Chambers Student Podcast

There’s a common misconception among aspiring lawyers that client contact is something left to older, wiser, more experienced hands. Not so at American import Fried Frank. In this episode, we sit down with a partner and an associate at the firm to find out more about how trainees should approach their early interactions with clients, and how to get the best out of them.

Wherever you wind up doing your training contract, understanding the way what’s happening around the world relates to the law is important. So important, in fact, that the phrase ‘commercial awareness’ is probably something you’ll grow pretty sick of hearing. But wrapping your head around the legal aspects of current events is something that every aspiring lawyer will need to learn how to do, and at international firms like White & Case, it’s more important than ever. In this podcast, we sit down with trainees at the firm to find out more about how to broaden your perspective, and, most importantly, how to show it off to recruiters. This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

In the 2020-21 season, the RFU reported that there was an average of 22.2 concussions per 1,000 hours of game play in professional rugby, the highest since records started in 2002. While rugby organisations have taken steps to reduce the risk of head injuries, research suggests that players are at a high risk of sustaining multiple sub concussive impacts, and the long-term health implications that come as a result. Now, 225 former professional rugby union players have launched legal proceedings against World Rugby, the WRU and the RFU for failing to adequately protect players from these risks.

Chambers Student's Chelsey Stanborough speaks with trainees from Womble Bond Dickinson up and down the country about what’s it like training to be a lawyer outside of London. The full-service firm has seven offices nationwide (plus ties in the US). Chelsey speaks to Kiera Dodds in Newcastle, George Laidlaw in Southampton, Olivia Matano in Bristol and Josh Coleman in Leeds. This trainee-led discussion focuses on their experiences working in regional offices, firm culture, and lifestyle in the different cities. This podcast is part of the Exploring the Regions article series on our website.

Chambers Student catches up with three BPP students to get their reflections on SQE2 and the SQE as a whole. They share their experiences of the exams and prep course, dig into the biggest differences between SQE1 and SQE2, and share their top tips for success.

In this episode, we explore the ways in which applicants can utilise their ‘differences’ to stand out during applications and interviews. We’re joined by Rosie Buckley and Natalie Chalmers from Dentons’ Early Careers team, and trainee solicitors Amanda Kingsley and Fattah Abdulattif who each shed some light on the application process, including how to start thinking about what your differences may be, how to best showcase these in your applications, and Amanda and Fattah’s tried-and-tested techniques.

Chambers Student’s Chelsey Stanborough talks to Taylor Wessing’s graduate recruitment team and recent vacation schemers about getting the most out of a vacation scheme at the firm. Chelsey interviews Ami Disdale (Early Talent Advisor at Taylor Wessing) about what to expect during the vacation scheme, lessons learned from the pandemic, and there diversity and inclusivity in recruiting methods. Chelsey also spoke to vacation schemers Nicole Baldev, Rochelle Ampomah and Funmilade Falegan about their experiences during the vacation scheme and got their nuggets of wisdom to pass on!