The Legal Cheek Winter Virtual Vacation Scheme, run in partnership with The University of Law (ULaw), takes place from Monday 5 December until Friday 9 December 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 following firms are participating: Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Blackstone Chambers, Clyde & Co, Charles Russell Speechlys, Dentons, Gateley, Gibson Dunn, Howard Kennedy, Macfarlanes, Norton Rose Fulbright, Osborne Clarke, Ropes & Gray, RPC, Shoosmiths, Travers Smith, 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.
Applications for the Winter Virtual Vacation Scheme are now open. Apply to attend above.
Sponsors
In partnership with
Participating firms and chambers
Speakers
Dimeji Ademiju
Associate in the banking and finance group at Weil, Gotshal & Manges.
Anna Armstrong
Solicitor in the investment, landlord and tenants team at Howard Kennedy.
Aleks Bosch
Partner specialising in commercial law at Shoosmiths.
Gareth Bramley
Senior tutor at The University of Law
Dhruv Chhatralia
Legal director in the international corporate team at Bird & Bird.
Peter Crisp
Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Law
Lydia Christie
Legal director specialising in employment law at Howard Kennedy.
Hannah Coe
Senior student recruitment manager at The University of Law
Isabel Davies
Associate specialising in video games, esports and interactive entertainment at Wiggin.
David Dowling
Counsel in the strategic Transactions group at Ropes & Gray.
Anna Elmirzayeva
National lead for legal technology and innovation, professional development at the University of Law
William Fletcher
Senior associate in the litigation and dispute resolution group at Macfarlanes.
Antonia Frangakis
Commercial property solicitor specialising in the retail, restaurant and leisure sectors at Howard Kennedy.
Cathy Han
Associate director in the commercial team specialising in information technology and outsourcing at Osborne Clarke.
Eleanor Harley
Senior associate in the commercial tech and outsourcing team at RPC.
George Harris
Associate specialising in dispute resolution
Alexia Howard
Senior associate in the insurance, financial and profession disputes team at Clyde & Co.
Peter Lewin
Senior associate specialising in video games, esports and digital broadcast at Wiggin.
Lily Löeffler
Associate in the global finance and business, transportation and space, and restructuring and reorganisation practice groups at Gibson Dunn.
Sophie Marsden
Associate in the real estate group at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner.
Alastair McVeigh
Partner specialising in banking and finance at Weil, Gotshal & Manges.
Zum Mohammed
Senior associate specialising in commercial law at Gateley.
Catherine Morgan
Employability group manager at The University of Law
Amanda Powell
Senior tutor at The University of Law
Leona Powell
Barrister specialising in fraud and asset recovery at Blackstone Chambers
Amy Prime
Managing associate in the commercial disputes and regulatory team at Womble Bond Dickinson
Michael Ross
Senior counsel specialising in commercial, IP & technology at Travers Smith.
Nick Smith
Partner specialising in real estate, finance, and telecoms and technology mergers & acquisitions at Gateley.
Kerry Stares
Responsible business partner at Charles Russell Speechlys.
Joanna Stevens
Early talent manager at Charles Russell Speechlys.
Stella Tregear
Trainee Associate at Weil, Gotshal & Manges.
Adam Walford
Partner in investment, landlord and tenant team and head of the retail & leisure group at Howard Kennedy.
Amy Walker
Careers manager at The University of law
Eleanor Willatts
Senior associate advising on commercial property transaction, focusing on large portfolio sales and purchases and complex lease re-gears at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner.
Schedule
Monday 5 December
9:40-10:00
Welcome
Speakers
• ULaw (Peter Crisp, Deputy Vice-Chancellor)
10:00-11:00
Deals
Speakers
• Bird & Bird (Dhruv Chhatralia, legal director)
• Gibson Dunn (Lily Löeffler, associate)
• Ropes & Gray (David Dowling, counsel)
• Shoosmiths (Aleks Bosch, partner)
14:00-15:00
Disputes
Speakers
• Blackstone Chambers (Leona Powell, barrister)
• Clyde & Co (Alexia Howard, senior associate)
• Dentons (George Harris, associate)
• Macfarlanes (William Fletcher, senior associate)
17:00-18:00
Meet the ULaw future trainees
Tuesday 6 December
10:00-11:00
Energy
Speakers
• Norton Rose Fulbright
14:00-15:00
Real estate
Speakers
• Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (Sophie Marsden, associate and Eleanor Willatts, senior associate)
16:00-17:00
IPOs and listed law firms
Speakers
• Gateley (Zum Mohammed, senior associate and Nick Smith, partner)
Wednesday 7 December
10:00-11:00
Banking & finance
Speakers
• Weil Gotshal & Manges (Dimeji Ademiju, associate, Alastair McVeigh, partner and Stella Tregear, trainee associate)
14:00-16:00
Employability Expo
Speakers
• The University of Law (Hannah Coe, Senior student recruitment manager, Amy Walker, Careers manager, Catherine Morgan, Employability group manager and Amanda Powell, Senior tutor)
Thursday 8 December
10:00-11:00
Retail & leisure
Speakers
• Howard Kennedy (Anna Armstrong, solicitor, Lydia Christie, legal director, Antonia Frangakis, solicitor and Adam Walford, partner)
14:00-15:00
Legal tech
Speakers
• The University of Law (Anna Elmirzayeva, national lead for legal technology and innovation)
• Womble Bond Dickinson (Amy Prime, managing associate)
16:00-17:00
Commercial law
Speakers
• Osborne Clarke (Cathy Han, associate director)
• RPC (Eleanor Harley, senior associate)
• Travers Smith (Michael Ross, senior counsel)
• ULaw (Gareth Bramley, senior tutor)
Friday 9 December
10:00-11:00
ESG
Speakers
• Charles Russell Speechlys (Kerry Stares, business partner and Joanna Stevens, early talent management)
14:00-15:00
Computer games
Speakers
• Wiggin (Isabel Davies, associate and Peter Lewin, senior associate)
17:00-18:00
Farewell drinks with the ULaw future trainees and the Legal Cheek team
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.