In response to the global Coronavirus pandemic, Burges Salmon moved its summer vacation scheme online this year, offering 28 candidates the opportunity to gain a virtual insight into life at the firm followed by a training contract interview on completion of the programme.
The scheme ran twice over the summer months and saw two cohorts of 14 students take part in scheduled activities via video conference as part of a week-long programme. Candidates were introduced to a different practice area each day, working with lawyers from the different teams to complete tasks for each practice.
A number of additional sessions offered an insight into the culture at Burges Salmon, including a partner and trainee Q&A, a presentation on the firm’s international strategy and an introduction to its various internal, employee-led diversity networks.
Anna Dixon, resourcing business partner at Burges Salmon, comments: “Despite not being able to host the students for our usual two-week-long summer vacation scheme at our Bristol headquarters this year, we were determined to provide the candidates who joined us online with the same opportunities to experience life at Burges Salmon and understand the work we do here.
“Those who took part were delighted our summer vacation scheme still went ahead and we received positive feedback on our efforts to devise an engaging and interactive schedule of virtual activities over the week. All candidates have been invited to attend an interview in August for a training contract starting in 2022.”