On 16 February 2023, we teamed up with global law firm Mayer Brown to bring a practical and educational career day to 15-18 year olds. Students from across London and surrounding areas learnt about the variety of legal and non-legal careers available in a large city law firm. This was a great opportunity for students to learn about career pathways, ask questions, meet recruiters and gain a taste of life in a city law firm.
Developing practical skills for the future
Like all of our insight days, young people learnt useful skills that will serve their futures - whether for job applications, interviews or the workplace.
We kicked off the day with a high energy personal branding workshop led by Learning and Development Manager, Charlotte. Not only did students learn what personal branding is and why it's important, but they also practised making a positive first impression. Being able to network and present yourself is such an important skill for career development. Even more so as a 2021 survey from Censuswide found that only 19% of young people aged 16-25 felt confident to go after the job they want. The personal brand exercise boosted young people's confidence.
Gaining access to industry
Students heard from a variety of speakers from diverse backgrounds. First up were speakers from parts of the law firm that support the business, such as business development (Sales), HR and Research. It was eye-opening to see just how many roles exist within a law firm!
Students participated in a networking lunch to dive deeper into their industries of interest and start practising the art of networking with speakers.
And of course, it wouldn't be a career day without an office tour!
We were also joined by some members of Mayer Brown's fee-earning business (think lawyers) and HSBC's Legal team who shared their various routes into the legal profession.
The Insight Day was a great experience for both the engaging panel and the young people who attended and hopefully gave them a true insight into the different career paths available to them in a corporate environment be this through the university route or the apprenticeship route. The key message to the young people who attended was very much find a career that you are passionate about and pursue a path that is meaningful to you”. - Jo Sampson, DE&I & CSR Manager
Meeting recruiters
Across the day, the HR team shared top tips and led a skills-builder session. It's an important part of the day and ensures young people have the latest recruitment tips from leading experts.
"The young people asked some really probing questions to give them insights into what recruiters were looking for, what's worked well for some candidates and where other candidates have stumbled. This really allowed them to put their best foot forward in the recruitment process." - Ralph, Trustee and Co-Founder of Open Palm
Creating an equal start line is at the heart of what we do. Helping under-represented young people to access the workplace and thrive. Huge thanks to Mayer Brown and to HSBC Legal volunteers for making it an impactful day. We're delighted that those who attended can also apply for a 1-week work experience placement with Mayer Brown this summer, deepening their knowledge and experience.
If you'd like to benefit from work experience opportunities, join our free WYZ For Work course. If you're an employer and would like to partner with us to deliver work experience, please get in touch.