Applications for the Spring Virtual Vacation Scheme are now closed. You can apply now to attend the Summer Virtual Vacation Scheme taking place from Monday 4 July until Friday 8 July 2022.

The Legal Cheek Spring Virtual Vacation Scheme, run in partnership with The University of Law (ULaw), takes place from Monday 4 April until Wednesday 6 April 2022. It features a series of short talks, workshops and Q&As with lawyers from leading firms, corresponding written exercises set by ULaw, as well as an Employability Expo and various socials.

The Scheme is open to all students. Its aim is to help students gain insights into life as a lawyer across a range of practice areas. The Scheme is not part of the participating firms’ recruitment processes.

Sponsors

In partnership with

Speakers

Kurt Ma

Kurt Ma

Corporate partner at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner

Cheryl Gurnham

Cheryl Gurnham

Real estate and construction partner at CMS

Beatrice Lo

Beatrice Lo

Corporate partner at Latham & Watkins

Alex Vakil

Alex Vakil

Senior associate in the media and data disputes team at RPC

Siobhan Taylor-Ward

Siobhan Taylor-Ward

Young Legal Aid Lawyers committee member with a focus on social mobility and housing and social welfare solicitor at Vauxhall Law Centre

Mark Reynolds

Mark Reynolds

Group head of data privacy advice and risk management at HSBC

Adam Curphey

Adam Curphey

Senior manager of innovation at Mayer Brown

Carrie Brogden

Carrie Brogden

Legal technologist at TLT

Tom Connelly

Tom Connelly

Editor at Legal Cheek

Richard Capper

Richard Capper

Head of banking and finance and training principal at Hill Dickinson

Flora Duguid

Flora Duguid

Legal counsel at Meta (formerly Facebook)

Aishah Hussain

Aishah Hussain

Features editor at Legal Cheek

Miguel Henderson

Miguel Henderson

Barrister specialising in construction, insurance and commercial work at Gatehouse Chambers

Hugo Cassidy

Hugo Cassidy

Legal director at Pinsent Masons

Peter Crisp

Peter Crisp

Deputy vice chancellor at ULaw

Patrick Grant

Patrick Grant

Project director for legal tech and innovation at ULaw

Lorraine Duffett

Lorraine Duffett

Law tutor at The University of Law and former solicitor specialising in serious injury

Julian Clark

Julian Clark

Global senior partner at Ince with a focus on shipping and international trade

Schedule

<h2>Monday 4 April</h2>

9:30-10:00

Welcome by ULaw and Legal Cheek

Speakers

• Peter Crisp, deputy vice chancellor at ULaw
• Tom Connelly, editor at Legal Cheek
• Aishah Hussain, features editor at Legal Cheek

10:00-11:00

Understanding the commercial legal market (with case study exercise)

Speakers

• Mark Reynolds, group head of data privacy advice and risk management at HSBC
• Flora Duguid, legal counsel at Meta (formerly Facebook)

14:00-15:00

Dispute resolution

Speakers

• Alex Vakil, senior associate in the media and data disputes team at <a href="https://www.legalcheek.com/firm/rpc/">RPC</a>
• Siobhan Taylor-Ward, Young Legal Aid Lawyers committee member with a focus on social mobility and housing and social welfare solicitor at Vauxhall Law Centre
• Miguel Henderson, barrister specialising in construction, insurance and commercial work at <a href="https://www.legalcheek.com/chamber/gatehouse-chambers/">Gatehouse Chambers</a>
• Lorraine Duffett, tutor at The University of Law and former solicitor specialising in serious injury

17:00-18:00

Welcome drinks with the ULaw and Legal Cheek teams

Speakers

• Niall Simmonds, ULaw student and future trainee at <a href="https://www.legalcheek.com/firm/irwin-mitchell/">Irwin Mitchell</a>
• Harry Davies, ULaw student and future trainee at <a href="https://www.legalcheek.com/firm/gateley/">Gateley</a>
• Hannah Guy, ULaw student and future trainee at VWV Bristol
• Alexandra McHale, ULaw student and future trainee at <a href="https://www.legalcheek.com/firm/pinsent-masons/">Pinsent Masons</a>

<h2>Tuesday 5 April</h2>

10:00-11:00

M&A (with case study exercise)

Speakers

• Kurt Ma, corporate partner at <a href="https://www.legalcheek.com/firm/bryan-cave-leighton-paisner/">Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner</a>
• Beatrice Lo, corporate partner at <a href="https://www.legalcheek.com/firm/latham-watkins/">Latham & Watkins</a>

14:00-16:00

Employability Expo

Speakers

• Sarah Pooley, dean of ULaw's Reading campus
• Rebecca Blake, supervising solicitor at ULaw
• Fay Sayers, tutor and supervising solicitor at ULaw
• Amy Walker, careers manager at ULaw
• Manveen Twohill, careers consultant at ULaw
• Katherine Meehan, student recruitment manager at ULaw

<h2>Wednesday 6 April</h2>

10:00-11:00

The big commercial awareness issues of 2022

Speakers

• Cheryl Gurnham, real estate and construction partner at <a href="https://www.legalcheek.com/firm/cms/">CMS</a>
• Richard Capper, head of banking and finance and training principal at <a href="https://www.legalcheek.com/firm/hill-dickinson/">Hill Dickinson</a>
• Julian Clark, global senior partner with a focus on shipping and international trade at <a href="https://www.legalcheek.com/firm/ince-co/">Ince</a>

14:00-15:00

Legal tech and the future of law (with case study exercise)

Speakers

• Adam Curphey, senior manager of innovation at <a href="https://www.legalcheek.com/firm/mayer-brown/">Mayer Brown</a>
• Carrie Brogden, legal technologist at <a href="https://www.legalcheek.com/firm/tlt/">TLT</a>
• Hugo Cassidy, legal director at <a href="https://www.legalcheek.com/firm/pinsent-masons/">Pinsent Masons</a>
• Patrick Grant, project director for legal tech and innovation at ULaw

17:00-18:00

Farewell drinks with the ULaw and Legal Cheek teams

Speakers

• Poppy Davenport, ULaw student and future trainee at <a href="https://www.legalcheek.com/firm/cms/">CMS</a>
• Eleanor Dunning, ULaw student and future trainee at <a href="https://www.legalcheek.com/firm/herbert-smith-freehills/">Herbert Smith Freehills</a>
• Melissa Story, ULaw student and future trainee at <a href="https://www.legalcheek.com/firm/foot-anstey/">Foot Anstey</a>
• Abigail Russell, ULaw student and future trainee at Wolferstans Solicitors LLP

How it works

All sessions take place virtually via the Hopin platform. Some are view-only with students able to interact via the chat; in others students are encouraged to interact by sharing their audio and video.

Case study exercises are set by ULaw, with model answers supplied at the end of the Scheme.

You are encouraged to attend all sessions but we appreciate you may have some other commitments to balance. Students who attend all of the sessions receive a certificate at the end of the Scheme.