For the third consecutive year, we have proudly teamed up with law firm Mayer Brown to offer an enriching work experience programme. This ongoing collaboration has allowed us to continue offering valuable hands-on opportunities to aspiring legal professionals.
This year, we welcomed 10 ambitious students to the programme, kicking off an incredible week filled with learning and professional growth. The programme was designed to equip students with essential skills and a deeper understanding of the legal profession.
Equipping tomorrow's leaders with tools for success
Throughout the week, participants engaged in a series of workshops and activities. This not only enhanced students' legal knowledge but also helped them to develop critical soft skills. Personal branding was a key focus, guiding students on how present themselves effectively in a competitive industry.
The week was all about practical experiences. Each student spent the week in one of Mayer Brown's core practice areas, including corporate law, real estate, restructuring and litigation. This was a taste of life as Trainee Solicitor as they undertook legal research activities to build their analytical skills.
One of the highlights of the programme was a visit to the iconic Royal Courts of Justice, where students had the opportunity to witness the legal system in action. This experience was a firm favourite for students who were fascinated by the architecture of the building and the cases heard.
"My favourite thing about this work experience programme is that it showed how diverse and inclusive the workforce us. All of us students came from different backgrounds and there's been such a welcoming nature between all the staff in the Mayer Brown office. Huge thanks to Open Palm for this social mobility initiatives, ensuring we all get a chance to access these types of work experiences." - Caroline, work experience student
Sharpening public speaking skills
The programme culminated in closing presentations, where students took to the floor to share what they had learnt throughout the week. Their presentations allowed them to demonstrate their newfound understanding of the legal landscape and the confidence and skills they developed during the programme.
“As an organisation, the firm has always been driven by a sense of community, especially being on the border of Tower Hamlets. We enjoy being able to share our knowledge of a corporate working environment and different careers path/experiences to inspire the young people and provide a better understanding of what careers are available to them which they may not have previously considered.
It is our third year of working with Open Palm on both the Career Insight Day and the Work Experience programme and we are never short of Mayer Brown volunteers. Our staff are always eager to share their knowledge with the young people with the hope of inspiring them to take their next step; be it either into a legal career or another career in the City and the different pathways available to succeed. Our staff also learn a thing or two from spending time with the younger generation so it’s a win win!” - Jo Sampson DE&I and CSR Manager at Mayer Brown
Our partnership with Mayer Brown continues to be a cornerstone of our commitment to nurturing the next generation of legal professionals. We look forward to continuing this collaboration and offering more students the opportunity to explore and thrive in the world of law.
Huge thanks to the team at Mayer Brown for another excellent week.
If you're a student and would like to access work experience opportunities for us, join WYZ For Work for free today.
If you're an organisation and would like to collaborate on work experience opportunities, please get in touch.