Leading Chester law firm Hillyer McKeown are currently supporting the University of Chester by providing three law students the opportunity of a five week work-based learning placement.
The students will be experiencing how each of the departments work, and will be given task opportunities as well as having the chance to become involved in Hillyer McKeowns’ current website project.
The work-based learning placement is seen as an opportunity to broaden the students understanding of the career path they are working towards by providing real world practical experience. Legal work experience is one of the most important things law firms look for in its applications for training contracts as the profession is extremely competitive given the current economic climate.
Zoe Davies, one of the students undertaking this placement says “I am very excited about being given this fantastic opportunity to get involved with such a well-known law firm, it is a great opportunity in order to gain experience in the career I am looking to follow. Legal work experience is very competitive and in such a tough profession, it is difficult to get opportunities like this”.
The University of Chester also ‘recognises the importance for students to gain graduate level work-based skills and competencies through experiential learning within an organisation’. In this work-based learning module the students are undertaking is ‘allowing them to enhance the skills, attributes and competencies that employers require of new graduates’.
Lindsey Kidd, Partner at Hillyer McKeown commented “We have very close links with the University and are delighted to support both the University and the students in this initiative.” Lindsey commented further on the benefits of the initiative, she added “The projects the students are engaged in will have tangible results and add value to our offering. In return the students will experience the reality of working in a full service commercial law firm which should assist them in making informed decisions about their future legal careers.”
