Nottingham Law School top for legal work experience

As entry into the legal profession becomes increasingly competitive, potential students are seeking methods of study that enable them to stand out from the crowd. One way in which this may be achieved is by undertaking a period of work placement as part of their studies.

At Nottingham Law School, we pioneered the development of a work placement year in legal education over 40 years ago, and we now have one of the highest numbers of students on year long, legally-related placements among British universities.

The benefits of a work placement are clear. Completing relevant work experience not only helps students differentiate themselves from the competition but is vital for enabling them to enhance their work skills, practical legal knowledge and employability.

Students are also able to assess their preference for working in a particular area of law or for a particular type of firm. For this reason, all of our courses contain elements of work experience to provide students with the skills sought by employers. By way of example, all students on our three year full-time LLB course are encouraged to obtain relevant work experience and those who complete at least ten weeks' relevant work experience receive a Certificate of Professional Practice.

Four-year LLB sandwich course

In addition, our very popular four-year LLB sandwich course offers students relevant, salaried work experience during the third year of their studies. This period of work experience lasts at least 36 weeks and upon successful completion, students are awarded a Diploma in Professional Practice alongside their degree. Placements are undertaken at a variety of firms spread across the country.

In the past our students have successfully completed placements with Cartwright King, Mills & Reeve and Saunders Solicitors, to name but a few. Students excel while with their firm and in the period of time that I have been a visiting tutor to students on placement I have lost count of the number of times that I have been taken aback by the variety and standard of work undertaken.

Work placements are also of benefit to employers. Firms find themselves with an eager, enthusiastic, highly educated individual who is able to work in a variety of methods. Firms frequently comment on how pleased they are with the quality of student placed with them and highlight the positive contribution made by the student.

For sandwich students in particular, by the end of the work placement period firms often offer to extend the period of work placement as they are reluctant to lose an individual who has performed far in excess of expectations and who has become an invaluable addition to their team.

Training contracts

This is evidenced by the fact that a significant number of our students have secured training contracts with their placement firm as a direct result of the standard to which they worked while on placement. Securing a training contract in this manner is a significant benefit to the student and it also works to the firm's advantage.

The firm can be satisfied that the student will be able to make a positive contribution to the firm in the future as they have been able to evaluate and accurately assess the individual's competencies and work ethic in a much more meaningful manner than a traditional interview or assessment day. Making an offer in this manner also negates the need for the firm to undertake an expensive and protracted applications process.

In short, work placements offer benefits to both students and employers. Students benefit from the ability to enhance their skills and practical knowledge, while employers obtain an enthusiastic, highly educated member of staff on a temporary, and sometimes permanent, basis. With these thoughts in mind, now might be the right time for firms to revisit the issue of work placements and ensure that their significant benefits are harnessed in the most appropriate and effective manner for the organisation as a whole.

Peter McTigue is a senior lecturer and visiting tutor to sandwich students at Nottingham Law School, Nottingham Trent University

www.ntu.ac.uk/nls