Weightmans launch first vac scheme 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.