Skip to content

The Legal Cheek Winter Virtual Vacation Scheme 2026

REGISTRATIONS OPEN FOR THE 2026 SCHEME IN THE AUTUMN

The Legal Cheek Winter Virtual Vacation Scheme, run in partnership with The University of Law (ULaw), takes place from Monday 30 November until Friday 4 December 2026.

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 following firms are participating: Akin, BCLP, Charles Russell Speechlys, Clyde & Co, Dentons, Gateley, Lewis Silkin, Macfarlanes, Osborne Clarke, Ropes & Gray, Shoosmiths, Slaughter and May, Weil Gotshal & Manges, Wiggin and Womble Bond Dickinson.

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

Participating firms and chambers

Speakers

Tina Zhuo

Tina Zhuo

Competition partner at Slaughter and May

Abdulla Zaman

Abdulla Zaman

Associate in the transport and asset finance team at BCLP

Maeve Sloan

Maeve Sloan

Senior associate in the M&A team at Macfarlanes

Richard Cressall

Richard Cressall

Partner in the real estate disputes team at Shoosmiths

Sophia Hanif

Sophia Hanif

Associate in the insurance financial & professional disputes team at Clyde & Co

Molly Moseley

Molly Moseley

Senior associate specialising in private M&A, private equity investments, venture capital and growth capital transactions at Charles Russell Speechlys

Ryan Prithraj

Ryan Prithraj

Associate in the banking and finance team at Weil Gotshal & Manges

Laetitia Cooke

Laetitia Cooke

Employment partner at Lewis Silkin

Peter Lewin

Peter Lewin

Partner specialising in video games and interactive entertainment at Wiggin

Rosie Eccleston

Rosie Eccleston

Future trainee solicitor at Squire Patton Boggs

Ashwin Pillay

Ashwin Pillay

Partner specialising in private company mergers and acquisitions and private equity investment work at Charles Russell Speechlys

Olivia Lee-Smith

Olivia Lee-Smith

Associate in the litigation and arbitration team at Dentons

Mandi Kaur

Mandi Kaur

Student recruitment manager at The University of Law

Alyssa Gibbons

Alyssa Gibbons

Future trainee solicitor at Pinsent Masons

Tom Marr

Tom Marr

Financial restructuring associate at Akin

Linsey O'Donnell

Linsey O'Donnell

Careers consultant at The University of Law

Vishal Mawkin

Vishal Mawkin

Partner in the finance transactions team at BCLP

Ashley Ken

Ashley Ken

Associate in the finance team at Weil Gotshal & Manges

Patrick Russell

Patrick Russell

Solicitor in the corporate finance and tax team at Womble Bond Dickinson

Holly Willis

Holly Willis

Future trainee solicitor at Mishcon de Reya

Kira South

Kira South

Student recruitment officer at The University of Law

Charlie Voisey

Charlie Voisey

Associate in the tax and benefits team at Ropes & Gray

Zara Larmour

Zara Larmour

Associate in the commercial dispute resolution team at Gateley

Matthew Tomlinson

Matthew Tomlinson

Associate pro vice-chancellor at The University of Law

John McKeown

John McKeown

Careers consultant at The University of Law

Isabel Davies

Isabel Davies

Senior associate specialising in video games, esports and interactive entertainment at Wiggin

Chloe Autran

Chloe Autran

Future trainee solicitor at Eversheds Sutherland

Schedule

Monday 1 December

9:45-10:00

Welcome

Speakers

• The University of Law (Matthew Tomlinson, associate pro vice-chancellor)

10:00-11:00

Deals

Speakers

• Akin (Tom Marr, associate)
• Macfarlanes (Maeve Sloan, senior associate)
• Osborne Clarke (James Paton, associate)
• Ropes & Gray (Charlie Voisey, associate)

14:00-15:00

Disputes

Speakers

• Clyde & Co (Sophia Hanif, associate)
• Dentons (Olivia Lee-Smith, associate)
• Shoosmiths (Richard Cressall, partner)
• Womble Bond Dickinson (Patrick Russell, solicitor)

Tuesday 2 December

10:00-11:00

Leveraged finance

Speakers

• Weil Gotshal & Manges (Ashley Ken, associate and Ryan Prithraj, associate)

14:00-15:00

Video games

Speakers

• Wiggin (Peter Lewin, partner and Isabel Davies, senior associate)

Wednesday 3 December

10:00-11:00

Capital markets and asset finance

Speakers

• BCLP (Vishal Mawkin, partner and Abdulla Zaman, associate)

14:00-16:00

Employability Expo

Speakers

• The University of Law

Thursday 4 December

10:00-11:00

Competition

Speakers

• Slaughter and May (Tina Zhuo, partner and Tom Carlton, trainee solicitor)

14:00-15:00

Employment

Speakers

• Lewis Silkin (Laetitia Cooke, partner)

Friday 5 December

10:00-11:00

Reputation management

Speakers

• Gateley (Zara Larmour, associate)

14:00-15:00

Private capital

Speakers

• Charles Russell Speechlys (Ashwin Pillay, partner and Molly Moseley, senior associate)

16:00-17:00

Farewell networking with ULaw future trainees

Speakers

• The University of Law (Chloe Autran, future trainee at Eversheds Sutherland; Holly Willis, future trainee at Mishcon de Reya; Alyssa Gibbons, future trainee at Pinsent Masons; and Rosie Eccleston, future trainee at Squire Patton Boggs)

How it works

All sessions take place virtually via our virtual events 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.