Weightmans has announced it will be introducing its first-ever vacation scheme for perspective trainees this summer in a bid to “increase its visibility” with would-be lawyers in London.
The top 60 firm, which has offices mainly in the midlands and north west, confirmed that it would be hosting its new vacation scheme in London initially - with the view to rolling it out to the regions in the future.
Recruitment co-ordinator Sarah O’Hanlon said: “We think a vacation scheme is a really good way of letting perspective candidates see how we work. It’s also a very good recruitment tool that we have seen work for other law firms.”
The firm will be hosting two sets of two-week summer vacation schemes for around 26 candidates to be run over June and July this year.
The news comes after graduate recruitment partners across the City reported a marked increase in applications for vacation scheme placements.
Of the firms surveyed, Bird & Bird reported one of the highest increases - 71 per cent - after the number of applications this year rocketed from approximately 700 to 1,200.
Slaughter and May has also seen a rise in applications for its summer vacation scheme, reporting a 22 per cent increase.
Elsewhere, Lovells has reported a 20 per cent increase in application numbers while DLA Piper has seen a 15 per cent jump.
Magic circle firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has seen a marginal increase, of 6 per cent, putting it on par with top 20 law firm Denton Wilde Sapte, which also saw a 6 per cent rise.
Readers' comments (2)
2bit from 2birds | 6-May-2010 3:53 pm
just realised that for twenty-four years I've been practicing next door to weightmans...weightmans?! ...
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Different Worlds | 10-May-2010 1:45 pm
Re 2bit from 2birds:
Weightmans are one of the most notorious Defendant PI firms in the country.
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