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)
ex city lawyer | 30-Jul-2011 6:28 pm
“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."
Well, Nicola Bridge clearly understands how city law firms work. When is anyone ever going to say no when "invited" by a more senior lawyer? "You don't have to do this" meaning "if you don't there may be some very negative consequences".
The culture is terrible. Bette rthey know how dire it is before going in I guess.
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current city lawyer | 1-Aug-2011 8:59 am
ex city lawyer @ 6:28pm - this culture is not confined to SJ Berwin! I cannot believe they're getting so much bad press for this. This vac schemer wasn't the first to work through the night and she certainly won't be the last. £300 a week is more than what most trainees take home, so they should suck it up!
I'm sure she found it rewarding and was glad to be treated as so "indispensable" that she was required to stay ...
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Anonymous | 1-Aug-2011 5:59 pm
current city lawyer - 300 pw is equivalent to £15,600 per annum. A lawyer earning the basic London solicitor wage takes home just shy of 290pw after tax. So I don't understand why you think that most trainees don't take this home
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Anonymous | 7-Aug-2011 1:11 pm
Having done the same vac scheme - all I can say is at least she got some work. During my time there I did nothing but filing.
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Anonymous | 14-Aug-2011 5:27 pm
Oh really, what a dreadful shame that someone of this age be deprived of sleep just in order to ..... safeguard a lucrative job? earn valuable experience testing her limits? Give me a break.
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