Law firms take aim at first years
updated on 02 June 2011
First-year students are increasingly being targeted by top 20 law firms eager to reach the best candidates before their rivals. In a survey conducted by, and reported in, Lawyer2B, Hogan Lovells announced that it will operate a two-week long work placement scheme for freshers, following the lead of Simmons & Simmons, which last year launched a one-week placement for first-year law and second-year non-law students. Magic circle firm Slaughter and May, meanwhile, plans to introduce an open day next year, which it hopes will encourage students to apply for its longer work placements.
Other firms targeting first years include Pinsent Masons (currently piloting a work experience scheme at Birmingham University and University College London) and Herbert Smith and Linklaters, which operate two-day events for freshers. Ashurst and CMS Cameron McKenna also offer work experience to freshers; the former through ad hoc placements and the latter through its formal two-week vacation scheme.
