SJ Berwin was 'wrong' to ask summer student to do an all-nighter
SJ Berwin has admitted that the firm “got it wrong” when a summer vacation scheme student was asked to work until the early hours of the morning.
Nicola Bridge
A female student is understood to have worked until five in the morning after being asked to help another female colleague on a document for an international arbitration.
SJ Berwin’s graduate recruitment partner Nicola Bridge said in a statement: “Vacation students are sometimes invited to take part in work such as deal completions and trial preparation, which can run into the night, and we’re keen to offer them the opportunity to observe and help with some of the more exciting parts of the job.
“But as a matter of policy we shouldn’t go beyond invitation and directly request that vacation students work into the night, and on this occasion we got it wrong.
“Last week a student worked through the night on a document for a big international arbitration. She willingly stayed and worked with a female colleague and did a great job, but she was actually asked to do so and that shouldn’t have happened. In future we’ll stick to our policy so this doesn’t happen again.”
In line with its rival firms SJ Berwin’s placement programme lasts for two weeks. Summer vacation scheme students in City firms are typically paid around £300 a week.
The student was not available for comment.
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Readers' comments (75)
Anonymous | 26-Jul-2011 5:16 pm
I would have thought that if a student could contribute anything it would be an ability to stay up all night.
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Anonymous | 26-Jul-2011 5:24 pm
Cannot believe this story - what is a student in such a situation to do? Apply to Nabarro I think - they got one of their vac scheme student to dress up as a cheer leader, which sounds like much more fun!
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Anonymous | 26-Jul-2011 5:45 pm
hilarious......................
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Anonymous | 26-Jul-2011 5:51 pm
It'll be quite cruel if she's not offered a TC there now... though whether she'd want to work there is another question...
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I love little stickers its like Blue Peter | 26-Jul-2011 5:59 pm
'worked through the night on a document'
I'm guessing she was paginating until 5am. What else are you going to get a vac student to do?
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Anonymous | 26-Jul-2011 6:14 pm
I'm sure any student would have done this if needed and if they wanted to work at SJ Berwin enough.
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Hugey | 26-Jul-2011 6:26 pm
Poor luv. And they say SJB's reputation isn't deserved.
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Anonymous | 26-Jul-2011 6:50 pm
If they don't give her a TC they should at least pay her the significant amount they charged the client for the work she did at a ridiculous hour.
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Anonymous | 26-Jul-2011 7:14 pm
I'm sure the individual was grateful to have been asked and given the opportunity to prove herself rather than annoyed. TCs are so hard to get these days that I'm sure a number of students would have been willing to do this task. I don't think the firm is different to many other firms - I'm sure Magic circle request a great great deal worse than one all nighter every so often. Well done to her.
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Anonymous | 26-Jul-2011 8:57 pm
I think they've got this sorted. There's nothing wrong with giving a student the opportunity to be involved with this sort of thing. As one poster has said, I think many students would love to have a story like this to tell. However, it is quite right that the student should have been given the opportunity, not 'requested' to stay. Fair play to them for admitting this mistake.
I expect the student was offered a TC and their supervisor was given a ticking off!
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