RateMyPlacement’s guide to undergraduate placements & internships in Law
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Work & Industry Guide
Real Experiences
Hi guys, it's Chris here. Meet Daniel. He's on Internship at Mayer Brown this year. Find out what he's been up to, and what a typical student experience is like on Internship in the Law industry.
Also here in the Law Work & Industry Guide you can find information on some of the key-player companies, as well as jobs and reviews you may want to read through.
Daniel at Mayer Brown
- Experience
- Internship
- Company
- Mayer Brown
- Job Title
- Easter Vacation Scheme
- Dates
- March 2011 – May 2011
- University
- University of Southampton
- Course
- History
Questions & Answers
- What was your experience of Mayer Brown?
Mayer Brown initially appealed to me for several reasons. I was drawn towards the excellent reputation of the firm, the opportunity to work with exciting clients and the global scope of the firm. The fact that Mayer Brown is a full-service firm was important to me, as I was unsure of which area of commercial law I could see myself working in. During the scheme I was given the opportunity to talk to solicitors in each of the various practice areas, allowing me to gain abetter insight into the sort of work an individual could expect in their respective group.
The scheme was exceptionally insightful and enjoyable, and I found myself immersed in some very interesting work whilst in the office. My first week was spent in the Construction and Engineering group, and work included researching property trends in the Middle East and drafting letters.
I found everyone in the group very helpful, and they were all more than happy to answer any questions I had relating to Construction or Mayer Brown in general. Mayer Brown was the first large global firm I had gained work experience at, and as such I was hoping to participate in some major international work. I was not disappointed. In my second week I sat in Banking & Finance, and I was involved in a deal that encompassed seventeen jurisdictions. My work included looking through the draft agreements, pointing out anything else that was required, and compiling folders containing various relevant documents. What impressed me the most were the organisational and communication skills exhibited by the solicitors that were clearly integral to the success of the deal.
Aside from the work there were also various social activities we all took part in. The notable highlight was a day trip to Paris, which involved visiting the Mayer Brown Paris office and spending the afternoon taking in the sights. Other social events included a charity football tournament and bowling with the trainees. This provided a fantastic opportunity to get to know the people at the firm, and also gave me a chance to speak to trainees about how they found working at Mayer Brown.
The experience at Mayer Brown stood out for me over other work experience I have had largely because of the balance between work and social activities. This allowed me to learn about what working life would be like whilst also demonstrating that the employees at Mayer Brown are both interesting and enjoyable people to be around, something which I believe is critical in selecting the right working environment.
I would recommend the placement to anyone who is seeking to learn more about working at a large international firm and who is attracted to first class work in supportive surroundings.
Background
Industry Overview
When you hear the word law, it may conjure up movie scenes of intense court room battles, white-haired men writing wills, or judges wearing ridiculous robes and tatty wigs. Actually, law is a fabulously varied sector that has a profound impact on every part of our lives.
Law is an extremely popular industry and for lots of good reasons: it’s stimulating, it’s constantly changing, it’s complex and it can be lucrative. Salary is one of the key draws for students considering a career in law. Indeed, the average starting salary for trainees working at City law firms is £36,500.
When we talk about law, solicitors and barristers are the traditional occupations that come to mind. Either of these routes into law will take upwards of five years (usually five to seven) until qualification and there is a lot of competition.
The truth is: getting into law is pretty tough. Around 20,000 law students graduate each year and only around 1,500 barristers are admitted to the bar, whilst only approximately 6,000 people are awarded registered solicitor training contracts.
However, besides solicitors and barristers, there is a massive array of other career paths you can follow within this sector; from legal journalists, legal secretaries, typists, paralegals and legal executives, to solicitor advocates, coroners, law lecturers and court clerks.
Careers in the legal sector are well paid, well respected and incredibly exciting. The rewards can be great, but the hours can be long and it requires many years of sustained effort to get where you want to be; but if you are up for the challenge, it’s definitely worth exploring this sector in a little bit more detail.
For more information on law careers, visit www.allaboutlaw.co.uk and www.allaboutcareers.com
Industry Review
You don’t have to do an undergraduate law degree (LLB) to become a solicitor or barrister. However, if you do a non-law degree you will have to do the law conversion course (GDL).
To become a solicitor or barrister, you will have to do a postgraduate course before beginning your training, i.e. the LPC for future solicitors and the BPTC for barristers.
If you do a vacation scheme, you are likely to be paid between £250 and £400 a week.
Fiction
Solicitors that work for City law firms are all white males, who have been to Oxford or Cambridge.
Fact
People from all kinds of universities and backgrounds are successfully able to secure training contracts with City firms. In recent times, gender balance and ethnic diversity have improved massively. In fact, according to the Law Society, over 60% of new trainees are female and over 20% are now from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Jobs in Law
| Job Title | Company | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Vacation Schemes
CMS Cameron McKenna LLP
Application deadline: Ongoing |
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Work Experience Videos Guides
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