Swansea Law Firm Pioneers Placement Scheme

17|10|06

Law students at University of Wales Swansea have become the first in the UK to be offered a unique placement scheme, which could see them climb the career ladder faster than those at other universities in the country.

Swansea-based law firm, John Collins and Partners LLP, is offering up to ten undergraduate law students from the university a year-long placement at the firm. The successful candidates will be employed as paralegals for the third year of their degree.

This is the only scheme of its kind in the UK, and has been designed to give students first hand experience of an office environment as well as an invaluable addition to their CV when competing for the limited number of training contracts after graduation.

Paul Newman, Managing Partner at John Collins and Partners, said:

"The John Collins and Partners placement scheme is a great way to help undergraduates make themselves more marketable when competing for a training contract. It will allow successful candidates to refine their IT, research, communication and teamwork skills as well as gaining first-hand legal experience, which is always essential for the most desirable jobs. The scheme is ideal for students to put into practice the skills they have acquired in the first two years of their degree, as well as providing a genuine opportunity for us, as a business, to benefit from the skills and enthusiasm the students have to offer."

John Collins and Partners is one of Wales’ largest independent law firms with 19 partners and 120 staff, and is highly recommended by industry bible, UK Legal 500. Placement students can, therefore, expect to be working alongside some of Wales’ top legal specialists in areas including conveyancing, remortgaging and employment.

Paul Newman continued:

"All students need three things: to make themselves more appealing to future employers, experience in their potential field, and of course, money to fund their studies. The scheme provides the full package."

Professor Iwan Davies, Head of the Law Faculty at Swansea University, said:

"Higher education has a lot to offer companies, the key is making the knowledge and skills that are developed in our university more accessible to, and relevant for, those in business, and this scheme is the ideal way to do just that. We are delighted that John Collins and Partners have set up this placement scheme. For our students to have the name of such a well respected and innovative firm of solicitors on their CV, and the skills nurtured during their time of working with the firm will undoubtedly prove invaluable when applying for permanent posts after graduation. I hope that other companies will follow John Collins and Partners lead as this type of scheme could easily lend itself to numerous subject areas resulting in a more experienced graduate workforce."

Jennifer Griffiths of South Wales-based Jennifer Griffiths Recruitment and Training Ltd, said:

"The demand for training contracts is always greater than the supply, both in South Wales and across the rest of the UK. Any additional experience a candidate has will immediately bring him or her to a potential employers attention. To have been selected as an outstanding student to undertake a placement of this kind will be a huge advantage in the competitive job market.This is a true win win situation. There are clear benefits to the students, the university and the employer and is an excellent example of what can be done when forwarding looking businesses and the university combine."