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

Dan Kayne

General Counsel (Regions) at Network Rail

Philip Dupres

Philip Dupres

Managing associate, Addleshaw Goddard

Jacob Bennett

Jacob Bennett

Associate at Ropes & Gray

Dana Denis Smith

Dana Denis Smith

Founder of Obelisk and First 100 Years

Catherine Bamford

Catherine Bamford

Founder of BamLegal

Nishant Prasad

Nishant Prasad

Associate at Nivaura (and future trainee at Allen & Overy)

Eloise Skinner

Eloise Skinner

Associate at Cleary Gottlieb, and wellness and yoga vlogger

Chrissie Wolfe

Chrissie Wolfe

Associate at Irwin Mitchell

Tom Gillett

Tom Gillett

Projects lawyer at Burges Salmon

Siobhan Taylor-Ward

Siobhan Taylor-Ward

Solicitor at Merseyside Law Centre

Alex Aldridge

Alex Aldridge

Publisher and founder of Legal Cheek

Oliver Ward-Jones

Oliver Ward-Jones

Senior associate, Squire Patton Boggs

Demi Hughes

Demi Hughes

Trainee solicitor, Squire Patton Boggs

Sam Cottman

Sam Cottman

Director of Pro Bono and Senior Counsel at Travers Smith

Toby Willcocks

Toby Willcocks

UK deployments, Ironclad

Fintan Wolohan

Fintan Wolohan

Managing associate, Womble Bond Dickinson

Rajiv Bhatt

Rajiv Bhatt

Barrister, Hardwicke

Jessica Ling

Jessica Ling

Counsel, Akin Gump

James Wood-Robertson

James Wood-Robertson

Partner, Shoosmiths

Laura Kiwelu

Laura Kiwelu

Counsel, Norton Rose Fulbright

Matthew Mills

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.