Traineeship/Vacation Scheme Application Q&A
With application season in full swing, SULS will be hosting an event to help those looking to apply for vacation schemes and training contracts by welcoming back two University of Stirling graduates.
The Stirling University Law Society are happy to share the details of our latest academic event, taking place on Wednesday 9th November, 7pm-8pm. We will be joined by two LLB graduates from the University of Stirling, Claire Welsh and Brooklyn Shaw, to hear about their experiences applying for vacation schemes and training contracts. This will take place via Zoom and you can register your attendance here.
Claire Welsh
Claire will be a familiar face to lots of SULS members as she was the Society's President for the 2021/2022 academic year! She graduated from the university with a first-class LLB (Hons) Law degree earlier this year, and is currently completing the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice at the University of Strathclyde. Claire is a future trainee solicitor at Pinsent Masons LLP, having completed two vacations schemes with the firm previously. She will be joining us to tell us all about her experiences both applying for and completing the vacation scheme at Pinsent Masons, as well as sharing her top tips on applications and interviews.
Brooklyn Shaw
Brooklyn will also be a familiar face for lots of our members as she is a former member of the Society! She graduated from the University of Stirling earlier this year with a 2:1 LLB (Hons) Law degree. Like Claire, she is currently completing the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice at the University of Strathclyde. Brooklyn is a future trainee solicitor at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, and will be sharing her experiences applying for a traineeship in the public sector.
What is a vacation scheme?
A vacation scheme is an internship or work experience placement with a law firm, usually lasting for two or four weeks in the spring, summer or winter. Law firms use vacation schemes to seek out new talent and recruit future trainee solicitors whilst they complete their studies. If you are interested in applying to a particular firm, completing a vacation scheme is a great way to get your foot in the door and put yourself in the running for a training contract. Additionally, it is an excellent chance for you to "try before you buy" and see if your chosen firm is somewhere you would like to work permanently when you finish university.
What is a traineeship?
A traineeship, also referred to as a training contract, is the two-year training period completed prior to qualification as a solicitor. Before becoming a solicitor, it is first necessary to complete two years as a "trainee solicitor" under the supervision of a Scottish-qualified solicitor (usually a law firm, although this can also be done in-house).
Why should I attend this event?
As law students we are constantly told how competitive the legal industry is, and how tough it is to secure a training contract in the current job market. Furthermore, law firms typically use recruitment processes which can be quite complex and tough to complete. As such, this event will allow SULS members who are looking to apply for a vacation scheme or training contract to hear from two individuals who have successfully navigated these processes. Claire and Brooklyn will be providing specific advice for law students at the University of Stirling, having studied at the university themselves, so this is a brilliant opportunity to ask them any questions you may have about applications.
We hope lots of our members find this event beneficial during application season, and we look forward to seeing you there!
Sincerely,
SULS Committee