City firms embrace commercial awareness competition for non-Russell Group students

A new commercial awareness competition for students at non-Russell Group universities has attracted sponsorship from 12 City law firms.

The British Inter University Commercial Awareness Competition (BIUCAC) aims to promote opportunities for law students at non-Russell Group universities to launch careers in commercial law. The competition will take place over five rounds starting on Monday 26 October, with the final hosted by Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) on Wednesday 25 November.

Some 24 student law societies have already submitted teams to take part in BIUCAC 2020. The first prize is a vacation scheme with Fieldfisher, while second to fourth-placed teams will win work experience at one of BCLP, Simmons & Simmons or White & Case.

Other leading City firms sponsoring the competition are:

• Addleshaw Goddard;
• Ashurst;
• Clifford Chance;
• Hogan Lovells;
• Latham & Watkins;
• Stephenson Harwood;
• TLT; and
• Trowers & Hamlins.

BIUCAC was formed by nine students at the University of Essex and founder Denis Viskovich, former head of legal at an investment bank. Viskovich said the competition was started to address the issue of universities not doing enough to develop students’ commercial awareness: “I have been shocked at how little emphasis is placed on commercial awareness at some law schools. I believe this puts many non-Russell Group law students at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to succeeding in the interview process at most City and commercial law firms.”

Find out more about the details of the competition on the BIUCAC website.