Vacation schemes are becoming increasingly important not just for candidates but for law firms too. Firms use them to cherry-pick the best candidates, and it is a great opportunity to try to sell themselves well if they want to attract the best. The conversion rate of vacation scheme students to trainees is a big deal to firms, with some proud to achieve conversion rates of up to 90% (ie 90% of trainees who did a vac scheme with the firm, were offered a job, and most importantly chose to take it). For candidates it is the perfect chance to get a real idea about the firm, to learn a bit more about the different types of practice and also to make a good impression. It is no real surprise that there are more large firms in this table and the majority of them are London based. However sitting at number one is Birmingham firm Martineau ('I chose Martineau because I loved the vacation scheme'), which demonstrates the 'very friendly and supportive atmosphere'. In joint second place are Forsters, where trainees are given 'interesting work and being made to feel welcome' and Andrew Jackson where trainees enjoyed the amount of responsibility they were given. Close behind is Bristol's Burges Salmon where several trainees highlight the quality of the scheme ('the vac scheme was fantastic'). Ashurst trainees recount how 'everyone was really friendly and the quality of the work seemed good' and those at Nabarro say that the quality of the vac scheme 'ensured that it was the only firm worth considering'. The summer vac scheme at Capsticks is highly enjoyable and at Travers Smith you also get 'a great insight into the people at the firm: ferociously talented, but without ego'. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom trainees loved the 'hands-on' approach at the firm whilst those at Ince & Co praised the 'high quality of work' that they were exposed to during the vacation scheme.