identify any issues.

Central to my confidence in completing all of my tasks across the programme was the support I received from my buddies in both seats, who were always on hand to answer any questions I had, of which there were many!

Outside of my commitments within the two departments I had the opportunity to volunteer with Street Soccer Scotland and collaborate with a few of my fellow summer students on a new CSR initiative for the firm.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my four weeks as a summer student at Burness Paull and learned a lot about the firm’s values, its people, and how a commercial law firm operates on a day-to-day basis.

What are your tips for a successful vacation scheme?

1. Be you and only you – The best way to get the most out of the four-week programme is to be your authentic self and show the firm who you are. This is central to the culture at Burness Paull and allows all employees to feel comfortable at work and valued for their position within the workplace. This will provide you the opportunity to assess whether Burness Paull is a good fit for you, as much as whether you are a good fit for Burness Paull. Doing this successfully will allow you to complete the programme without worrying that you didn’t portray yourself the way you would have liked.
2. Ask, ask, and ask again – Working in an environment with high-performing individuals, it can be daunting to interrupt their day to ask for assistance. However, you will quickly learn that everyone at Burness Paull is more than happy to help with any queries you may have. I would encourage all summer students to lean on their buddies and seek answers whenever they are unsure. From the firm’s perspective, this is what they assign your buddy for, and it is far more productive to clarify any uncertainty at the earliest opportunity instead of spending time trying to figure it out for yourself. I hate to use a cliché, but at Burness Paull no question is indeed a stupid question. If anything, those around you will be impressed with how intrigued you are and your willingness to learn more.
3. Engage with everyone – What makes Burness Paull special is the willingness of all its staff to engage with those around them. Whether you bump into a partner at the coffee machine, or the doorman on your way into the office, take the time to speak with them and build those personal connections. You will be surprised just how many you will make throughout your four weeks with the firm!
4. Keep an open mind – What you enjoy the most at university may be different from what you enjoy in practice. I learned first-hand that whilst researching past cases is not my favourite thing to do during my studies, I loved doing it as part of the Dispute Resolution team at Burness Paull. Don’t be disheartened if you are assigned a task that you typically haven’t enjoyed before, you may be amazed just how much you like it!