Shearman hosts local academy students for week of skills-building

Last week Shearman & Sterling hosted 15 Year 12 students from nearby Walworth Academy for a week's work experience. The programme was designed in collaboration with the academy, which is one of the firm's community partners. Representatives from the firm attended the school and gave presentations about life in a City firm and the opportunities available - whether you're a trainee, a legal PA or a member of business support. The Year 12 students were then invited to apply with a CV and cover letter.

The 15 successful students have had a range of workshops and experiences over the week.  Highlights included a networking session with the firm's trainees, a motivating talk from a local entrepreneur about starting your own business and an inspirational session with Rare Recruitment about overcoming adversity - the fish and chips lunch also went down very well, as did the firm's award-winning cookies!

Students have also learnt some important skills to improve their employability. These included an interview skills session and CV workshop followed by mock interviews with the HR team, a session on personal branding and the all-important commercial awareness. The week concluded with the students presenting to the firm and their teachers on current news stories - showing us just how far they had progressed in less than a week. The students went home with their eyes opened and their horizons broadened.

The students' feedback suggested that they really enjoyed the chance to meet a range of people from the firm and to hear how people's careers had progressed. Shearman & Sterling hopes that they will return to college with a reenergised approach to their upcoming AS levels and encouraging the Year 11 students to apply when the firm continue the programme next year.

Katie Meer is graduate recruitment adviser at Shearman & Sterling.