2011 Vacation Placements

A summer vacation placement is the best way to get a 'real' appreciation of our firm, culture, people and the opportunities we have here. You can test drive a career with Pinsent Masons, experience the energy and dynamism of our teams and have a first-hand look at some of the work we do. And, of course, it's our best chance to get to know you and see you working as a member of our team.

What's involved?

Over the course of the summer break we run a series of two-week summer vacation placements. Students – from any degree background – join a structured programme of work experience, skills training and presentations to build an in-depth understanding of what we do. On the vacation placement you will work alongside trainees and solicitors on real client matters, learn about the different practice areas within the firm and get to know as many of our people as possible. At the same time a vacation placement offers you the chance to demonstrate your suitability for a training contract through your appetite for work and responsibility, and your business sense.

In fact, around 70% of our current trainees completed a vacation placement with us. Put simply, a vacation placement is your opportunity to make an early and lasting impression.

Alongside your work experience and training there is a strong social side to the vacation placement. It's a time for making friends and building contacts and you will be invited to a number of social events organised by the trainees.

The vacation placement programme is a vital part of our recruitment strategy, and we dedicate resources and energy to ensuring that the experience is as practical and true to life as a trainee as possible. We also seek to ensure that the people who secure vacation placements are those who are most likely to make the most of the opportunities the experience presents – which is why we interview for every placement.

There are two intakes for our 2011 programme operating in all of our UK offices except Bristol:

20 June - 1 July 2011

4 July - 15 July 2011

You will need to be available for the duration of one of these two week periods and will be based in a single practice area in one of our offices for the two weeks.  You will need ot organise your own accommodation and transport, however, in order to help you meet the costs of this we pay all our vacation placement students £200 per week while they are with us.

What do the students think?

Pinsent Masons is currently the only law firm to feature in the top 10 work experience placements offered in the UK, according to RateMyPlacement.co.uk.  To read what previous students who have taken part on the programme have said, please click on the RateMyPlacement.co.uk star.

In addition to this we have also been a finalist for the best short-term placement at the Nation Council for Work Experience awards in 2009 and have more recently won the award for "Best Diversity Initiative" in 2010.

Applying for a vacation placement

To apply for a vacation placement, please complete our online application form unfortunately we cannot accept a CV and covering letter.  Applications for vacation placements must be submitted by 31 January 2011, interviews will typically take place in February (later dates may be available for those studying abroad).

Vacation placements are available in Birmingham, London, Leeds, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh

Overseas vacation placements

To apply for a placement in our Hong Kong office please send your CV to vincent.connor@pinsentmasons.com.