Our four-week summer programmes are designed for penultimate-year law students. We have worked hard to design a vacation scheme that successfully combines real life experience in our practice areas with workshops and seminars dedicated to your professional development. The hands-on part of the scheme will see you working alongside experienced lawyers in two different practice areas, doing the same kind of work as our Trainees. Our professional development sessions are designed to give you a broader understanding of our global business strategy and the demanding environment in which we work, as well as giving you the opportunity to develop your skills in areas such as business analysis, mediation and pitching to a client. Throughout your time with us, you’ll have access to experienced lawyers who will be available to support you, answer your questions and offer constructive advice and feedback.
You will need to be an undergraduate student studying in a UK or Irish university in order to apply for the vacation scheme. For the summer vacation schemes, you will need to be a penultimate-year law student
Before you start one of our four-week programmes, we will ask you to choose the practice areas that most interest you. Where possible we try to accommodate at least one of your first preferences, subject to business needs. You will complete two practice-area placements (or seats) of a fortnight each, and will be paid £300 per week while on our summer vacation scheme.
Typical features of the scheme.
Induction: Before you join your practice area, you will spend time getting to know other students, learning about the strategy of the firm, familiarising yourself with our systems and generally settling in.
Practice areas: You spend two weeks in each practice area, so you will work in two different areas of the firm. A qualified lawyer will act as your principal, setting you real work from the start.
Trainee buddies: We allocate a trainee to each vacation scheme student. He or she will act as a 'buddy' while you are with us. Buddies provide a trainee's view of the firm, showing you around, introducing you to people, explaining their own work and offering support and encouragement.
Lecture programme: Our programme of professional development sessions are designed to give you a broader understanding of our practice areas and firm strategy. They will illustrate the demanding environment in which we work, as well as give you the opportunity to develop your skills in areas such as business analysis, mediation and pitching to a client. Throughout your time with us, there will be experienced lawyers available to support you, talk things through and offer constructive advice and feedback. A sit down meal and time-tabled lunch will also ensure that there is the opportunity to ask questions of partners in a more informal and relaxed environment.
Business project: Alongside your live work experience, you will tackle projects of your own, such as a company analysis exercise. As you complete the task, experienced lawyers will be on hand to discuss your progress and give you tips. These projects are aimed at helping you with your knowledge of commercial awareness.
Client pitch: You'll work in a team with other students to develop a mock pitch that you then present to a panel of partners. Pitching for work can be exciting and dramatic – as well as critical to our growth, and your own. It's a great exercise because you also learn about clients, how they see us and what we have to offer them as a firm.
Litigation mediation: A partner will introduce a mock litigation scenario based on a dispute between two parties. With an associate acting as mediator, you'll then negotiate on behalf of either the claimant or defendant and in turn see how litigation and mediation works.
Real Estate case study: This exercise is aimed at helping you get a sense of the commercial aspect of the Real Estate practice. You will be briefed on one of four fictitious companies and work with other student teams to negotiate deals that benefit all parties.
Social activities: Our vacation schemes are designed to give a complete flavour of Linklaters, so there is plenty going on outside work too. You'll enjoy everything from informal drinks and dinners to cocktail making classes and getting involved in sports clubs.
Community Investment activity: Linklaters is hugely committed to giving back to the community in which we operate. Our vacation scheme offers you the opportunity, if you wish, to partake in a team challenge and get involved in helping a local charity.
When it's over:
When you have finished the vacation scheme, you are automatically offered an interview for a training contract. So, if you apply for a vacation scheme, you don't have to apply for a training contract separately.
Application opening date - 1 October 2011.
Application closing date for Placements for summer 2012 - 8 January 2012.
To apply, please click here.