During July Bristows runs its annual work experience programme, the Joe Sako Summer Workshop, offering a bespoke experience for students who meet the PRIME criteria, are interested in a career in law and who may not otherwise have an opportunity to undertake work experience in a law firm. It is organised and hosted by Bristows in memory of Joe Sako, represented by our handstand logo, which celebrates Joe’s love of gymnastics. Joe was an exceptional Trainee and Associate at Bristows who was extraordinarily passionate about increasing diversity in the legal profession. His untimely passing in 2019 from meningitis has seen him deeply missed by all his friends and colleagues here. This workshop in Joe’s memory was considered a fitting tribute and one we know he would have been incredibly proud of.

We were delighted to welcome 12 outstanding Year 12 students to our fifth annual workshop. They attended Bristows’ offices in Blackfriars, London, each day to gain an in-person insight into pursuing a legal career, to explore various areas of legal practice, and to enhance their legal, practical and communication skills. Here’s a round-up of what they got up to:

On Monday, the students were introduced to Bristows and the Joe Sako Workshop with an icebreaker and a morning of introductions to the paths available into law, including a dedicated session on apprenticeships (as well as lunch with a number of Bristows’ apprentices). With a significant proportion of our fee earners coming from “non-law” degree backgrounds, we thought the students would be intrigued to learn more about the variety of routes available to them. In the afternoon, the group had a practical introduction to disputes, “what happens when things go wrong?”, followed by a practical session on legal theory.

Tuesday began with preparation for the students’ first “shadow a lawyer” session, giving them the chance to sit with an allocated Partner, Of Counsel or Senior Associate to see first-hand whether TV dramas offer any truth about the realities of the profession! We then showcased Bristows’ core specialism, Intellectual Property, before a tour around our offices and a networking lunch with our trainees and NQs. The afternoon closed with the Unreal Campaign’s practical workshop on counterfeiting, delivered by members of our Brands team.

Wednesday introduced the students to the idea that the law is involved in everything we do. A practical discussion on Data Protection and Libel was followed by a session on IP and Regulatory law in the news, and a practical session hosted by our super group Corporate, Real Estate, Tax and Employment on due diligence. After lunch, our speed networking session brought a new level of buzz – the students had a few minutes to talk to various people from around Bristows before being (abruptly!) moved on to the next person when the buzzer sounded. The group then dived straight into “Trial 101”, with one of our client meeting rooms converted into a mock courtroom, roles allocated, and a full mock trial commencing.

Thursday offered a shift in pace, with tours of the Royal Courts of Justice and the Rolls Building and the opportunity to sit in on a live hearing or trial. Over a debrief lunch, the students (and Bristows) were delighted to host Michael Tappin, James St Ville, Charlotte May, Tom Jones and Joshua Marshall from 8 New Square. With a chance to put their questions to the barristers and see another side to a career in law. The afternoon brought the second “shadow a lawyer” session, this time with a working Q&A-style focus, before a practical session on legal research and AI at work to round off the day.

On the final day, the students had an interactive skills session on CVs, applications and interviews, followed by a Q&A with our current trainee cohort on a day in the life of a trainee solicitor. A practical session on negotiations and drafting contracts followed, before the group used their working lunch to prepare for the daunting task of presenting on a topic of their choice to the entire group. As it happens, the brilliant students relished the opportunity, delivering confident and interactive presentations on topics including whether the UK’s “first past the post” voting system should be replaced, inventions that were made by mistake and Eurovision. The week closed with a session on LinkedIn and how they can keep in touch with us as they progress along their chosen career paths, followed by a final wrap-up and feedback session.

The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Several highlighted the Royal Courts of Justice visit, the “shadow a lawyer” sessions and the mock trial, alongside the chance to make new connections with peers and lawyers across the firm. Whether or not the students choose to pursue a career in the legal industry, we hope this experience was memorable and stands them in good stead for the future. A few quotes from the feedback include:

“Talking to new people, specifically lawyers – hearing about their work, journeys and experiences.”

“Gaining insight into a law firm, broadening my legal horizons as I never experienced this before. Hearing from lawyers. Making new connections with peers and fellow lawyers.”

“I really loved the shadow a lawyer sessions and the court tours.”

“I enjoyed how practical many of the workshops were, which allowed everyone to get a realistic perception of the realities of law. I thoroughly enjoyed the many networking sessions, which provided firsthand insight into different roles and pathways into law.”

“The community we created, bonding through our own experiences and common education. The mixture between practical and theory was really good as well.”

“I loved every minute of the workshop – all my upcoming work experiences have very big shoes to fill.”

The Bristows team who supported throughout the week included Charles Purdy, Lucy Sewter, Alice Esuola-Grant, Hafsa Babar, Victoria Hand, Jennifer Healy and Kalay Mayan.