Ashurst

What work experience do we offer?
A paid two-week legal placement from and a mentoring and skill development programme throughout Year 13.

When does it happen?
The two-week paid placement is at the start of the summer holidays and the mentoring programme is throughout Year 13.
Week 1 (20 July - 24 July 2026): The first week will be spent at Ashurst’s London office, providing you with an insight into life at the firm, as well as introducing the type of work encountered as a lawyer at Ashurst.
Week 2 (27 July - 31 July 2026): The second week will expand your knowledge of the legal and business sectors and will be spent at five different organisations as part of the Social Mobility Business Partnership (SMBP.org.uk).
Year 13: You will be provided with a mentor to help guide you through your university or job applications.

Who can apply?
We encourage you to apply if:

• you are in your penultimate year of secondary school (Year 12 in England or Wales, Year 13 in Northern Ireland, or S5 in Scotland (or equivalent).
• you are attending a state funded, non-fee paying school/college or are attending a fee paying school on a 100% means-tested bursary.

You must also meet one or more of the following:

• be currently or have previously been in local authority care.
• be currently in receipt of, or have previously received, free school meals, Pupil Premium, Education Maintenance Allowance and/or 16 to 19 Bursary.
• be currently or have been a full-time or part-time carer.
• have come to the UK as a refugee or asylum seeker.
• grew up in a household where the occupation of the main earner is categorised as a routine or manual occupation. For further details please click here.
• are attending a state school or college with:
• below average A-Level or Higher point score and/or:
• low rate of progression to higher education (PRIME Work Experience School Eligibility Criteria)
• grew up in a household where no parent or guardian attended University.

How many spaces are there?
Up to 24 student places.

How can I apply?

Applications will open on 7 October 2025 and will close on 7 January 2026 at midday. You can apply via our Access Ashurst page.

Contact Ashurst's Social Impact team if you have any questions.

 

Apprenticeships
We also offer solicitor apprenticeships at Ashurst as an alternative route to becoming a qualified lawyer in England & Wales outside of our training contract. You can find more information here.

Access Law is a virtual programme for secondary school students interested in law.

You will get the opportunity to learn more about a career in law through a series of virtual events and mentoring support. Through a series of interactive panel discussions, you will learn more about what a career in law entails, the skills and knowledge needed to navigate law firm recruitment processes and tips for thriving at university and/or in the world of law. You will also receive mentoring from a legal professional delivered in partnership with mentoring organisation Zero Gravity.

The programme will be run virtually ensuring that all students, no matter their geographic location, can benefit from the opportunity. Participants will require access to the internet and a computer/laptop or mobile device (such as tablet or mobile phone) to take part in this programme. All sessions will take place in school term-time and just after the school day meaning that participants have the option to join from home or school.

Key dates

Session 1: An Insight into Commercial Law, Career Pathways, and Job Roles: 21 October 2025, 4pm-5:30pm
Session 2: Mentee training session delivered in partnership with mentoring organisation Zero Gravity: 4 November 2025, 4:30pm-5:30pm
Session 3: Application forms and online assessments: 18 November 2025, 4:30pm-5:30pm
Session 4: Preparing for an interview or assessment centre: 9 December 2025, 4:30pm-5:30pm
Session 5: What is commercial awareness, and why is it important?: 3 February 2026, 4:30pm-5:30pm
Session 6: Social mobility: Harnessing your strengths: 3 March 2026, 4:30pm-5:30pm
Session 7: Preparing for university and the workplace: 24 March 2026, 4pm-5:30pm

Who can apply?
You can apply if:

• you are interested in studying law at university or gaining employment in a law-related field after school/university
• You are studying in the UK and are in your penultimate or final year of secondary school
• You are attending a state funded, non-fee paying school/college or are attending a fee paying school on a 100% bursary
• You must also meet one or more of our additional criteria outlined on our Access Law webpage

How to apply

Applications are now open and will close on 7 October 2025 at midday. You can apply here.

Contact Ashurst's Social Impact team if you have any questions.