What do students actually get out of work experience? As well as having something to talk about on CVs and in interviews, they get to see where their career choices might take them.

We’ve spoken to students who’ve completed work placements at a range of employers. Here’s what they have to say about what they learned.

• Roshni, winter placement at Allen & Overy
• Sarah, winter placement at Allen & Overy
• Oliver, one-year placement at Atkins
• Emma, Easter vacation scheme at CMS Cameron McKenna
• Lucy, Easter vacation scheme at CMS Cameron McKenna
• Andrew, one-year placement at Faithful+Gould
• Noura, Easter vacation scheme at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
• Victoria, one-year placement at PricewaterhouseCoopers