Summer Vacation Scheme: Bridging Academic Knowledge and Professional Practice

The summer vacation scheme is two-week placement opportunity for second- and third-year law students to gain valuable legal experience in a corporate/commercial environment. The scheme provides aspiring legal professionals with hands on experience, offering insights into the legal industry, and allowing students to apply the legal knowledge they’ve gained from their studies to a real work setting.

Held from the 8th of July to 19th of July, the scheme welcomed our first cohort of students, Ted Irwin, Chantelle Midgley, Phoebe Scott-Scarth, and Sophie Hayes. During their time at IHLS, the students worked alongside our team, including solicitors, trainees, paralegals, technology, operations, administration, and marketing professionals. They received mentorship through shadowing days and continuous support from our staff. The students participated in skills-based workshops, career talks, lunches with directors, and social events.

Beyond office life, the students volunteered with our charity of the year, Zero Waste. The students helped to distribute food that would otherwise have gone to landfill, a great experience working with a charity who have built a community around disrupting surplus food and contribute to a more sustainable future.

The students have left with a wealth of practical experience and insights into the in-house law landscape. Here are some reflections from the students about their experiences at IHLS:

Ted Irwin, Second-Year Law Student:

“I was very fortunate to attend the IHLS summer vacation scheme. The firm’s approach to emerging legal tech, especially in the AI space, has broadened my view of the legal profession. The IHLS team made the experience memorable. I felt both welcome and involved throughout my two weeks at the firm, which made the scheme enjoyable. Everyone’s helpful and welcoming nature allowed me to ask questions and gain advice constantly.”

Chantelle Midgley, Second-Year Law and Politics Student:

“My time on the summer vacation scheme at IHLS provided me with an invaluable opportunity to see how legal knowledge is applied in the real world. From introducing me to a range of commercial documents to the educational insights given through career talks, I gained a holistic understanding of the tasks and workload of commercial legal professionals. The supportive culture at IHLS ensured that no question went unanswered, allowing me to leave each day with new knowledge. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and look forward to applying the skills nurtured here in my future endeavours.”

Phoebe Scott-Scarth, Second-Year Law Student:

“During my two weeks at IHLS, I gained insight into the unique dynamic of the firm and how they tackle commercial matters. I felt included in the team, who were happy to teach us through shadowing. This varied from looking at different approaches to negotiating contracts depending on the client’s position to being trained on how to markup non-reliance letters. The supportive and helpful team allowed me to put my legal knowledge into practice, applying principles of commercial law to client needs. I am thankful for the support throughout my experience here.”

At In-House Legal Solutions, we are committed to providing opportunities that support the growth and innovation in both law practice and academia. The summer vacation scheme is a prime example of this commitment, offering invaluable learning experiences that invest in the future of aspiring lawyers and young professionals. These opportunities bring new ideas and fresh perspectives to our team but also embody our core value of supporting the learning of the next generation of lawyers. At IHLS, we believe it is important to continue offering these opportunities by welcoming the next cohort of students in august!