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)
Puff the magic dragon | 29-Jul-2011 11:37 am
@ El Guiri: “And yes, plenty of people at law firms work all nighters regularly. There are many more excellent lawyers around the country who don't work beyond tea time. That does not make them less deserving of their salaries.”
You're right - these 'home by tea time' lawyers fully deserve their salaries. It's just that their salaries are rightly much lower because they work half as hard and make half as much money for their employers.
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Anonymous | 29-Jul-2011 11:56 am
I would be highly surprised if she got the TC, to be honest.
The firm is getting slated over this. Whilst the girl probably did not contact The Lawyer herself, the fact this story has ended up on here does call into question her discretion. And a lot can be said for discretion.
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Anonymous | 29-Jul-2011 1:40 pm
Anonymous | 29-Jul-2011 11:56 am
"Whilst the girl probably did not contact The Lawyer herself, the fact this story has ended up on here does call into question her discretion. And a lot can be said for discretion."
We know nothing of the facts. She may have been perfectly happy to work an all nighter and the leak could have come from another vac schemer who didn't like the firm and wanted to cause trouble. They would all know she was in all night.
Or maybe from a disgruntled fee earner at sjb. Heaven knows there appear to be enough of them.
It may have nothing to do with her discretion.
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Anonymous | 29-Jul-2011 2:09 pm
I can 100% confirm that she willingly did it. I can confirm her discretion is a great deal higher than the person who felt necessary to even bring that up. Someone brought this to the lawyer and people like you who make these comments, make it a lot more difficult on the girl, and the firm to make the decision. But well done. You got your comment posted.
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Anonymous | 29-Jul-2011 3:12 pm
Story = storm in teacup. I've done a handful of all nighters in a lengthening career, you do them when you have to. Sometimes its probably as a result of macho nonsense, sometimes it is because clients have real deadlines by which things have to be done. I function fine staying up all night once in a while and when the chips are down, so would anyone. Its probably useful experience that vac students see its not 9-5. Most lawyers aren't rocket scientists providing real value added services, so they don't particulalry warrant high pay unless its a result of hard work. No one died here - either she hated it and cried (according to some) in which case tough go do something else either in or out of the profession, or she did it willingly (according to some) in which case what's the story?.....
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Anonymous | 29-Jul-2011 3:43 pm
I think the problem is that it was only one all nighter.
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Anonymous | 29-Jul-2011 3:45 pm
I work in Newcastle, can someone explain what an "all nighter" means?
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Anonymous | 29-Jul-2011 4:25 pm
My apologies for my comment at 11:56, which was badly worded, insensitive and has been (understandably) misconstrued.
As it appears now that the girl's application is still under consideration, I wish her nothing but the best in respect of the application and her career.
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Basil | 29-Jul-2011 7:30 pm
I'm always amazed at the idea that "all-nighters" are something to crow about.
If I was a client paying upwards of £400 p/h I certainly wouldn't want to be paying for some dozy lawyer who hadn't slept for 24 hours...
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Anonymous | 30-Jul-2011 9:09 am
I really don't understand what the big fuss is about. Almost every lawyer I know has pulled more all nighters than they can remember. Well done to SB for showing the student what life as a real lawyer is.
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