THIS SCHEME HAS FINISHED. PLEASE SEE THE LEGAL CHEEK SUMMER 2021 VIRTUAL VACATION SCHEME, RUNNING FROM 12-16 JULY 2021.
The Legal Cheek Virtual Vacation Scheme, run in partnership with The University of Law (ULaw), took place from Monday 22 June until Friday 26 June. 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 those whose employability preparations have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic 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
Dan Kayne
General Counsel (Regions) at Network Rail
Philip Dupres
Managing associate, Addleshaw Goddard
Jacob Bennett
Associate at Ropes & Gray
Dana Denis Smith
Founder of Obelisk and First 100 Years
Catherine Bamford
Founder of BamLegal
Nishant Prasad
Associate at Nivaura (and future trainee at Allen & Overy)
Eloise Skinner
Associate at Cleary Gottlieb, and wellness and yoga vlogger
Chrissie Wolfe
Associate at Irwin Mitchell
Tom Gillett
Projects lawyer at Burges Salmon
Siobhan Taylor-Ward
Solicitor at Merseyside Law Centre
Alex Aldridge
Publisher and founder of Legal Cheek
Oliver Ward-Jones
Senior associate, Squire Patton Boggs
Demi Hughes
Trainee solicitor, Squire Patton Boggs
Sam Cottman
Director of Pro Bono and Senior Counsel at Travers Smith
Toby Willcocks
UK deployments, Ironclad
Fintan Wolohan
Managing associate, Womble Bond Dickinson
Rajiv Bhatt
Barrister, Hardwicke
Jessica Ling
Counsel, Akin Gump
James Wood-Robertson
Partner, Shoosmiths
Laura Kiwelu
Counsel, Norton Rose Fulbright
Matthew Mills
Barrister at Radcliffe Chambers
Schedule
Monday 22 June
9:30-10:00
Welcome
10:00-11:00
'From Lehman to COVID: The coronavirus crisis in context'
Format
Presentation, with case study exercise
Speakers
• Alex Aldridge, publisher and founder of Legal Cheek
Topics
Commercial Awareness
14:00-15:00
'Understanding the commercial legal market'
Format
Workshop
Speakers
• Dan Kayne, general counsel (regions) of Network Rail
• Philip Dupres, managing associate, Addleshaw Goddard
Topics
The relationship between in-house and private practice
18:00-19:00
Welcome drinks and Quiz
Format
Live video chats
Tuesday 23 June
10:00-11:00
'Life as a debt finance lawyer'
Format
Workshop, with case study exercise
Speakers
• Jacob Bennett, associate at Ropes & Gray
Topics
Finance, commercial awareness
14:00-15:00
'Meet the legal technologists'
Format
Presentation
Speakers
• Dana Denis-Smith, founder of Obelisk and First 100 Years
• Nishant Prasad, associate at Nivaura
• Catherine Bamford, founder of BamLegal
• Toby Willocks, UK deployments at Ironclad
Topics
Lawtech
Wednesday 24 June
9:00-9:45
'Wellness breakfast'
Format
Workshop
Speakers
• Eloise Skinner, associate at Cleary Gottlieb, and wellness and yoga vlogger
Topics
Yoga, wellness
14:00-15:00
'Life as a litigator'
Format
Workshop, with case study exercise
Speakers
• Chrissie Wolfe, associate at Irwin Mitchell
• Rajiv Bhatt, barrister at Hardwicke
• Matthew Mills, barrister at Radcliffe Chambers
Topics
Dispute resolution
Thursday 25 June
10:00-11:00
'Hot practice areas of the 2020s Part 1': The Green Economy
Format
Workshop, with case study exercise
Speakers
• Tom Gillett, projects lawyer at Burges Salmon
• James Wood-Robertson, commercial law partner at Shoosmiths
• Laura Kiwelu, energy finance lawyer at Norton Rose Fulbright
Topics
Practice area focus
14:00-16:00
'Employability Expo'
Format
Expo
Speakers
• The ULaw Employability Team, including head of Employability John Watkins
Topics
Application strategy and advice
Friday 26 June
10:00-11:00
'Hot practice areas of the 2020s Part 2': Counter-cyclical work
Format
Workshop
Speakers
• Oliver Ward-Jones, senior associate in Squire Patton Boggs' restructuring & insolvency team
• Fintan Wolohan, managing associate in Womble Bond Dickinson's restructuring and insolvency team
• Jessica Ling, counsel in Akin Gump's London restructuring & insolvency team
• Demi Hughes, trainee qualifying into Squire Patton Boggs' employment team
Topics
Practice area focus
14:00-15:00
'Legal aid and pro bono in practice'
Format
Presentation
Speakers
• Siobhan Taylor-Ward, solicitor at Merseyside Law Centre
• Sam Cottman, director of pro bono and senior counsel at Travers Smith
Topics
Social welfare law
18:00-19:00
'Farewell drinks with DJ'
Format
Interactive video chats
Speakers
• Legal Cheek resident DJ Adam Mawardi
Topics
Social
How it works
All sessions take place virtually via the Hopin platform.
Workshops, talks and Q&As run as ‘Sessions’, with students able to comment and ask written questions in the livechat. Exercises are set by ULaw, with answers supplied at the end of the Scheme.
Social events and the Employability Expo run in a series of virtual booths, which allow students to join interactive video chats.