Year 12/13 and first-year opportunities: open days and insight schemes

Most trainee-hiring law firms run work experience schemes and events specifically for year 12/13 and first-year students. So, if you’re seriously considering becoming a solicitor, you’ll be doing yourself a big favour by getting involved at this early stage of your career – if only to identify whether a career in the legal profession is for you. Use this list of law firms offering opportunities to year 12/13 and first-year university students to get you started!

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Gaining firsthand experience in a law firm used to be limited to vacation schemes and university law fairs, but things have changed. While two-week vacation schemes remain the best route to a training contract – with the majority of such placements still focusing on second and final-year students – an increasing number of law firms also run shorter schemes, insight events and open days for first-year students and sixth formers. 

Some of these opportunities are easier to find online than others, so below we’ve set out what some of the country’s top law firms are offering to help you kickstart your own research. Start by investigating the firm’s profile on LawCareers.Net to introduce yourself to its business, work areas, offices and so on. If you then feel the firm could be right for you, head to its recruitment site to find out more and apply. While securing legal experience this early on in your journey isn’t compulsory, it can help to give you an edge by boosting your CV and building your network , and may also help you to fast track your way onto a vacation scheme later on. You’d be wise to make the most of the opportunities available. 

A&O Shearman 

The firm’s first-year programme, based in London, is open to students in the first year of a three-year course or the second year of a four-year course (undergraduate). 

Applications for this programme open on 4 January 2027 and close on 1 February 2027 at 5:00pm. 

Find out more about this scheme via our more general Feature on upcoming open days and insight schemes. 

Ashfords LLP 

National law firm Ashfords works with Bristol Future Talent to remove barriers to the legal profession for aspiring lawyers from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Their work experience programme has been designed to provide students in year 12 with an understanding of the career opportunities and to promote core career skills (eg, CV writing and interview techniques). It’s a week-long programme that takes place at the firm’s Bristol office. 

The firm also runs a Pathways to Law programme in conjunction with the University of Exeter and The Sutton Trust, providing fair access to work experience for students in year 12 based in the Exeter area. 

Find out more about these programmes via Ashfords’ website. 

Ashurst Perkins Coie 

Access Ashurst is a two-week  programme held at the firm’s London office. It’s aimed at secondary school students from across the UK and the Republic of Ireland who come from low socioeconomic backgrounds and have an interest in commercial law.  

Applications will open on 6 October 2026 and close on 6 January 2027. 

Find out more about this scheme via our more general Feature on upcoming open days and insight schemes. 

Baker McKenzie 

Baker McKenzie’s first-year insight scheme is a two-day placement for first-year law and non-law students. The scheme provides insights into life at a global law firm with attendees taking part in structured sessions that’ll introduce the firm’s various departments and the work it undertakes. 

The firm will cover the costs of travel and accommodation for the duration of the scheme. 

Keep your eye on the firm’s website for information on applications opening and closing. 

Bristows LLP 

Bristows hosts several IP-focused workshops to offer interested candidates an insight into life as an IP lawyer. The firm’s IP workshop for first-year undergraduates will be held virtually on 11 June 2027 and is open to both first-year law and non-law students. 

Applications are open now and close on 14 May 2027. 

CMS 

The firm’s CMS Connect work experience is aimed at year 12 students and takes place at its offices in Sheffield, Bristol and London. The one-week programme has been designed to show students how the firm’s legal practice works and the role they could play at the firm. The programme involves practical skills sessions and networking. Following the programme, candidates will continue to receive support from CMS in the form of mentoring, application advice and more. 

Keep your eye on the firm’s website for information on applications opening and closing. 

Covington 

The two-day CovInsights programme is aimed at first-year law students and second-year non-law students who are researching their legal careers. The programme will provide insights into the firm, its practice areas and the skills necessary to be a successful lawyer. 

Applications are open and will close on 12 March 2027, with the programme taking place 7-8 April 2027. 

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP 

The firm’s first-year workshop is open to students in the first year of a three-year course or the second year of a four-year course across any subject (undergraduate). The two-day workshop is held in its London office and is designed to give students a taste of life at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer through interactive sessions, skills workshops and networking events. 

Applications open on 1 January 2027 and close on 1 February 2027. 

Hogan Lovells Cadwalader 

Hogan Lovells Cadwalader runs an insight scheme for first-year students of all degree disciplines. Applications will open on 4 January 2027 and close on 28 February 2027. 

Latham & Watkins 

The firm hosts four open day events, with one dedicated first-year spring scheme open to all first-year students. The scheme is intended to help students learn about life at a global elite law firm and determine if they want to pursue a training contract at Latham. The first-year scheme will take place from 30 March to 1 April 2027, with applications closing on 31 January 2027. 

Osborne Clarke LLP 

The firm runs three insight schemes which are aimed at first-year law and second-year non-law students and provide a “glimpse into life at a law firm and a taste of what it’s like to work at Osborne Clarke”, plus much more. 

Find out more about this scheme via our Feature and the firm’s website. 

RPC 

RPC’s virtual insight evening is open to year 13 students and will take place online. The event includes presentations, skills sessions and networking opportunities and will take place on 14 October 2026. Applications close on 5 October 2026.  

The firm also hosts a virtual first-year workshop. Check RPC’s website for further details.  

Simmons & Simmons LLP 

The firm’s spring insight scheme is open to all first-year and penultimate-year non-law students (as well as second-year non-law students). The next scheme will take place from 20-21 April 2027 in the London office and attendees will receive £150 for the two days. Applications open on 10 December 2026 and close on 31 January 2027. 

The open days are also a great place to meet the firm and gain insights into its culture and the opportunities available. 

Stephenson Harwood LLP 

The firm hosts virtual insight days, and open days at the London office in December and January for you to meet partners, associates, trainees and the graduate recruitment team, and to gain valuable insights into life at the firm. Applications open on 5 October 2026 and close on 6 November 2026.  

The firm also runs a disability open day on 14 December 2026, which is aimed at students in their first year of university and beyond with a disability, neurodiversity or long-term health condition. Head to the firm’s website for further details. 

TLT LLP 

TLT hosts several events throughout the year including insight days and open evenings with events open to year 12 and 13 students. Find out more about these events via the firm’s website. 

Vinson & Elkins RLLP 

The firm’s open day, discoVEr V&E, is dedicated to first-year students and offers insights into the firm, life as a trainee, the opportunity to network and lots more. Applications for the 2027 open day will open in autumn 2026. 

Keep an eye on the firm’s website for further updates. 

Watson Farley & Williams LLP 

The firm’s open day is open to all undergraduate students from their first year onwards. Keep an eye on the firm’s website to find out more.   

Weil Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP 

Weil’s self-paced, virtual experience programme is open to all and is designed to show attendees the sort of work they’d experience as a trainee at the firm, help them develop their commercial awareness and more. 

White & Case LLP 

White & Case’s University insight scheme offers students a chance to learn more about the firm, shadow a trainee, meet associates and partners, and more.  

Dates for the scheme are to be confirmed at the time of writing. Head to the firm’s website for updates. 

Insight schemes and open evenings aren’t the only opportunities that you should pursue in your first year at university. Other things you can do to improve your CV and access opportunities include getting involved in your student law society and volunteering. 

Find out more about getting experiences in your first year with this Oracle. And don’t forget to use LCN’s dedicated First-year law students hub to find out more.