From demand letters to culture – Josefin on life as a summer trainee

Getting a real feel for what it's like to work as a lawyer was Josefin Mannevik's goal when she joined Lindahl's Gothenburg office as a summer trainee. A few weeks later, she has not only immersed herself in bankruptcy law, legal monitoring and site inspections, she has also experienced what it is like to be part of an office where culture, knowledge and curiosity go hand in hand.

"I thought I would mostly do legal research, but I have also had contact with clients, which has been the most rewarding of all."

A varied working day with real cases

Josefin describes her working days as both varied and insightful. Among other things, she has written letters of demand in a bankruptcy case, prepared a criminal report, accompanied site inspections, compiled documentation for a dispute and had contact with both the courts and the Swedish Enforcement Authority.

"The tasks were really different every day. The best thing has been that everything has a clear connection to real client matters – it feels meaningful to be involved."

She says that she quickly got to have client contact, which was a positive surprise.

"It was a bit nerve-wracking at first, but now it's precisely that kind of responsibility that makes me look forward to working as a full-time lawyer even more."

An inclusive start and new insights

The culture at Lindahl and the feeling of being included and seen right from the start made a strong impression on Josefin.

"I immediately noticed that there was a plan for us summer trainees and that all staff had been prepared for our arrival."

Josefin says that Monika Forsberg, who works with HR and events in Gothenburg, had sent out a presentation about the summer trainees before they started.

"It felt wonderful to be acknowledged even though we would only be working at the firm for six weeks. Both junior and senior colleagues came by my office, asked how the weekend had been and made sure I had things to do."

The summer also provided new perspectives on what it means to work as a lawyer and has sparked an interest in areas Josefin never thought she would find engaging.

"The practical work is very different from the prepared exercises and exam questions you get on the law programme. For example, I had no idea that bankruptcy could be so fascinating!"

Tips for those considering applying

Josefin recommends other law students to apply for a summer traineeship at Lindahl, even if you are not sure that business law is the way forward.

"As a summer trainee at Lindahl, you are not part of a specific working group but get to be involved with everyone. I prefer this arrangement as my goal for the summer is to try out as many different types of cases as possible in the hope of finding a favourite area."

What should you bear in mind when writing your application?

"Be personal. Recruiters read loads of applications, so think about what makes you interesting. Highlight concrete experiences – work, studies or otherwise – but also show who you are as a person. This could be anything from voluntary work to running an Instagram account about sourdough bread. The important thing is that you are personal, driven and curious."