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 not just 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 first-hand 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 years.

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 during your first year isn’t compulsory, it can help to give you an edge by boosting your CV and networking, 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 ‘A&O First’ 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 6 January 2025 and close on 10 February 2025.

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

Ashfords LLP

National law firm Ashfords runs two Aspire with Ashfords in partnership with two social mobility-focused organisations.

The firm works with Bristol Future Talent to remove barriers to the legal profession for aspiring lawyers from diverse ethnic backgrounds. The 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).

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 LLP

Access Ashurst is a two-week programme held at the firm’s London office. It’s aimed at those in the summer of year 12 and will take place from 21 July 2025 to 1 August 2025.

Applications for Access Ashurst will open on 8 October 2024 and close at midday on 7 January 2025.

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, which will run from 29 to 30 April 2025 at the firm’s London office. The scheme provides insights into life at a global law firm with attendees getting involved 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.

Applications open on 1 October 2024 and close on 1 February 2025.

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 12 June 2025 and is open to both first-year law and non-law students.

Applications are open now and close on 30 May 2025.

Clifford Chance

The magic circle firm hosts a series of events throughout the year, including a skills session series, a flagship event series, a global virtual internship and a conference series.

The firm also has a programme called SPARK which has been designed for ‘exceptional’ first-year law students, second-year students of a four-year law degree or penultimate-year non-law students. SPARK is a nine-month programme that’s delivered across two academic years and offers applicants an insight into the firm’s work and the opportunity to develop key skills.

Applications will close at 11:59pm on 6 February 2025.

CMS

The firm’s CMS Connect work experience is  aimed at school and college students. The one-week programme has been designed to show these students how the firm’s legal practice works and the role they could play at the firm. The programme involves practical experience 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 28 February 2025, with the programme taking place between 9 and 10 April 2025.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher UK LLP

US-headquartered Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s First Year Insight Day will take place on 10 April 2025 – applications are open and will close on 17 February 2025.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP

The firm hosts first-year workshops at its London office, which include interactive sessions, a careers fair, an afternoon shadowing a trainee and an evening social. Head to the law firm’s website to register your interest.

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

Hogan Lovells

Hogan Lovells runs two insight schemes for first-year students of all degree disciplines, which include interactive workshops, presentations and networking opportunities. Applications will open on 6 January 2025 and close on 28 February 2025. The first scheme will take place between 8 and 9 April 2025 and the second between 13 and 14 August 2025.

Latham & Watkins

The firm hosts four open day events, with one dedicated First-Year Spring Scheme open to all first-year students and designed to offer a real picture of “roles, responsibilities, and experiences of Latham trainees”.

The first-year scheme will take place in April 2025, with applications closing on 26 January 2025.

Linklaters LLP

The Pathfinder programme is a hybrid insight and developmental programme that includes workshops and shadowing over the course of six months. The scheme will take place in April 2025 and is open to first-year students of all degree disciplines with applications open between 2 December 2024 to 6 February 2025.

Macfarlanes LLP

The firm’s first-year insight scheme is a week-long experience for candidates in their first year of a three-year course or second year of a four-year course. Find out more about this insight scheme via our Feature.

Macfarlanes also runs a week-long first-year skills development initiative, which includes work experience and mentoring for law undergraduates from certain universities. Keep your eye on the firm’s website for updates on when the next one is taking place.

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.

Reed Smith

The firm recently launched a scheme that’s open to first-year law students, second-year non-law students and those in the second year of a four-year course. It’s a three-day programme comprised of workshops, shadowing and networking in the firm’s London office. Once the scheme has finished, applicants will be allocated a mentor from the firm who’ll be on hand to answer questions you have about working at Reed Smith.

Head to the firm’s website to find out more about when applications open.

RPC

RPC’s first-year workshop is open to first-year law and second-year non-law students and will take place virtually. The workshop includes presentations, skills sessions and networking opportunities and will take place on 26 March 2025. Applications close on 17 March 2025.

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). The next scheme will take place from 9 to 10 April 2025 in the London office and attendees will receive £150 for the two days. 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 will be hosting virtual insight days in November and December, and open days at the London office in January and March for you to meet partners, associate, trainees and the graduate recruitment team, and to gain valuable insights into life at the firm.

You can also visit the firm for its disability open day, 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 details on when these open days are taking place.

Taylor Wessing

First-year students can also attend the firm’s two-day first-year scheme in April 2025. This scheme will enable you to get know the firm more, network and encourage you to think commercially. Applications open on 1 December 2024.

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 2024 open day open on 1 November 2024 and close on 12 January 2025. The date for the open day hasn’t yet been confirmed, so keep an eye on the firm’s LawCareers.Net profile or the firm’s website for more information as it’s announced.

Watson Farley & Williams LLP

The firm’s open day is open to all undergraduate students from first years onwards and will take place on 10 December 2024. Applications are accepted from 4 October onwards.

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

You can attend one of two of White & Case’s first-year insight schemes to learn more about the firm, shadow a trainee, meet associates and partners, and more. Applications for both schemes close on 30 March 2025. The first scheme takes place on 7 and 8 May 2025, and the second scheme takes place on 14 and 15 May 2025.

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.