Clarke Willmott’s Summer Vacation Scheme sparks three new careers
Leading law firm Clarke Willmott has recruited three paralegals to its Southampton, Bristol and Birmingham offices. Nida, Georgia and Dona impressed during the summer work experience placement and were offered roles in the firm’s corporate and private capital teams.
Clarke Willmott’s 2024 Summer Vacation Scheme was the firm’s largest to date, which saw 22 placements offered to emerging legal talent across five of its seven regional offices.
Working closely with associate Aidan Clucas and partner Kim Klahn, Nida spent five days in Clarke Willmott’s Birmingham office and had the opportunity to access real work and clients, as well as attending networking events and development sessions. Both personal and professional skills were developed and the week ended with a mock assessment centre.
Nida said: “The Vacation Scheme at Clarke Willmott was a crucial opportunity for me to gain insight into the typical tasks of a paralegal in the corporate department. I thoroughly enjoyed the work I was assigned, while also being highly engaged with the practical aspects of the role, such as team communication and maintaining client relationships.
“Most importantly, the welcoming and supportive office environment played a key role in my decision to join as a permanent paralegal. Everyone I interacted with was eager to offer advice and was genuinely friendly, making it a place I can see myself building a long-term career.”
In 2023, Georgia Watson worked with Clarke Willmott’s Taunton office team and has now joined as a paralegal in Southampton, working in corporate and commercial. She said:
“One highlight of the vacation scheme, for me, was that by allowing me to meet real clients and get involved in real work, I was truly able to visualise what a career at Clarke Willmott would look like.
“Following my positive experience, Clarke Willmott was naturally at the top of the list of firms when looking for a permanent role. Given that the nature of legal work is often very difficult and stressful, working environment and firm culture was a very important factor for me. I felt confident from my experience that Clarke Willmott would provide a supportive place to start my career, so that I would be able to put my best foot forward at work – and I am glad to say that I was right on this.”
Dona spent five paid days with the property litigation team in Clarke Wilmott’s Bristol office and worked closely with partner Laura Robbetts. Dona said: “The one-week placement was an invaluable experience that allowed me to delve into a variety of fascinating tasks, from researching diverse topics, drafting letters and emails to reviewing leases, documents, and title plans. I even had the chance to sit in on client meetings, gaining valuable insights into the wide range of cases they handle.
“Since taking part in the Vacation Scheme, I have now joined as a paralegal in the private client team. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to join such a talented team at a leading law firm. It’s been an exciting start, with plenty to learn, and I’m eager to grow professionally in this dynamic environment. Everyone in the firm, especially my team, instantly made me feel so at ease and welcome and I am very grateful for that.”
The scheme has made huge steps forward since returning in 2023 after a pause, with a 308% increase in applications and over 65 interviews held.
With a focus on inclusivity and accessibility, an anonymised shortlisting process and inclusive recruitment practice were used as part of the firm’s ED&I commitments.
Apply to our 2025 Summer Vacation Scheme
Clarke Willmott’s 2025 Summer Vacation Scheme is taking place from 7-11 July. Open to anyone over 18, successful applicants will gain paid-for experience in a specialist legal team with placements available in the Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff, Manchester, Southampton and Taunton offices. Applications are open and close on the 5th April 2025. Apply here.
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