Calling first-year law students! Closing dates approach for law firm open days and insight workshops
updated on 07 January 2014
As law students will be keenly aware, January marks the onset of application deadlines for many vacation schemes and work placements. Often these will be on offer to penultimate-year law students and final year non-law students only, with firms using the process to select a proportion of the next year's trainee intake. However, keen first-year students wanting to gain insight into firms and meet graduate recruitment teams should get ahead of the game and make the most of the opportunities available.
Several firms offer specific one-day workshops to first years, which require candidates to complete an application process similar to the assessment for vacation schemes. Clifford Chance, Freshfields, Slaughter and May and Allen & Overy LLP all offer opportunities exclusively for first years (applications close on 29 March, 28 February, 10 January and 28 February respectively). Other firms hosting similar open days include:
- Addleshaw Goddard (22 and 23 April 2014; apply by 28 February)
- Ashurst LLP (27 March 2014; apply online)
- Berwin Leighton Paisner (April 2014; apply by 5 February)
- Bristows LLP (9 April 2014; apply by 22 February)
- Burges Salmon LLP (14 April 2014; places allocated on a rolling basis)
- Dechert LLP (3 and 10 April 2014; application details online)
- Herbert Smith Freehills LLP (spring 2014; apply by 31 January)
- Hogan Lovells (25 March and 1 July 2014; apply by 14 February)
- King & Wood Mallesons SJ Berwin (June 2014, application details online)
- Norton Rose Fulbright (10 April and 20 June 2014; apply by 28 February)
- Reed Smith (17,18 and 19 March 2014 ;apply by 14 February)
The above is by no means an exhaustive list of firms offering opportunities. In addition, some firms allow students from all years to apply to their open days and vacation schemes. For a comprehensive list of work placement details, see the LC.N deadlines page.
